Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤48. Fatality 🕷

A few days later Declan lay in his hammock, the scratch of pencil on paper echoing softly in the quiet of the ship. His face was set in a hard line, his brow furrowed as he penned the final lines of the letter-a letter he knew would stoke the Duke's fury like throwing dry tinder onto an open flame. He'd declared his intentions bluntly: that Julie was now his, and there would be no reclaiming her. Sealing it quickly, he called one of the crew over, instructing him to deliver it immediately. Watching the letter disappear into the night, he took a deep breath, steeling himself, before heading toward Julie's appartment to bring her the news.

Moments later, he knocked on her door, his voice low and firm as he called her name. "Julie? It's me."

The door opened slowly, and there she stood, her gaze lifting to meet his. For a second, her expression softened at the sight of him, but then she took in the tension in his face, the barely-restrained intensity in his eyes. Silently, she stepped aside, letting him in. Declan entered, his broad shoulders filling the space, his hands flexing as if he were bracing himself for what he was about to say.

"I did it," he announced, his voice rough. "Sent the letter. Made it clear you're mine now. We need to brace ourselves, though. This won't go down without a fight." His gaze flickered, shadows deepening in his dark eyes as he measured the impact of his words.

Julie's eyes widened, and she took a shaky breath, glancing down for a moment to gather herself. But Declan wasn't finished. "There's more," he said, his voice softening, though a hardness remained etched into his expression. "The Duke's not taken kindly to any of this. He went to Stephen and Maria's estate, while we were at sea. Tore the place apart looking for you."

Julie's hand flew to her mouth, her face paling. "Maria... What happened?"

Declan looked away, the corners of his mouth tight. "She... she lost their child. Three weeks ago, I suppose the stress from the attack," he said slowly, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes. "And Stephen-well, he's not going to let this go easily. But as for you..." He returned his gaze to her, his voice low. "You're safest here. You can't go near the ship or their estate. The Duke still thinks Stephen's hiding you, but he'll come to realize that you're with me. And if all goes as it should, he'll just demand a divorce best case scenario."

Julie was silent, her gaze locked on him, processing everything he'd just said. The destruction, the child lost, the Duke's simmering rage. It seemed like too much at once, and her mind spun with the implications.

When she finally found her voice, it was quiet and uncertain. "Will you... still come to visit me?"

Declan's face softened, his eyes meeting hers with a vulnerability he rarely allowed to show. He reached out as if to touch her cheek, but let his hand fall back to his side. "If you want me to." His tone was steady, but there was a hint of conflict in his expression, his brow drawing together slightly. "But not as often. I'll have to be careful. If the Duke's men catch wind of where I am, it'll lead them right to you."

A look of hurt flickered in her eyes, but she nodded, folding her arms tightly around herself as if to shield against the truth of it. Declan's expression softened further as he watched her, his hand reaching out to gently cup her shoulder. "Julie," he said softly, his voice rough but sincere. "I won't be far. But I'd be risking your life, and that's the last thing I want. Trust me, alright?"

She looked down, nodding slowly, her silence filled with unspoken questions, a hundred thoughts she couldn't seem to voice. "I know," she whispered. Then, in a barely audible voice, she added, "I'll wait, then."

Declan's face relaxed, a small, soft smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he looked at her. "And I'll be here whenever I can. We'll get through this, Julie. I swear it." He squeezed her shoulder lightly, the warmth of his touch anchoring her as they stood together in the quiet room, the storm of their troubles hovering just outside.