Save the Sea (Saved by Pirates #3)(17)

“Leave me be, little bird,” Hunter warns as I get to his side.

“You can’t push me away. Neither can Ryland, but he needs his time alone. I am not going anywhere,” I say, and Hunter narrows his eyes on me as he suddenly stops.

“Leave,” he demands, making the single word snarky and cruel. I cross my arms, glaring right back and not backing down. He doesn’t say a word, turning and walking away. I keep about two steps behind him as he walks down the stone paths, pushing people out of his way as he goes. He turns a sharp left, going towards the waterfall. I can see a small cave to the left of it as we get closer. Hunter walks straight into the dark cave, and I follow, using my hands to feel around the cave until I see the light on other side. We come out into a massive cave and inside is a giant lake with hundreds of ships drifting. They all have their sails down, though none are moving. I can see the lake leads to a long river on the other side, which must in turn, lead out of the mountains. I look around and see Hunter walk over to a ship near the back of the fleet, small lanterns lit up on the deck. There is no one around, not that I can see, at least. I follow him, but stop abruptly when I see our ship. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve been on board this ship, since I was stolen from it. Now that it’s next to others, I can see it’s one of the biggest and most well-built. It still looks shiny, and any damage that was done when I was taken has been repaired, to the point that I wouldn’t know anything had happened to the ship. I run to catch up, and watch Hunter jump onto a rope hanging off the ship and climb up it like a monkey. How am I meant to do that?

“Cassandra?” a timid male voice comes from next to me, and I turn to see Roger walking over, pulling his cloak back. He looks so much older than when we last saw each other. He is taller, his brown hair is longer and curlier, and his baby face is lost to an older look. He is going to be a heartbreaker in a few years, that’s for sure.

“Roger,” I say fondly, pulling him into a small hug when he gets near.

“They said Livvy is dead, that she betrayed you . . . I, I don’t know how she could have done that to you,” he blurts out and then looks away, “I thought she loved me, and that she loved you like a sister. Her home was with us, and she destroyed that.”

“Roger,” I say gently, placing my hand on his shoulder and he turns, waiting for me to say something I’m not sure how to say.

“Everyone makes decisions, good and bad. Livvy made hers, and it cost her life. She has paid enough, and only the sea god can decide her punishment in death,” I say. I can’t forgive her for what she did, but there is no point in hating the dead.

“I miss her, despite everything . . . I miss her,” he says and looks up at the ship.

“I miss her, too, even if I hate to admit it,” I tell him, being honest, though the words sting as they come out of my lips.

“If you want to get on the ship, there is a net near the front. I use it to bring food to Salty Sam every day,” he explains and reaches into his cloak, pulling out a small bag of cat food.

“I will feed him,” I say, and he hands me the bag and pats my shoulder before walking away. I watch him leave, knowing there are no words that could make what Livvy did better for him. It’s something he needs to accept, much like I do at some point. I guess I’ve just denied it for as long as possible, tried to make it easier on my heart because I did care for her. I slide the bag of food into my pocket, barely able to make it fit. Walking towards the front of the ship, I find where the net is hanging down and tied to the dock. I step onto it, climbing up slowly and trying my hardest not to fall. I get to the op, pull myself over, and flop onto the other side, landing on my back.

“Ouch,” I huff, lifting myself up off the floor and looking around. Hunter is standing in front of the wheel, holding it tightly in his hand, and his head bowed down. I pull the food out my pocket, open the bag, and leave it on the floor, knowing the evil cat will find it on his own. Every step I take towards Hunter, seems to echo something deep inside of me. Maybe it’s our bond, maybe it’s just because I love him, but I seem to be able to feel his pain like it’s my own. I get to his side, not knowing what to say, how to tell him anything. I slide myself under his arm, in between him and the wheel, so it presses into my back.

“Talk to me, my dark pirate,” I whisper, sliding my hands onto either side of his face and lifting his head up. I can feel the tears under my palms, but I don’t say a word as he locks his eyes onto mine. There is so much pain in them. There is a turmoil of emotion swirling in his dark eyes. It feels like I could drown in the depth of them, knowing I wouldn’t fight it or even try to save myself.

“For the second time in my entire life, I feel powerless. I feel like the pain inside of me is trying to choke me,” he finally says, his eyes locked with mine the whole time. He isn’t running from me, that’s one bonus.

“When I lost my father in the games, the pain was indescribable. I don’t remember much from those last moments, other than the pain. I know it won’t go away. I know I will have to live with the pain, but time does help,” I reply to him in a gentle voice.

“I know I have to lose my mother, just after I’ve lost the woman who brought me up,” he whispers. I hate seeing him like this, my strong pirate.

“You know Riah has to die?” I whisper back.