Beneath Black Sails (Beneath Black Sails, #1)

by Clare Sager

Who knew? Maybe they’d see the error of their ways. And maybe she’d grow gills to go with her sea magic.

“You might have taken our ship,” the former slaver captain bellowed across the waves, “but the days of Lady Vice are numbered!” She scoffed. Everyone’s days were numbered. Some just had fewer than others. Smiling brightly, she turned and waved. “Not as numbered as yours, marooned dog!” “Enjoy it while you can.” Even from this distance, his eyes smouldered with hatred. “The price on your head is one thousand guineas. Maybe your crew should hand you over themselves.” She stuck a finger up at the slavers, before turning and grinning at Perry. “A thousand? That’s more than doubled. I’m going up in the world.”

“Well,” he went on, “add in an absconding fiancée and being forced from our home, and I think it’s fair to say it was a difficult year.” The fiancée had left months before Father’s death, and she hadn’t exactly broken his heart. The betrothal to Lady Avice Ferrers had been arranged by Mother and Father.

Knigh was Knighton Villiers, the fiancé she’d fled three years ago.

She’d seen it, and she’d brought him back before he’d hurt anyone outside of battle. Licking his lips, he nodded. “Thank you.” Lords, Ladies, gods, he’d never meant anything as much as those two words.

“Can you keep a secret?” She scoffed. Funny question for him of all people to be asking her. I’m Lady Avice Ferrers, your former betrothed. “I think so.”

“I no more murdered her than you murdered the arrogant little boy you once were. Remember?

“That poem,” he breathed, voice feeling far away. “The pin… But she’s—” “Dead?” She said it too brightly, and her eyebrows rose like it was a joke he was too stupid to fathom. “Do you still not understand? Avice Ferrers is just as dead as Knighton Villiers.”

“And much as I’m loath to admit it, I can’t do this on my own. So, save it until we’re safe. Then I can threaten to cut out your tongue with your own dagger.”