Pirate's Promise (Sentinels of Savannah #5) - Lisa Kessler Page 0,40

come from me messing with magic.” Her gaze wandered over his face. “Char discovered a mention in a captain’s log about the Tyrfing’s curse.”

“It thirsts for blood, right?”

“Yes.” She nodded slowly. “We knew that part, but the line Char notated said that the sword yearns for the blood of the ‘chosen one.’” She broke eye contact, staring out the hatch again. “What if that’s me?”

Greyson took a step toward her before he could stop himself. “Have you told Agent Bale?”

“No.” She glanced his way. “I’ve never told anyone.”

“So you can trust me with your secrets and with your life out on those ratlines, but you still had to spy on me like I might steal your precious sword out from under you.” He nurtured the ache in his chest, unsure what he hoped she might say.

Nothing was working out like he’d intended. He’d expected once they’d surrendered to the chemistry brewing between them, then it would extinguish his need to be near her. He’d been dead wrong.

But even if she admitted she felt the same, she’d still be mortal. And a chosen one, whatever that meant. His inability to keep his distance from her meant he’d have to grapple with her mortality eventually.

“I told you from the moment I stepped on this ship that I was here to do a job.” She lifted her chin slightly. That emotional armor she wore was battered but still intact. It was better than seeing that glimmer of fear in her eyes. “Part of that was placing that camera. I wasn’t doing it because I didn’t trust you. I did it because it was part of this mission.”

“No.” He shook his head, taking another step closer to her. “You can tell that story to the rest of the crew, but not to me. You asked me to kiss you the other night. What part of your job involved fucking me, exactly?”

She closed the distance between them, her eyes narrowing. “I thought I might be on a sinking ship, and if those were my last moments on earth, I wanted to enjoy them.” She poked his chest with her index finger. “And spare me your judgment. You haven’t said a word about that night in three days. We both know I was a conquest to you and nothing else.”

He searched her eyes. “Is that what you think?” She didn’t reply. His mouth went dry at being this close to her and not claiming her lips. His voice was a raw whisper. “I thought I could get you out of my system.” A sad chuckle escaped his lips. “But it only made me need you more.”

Her brow arched. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“Would it have mattered?”

“I don’t know.” She stared right into his soul. “But I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Her phone buzzed, and she took a step back to answer.

He waited while she asked Department 13 to research the Tyrfing’s curse and any mention of a chosen one.

He wasn’t sure of the reason why she was hesitant to tell them why the detail was so important to her, and he enjoyed being the only one she trusted with her secret.

It made him closer to her than her work.

And although he’d never considered himself a jealous man, he’d never met a woman like Aura Henderson. To be jealous of her commitment to her work was ridiculous, but that didn’t make it stop gnawing at him. Did they know how lucky they were to have her? She was determined, brave, and devoted to protecting people who had no idea she existed. He admired her. Yes, he’d lay down his life for his crew, but he loved them. She didn’t even know these people.

Every day he spent with her, he respected her dedication more, even if he couldn’t fully understand it.

And he wanted to get this sword for her.

When Agent Bale had approached the crew for this mission, Greyson had volunteered for the undercover meeting just for the chance to hold the legendary blade he’d never known truly existed, but now…he didn’t care if he got to touch it.

She ended the call and met his eyes. “I guess I better get ready. I’ve got clothes for you for the undercover op in my cabin.”

His emotions were churning in his gut. At least finding the Tyrfing would give him something else to focus on. Because right now, all his brain was replaying was her admitting that when she’d thought her life might be coming to a