Problem was he did have some lines he wouldn’t cross. Some things he just wouldn’t do, like kill an innocent, or sell a woman to someone who would. But he was still mad and not about to let either of them off the hook.
“She killed her father,” he pointed out.
“I did not,” she exclaimed, finally speaking in her own defense. Her lower lip trembled. “There was an assassin.”
He narrowed his gaze on her. “Yeah, there was. His own daughter. With a knife to the heart.”
“That’s a lie!” she hotly retorted. “I loved my father. I would never hurt him.”
Oddly enough, he actually believed her. “At this point, it doesn’t matter. There’s a bounty on your head. Three, as a matter of fact.”
“Three?” Her chin dropped, and her shoulders slumped.
“The good news is the top two highest paying ones require you alive.”
She blinked at him. “How is that good?”
“Well, it’s less likely anyone will try and kill you for the cheap payout.”
“Great,” was her mumbled reply.
It hit him then how callous his words were. He felt like a shit, but rather than apologize, he turned to Jorah. “Exactly what the fuck do you expect us to do with her?”
Before his first mate could reply, she said the one thing even a pirate couldn’t refuse. “Please. Help me.”
At the heart of every man, there was a need to play hero. In his case, Darius suddenly wanted with all his might to be one for the beautiful woman in front of him. “Helping you might get me killed. And I have to admit, I am kind of not keen on that.”
She bit her lip and raised that turquoise gaze to meet his. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted. You can disembark tomorrow when we arrive at Tawa.” Where she’d last maybe a minute before someone snatched her from the docks and turned her in for the prize money. Perhaps he should just escort her himself and save everyone the trouble.
“Disembark and do what?” she exclaimed. “I have nowhere to go. No funds. Not to mention I might be recognized.”
“I’m sure we can find a way to camouflage you. Maybe cut and dye your hair. How do you feel about facial tattoos?” he mused aloud.
“I am not inking my face. You can’t do this to me.”
“He’s not,” Jorah rumbled.
Darius shot him a glare. “Stay out of this. You’ve already caused me enough trouble.” Then to Shereen. “You cannot stay on board this ship.”
“But I have nowhere to go. My father was the only one I could trust, and he’s dead and…and…” Her breathing hitched, and Darius stared at her in horror as big tears began to roll down her cheeks.
He waved his hands frantically. “No crying. I say, no crying on my ship!”
It only served to make her tears fall silently faster.
“Dere, dere, princess. You’ll be all right,” Jorah crooned, tucking her close and patting her back while managing a reproachful glare in his direction.
“Don’t look at me like I’m the monster here,” Darius grumbled, even more annoyed because her tears made him feel only shittier.
“She’s sad. Be nice.”
“Be nice, he says. How have I been mean? I think as captain I have the right to ask questions. To wonder why my crew has mutinied against me.”
“I’m so, so sorry,” she hiccupped, scrubbing a hand over her wet eyes. “I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. Forget what I said before. Just stop the ship and drop me off.”
“Where? We are at sea, princess.”
“Not a princess anymore.” She sniffled. “My name is Shereen.”
“I know who you are. That’s the entire problem. Everyone is looking for you. And here you are. On my ship. Making us a target for every fucking bounty hunter out there.”
Ten bags of Dust. He had to admire Jorah, who wanted to be a hero more than a rich man. Darius, though, wanted to remain a living pirate, and that was hard to do if a target was painted on his ship.
“You’re sure no one else but the crew knows she’s here?” he asked.
“No one knows.”
“She has to remain hidden,” Darius ordered. “We can’t have anyone spotting her, or we’ll be in a heap of trouble.” He didn’t need every buccaneer on the seas coming after him.
“I’m sorry.” Again with the slumped shoulders.
He felt like a slimy gob of fish innards left on the deck in the sun. “Don’t be sorry. Think of a destination. I was serious when I said you can’t stay on board.”
“My father wanted me to go see my Uncle Petrov. He lives in the Topaz Isles.”
“That’s clear on the other side of the continent.” Where the temperature was much colder and the monsters much larger—if sluggish.
“My father thought I might be safe there.”
She might be. It certainly wasn’t the easiest place to visit. For other captains perhaps. Darius had been a few times before. Taking the princess would give him a destination rather than aimless wandering, with perhaps a reward from a grateful relative at the end.
“After we resupply at Tawa, we will make haste for your uncle.” Because he couldn’t help a certain curiosity as to who was willing to pay so much. It was risky, but if he could find a way to perhaps make the broker believe Shereen was dead…that would make things a lot safer for his ship and crew.
“Really?”
The hope in her lilting reply ignited something in him. If he looked past her stringy hair and pallor, she was quite pretty. “Yes,” he offered with a smile. “And for the length of our voyage, I will even offer the use of my cabin.” The bed was large enough for two, and he’d only have to share it a week at the most.
Her expression brightened, and her smile proved warm. “You are too kind.”
His treacherous first mate smirked.
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you the way.” Darius sketched a bow and glared at Jorah after she swept past. He mouthed, “You’re so dead,” and slid a finger over his throat.
Jorah laughed.
No respect. None at all. He should make the lot of them jump off the ship.
The hall didn’t prove long to navigate, and yet despite that, he somehow unluckily managed to ensure every one of his crew saw him with the princess. Clyde watched the gauges on the engines. Aquata, her green hair shorn short, watched the sonar and the few viewing ports underwater for anything that might cause damage. Ralf, with his four arms and single eye, headed to the kitchen with a hunk of meat over his shoulder, prepping for their next meal. The only one Darius didn’t see was Tanzie. He’d hunt her down later and glare at her, too, for her part in this.
Emerging onto the deck, Shereen halted and took a deep breath. Her eyes closed, and she inhaled again. Some of her pallor eased.
“Haven’t you ever sailed before?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Only a few times when I was little. Father said I was so sick each time he didn’t have the heart to keep making me.”
“But you are King Du’mer’s daughter. The mightiest water wizard known. How can you be allergic to the sea?”