Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1) (12 page)

True to his word, Jake pulled the Crimson Jewel to dock in Everett just under an hour later. He gave the order to tie off and jumped down the stairs to the main deck. The plank was lowered to the dock and several of Jake’s men jumped down to secure tie lines to the wooden posts.

“Why are we stopping?” Anna’s voice sounded from behind him.

Jake turned in time to see Char smile at Anna and place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We are picking up some supplies. Then we’ll be underway again.”

Jake saw disbelief in Anna’s eyes and knew she saw through the Prince’s lies. He was only slightly surprised when she didn’t call him on it. Anna didn’t seem the type to enjoy confrontation and her deep-seeded sweetness wouldn’t allow her to intentionally hurt anyone; even someone who was clearly lying to her.

“I don’t suppose you want to tell me why we’ve docked,” Anna prodded Jake as Char moved away.

“Sorry, Love,” Jake shook his head.

“You know,” Anna’s attempt to keep the frustration from her voice was palpable. “I’m not a child. I don’t need protected from the truth. And, I don’t deserve to be lied to.”

“I’ve never lied to you, Anna.” Jake willed her to see the truth in his statement. “I kept more than my share of secrets, but I never lied.”

“I know,” Anna ducked her head, her voice a whisper of what it had been. “I’m just tired of everyone else making my choices for me.”

“Then, choose to have dinner with me when I return,” Jake suggested.

“Dinner,” Anna repeated shyly.

“Aye, on the beach,” Jake stepped closer until their bodies were a breath apart.

“Alone?” Anna asked.

“Don’t you trust me, Love?” Jake teased.

Anna hesitated at his question, her eyes growing thoughtful as she stared up at him. “I trust you,” her voice was low, but confident.

“Anna,” Jake groaned as he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Her trust humbled him and Jake struggled to resist wrapping Anna in his arms and claiming her where they stood. Jake doubted Anna would appreciate a public display.

“How long will you be?” Char’s tone was filled with anxiety and frustration as he interrupted Jake’s heated internal struggle.

“I won’t be long,” Jake promised, watching Anna pull away from him with a telling blush. She moved across the deck to join Sully and a few of his men in conversation, looking back at him briefly before he jumped down to the docks below.

“Haste is appreciated,” Char muttered. “I want to be away from land.”

“By the way, mate,” Jake looked up at the Prince above him. “You’re a terrible liar.”

Char seemed surprised at Jake’s comment before realization dawned. Jake saw the man look back toward Anna, a pained groan forming on his lips. He shouldn’t have taken so much enjoyment from the Prince’s misery, but Jake was grinning as he questioned some of the locals on his informant’s whereabouts. His excursion drew into the afternoon as Jake struggled to find information. It took a few dozen coins and reassurances he wasn’t looking to harm the man before someone finally told Jake where he could find Marrow.

Jake walked the beach to the man’s small shack, finding him sitting on his rickety porch with a metal tumbler of alcohol in his hand. “Captain Reynolds,” Andre’s glassy eyes stared up at him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I need information,” Jake didn’t waste time with bargaining or small talk. He tossed a satchel of coins at the man’s hip, landing it on the porch beside him.

Andre’s eyes widened and sobered as he looked in the bag. “An awful big reward for information I may not have.”

“A woman named Anna in Meridelle,” Jake leaned against the porch railing. “There is someone trying to harm her. I need to know who.”

Andre’s expression grew severe, telling Jake the man knew what he was talking about. “I’m afraid you paid way too much, Reynolds. I don’t have a name for you.”

“Nay, you know something,” Jake stated, confident with his reading of the informant.

“Aye,” Andre nodded slowly. “But, you won’t like it.”

“Tell me,” Jake demanded.

“I don’t know who ordered the hit,” Andre stated. “But, I know where it came from; the Dark Guild.”

“The Dark Guild,” Jake repeated with confusion. “What business is she of theirs?”

“Again, I’ve no idea,” Andre claimed. “All I hear is she’s special somehow. They need her to fulfill some kind of prophecy. But, if anyone asks, you didn’t get this information from me.”

Jake’s hopes of ending the danger posed to Anna died as he took in the information Andre offered. Andre was right; Jake didn’t like what he offered. “Thank you, Marrow.”

“Reynolds,” Andre stopped him as Jake turned away. “Be careful. The Dark Guild has eyes and ears all over the realm; including inside the Prince’s court. You’d be wise to show caution in who you assign your trust.”

“Concern for me, Marrow, how noble of you,” Jake eyed the drunk with some humor.

“What can I say,” Marrow took a gulp of his ale. “You pay well.”

Jake walked back toward the docks, his steps growing faster as Marrow’s words replayed in his mind. Whoever was after Anna reached her inside the walls of Char’s castle; he’d been foolish to believe her safe on his Crimson Jewel. As he reached the docks, a scream wrenched through the air. Jake’s heart thundered as he sprinted to his ship.

Chapter Twelve

The scene on the main deck of the Crimson Jewel was chaotic. The majority of his crew stood with swords in hand, facing down the equally armed royal Guards. By the lack of bloodshed, Jake suspected no blows were shared, but the tension onboard threatened to erupt at any moment. Dane held one of Char’s Guards in a chokehold, the Guard’s face turning a dark shade of red. The remaining Guards shouted for their comrade’s release. Char stood to the side of the mess with a look of shock on his face.

Sully held back behind the other crew, using his wide form to shield Anna from the events the older man feared would come. Jake wanted to take Anna in his arms and ensure she was unharmed, but he denied himself the urge, turning toward his crew instead.

“Easy, mates,” Jake ordered. “Stay your blades.” His men seemed reluctant as they obeyed the command, albeit a bit slowly. The Guards lowered their swords as Jake placed a restraining hand on Dane. “Easy, Dane,” Jake spoke softly.

“He laid hand on Miss Anna,” Dane confirmed Jake’s suspicion. “No man lays hand on her, Captain’s orders.”

“Aye,” Jake confirmed. “That was my order. Now, let’s lock him in the brig until we can sort this out.”

“You’re not locking up our man, release him,” one of the free Guards demanded severely.

“I can’t do that, mate,” Jake’s hand moved to the butt of his blade as the Guard stalked closer, prepared for a fight if the man offered one.

“No,” Char found his voice in time to have his Guard stand down. “We’ll lock him up until we can settle the matter.” The Guards seemed unhappy at their Prince’s order, but they sheathed their blades and stood back.

“Take him to the brig, Dane,” Jake ordered. Dane looked like he was going to argue, but he did as his Captain commanded. The giant carried the traitor down the stairwell, slamming him into the cells on the steerage deck with enough force to be heard from two decks above.

“I’ll question him,” Char offered as he followed Dane’s path to the cells, his Guardians close behind him.

Jake turned to Anna, her eyes full of questions. “What happened?” Jake asked as he stepped closer to her.

“I,” Anna shook her head, her brown eyes dazed. “I’ve no idea. One second I’m sitting with Dane, the next Guardian Maxwell grabs my arm and Dane puts him in a headlock.”

“Then, the men took arms,” Sully added.

“Thank you,” Jake spoke forcefully, his meaning obviously clear to the older man who dipped his head in understanding. Sully could have taken arms with the men, but instead took Anna, shielding her from any events which may have followed. Jake knew it went against the man’s code to abandon his crew for the care of a woman, but Sully did it for him. And, Jake wanted to be sure the man knew how deep his gratitude ran. “I’ll see to the prisoner, make sure the men are settled.”

“Do we shove off?” Sully asked.

“Not yet,” Jake informed; anxious to see what the Guard had to say before setting sail.

Jake moved toward the stairs, halted by Sully’s meaty hand on his bicep. “Jake,” Sully’s voice was too low for any but his Captain to hear him. “What Anna didn’t see was the blade in the Guard’s other hand. He meant to kill her.”

Jake’s blood chilled at the man’s words. It was no worse than he suspected, as Dane generally wouldn’t react with violence unless warranted, but hearing the words from Sully’s lips was striking. Jake nodded in understanding. He wanted to remain close to Anna, but knew she was safe with the men of his crew. While Jake didn’t trust many, he knew his men and they were loyal. Their swiftness to arms when defending Dane and Anna was proof to their allegiance. With a last look around the deck, Jake disappeared into the bowls of his ship to hear what the traitor had to say.

Several hours later he stormed back to the main deck, frustration dogging his steps. Char excused his Guards so Jake and he could interrogate the traitor in privacy. However, despite the constant interrogation, the man hadn’t so much as opened his mouth.

“He’ll talk,” Char mumbled from behind him, his tone low so not to be heard by the crew.

“Why?” Jake asked, spinning on the Prince to get his point across. “Why would he talk?”

“It will just take some time,” Char’s tone didn’t hold the same confidence it had hours before.

“You go right ahead and keep talking, Mate,” Jake stepped onto the plank leading to the dock.

“Where are you going?” Char shouted after him.

“For a walk,” Jake informed, disappearing down the dock and onto the beach.

Jake needed time away from the tension and frustration on his ship. If he was the Pirate he used to be, Jake would have the answers he wanted hours ago. Jake would have given the traitor a reason to speak. He hadn’t done as he wished, despite his rage over the man’s attempt on Anna’s life. The Guard was Char’s man and it was the Prince’s right to question him.

Jake bent to pick up a shining silver shell on the sand, turning it in his palm as he tried to calm his shattered control. He hadn’t wanted to walk away from the interrogation but knew if he remained he would have intervened. His patience for Char’s soft-handed tactics was gone. He hurled the shell toward the Ocean, watching it fall into the sea with a satisfying plop.

“You seem to take far too much pleasure in that, Pirate,” a feminine voice spoke from farther up the shoreline.

Jake turned to see a small, golden woman standing in the sand a few yards away. He watched her cautiously as the woman approached him. “What do you want?”

“I am Mara of Faeria,” Mara bowed her golden head slightly in introduction.

“I know who you are, Fairy,” Jake tilted his head. “Why have you come to me?”

“I’ve come for Anna,” Mara informed.

“That isn’t happening,” Jake growled, swearing if the woman came to take Anna from him he would ensure she would not leave the beach.

“No worries, Pirate,” Mara waved her hand. “I’ve no intent to take her from you. She is safer in your care than in mine.”

“Then we agree,” Jake remained cautious, still unsure of why the Fairy was present.

“Aye,” Mara nodded. “But, you know someone wishes her harm.”

“Because of the prophecy,” Jake added.

Mara’s golden eyes grew wide and fearful. “What do you know of the prophecy? Who spoke to you of this?”

“Tell me of it,” Jake demanded.

Mara hesitated before shaking her head. “Nay, it is better the less you know.”

“How am I to protect her if I don’t know why she is in danger?” Jake asked, his hand running through his hair in frustration.

After a moment, Mara nodded. “Anna is special; she is not from this world.”

“Aye,” Jake nodded. “She said she was taken from her family; somewhere too far to travel.”

“She did not lie,” Mara smiled sadly.

“Where is she from?” Jake asked.

“Another realm,” Mara admitted. “Anna is born to the mortal world.”

“That’s impossible,” Jake shook his head, denying the Fairy’s information. “Portals between realms are myths and legends, none can pass between.”

“Anna did,” Mara’s expression was earnest and Jake stilled in shock at her truth. “And, in doing so, she set off a series of events which may prove end to all we know.”

“I can protect her,” Jake vowed.

“Nay, Pirate,” Mara shook her head sadly. “You can’t protect her. Even if you stop those out to harm her, there will always be another. She will live in fear forever.”

“Then, what am I to do?” Jake asked with growing frustration.

“Send her home,” Mara ordered. “Send her back to her world.”

“And, lose her forever,” Jake concluded.

“Aye, Pirate,” Jake’s comment hadn’t required confirmation, but Mara offered it with a sympathetic expression. “Return her to the Mortal Realm; to her family.”

“If that’s the only way, why is she still here?” Jake asked in confusion. “Why haven’t you sent her home? You are Fairy; surely you can open the portal.”

“Aye, I can open the portal,” Mara grew sad. “But, Anna would not survive the return trip.”

“Then, how am I to send her home?” Jake grew frustrated by the creature’s riddles.

“There is a way,” Mara stated. “The man you hold in your cell is of the Dark Guild. They would not take so many risks to acquire her if they did not know a way of her escape. He has the answers.”

“He won’t speak,” Jake complained.

“He will,” Mara assured. “You know he will, Pirate.”

Jake didn’t need further explanation of how the Fairy meant for him to get information. “There has to be another way,” Jake whispered. The interrogation skills of Pirates were legendary and Jake was the best in his station. His chest tightened at the thought of becoming the monster he tried so hard to abolish from his reputation.

“I have searched as far as I can,” Mara shook her head. “What secrets the Dark Guild holds are theirs alone.”

“I gave up that life,” Jake informed.

“You changed for Anna, to be what she needed you to be,” Mara claimed. “But, Anna doesn’t need a good man. She needs a monster willing to fight for her; willing to kill for her. Are you willing?”

“Aye,” Jake choked on the vow.

Mara gave him a final, sad look as she walked away, leaving Jake to wallow in the information she provided.

***

Anna watched the crew play a rousing game of cards as they waited patiently on the main deck of the Crimson Jewel. Jake left the ship nearly an hour before, not telling anyone where he was headed or why. Anna tried to get answers from Char, but the Prince was vague as ever. As she listened to his obvious hedging, Anna’s patience with the man finally snapped. Her voice was most likely heard all through the ship and perhaps through the village of Everett, but she hadn’t cared. Anna was tired of people keeping things from her in their foolish ideals of keeping her safe.

Her words were harsh, telling the Prince exactly where he could shove his overbearing, protective tendencies. She felt a pang of remorse thinking back on his look of shock and guilt but brushed it off. Char had since kept to his quarters, ignoring Anna and the crew of the Crimson Jewel.

For the first time in weeks, Anna didn’t ache for the solitude of her bedroom. It was as if releasing her temper on the Prince gave her a new confidence. Anna was tired of allowing others to dictate her life. Whether she liked it or not, Anna was trapped in this new and unfamiliar realm. While she would always mourn the loss of her family and life in her world, Anna knew it was time to accept her situation and move forward. The first step was making sure the newest men in her life didn’t turn out like her overprotective brothers. Anna didn’t need coddled and when Jake returned to the ship, she would make sure he got the message, just as Char had.

“Miss Anna,” Dane stood in front of her, shifting on his feet. “I wanted to apologize if I frightened you earlier.”

“No need to apologize, Dane,” Anna assured the man, thinking the giant reminded her of a teddy bear; a little scary on the surface, but filled with fluff and sweetness. Anna doubted the man would appreciate the comparison.

“It’s just,” Dane looked down at the deck as he continued. “Captain said no one was to lay hand on you.”

Anna smiled at his excuse for violence. She wondered what other orders Jake gave on her behalf to ensure her safety on the ship. “I know,” Anna smiled at the man, placing a comforting hand on his beefy forearm. “Thank you for defending me.”

Dane smiled at her forgiveness before growing thoughtful. “He’s a good man, Miss Anna.”

“Who’s that?” Anna was confused by the change in subject.

“Captain Reynolds,” Dane clarified. “He’s not like people say; he’s a good man.”

Anna was surprised at the man’s defense of Jake. “I’m sure he is,” Anna smiled.

“You don’t believe me,” Dane shook his head sadly.

“I,” Anna stuttered at his astuteness, “I want to believe you.”

Anna realized with a start she meant the words. She did want to believe Jake was a good man; wanted to believe he could be honorable and honest. With so many secrets and stories from his past, Anna was having a hard time accepting he was capable of change. As the day wore on and afternoon turned to early evening, Anna found she was far more focused on Dane’s claims than her indignation of being protected.

***

Jake delayed as long as he could before heading back to the Crimson Jewel. Most of his afternoon was spent trying to find another way to achieve what needed done without becoming the monster required to do it. Eventually, however, Jake accepted his fate. He’d sent word for Char to meet him on the dock, unwilling to face the prying eyes of his crew or the woman he knew would question him. A quick discussion with the Prince gave Jake the permission he needed to interrogate Guardian Maxwell away from the protection of Char or the other Guards.

Char and his Guards escorted the prisoner to shore, securing him to a tree just inside the line of forest off the beach. They left him there, striding past Jake and back to the ship. Char stopped beside Jake where he stood leaning on a narrow rock-faced wall cutting him off from the beach. The Prince stared out to sea next to him with an accepting sort of sadness about him. “So, you met Mara,” Char’s statement wasn’t a question.