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February 10 - February 10, 2024
It would be best for his men, and after all the years of asking them to sacrifice—to risk life and limb for glory and riches—how could he refuse to do the same for them?
It wasn’t until she had matured that she realized their sisterhood was not forged by blood but by duty alone.
“You were born for something greater. All three of us were. You, me, Darienn. Even if we wanted such things—which we shouldn’t—we don’t get the luxury of a smile and a man of our choosing. We will eventually be paired with one of the pirate lords—”
“Yes, the sirens guard the sound, and yes they like to, well, you know.” Indeed, he knew. Everyone knew.
“There’s always a choice. Good outcomes? That’s another story. But a choice always remains.”
Had he met her under other circumstances—had he not long ago given up on such a future for himself—he might have hoped to catch her eye.
We weren’t meant to be alone. We weren’t meant for solitude. But what’s the point of being among people if you can never be comfortable? Be yourself?”
A simple but handsome design with a serpent was carved into its handle. It fit her hand perfectly, as if it had been made for her, but that notion was preposterous.
“I don’t even know how to use it.” She dropped her gaze to the deck, unable to look him in the eye, to let him see she wasn’t as strong as she pretended to be. “The pointy end goes in the other person.”
“Thank you, Tommy. For being so kind. I’m sure Declan wouldn’t approve of your helping me.” Tommy turned and stepped away from the railing but noted over his shoulder, “He’s the one who asked me to.”
“Of course they’re women. You didn’t know?” Tommy’s expression was almost comical as he whispered back, and Declan couldn’t keep from tightening his jaw in frustration. “I thought you knew. Hell, I thought everyone knew. You do know their captain, Casey Halloran, is a lass, too, right?” “Well, I do now. How did you know and I didn’t?”
We each have a role to play. Don’t let yourself ever believe that yours is less important because it’s done in the shadows.”
“More honor than a spoiled and naive heir who got her own sister killed.”
“It’s our dear captain’s birthday.” Aoife turned to him, her face bright with that glorious smile of hers lighting up the entire room.
“Aye. But perhaps I came to realize if we don’t enjoy ourselves a bit, if we don’t keep our mind focused on the good things we have—or could have—then what is the point? Is success worth losing sight of everything worth living for?”
Something in him had snapped when he took that pirate’s head and freed her, creating a connection, a link between the two of them. Whether it was friendship or not, he didn’t know, but a life without her around? Unacceptable.
“So I suppose I shouldn’t tell you that dragons and elves are far from fantasy?”
Looking into her eyes felt like returning to the home he desperately missed. And the shock of that realization threatened to suffocate him, ripping the breath from his lungs.
These attacks are not you. They do not define you. And while they can seem insurmountable, they are not.”
“I said I love you, Aoife.” He paused, but she only stared at him, her expression blank as her eyes searched his. “I didn’t expect this. Didn’t want it. But here I am, a wreck of a man, drowning in uncharted waters.” He took a step toward her, and then another until they were inches apart. “You wrecked me, Aoife, and I’d have it no other way.”
