praying and tuned out the vulgar shouting around me. I couldn’t turn off the physical agony, but I didn’t need to watch it or hear it.
Lost in my head, I let my body sag against the grips of brutal men as Madwulf jabbed his erection, searching for my opening. Tears gathered behind my closed eyes, silent and trapped.
Don’t cry. Keep breathing.
Everything inside me wanted to die.
“Open your eyes.” Madwulf grabbed my throat. “Or I’ll peel them—”
A deafening explosion rang through the cage. Dust fell from the rafters. Pirates collapsed to their knees, and a pained scream erupted beside me, bringing my gaze to the man now writhing at my feet.
Blood bloomed from a hole in his thigh and spread a red puddle beneath him.
A gunshot.
Who the devil sneaked a pistol in here?
Madwulf released me, staggering backward. But he didn’t go far. A large blade appeared beneath his chin. Another caught him under the withering sag of flesh between his legs.
Lord Cutler stood behind him, holding both daggers. His eyes, like twin flames of violent blue, roared at me over Madwulf’s shoulder, seizing my breath.
“Which one do you want to keep?” He put those shapely pink lips at Madwulf’s ear. “The beard? Or the beard-splitter?”
“The beard-splitter!” Madwulf strained his eyes downward, trying to see the lethal blade against his penis. “You hear me? Keep my cock!”
“Wasn’t asking you.” Lord Cutler regarded me, his gaze enigmatic.
He wanted me to choose?
His lieutenants flanked him, aiming dragoon pistols. Not one pirate attempted to touch the commodore. They were too frozen in fear.
The starch hadn’t left his expression. But something new flashed across his flawless features, an unnamed emotion, for it was there and gone before I could identify it.
As the wounded man bled out on the deck, his mates continued to restrain me against the wall. No one moved. No one spoke as they stared at the blades that held their captain hostage, waiting for my answer.
Which one did I want Madwulf to keep?
I should choose the beard and let Lord Cutler sever the scoundrel’s manhood, so it could never threaten me again. But when the time came for Priest and me to take command of this ship, we would need a pirate crew to overrun the soldiers and keep them in line.
As much as I hated it, I couldn’t afford to make enemies with these ruffians.
I met Lord Cutler’s incisive eyes and shrugged. “He can keep the pisser.”
With a flick of his wrist, he sliced through the hair at Madwulf’s chin and caught the wiry red nest before it fell.
Then he sheathed his blades. No expression. No fear.
Madwulf growled like an animal and swung away, straightening his trousers. When he turned back, he glowered at me as if this were my fault.
“Honest to God, Madwulf, you look better beardless. Really brings out your long dainty neck. I daresay castration wouldn’t have had the same effect.” I yanked against the hands that held me and hardened my voice. “Now call off your men.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw.
“I want her alive when I deliver her to the gallows.” Lord Cutler clasped his hands behind his back. “But the rest of you? I really don’t give a damn. Release her or…” He glanced at his armed lieutenants. “Don’t.”
The prisoners tensed, looking to Madwulf. He ground his teeth, and a moment later, gave them a nod.
One by one, sweaty fingers sprang open and slipped off my body, leaving me to stand on my own, unfettered, and mostly covered by Priest’s shirt.
“You.” Lord Cutler slapped the severed beard into my hand. “Come with me.”
He pivoted on his gold-buckled shoes and strode out, expecting me to obey.
For better or for worse, I tossed the beard to Madwulf and followed.
By the time we arrived at Lord Cutler’s quarters, my nauseating terror of forty men had trickled into the uncertain fear of one.
Cutler was only a single threat. But he was the strongest, most powerful of them all, and I didn’t have an inkling what he meant to do with me.
At the cabin door, a blue-coated soldier stood rigidly at attention. Armed to the teeth with pistols and blades, he was assigned to guard the life of the most valuable man on the ship.
“Sergeant Smithley.” Cutler gripped my elbow and yanked me against his side. “This prisoner will be staying in my quarters. She’s under my protection, and at no time will you thwart her actions or engage with her in any way. Do I make myself clear?”