Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤6 Chasing Ruby 🕷

Maria stood on the deck, her mind racing as the coastline of North Carolina came into view. She had no idea how long she'd be trapped in this time, and her thoughts spiraled with uncertainty. Stephen had given her food, warmth, and a strange sense of safety, but she knew deep down it was conditional-she was only valuable to him as long as she remained useful. That was likely the reason he hadn't pursued her romantically yet. He was probably afraid she'd get scared and bolt, and that would cost him his prize.

But now, as the ship neared land, Maria felt the weight of her options pressing down on her. She could continue to be useful, feed him the knowledge that kept him intrigued and reliant on her-or she could attempt something more dangerous. If she could get Stephen emotionally attached, she might secure herself a better chance of survival. Though the thought terrified her, having him tethered to her emotionally might make her situation more stable. Maybe then, he'd be less inclined to discard her or, worse, harm her.

Beside her, Stephen's eyes were fixed on the distant shore, but she could feel his gaze flicker toward her now and then, appraising her like a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. His dark blonde hair stirred lightly in the sea breeze, and his stance exuded control, yet there was something else there-something simmering just beneath the surface. She knew he was a man driven by ruthless ambition, but there was a crack in the façade, a vulnerability so faint it was nearly invisible, but it was there, and Maria sensed it. She knew that his cold, calculated demeanor wasn't entirely impenetrable.

Stephen, for his part, found himself increasingly drawn to her, though he told himself it was simply the mystery of her knowledge and the possibilities it represented. She could lead him to untold wealth, and he could already picture the ruby mine she'd mentioned-the ticket to catapulting him up the social ladder. Still, he had to be careful. If she sensed too much from him or thought she had leverage, she might steer him in the wrong direction or slip away. No, he couldn't let that happen. Not until he was sure of what he'd gained.

They stood in silence, both deep in thought, playing a dangerous game neither was willing to fully acknowledge.

Finally, Stephen broke the quiet, his voice low, as if testing the waters of their strained alliance. "You've done well," he said, not looking at her but still close enough for her to feel the intensity of his presence. "The coast is in sight. Soon we'll know if your little tale of a ruby mine holds any truth. And if it does, well..." He allowed the sentence to trail off, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips, as though the future glimmered just beyond his grasp.

Maria remained still, her heartbeat quickening. She didn't know if they were early enough to discover the mine, but she had to make him believe. She had to keep playing the role of the asset, or risk whatever fate awaited her once her usefulness ran dry.

✺

The valley lay stretched out before them, a quiet expanse of rocky hills and scrubland, framed by distant mountains. The horses had taken them from their ship in Wilmington to their destination in 8 days. It was midday, the sun casting long shadows that danced over the rough terrain. Stephen led the way, boots kicking up dust and sand as they trekked through the wilderness, with Maria and three of his men trailing behind. They had made camp earlier, but the excitement of exploration had driven them to search the area before nightfall. Stephen walked ahead of her, seemingly distracted, his eyes scanning the landscape with a growing impatience.

"This is it, Maria," he said, spreading his arms wide to the empty valley as if presenting some grand prize. His voice was laced with mockery, though the tension simmering beneath it was hard to ignore. "Where do we look?"

Maria's heart raced. She could feel the weight of Stephen's expectations pressing down on her, and the barren surroundings offered no comfort. She was in over her head-she'd thought she could buy time, thought the vague promises of hidden riches might keep her safe. But now, standing in this desolate place, with Stephen's dark, unpredictable gaze on her, she felt utterly lost.