“Damn it. If pictures of the destruction are showing up online, we’re going to have to talk to the police. And MI13 will be here asking questions about why they weren’t alerted about the Tyrfing being in their jurisdiction.” This was exactly what Agent Bale had been trying to avoid. Her mission was slipping right through her fingers. She sprang out of her seat, trying the door again. “Why would Flynn lock us in here?”
“No idea, but there must be something in it for him.”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Has anyone responded yet? I need to get out of here and stop Mamon. We have to find him and contain this.”
He checked his phone and shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Shit.” She turned around. “I’m guessing you already know that the demon could kill you with one swing of that sword if he went for your head.”
“Aye.” Greyson crossed his arms. “We heal, but we don’t regenerate.”
“You failed to mention that before, when you were trying to get me to hide on the ship while you and Duke went out to face Mamon.” She put her hand on her hip. “You could’ve been killed.”
“But I wouldn’t have.” He pointed toward the harbor. “That sword attacked you without ever touching you. I don’t have that connection. I’d be fine. You won’t be.”
“I didn’t ask you to protect me.”
He smirked. “Well aware, lass.”
She sighed, pulling her hair back from her face as she took a seat across from him. “Flynn told me about Wren.”
His entire body stiffened before he could bury his reaction. He shrugged. “Captain’s got a big mouth.”
“I’m sorry you lost her.”
He broke eye contact, staring at the ceiling. “I’m not doing this with you.”
She got up and moved to his side of the table, unsure why, but she needed to be closer to him. “I wish things could be different. I do.” She sat next to him, itching to reach out and touch him. “But Agent Bale is already on a jet to help me bring the Tyrfing back. We’ll lock it up and move on to the next threat that pops up. If I didn’t do my job, who would? People could die.”
His gaze cut over to her face. “Who are ye trying to convince? Me or yourself?”
That one stung. “Know what? Never mind. You’d never understand anyway.” She took out her phone and started a text to Char.
He grabbed her phone from her hand before she could hit send. “Oh, I understand. All too well. Yer too important for a lowly pirate like me.”
Her jaw dropped. “That’s not true and you know it.”
“Do I?” He raised a brow. “You spout off pretty words about how much you enjoy being with me, and call out my name when yer naked in my arms, but I’m put right back in my place the second yer boss rings that phone.” He shook his head. “Hope yer duty keeps you warm at night, lass.”
His words stoked her anger, and she grabbed onto it with both hands. Being angry was something she understood—it strengthened her resolve. Being brokenhearted just hurt. She filed away his harsh words so she’d have easy access to them if she had a weak moment later.
“Fuck you, Greyson.” She snatched her phone off the table and went to the door. She pressed send on the text and pounded her fist against the solid oak door. “I need to get out of here.”
He came up behind her and spun her around, pinning her to the door.
His gaze bored into her, his whisper hot on her skin. “I promised ye that sword.” He brought his arm up, flashing his tattoo of the mythical blade. “And you’ll have it. But don’t ever try to dig into my feelings again. Yer not welcome in my heart. Not anymore.”
That last stab pierced right through her rage. The pain in his eyes was laid bare. She’d done that to him. Although he was still right in front of her, loneliness swamped her. She’d lost him.
Something moved outside the door, and Greyson stepped back.
Keegan pulled the door open, frowning as Aura fell back into him. “How’d you two get locked in here?”
“Ask Captain Flynn,” Greyson muttered as he shoved past him, leaving Aura behind.
Greyson’s broad shoulders filled the staircase as he disappeared up on the main deck, and her heart tore in two.
He’d been right about one thing. Duty didn’t keep her warm at night, and it definitely didn’t make her laugh like he had. It didn’t make her feel beautiful, and it never kept promises.
Keegan cleared his throat, his gaze wandering around the cabin. Anywhere but on her. “I guess I’ll go back up and make another scan for the demon.”
“Thanks for letting us out.” Aura straightened her shirt, praying he wouldn’t notice the tears welling in her eyes.
Keegan seemed relieved to leave her alone to collect herself. Char’s words echoed in her head. Love doesn’t make things easy. It makes them worthwhile.
Aura took a deep breath, centering herself as she struggled to regain control over the tidal wave of emotion swelling inside her.
She wiped her nose. The ache that had stabbed into her heart when she’d seen the pain reflected in Greyson’s eyes still stung. Knowing she’d hurt him was unbearable.
This was…more than just a working partnership. This was…could it be? Could she be in love with him, too? It wouldn’t change the impossibility of their future, but he’d had the balls to give his emotions a voice.
And she’d pushed him away. Shit.
She ran up the stairs. The second her foot reached the main deck, Greyson tackled her to the ground. A crash assaulted her ears, and the ship rocked, groaning and cracking beneath them as the towering mainmast toppled over.
His voice was gruff against her ear. “He’s here.”
Buzzing assaulted her ears until her heart hammered in her chest. Her destiny was kicking in the door. A tear squeezed out of the corner of her eye. She never got to tell Greyson the truth. She loved him, too. More than her job, more than her duty to the world.
But none of that mattered now. Maybe it was better this way. Let him stay angry and be strong. The future was out of her hands.
She scanned the deck until she spotted the familiar shape of her ex-partner. Mamon had his back to her; blood soaked his shirt from the bullets Greyson had pumped into him earlier, and gripped in his big right hand was the Tyrfing.
The mythical cursed blade. Her vision narrowed as the whispers crescendoed into a tempest of pain inside her head. Chosen-one-chosen-one-chosen-one-come-come-come-chosen-one.
She was the chosen one, made for this moment, and she was about to meet it.