Through Dark Storms (Beneath Black Sails, #4)

by Clare Sager

A person. Despite the warm sun on her back, the hairs on her arms rose. Swallowing, she lifted the edge of the flag. Black hair. Sharp, dark eyebrows. Under the eyelids, she knew she’d find even sharper hazel eyes. FitzRoy.

“He’s fine, just very weak.” Fitz cracked an eye open. “Who’re you calling weak, Blackwood?” “Ah, there’s the Fitz we all know and love.”

“Oh, good.” Knigh rolled his eyes. “I’m already regretting healing him. Let’s get him to a bed where he can be his delightful self away from me.”

“I shouldn’t have sent him. Not because he can’t be trusted, but because Mercia can be trusted to be awful every single time.”

“I’ll be back in a bit.” “Mmm-hmm.” Saba waved. “No rush.” “Well”—Knigh threw her an apologetic look—“we might be a little longer than that, actually.” “As long as you get a smile on her face, I don’t care.” Knigh’s teeth flashed and he interlaced his fingers with Vice’s. “I’ll try.”

“Do you know what I call this place?” He stood at her side and spoke softly. “Our cove.” He shook his head. “The moment I first saw it, I thought ours.” It filled her chest to hear that word from him. Ours. It felt right. “I like that.”

“I thought…” He released her hand, chest rising in a deep breath as he stepped into the square and turned to her. “This would be the ideal place for a tiny, private home. Somewhere for when we’re not at sea.” A home. She blinked at him, at the cleared land, at the square of branches. They marked the walls of a house.

here we would have space for a bath. Now, I know I said simple, but I think it should be big enough for us to share. If we’re going to the trouble of heating all that water, I figure we should both enjoy it.”

“Which brings me to”—another big step towards the beach—“stove in that corner, window here, bookshelves across that wall”—he gestured left—“and two armchairs. Realistically, the cats will commandeer those, but let’s humour ourselves and pretend it’s one each for you and me.”

“This will be the front porch, and it won’t matter that the cats have stolen our armchairs, because we’ll sit here most of the time on a big swing seat. Just you, me, and a bottle of spiced rum.”

“I thought this was a suitable distance for Is to live. Not on our doorstep, but close enough should she need us… when we’re not at sea, of course.”

“I think Mama would’ve approved of this place.”

“I’ll say it again, Vee: I have faith in you.”

“You know I love you, right?” Now the other cheek. “Hard or soft. Prickly…”

“Or squishy.” With a playful smirk, he squeezed her backside. “And everything in between.” He rested his forehead against hers. “In all ways, I’ll still love you.” “And I love you.”

“Pirate hunter or deserter. Arrogant or nervous to show me the spot he’s marked out for a home.”

“And especially when coaxing me out of a pit of despair. In all ways, and always, I’ll still love you.”

“And they’re clever, right?”

“They’re pirates, Blackwood.” “Then perhaps they’ll escape. For all we know, they already have.”

“We’ve been friends long enough that you don’t need to beat around the bush. Spit it out.” “Urgh. This is not how I envisaged this conversation going.”

“I need to ask your permission…” He dragged in a deep breath and tugged his collar. “To ask your sister for her hand in marriage.”

“Billy, my friend…” He stopped in the street and squeezed his shoulder. “It would be my absolute honour to call you brother, but I’ve already told Is—the only person whose permission you need is hers.”

“As I’ve said, the old rules don’t apply to us anymore.” Billy hurried to catch up. “Is that a yes?” “Good gods, man, I don’t recall you being so dense. It’s a ‘you didn’t need to ask me.’ Ask her. I think we both know what the answer will be.”

“And I, for one, will look forward to the big day.”

“Thank you. Even if I don’t need your permission, I’m glad to have your approval.” “Oh.” Knigh widened his eyes. “You don’t have that.” At Billy’s face dropping, he couldn’t keep the amusement from his own and burst into more laughter. “You’re a cruel man, Knighton Blackwood.” Billy scowled even as he chuckled. “That Pirate Queen of yours has br...

“Great birthday gift for you, eh?”

“Ah, yes, nothing says celebration like the night before your worst enemy attacks.” “Hey, nothing makes you feel more alive than a battle, right?” A wicked glint entered his eye. “I can think of a few things.”

“Besides. There won’t be a battle, because you are going to show that ritual exactly what the Pirate Queen is capable of.”

“The vanity of Vane, nothing to his name. Oh, oh, the vanity of Vane.” Something stirred in her memories. “When ladies faint, it’s at his stench, the stupid fellow can’t even pay a wench.”

“I never really had you, Vice.” His voice was soft as he frowned out into the darkness. “And part of me always knew it… always knew you were too good for me. But I liked being close to your flame, even if only for a while.”

“I’d have treated you like a queen, you know.” His teeth flashed in a grin. “I might not have managed to actually make you a queen, like some.” He pointed the bottle at Knigh, who glanced over again. “But I’d have worshipped you like one.”

“If not for you and Blackwood, I’d have to give you a reminder, but…” He sat back, scoffing as Knigh approached. “Well, there he is, and the way he’s looking at you, I’d wager he wants a word in his sovereign’s ear.” He dusted off his hands. “And I? I need to drink more before this wave of honesty gets me in trouble.”

“Not hopeless, Vice. Never hopeless. You’ll get that storm back and maybe wreck Mercia against some rocks.” He gave her a wink and rose. “Smash him.”

“To smithereens.” “That’s my gir—ahem—Pirate Queen.”

He glanced back, face now bathed in firelight. It was a handsome face, maybe tinged with ruthlessness and definitely sharp-edged, but handsome all the same. She could see why the newly-named Vice had sought comfort in his bed. He was the kind of man who’d burn the world for the woman he loved. Just a pity they’d never loved each other. Wrong person. Wrong time.

She’d wheedled the information out of him using a number of underhand tactics. Primarily her mouth on his cock and the tease of her tongue.

“Stars in the sea,” she breathed.

“Some sort of tiny glowing creature, like our glow-worms.” He didn’t dare speak too loudly in case it broke the moment.

“I’m not sure I can outdo the sea’s birthday gift, but I hope you like this all the same.”

“Happy birthday, my love.” “Thank you.”

“A compass.” Not only a compass… Painted across its face were crimson tentacles, encroaching in from the edges, and at its north point was a tiny key. On the inside of the lid, etched letters glinted, and he had to turn it to the light to read. Always. It was the most exquisite compass he’d ever seen. She’d clearly had it made for him. His nose prickled and the warmth filling his chest was overwhelming.

“Whatever monsters come, this will guide you home.”

“I love it. Thank you.” He snapped the compass shut and held it over his chest, over the tattoo it mirrored. “Thank you.” She looked away with a bashful smile. Vee, bashful. That was a new one. The fact this woman could still surprise him—Lords and Ladies, it only made him love her all the more.

“I love you, Vee. So much.”

“Everything we’ve seen of each other, good and bad… I wouldn’t change a moment of it, because it brought us here. To this beach with its luminescent waves. To this island. To this place where we are co-captains and bondmates and… friends.”

“Only the gods know what tomorrow will bring,” he went on, “but this place, this night… I’d do it all over again to be here with you, now. And I might die tomorrow, but I hope not, because if we survive this, I’m hoping you might do the only thing that can make me even happier than I am now and marry me.”

“Knighton Blackwood, was that a proposal?” “I do believe it was.” He pulled the ring from the box in his pocket. An eternity band of aquamarines set in silver.

“I’ll never lock you up, but I’ll never leave you, either.”

“I believe you.”

It was a kiss that spelled out her belief, in case there was any room for doubt. It was a kiss that spoke of tomorrow and whatever came the day after or the day after that. It was a kiss that obliterated the possibility that they wouldn’t get through any battle.