Pirate's Promise (Sentinels of Savannah #5) - Lisa Kessler Page 0,69

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.

…

Greyson winced at Aura’s pained screams.

Yes, she’d broken his heart, and yes, he was pissed at her for being so fucking stubborn, but that didn’t change his need to protect her.

And there was nothing he could do to shield her from this attack.

He scanned the deck, taking in the destruction. The demon had jumped aboard before they could cut the lines securing the Sea Dog to the dock. Everything had gone to shit so fast. The fucking demon leaped onto the deck and sliced through the massive mainmast like it was made of paper instead of solid pine. The sails crashed through the galley.

Witnessing the destruction of the Sea Dog sparked a primal fury in his soul. Greyson was going to send this demon asshole back to hell or wherever he’d come from.

First, he needed to find Colton and Drake. If they were inside the galley with Bob, they wouldn’t heal like their cook. Fuck.

Greyson got up, freeing Aura so he could search through the wreckage for the two crew members who were too mortal for this battle.

He sensed her beside him before glancing her way. “Get below. There’s a lock on the armory door.”

She didn’t respond or move. All her attention was on the sword. Damn it. He waved his hand in front of her