Page 75 of A Yulean Sister’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

“I. Am. Not.”

“I think I was next,” Carina’s voice came in the crowd.

“Enough.” My voice cracked through the argument, plummeting everyone back into silence. “Anyone who needs anything else fixed will leave it in a pile on this table.” I pointed to it, and picked up the page and ink pen from Sage, who was listening for the first time in what felt like ever. “Write your name, the item of clothing, and what’s wrong with it, and Sage will get to you. If you argue or cause commotion, you’ll all be scrubbing the deck with a toothbrush. And be quick, we have a ship to sail out soon.”

There was no further argument. Everyone cleared from Sage and settled in line. She watched them all move, following my order.

She looked up at me. “I had it handled, you know.”

I quirked a brow, but looked away from her. I couldn’t handle her looking up at me the same way she did yesterday.

“We need to move out, and I need them in order.”

She huffed. “When do we leave?”

“As soon as everyone is done with this,” I gestured to them, adding their clothes to the pile and writing things down in an orderly fashion.

“Okay then.” She picked up the pile she already had, brushing past me. Her skirts tickled against my tail as she passed. I couldn’t tell if it was a purposeful tease, or if last night was so top of mind that it was the only thing I could focus on.

But she never turned back as she strode off towards her room.

“Captain,” someone called, drawing my attention. This was what I needed to focus on, not a one night stand with a princess. My ship, and my crew.

“Coming.”

Chapter 25

Sage

This ship was run like a well-oiled machine, back out at sea only a couple hours later.

My days had turned to a simple routine. Breakfast with Anne, days spent with Bramwell while I worked on my now long list of patching, and dinner in the mess hall in the evenings. When I first got here it felt like everyone was doing everything in their power to avoid me, like I was some kind of parasite. But now the crew would wave when they passed me, or even sit next to me during meals. I learned Links also liked plants, and before they were a pirate, Bee used to work on a farm.

I’d hardly seen Shadowhart in the last couple of days. Every once in a while he’d check in with Bramwell, but as soon as he was told there was nothing of note, he was out of there like he thought he might be set on fire. Not once had he met my gaze.

I did my best not to think about it, or care. It was clear he was only interested in a quick hookup, and was trying hard to make sure I got the hint. Well, I read it loud and clear, so he didn’t have to worry about that.

It reminded me of a time such hints didn’t come as easily to me. When I was a teen, I made out with Lord Bartred in the gardens during a party. It was my first time being kissed, and I thought it meant something. We’d been writing letters back and forth before that, having met at a ball a few months before.

But it turned out I was very wrong. When I voiced the assumption, he looked at me like I was mad in front of everyone, letting me know, “It was just a fling, don’t read so much into it.”

Since then, I’d allowed everything to be “just a fling.” Feelings confused things, and this way there was never any reason for the confusion.

And there still wasn’t. I was sure Shadowhart heard of my reputation and wanted to see for himself. And that was fine. I wasn’t upset, or hopeful, or any of those things.

The waves were extra bumpy today. Normally in the center of the ship there wasn’t much to feel, but when it was choppy enough the rocking became more evident. Luckily, it seemed only the water really bothered me; so long as I didn’t see it, I was fine.

“Moons,” Bramwell cursed. Papers flew to the ground with one particularly harsh knock of the waves. With the movement and my surprise at his outburst, I let the needle prick my finger briefly, making me jump. A bead of blood formed in place, and I stuck it in my mouth to stop it.

I set down the shirt and got to the floor to help him collect them. “Thank you,” he said, reaching for the stack I’d collected.

The ship creaked again. There was a lull, right before something hit so hard it sent both Bramwell and I flying backward. I slammed into the wall with a harsh breath, pain crawling across my side.

“Are you okay?” he asked, prying himself off the wall. His hand reached out, trying to help me up.

We were both halfway to standing when it happened again. Bramwell barely caught me, keeping us both standing.

“What’s up with the waves?” I asked.