by Eve Langlais
Thinking.
Wondering what to do.
In the morning, she showed him what she wanted, her kisses hot and frantic. Her fingers digging deep as he thrust into her welcoming body.
They came together, hot and panting, the pleasure more intense than ever.
And when she said, “I love you,” to an unworthy pirate, he knew what he had to do.
The Ocean Avenger set sail three days later.
Epilogue
“I can’t believe you let them sail away with your ship.” Shereen looped her arm in Darius’s as they stood on the balcony of the castle.
Soon to be their castle. The very idea made his stomach churn.
“Don’t remind me,” he grumbled, but not in real discontent. He’d yet to get any kind of restless feeling. He blamed the queen by his side.
“Will they be back in time for the wedding?”
Ah yes, the wedding. After she’d said, “I love you,” he’d stupidly gone to one knee and proposed. “I know I’m not a lord, or even Aunimaa for that matter, but I love you, princess, even more than my boat. Will you marry me?”
Her yes resulted in all the fountains in the city exploding into droplets that fell like rain. The preparations started five minutes later with Jorah dumping a bolt of fine ivory silk on them saying he’d been saving it for a special occasion.
“Those mutinying miscreants better show up on time since they’re bringing my brother and niece.”
She grinned. “You should show more respect for King Roark of the Marshlands, prince.”
The taunt made him groan. It wasn’t enough for Darius to admit he loved her. She was a queen, which meant she needed a suitable consort.
Roark helped him with that.
After his private marriage proposal, Darius staged a public display—which he would admit he didn’t hate. He’d arrived at the palace in full pirate gear: blue velvet overcoat, billowing white shirt with frothing cuffs, knee-high boots. He’d swaggered into the throne room in full view of the entire court. Jorah and the crew followed, carrying eight bags of Dust—the others were split among the crew as profit.
One by one, they’d dumped the bags on the floor to the gaping bewilderment of the lords and ladies. Shereen sat on the throne, a hint of amusement curving her lips.
Knowing everyone had their eyes on him, Darius offered a flourishing bow.
“Prince Darius, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?”
The word “prince” had the court murmuring. He had never before publicly advertised his rank in Roark’s court.
“My queen, during our voyage, you dazzled me with your beauty, stunned me with your wit, and I am humbled by your courage.” He dropped to a knee. “I bring you a gift. And an offer.”
“A lavish present. What would you ask for?”
“Marry me.”
Immediately someone yelled out, “She can’t marry the Iron Pirate.”
To which she turned a stormy glare. “Darius is more than a pirate. He’s a prince. And a hero with fortitude. Which is more than I can say for you, sir.”
She didn’t have to say anything more. Guards hustled the stupid nobleman from the room.
Darius arched a brow and offered her a wicked smile. “What do you say, my queen?”
The brat pretended to think about it, tapping her chin before nodding. “I agree to your proposal.”
Which meant he then had to shock those uptight lords and ladies even further by bounding up the dais steps, sweeping her into his arms, and kissing her.
Thoroughly.
They were married within the month, and everyone came to witness, including his bratty niece Charlie, who said, “I knew it!”
After the wedding, as Darius watched the Avenger sail off a second time without him, Shereen leaned against him. “Just so you know, I would have never asked you to give up your ship.”
“I haven’t given anything up. The Avenger is still mine. I get a cut of the profit.”
“Don’t you miss it?”
“Honestly, not as much as I thought I would.” Still no restless spirit. “Besides how could I sail away and leave you alone? I mean you just took over a city and government. I thought it would behoove me to stick close by for a little bit. In case you needed me.”
She turned to him with a bright smile, standing taller than usual in the heels she’d bought from a cobbler. “I always need you.” She kissed his lips. “But for the times you need to feel the kiss of the ocean in the air, and to play with sea monsters, I got you a wedding present.”
“You did?”
She pinched his chin and angled his gaze to the harbor. It didn’t take him long to find the vessel she’d acquired for him.
He breathed out. “You bought me a Mobipetto-built yacht.”
“With every single upgrade. It’s krakus-squeeze proof or the money back,” she said with a laugh.
“The better question is, how big is the bed?”
More than large enough for two, as was the table and the captain’s seat in the bridge.
And his niece proved to be right. He did end up with quite a few daughters. He pitied the fool who ever tried to date them.
Not long after the Iron Pirate became the Pirate king…
A crone sitting outside her hut at the edge of the Marshland lifted her blind gaze to the sky. It began.
The wind had recently shifted and now blew from the Diamond Kingdom. A place of death and destruction.
Soon the Marshlands would be poisoned by the ash that had destroyed an entire kingdom. Unless one man stopped it.
The crone rose from the rocking chair, and her old bones creaked. Time to get to the city of Eden and ensure a certain fellow was set onto the right path.
Because if Cam of no one and nowhere didn’t sacrifice himself, then all of Ozz would die.
The inhabitants of new earth are in trouble and only one man can save them. Are you ready for Ash Princess?
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