Page 50 of A Yulean Sister’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

“Agreed to what?”

“Your work today,” he said. “That was the stipulation of the food, of course.”

I scowled right at Anne, who looked confused, but I’d been fooled before. And it was clear her loyalties lied with him. I shouldn’t have trusted her; that was a lesson I should have learned a long time ago.

“I’m sorry I didn’t—” she started.

“You should get dressed,” Shadowhart said. “Anne, you’re needed on the deck.”

She nodded to him, and turned, looking sorry to me before scampering off.

“I’ll be waiting outside,” he said.

“You’ll be waiting a long time,” I said, leaning back in the chair. “I’m not coming.”

“Yes, you are,” he said. “You accepted the food, remember.”

“She never told me that was the case.”

“That’s not my problem,” he said.

“I would think stooping to such lows would be beneath you.”

“I’m a pirate, flower,” he said. “I’ve stooped much lower than this.”

I meant to comment on what he called me, but he continued, not letting me get a word in edgewise.

“Ten minutes.” He shut the door behind his wavering tail, leaving no further room for argument.

Was this how someone like him lead? With tricks and bribery? He reminded me he was a pirate of course, but everyone whom I’d spoken to made him sound like a deity, not a conniving leader.

I sat, staring forward, being stubborn for at least eight of the ten minutes he gave me.

But finally, I got up and started to dress. I told myself it was out of curiosity only. And likely, I would spend an hour or two wherever, fuck up, and be able to return to my needlework. No harm, and maybe he’d finally understand.

This was to my benefit, really.

I selected a green dress today, but it was one I had no hope of tying myself into. There weren’t many I had that I could, and I ran out of them quickly.

Anne was gone, and there was only one person waiting for me.

Moons.

I opened the door, using one hand to hold the front of the corset high. Shadowhart wound away from the wall, but froze when he looked at me.

His gaze was… piercing. As if he was imagining something else, like what would happen if I dropped the dress.

It was the same way he looked at me the night of the ball. That cool, calculated gaze of his somehow managed to set my entire body on fire, even when it shouldn’t.

“I need help lacing it up,” I said, somehow managing not to bumble over my words.

“I have no idea how to do something like this.”

“A pirate who can’t tie a knot?”

He huffed, a very unamused sounding breath. “Can’t you wear something else?”

“No,” I said. “Now, if you want me to come, help me.”