lethal
James miscalculated, though he’s not sure he feels bad about it. The steel tip of a short sword presses hard under his chin. He tilts his head back against cool, damp stone. “Come now, love. That thing is lethal, you know.”
“I know what it is.”
“Then do you mind not digging it in so much? This is a new tunic. I’d like to keep it white a little longer.” In response, the sword tip presses harder—and breaks skin. James feels warm blood trickle in a thin line down his throat.
“I don’t care about your new tunic.” His gray eyes are wild as the storm on the horizon, and he regards James with blatant contempt. “I want out.”
“Then you shouldn’t have blown up half the harbor. Oh, yes. I’ve heard about you. That’s how you got in.”
An answering scowl. “I should just kill you. What use are you to me?”
“I can get you out.” James grins crookedly when the pressure against his chin lessens. “For a price.”
“And what price is that?”
“Just a name. And a smile.”
He knows he shouldn’t. It’s dangerous to even offer freedom to a pirate. But this one looks him dead in the eye with a gaze full of fire, and despite the dim of the dungeons, there’s a light to him. James knows he is weak, weak, weak for a pretty face and armada’s worth of attitude.
Both of which this one seems to have in spades.
“So?” he asks, grinning fully now. “What do you say?”
“My name is Regulus,” the pirate replies, “and I say you’re a fool.”
Before James can reply, there’s a flash of metal, a sword flipped in a skilled hand, and the sharp crack of a pommel to his temple. The last thing he sees before the world goes dark is a triumphant, beautiful smile.