Against Dark Tides (Beneath Black Sails, #2)

by Clare Sager

“You’re content as long as the world glides past you on its little rails, everything in step as it should be. You’ll do anything to keep the peace so your boat isn’t rocked too hard. But Vee bloody well needs her boat rocked. She”—he scoffed—“she’s done some ridiculous things.”

“Stop defending her!”

“Stop taking responsibility for her. She’s an adult, she can deal with her own feelings.” He huffed out through his nose. “Or at least she should be able to.”

Just because you’re the only one she lets through the door, doesn’t mean you’re responsible for what’s behind it.”

“She needs to take responsibility for her actions and, Perry”—he gripped her shoulder, making her look at him—“I respect you, but you need to stop shielding her.”

“So nice to hear what you really think. Good to know all your apologies are nothing more than hot air.”

“Well it’s true. I’m sorry you had to hear it like this, but I’m not sorry I said it. And I’m not going to apologise yet again. I’ve done enough of that. You’ve had your pound of flesh from me. You’ve pushed. You’ve prodded. You’ve clawed and scratched and bitten me. But enough’s enough.”

“What do you want from me, Vee?”

“I’ve apologised. I’ve broken you out of a cage. I’ve brought you halfway across the world and got you back to Perry and your friends. I’ve done everything in my power, but it still isn’t enough, is it?”

Her absence was a gaping hole in this little cabin.

“No,” Aedan huffed, shaking his head too hard too many times. “She wouldn’t just walk out without saying anything.” The man was in love with her. It was written all over his face, in those deep lines between his brows, in the anguish dulling his blue eyes.

“Oh yes,” he scoffed. “Because FitzRoy is known for his honesty, isn’t he?”

“‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder,’”

“I get it. Men aren’t exactly encouraged to speak about their feelings at the best of times.”

you have the courage to admit when you’ve made a mistake. Many don’t. Even fewer also have the grit to then right that wrong, no matter the cost to themselves.”

“You have to do the best with what you’ve got. That’s all anyone can do.”

That had been Evered’s sabre. Maybe he hadn’t been the best husband, but the foolish girl she’d been had loved him. She’d trusted herself to him, and maybe things would have been different if she hadn’t dragged him halfway across the world.

He made her laugh, and on the rare occasions when she made him laugh, it felt like an achievement.

“I will find someone you care for and have no hesitation in using them to break you.” He leant close until their noses almost touched. “You are mine, and you will obey.”

I want hiim dead

“What is this, FitzRoy, the inaugural meeting of Lady Vice’s Former Lovers Society?”

“Oh, Lords no, we’d have to invite a lot more people for that. Aedan, for starters.”

“Blackwood didn’t give up on you. He wouldn’t expect you to give up on yourself.”

“Make the barrels. Un-make the barrels. Make them again. Wish you two would make your minds up!”

Bloody hells, I hope this thing is written in waterproof ink.

“You came.” The same thing she’d said when he’d taken her from the gibbet cage—another time he hadn’t let her down.

“Of course I did,” he murmured, voice rumbling through her, grey eyes more intense, more vulnerable than their steely colour. “I’ll always come for you.”

I’ll always come for you.

“Your eyes—yes. Like storm clouds. It’s fading now.” A smile flickered on his lips. “Lightning? Mercia said something about that.”

Maybe there was also an element of wanting to save words for him.

Madam, I understand you can show me to my new cabin.’” Nearer now. “That’s what I said when I joined The Morrigan, wasn’t it? But this sunset is far more beautiful.”

The sight of him, the scent of him, the sheer intoxication of him just a matter of inches away made her heart throb so hard she could feel it in her chest, at her throat, and low in her belly.

“I forgive you. Arresting me… all of it”—she waved her hand—“I forgive you.”

“I couldn’t get past it before,”

“but on the Sovereign, I barely thought about it. I was more interested in the fact it looked like I’d never get the chance to see you again, and that my last words would be such spectacularly stupid ones.”

“You know,” he said, “I was terrified I’d never see you again, too.”

“I missed you, you know,” she blurted,

I suppose I’ve grown used to having you around. You’re part of my life now. I don’t know what your plans are, whether you’re going to leave or—”

“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” A grin lifted one corner of his mouth. “You see, no one else will have me. And”—he bit his lip again, the lopsided smile gone—“I missed you.”

“You missed me,” he murmured,

“I missed you. I’m not sure what that means.”

“I suppose it’s an improvement on no friend of mine. I’ll take it.”

“Friends?” He held out his hand. “Friends,” she said, shaking it.

“We’re friends, we’ve got the clues, and we have this ship.”