The waves crashed against the sandy beach. Serenity adjusted the skirt of her sailor uniform and pulled up her white stockings. Dusk was settling quickly over the ocean. Bright bioluminescence shone in the tide.
“Thanks, Acanthus,” she murmured as she moved up shore. While her sister no longer needed rescuing, Serenity had not given up hope of finding the Undersea Galaxy. She internally cursed that the latest rumors of this treasure came from the place she had just released her recent prisoner.
He’ll be safe in the castle, resting from his exciting journey, she told herself. There’s no way the king would let his friend wander through pubs on his own the same night he’d just been rescued.
“Halt!” A guard called out to her, seeing her approach by herself from the dark beach. “What’s your business?”
“That bastard was all hands!” Serenity whined, playing the distressed damsel. “He dragged me out there just so he could make a pass at me and he wouldn’t take no for an answer!”
The guard looked past her down the beach. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone following you.”
“I kicked him so hard that hopefully he can’t walk for a month!” She shivered, pretending to shake off the feeling of her attacker. “I just want a fire and plenty of people around. And I definitely don’t ever want to see him again!”
“You couldn’t be talking about me, could you?” Serenity groaned internally. She recognized that voice. It had been echoing in her head for hours. She turned slowly. A blush crept up her neck as she saw him.
Hraesvelgr was standing behind her, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. His black shirt showed every one of his muscles. He looked so casual and relaxed. Serenity thought her heart might stop any moment.
“Are you the one who was pursuing the young lady?” The guard asked.
Melromarc’s teasing smile slipped. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“She says a man was trying to have his way with her on the beach. But I don’t see a man.”
His smile returned. “You wouldn’t,” he chuckled. “If Miss Serenity is standing here, that man will be on the beach for a few days. Trust me, she can handle her own.”
“Even so, Miss Serenity shouldn’t be wandering around alone. Especially if she plans on visiting a pub.”
Serenity held up her hands. “I just want a hot meal and company I don’t have to interact with! I’m not trying to cause any trouble!” Some of her feigned distress had become genuine.
“Don’t worry. I can escort her from here and make sure she stays out of any further trouble.” He put an arm around her shoulders. “And I can let you know if this mystery attacker shows his face.”
The guard nodded. “Yes, of course, Admiral.” He walked away to continue his rounds.
“A-Admiral?” Serenity stuttered after a moment.
“As of tonight. Though I have the evening off. The official ceremony is in five days.” He kept a smile on his face and spoke casually as they walked toward the nearest tavern. As soon as they were out of sight of the guard, Melromarc shoved her down an alley. He gripped her shoulders as if he wanted to shake her. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Not checking up on you!” she shot back.
“You just stole a fortune from the king and you’re going to rob him again? You’ll be on the gallows by morning!”
“What’s with the sudden concern for my safety?” she argued. “Or are you trying to butter me up so you can capture me?”
“Damn it! I care about you!” Hraesvelgr let her go and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to see you hung!”
“You only care about fucking me! You don’t want me dead because you think I’ll melt in your arms and you can have your way with me!”
“For fuck’s sake, Serenity, why are you here?” He paused before something dawned on him. “I should’ve realized. You were the one who was using me. Clearly, you have someone else.”
“What are you talking about?” Serenity looked confused at this new accusation.
“The man on the beach. You were meeting someone else.” He seemed to grow more agitated. “Here I was daydreaming about you and you’ve got some other guy.”
Serenity’s jaw dropped. “Are you jealous?”
“Jealous?” Melromarc nearly shouted. Serenity knew he was angered by her question. “How could I not be jealous?”
“What?” This wasn’t what she had expected.
“What does it matter? Make sure your man doesn’t cause any more trouble or you might get caught.” He turned to walk away.
“Wait!” Serenity cried. She caught his arm. “There isn’t another man. I made him up to get past the guard. I wasn’t exactly planning on running into you. I’m just here for information. I don’t want to cause any trouble and my crew is already on their way home.” She let go of his arm and turned away from him. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. We’re not exactly friends.”
“I don’t want us to be friends,” he whispered.
“Then we’re not.” His words hurt her heart more than she had expected. “The next time we see each other, you’ll be trying to arrest me again.” Dejected, she began to walk away.
“You’re not here with someone else?”
“No, I’m not. My sister paid for my passage on a merchant ship. I’m alone.”
Hraesvelgr caught her wrist and spun her around. In an instant, his hand was around her waist and his lips were crashing onto hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Caspian’s going to kill me,” he muttered when they broke apart.
Serenity let out a breathy laugh. “That guard might, too. They might be less angry if you at least treat me to dinner.”
“I might be able to do that.” He thought of the feast he had just enjoyed with Talamaar. “If it means spending the evening with you.”
“Just the evening,” she teased.
He took her hand and led her toward the pub. “I think I can live with that for now.”
Serenity cursed her bad luck. The rumors all said her treasure wasn’t anywhere near this kingdom. She had no way of traveling that far until her crew returned for her in a month. If they were lucky, they would’ve made it back just in the nick of time. She had risked her life and freedom for a free meal. That wasn’t entirely true, she thought. A few hours ago, she would’ve never thought Hraesvelgr Melromarc was worth the risk but now she thought he might be.
“Serenity?” Hraesvelgr asked.
“Hmm?” She was only half listening, still pondering her next move.
“Will you come to the ceremony this week?”
Serenity blanched. “You want me to come to your promotion ceremony?”
“Yes,” he said, certainly.
“The ceremony for your promotion in the Royal Navy?” She was staring at him as if he’d grown an extra head.
“Yes.”
“With all the Royal Navy and the king in attendance?”
“Yes.” He put a finger to her lips. “Are you going to keep asking redundant questions or are you going to give me an answer?”
“Do you know how crazy you sound? I’m a wanted criminal! The whole reason you’re getting this promotion is because I kidnapped you!”
“Please?” he asked. His lips curved down in a small pout. Serenity never thought her heart could leap out of her chest at such a face.
She sighed. “I’ll make you a deal. Buy me passage back to my sister’s home and I’ll find a way to make it to your ceremony.”
“You really are a pirate,” he laughed. “Wait for me while I pay for dinner and I’ll walk you to the docks.” After a few moments, they were strolling arm in arm. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay the night?” She shot him a look. “Not with me,” he chuckled. “It just might be safer at an inn instead of on a ship for the night.”
“That sounds like a feeble excuse,” she teased. “Besides, the sooner I’m gone, the more likely I’ll be back in time for your ceremony.”
“Just be safe.” He began to look for a ship that could take her. It didn’t take long as trade between the two nations was steady.
Standing at the gangplank, Hraesvelgr kissed her. She pecked him on the cheek one last time. “I’ll see you in five days.”
“I don’t want to let you go.”
“I won’t be gone long. Maybe I’ll even stay the night next time.”
Melromarc growled, holding her tighter. “Don’t tease me!”
“But it’s so fun!” she smirked. “I’ll be back in five days. I promise.”
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