Book Read Free

Rogue Pirates Bride

Page 2

by Shana Galen


  “I’m going to kill you,” she said, looking directly

  into his eyes. They were cobalt blue and framed with

  thick brown lashes.

  He raised a brow at her. “I don’t think so.” She

  should have seen it coming, should have seen his eyes

  flick down or his jaw clench, but he gave no indica-

  tion he would move. And before she could react, he

  had her wrist pinned on the table, the dagger trapped

  and useless. Slowly he stood, his hand warm steel on

  hers. She watched him rise and rise and had never

  felt as small as she did in that moment. She realized

  the tavern had grown quiet as the patrons drank in

  the scene.

  Percy’s voice broke the silence. “Captain, the boy’s

  had too much to drink. He’s young. If you don’t

  mind, we’ll just be taking him back to the ship now.”

  OnceRogue.indd 7

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  8

  Shana Galen

  Raeven scowled. She could imagine her father’s

  men lined up behind her, Percy in the middle, his

  hands spread in a placating gesture. She kept her eyes

  locked on Cutlass’s, saw him shrug and exchange a

  look with one of his men. Devil take her if he wasn’t

  going to pat her head and shoo her away. She couldn’t

  allow that. This was her last chance. Even now her

  father might have noticed her absence, and it could be

  months— years—before she had another opportunity

  to confront Cutlass.

  “Coward,” she said loud enough for her voice to

  carry through the tavern. “Too afraid to fight me, a

  mere boy?”

  She saw the surprise in his face and then the irrita-

  tion. “Look, lad, I don’t want to kill you.”

  She laughed. “What makes you think you can? I’m

  good with a sword. Very good, and I challenge you to

  a duel.” Now she did look away from him; she swept

  the room with her eyes, making sure everyone heard

  the challenge.

  “Now you’ve done it,” she heard Percy mutter.

  And she had. Cutlass could not back down from a

  direct challenge.

  She heard a snort and whipped her head back to Cutlass.

  Or could he?

  “Go back to your ship, boy. I don’t have time

  to play sword fighting with you. Come back when

  you’ve grown a whisker or two”—he traced a finger

  over her cheek before she could jerk her head away—

  “and kissed a pretty girl.” With that, he released her

  hand and shoved past her.

  Raeven spun and drew her sword. She wasn’t

  OnceRogue.indd 8

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  The Rogue Pirate’s Bride

  9

  surprised when, at the sound, he drew his own and

  faced her again. “Stupid little brat. Are you really

  going to make me kill you?”

  “Not if I kill you first, you pirate bastard.” She

  thrust her sword, but he parried easily, the weight of

  his heavier blade throwing her slightly off balance.

  She was in the corner, while he had the open space of

  the room in which to maneuver. She needed to push

  him back, to give herself more room. She was fast and

  agile, but those strengths required space.

  She stumbled into a stool and kicked it back and out

  of her way. It didn’t help much, but it was something.

  And not a moment too soon. Cutlass took advantage

  of her distraction to lunge, and she was almost too late

  in blocking him.

  Not that the thrust would have done much more

  than scratch her. He was playing with her, still not

  taking her challenge seriously. Why should that irk her

  so? He’d see how serious she was when she gutted him.

  “Go back to your ship, enfant,” Cutlass said with a

  roguish smile that showed off a row of white teeth. For

  some reason, his perfect smile irritated her even more.

  The man should have some fault. Rotten teeth or a

  gap or… something! “Before you cease to amuse me.”

  “Oh, but I’ve only begun to amuse you, pirate.”

  She made as if to lower her sword but jerked it up

  at the last minute, catching the sleeve of his coat and

  ripping a gash in the fine material. It was a move she’d

  perfected over the years, and she was not surprised it

  succeeded now. What did surprise her was that when

  Cutlass should have been gazing in surprise at his torn

  coat, he was ready for her when she slashed at his

  OnceRogue.indd 9

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  10

  Shana Galen

  throat. His blade connected with hers, the screech of

  metal against metal resounding through the stillness

  of the tavern. “Not laughing now, are you, bastard?”

  she ground out. Cutlass was strong, and it took most

  of her strength to keep his sword from slicing her

  own away.

  “Do you think your little parlor trick impressed me,

  enfant?” he asked. “Now you owe me ten pounds for

  my coat.”

  “Ten pounds! Don’t be ridiculous.” She pushed

  back on his sword and leaned to the right. She could

  feel the walls behind her, crowding her. She needed

  to get out of this corner. Cutlass gave way, edging to

  her right, and she felt a small measure of victory. If she

  could just get him to circle…

  He gave her borrowed clothes a distasteful perusal.

  “I assure you that you will pay me ten pounds for the

  damage you’ve done.” His eyes narrowed, and she

  actually felt a shiver run down her spine. “One way

  or another.”

  “You’ll have to pry the blunt out of my cold, dead

  hands, pirate bastard.” She was sweating now and

  breathing heavily, but she’d managed to make him

  edge a little more to her right. Their swords were still

  locked in a stalemate, but she knew he was waiting for

  the right time to strike. She kept her weight on the

  balls of her feet, ready to defend.

  Around her, she could hear the crowd exclaiming,

  could hear bets being placed and feel the men crowding

  in to observe. She wondered if anyone bet on her.

  “I know we’ve not formally met,” Cutlass said,

  “but might I ask why you keep referring to me as a

  OnceRogue.indd 10

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  The Rogue Pirate’s Bride

  11

  ‘bastard pirate’ when I’m neither a pirate nor a bastard?

  It’s rather impolite.”

  “I’ll show you impolite!” She stepped back, moving

  quickly as his blade came down with a swish of hot air

  before her face. But before he could raise it again, she

  feinted to the left and skirted around him.

  Ha! Victory! Now she had the open room to her back!

  But Cutlass, quicker than she anticipated, spun around

  and thrust, forcing her, stumbling and pinwheeling,

  back into the crowd. One of the men caught her by

  the arms and shoved her forward again. She ducked

  and fell into a somersault as Cutlass’s blade swooshed

  above her.


  That was no swordplay. Cutlass was finally serious.

  She sprang to her feet and, whipping around, paired

  her sword with his. The blades scraped together as

  she thrust and parried, and he followed suit. He was

  a good swordsman, she realized, as he matched her

  move for move. He’d studied the art, didn’t just act on

  instinct. She too had studied, and mentally she went

  through her list of offensive maneuvers.

  But the frustrating man blocked her every attack.

  He seemed to know what she would do before she

  did it. And the worst part was she was growing tired.

  When she’d left her father’s ship, she’d been fueled by

  excitement and revenge. Now, Cutlass systematically

  wore away at her reserves. He defended but did not

  attack. And she couldn’t help but notice he did not

  seem even slightly winded.

  The crowd cheered at each of their advances, and

  she had the distinct impression they were rooting for

  her. But Cutlass would have his supporters as well. If

  OnceRogue.indd 11

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  12

  Shana Galen

  she killed him—no, when she killed him—she needed

  to be ready for another attack.

  “Devil take you!” she swore after another forceful

  lunge merely resulted in the two circling each

  other again.

  “Not tonight.” He smiled again, but she could see a

  faint sheen of perspiration on his upper lip. So he was

  not made of steel. He was tiring.

  And that was the last thought she had before he

  attacked. Without warning and with great finesse, he

  switched stances and drove his blade toward her heart.

  She parried, of course, but it was a near thing. And

  then he was on her again, forcing her back into the

  throng, crowding her until she had little choice but to

  defend with quick, small movements instead of larger,

  more powerful ones.

  “You’re not going to win,” he said, pressing her back.

  “Then I die trying,” she gritted out. She swiped

  at him to prove her point and had the satisfaction of

  seeing him jerk to the side to elude the sharp steel of

  her blade.

  “And what are you dying for?” He struck back, and

  she struggled to hold her position.

  “Revenge.” She met his blade high, then low, then

  high again. She pushed hard, and he pushed back, and

  they stared at one another for a long moment.

  “A noble cause. How did I offend?”

  She opened her mouth and closed it again, unsure

  whether or not she wanted to answer. Finally, she said,

  “You killed my… friend.”

  “Doubtful. I kill far fewer than the rumors would

  have you believe.”

  OnceRogue.indd 12

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  The Rogue Pirate’s Bride

  13

  The anger rose inside her like a tidal wave, and she

  brought her blade down hard on his. “You dare to

  mock me?”

  His answer was a quick, triumphant grin, and just

  as she realized his intent, he brought his sword up and

  drove her back.

  Into the tavern’s support beam.

  Frantic at the feel of the scratchy wood on her back,

  she tried to skirt around it, but Cutlass’s blade caught

  her sleeve and drove into the wooden beam.

  She was trapped.

  Her right arm, that with the sword, was incapaci-

  tated, but she had enough presence of mind to toss her

  sword to her left hand and make a jab at him. She’d

  never been very good with her left hand—unlike

  those fencing masters who could fight with either

  hand—and he easily evaded her blade.

  “I’ve beaten you,” he said, leaning close. “Admit it,

  enfant, and I let you go.”

  “I’d rather choke on my own blood when you slit

  my throat.”

  He raised his brows at that, obviously not expecting

  such a vehement response. “Well, as appealing as that

  sounds, I don’t want a reputation as a child killer.”

  He gave her a speculative look. “But there is the

  matter of that ten pounds you owe me.” He glanced

  at his torn coat, and she doubled her efforts to escape,

  but her sleeve would not tear. If her shirt had been

  made of fine linen, as Cutlass’s was, she’d already

  be free. But this coarse homespun was not easily

  damaged.“I don’t have ten pounds, so you’ll have to

  kill me.”

  OnceRogue.indd 13

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  14

  Shana Galen

  “Or…” He gave her a triumphant smile. “I’ve been

  looking for a new cabin boy. I think you might be

  right for the position. I’d enjoy seeing you empty my

  chamber pot each day.”

  The crowd hooted with laughter, but she was

  not amused.

  “Never!” She tried again to strike him with her

  sword, but he plucked it out of her hands. She

  clenched her fist. If she lost that sword, there would be

  hell to pay. Her father had it made especially for her,

  and it had not come cheaply.

  “Tut-tut.” Cutlass grinned at the crowd, who were

  enjoying this little play. “You’ll have to learn some

  manners. And we’ll start with removing your cap

  when you speak to me.” He reached for her.

  “No!”

  But she was too late. Before the words were out

  of her mouth, he’d snatched the cap from her head

  and was staring in shock as the mass of black curls

  tumbled down her back. She’d secured her hair

  tightly, but he’d ripped the hair pins loose when

  he tore the cap away. Cutlass stared at the cap,

  then at her, then at the cap again. For the moment,

  he appeared speechless. Then, slowly, he reached

  forward, wrapped a lock of her hair around two

  fingers, and tugged.

  “Ow!”

  He leaned close, peered into her face, and shook his

  head. “I must be an idiot. I can’t believe I didn’t see

  it sooner.” She noted his blue eyes slid over her face

  with what looked to be appreciation. His gaze slipped

  down, and heat crept into her cheeks.

  OnceRogue.indd 14

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  The Rogue Pirate’s Bride

  15

  “So I’m a woman,” she said, standing straighter.

  She managed to spare a glare for the patrons who were

  staring at her with expressions that ran from contempt

  to hilarity. “It doesn’t mean I can’t fight.” She met

  Cutlass’s gaze directly and ignored the spark of heat

  flooding into her. “It doesn’t mean I won’t kill you.”

  He raised a brow, glanced at her sword, which he

  held in one hand, then at his own sword, which still

  held her pinned to the tavern’s wooden beam. The

  crowd chuckled.

  “Devil take it!” She tried once more to free her

  shirt from his sword, but the material and the steel

  held fast.

  “Such language from a woman. You really do need
>
  to learn some manners.” He reached for her face, and

  she jerked away, but his touch was tender as he skated

  a finger down her cheek. She felt more heat burn

  across the skin he touched. Why was she reacting this

  way? He was a killer. He’d killed Timothy.

  “I suppose I could hire you on as a cabin girl,”

  he was saying, glint in his eye. “Though your duties

  might differ somewhat.”

  This brought cheers from some of the tavern’s

  patrons, and, from the corner of her eye, Raeven

  could see the uneasy shuffling of her father’s men. She

  did not want them to step in and save her. She’d rather

  let Cutlass take her and escape later than have to be

  rescued. She caught Percy’s eye and shook her head.

  His white face paled further, and he looked ready to

  toss his accounts.

  She glanced back at Cutlass, who was watching

  her. Had he seen her exchange with Percy? Doubtful.

  OnceRogue.indd 15

  10/10/11 4:23 PM

  16

  Shana Galen

  Even if he had, he wouldn’t make anything of it. “I’ll

  be your cabin girl,” Raeven said, her voice low and

  husky. She leaned forward, flirting, and Cutlass shook

  his head.

  “I imagine you’ll empty my chamber pot… right

  before you slit my throat.”

  She gave him a winning smile. “You know me

  so well.”

  “Well enough to make sure I don’t turn my back

  on you.” He gestured to his men. “Mr. Maine, see

  that she makes it aboard the Shadow and finds her way

  into my cabin. Untouched.” He extracted his sword

  from the wooden beam, freeing her, but not before

  his man grabbed her arm. She could have fought, but

  Cutlass was playing right into her hands. She would kill

  him. Unaware of the danger he was in, Cutlass turned

  his back and strode for the tavern’s exit.

  “You’re going to regret this, Cutlass!” Raeven

  called after him. “In more ways than you can count.”

  He waved a hand without looking back, clearly

  dismissing her.

  “Let’s go,” Mr. Maine said, pushing her forward.

  Percy was instantly at her side, hissing in her ear.

  “I can’t let them kidnap you. Your father will kill

  me.” He gestured to the other men of the Regal. “Kill

  all of us.”

  “If you intervene, I’ll kill you,” Raeven hissed

  back. “I’ll be back on my father’s ship before morning.

  You know I can escape anything and anyone.”

  Percy looked dubious.

  “Besides,” she added, “if you intervene now,

 

‹ Prev