Stormbound

Kaeda was plucked from a modest ship as one kingdom's terrible secret. Born to a fisherman and a pirate, she gets thrust into the deep end of royal life and even deeper secrets.

***

"Stop blaming yourself." The dark, smooth voice of the prince echoes across the deck, I wince as the sound carries.

"How in the good goddesses' names did you know that?"

"I didn't, it was merely a guess. I can only imagine how you feel, having to marry a man you don't know and live in a kingdom you have never explored. You must feel incredibly isolated."

I simply look over and raise an eyebrow in his general direction. For some reason, he takes my silence as an opportunity to continue.

His gloved hands shift on the head of his cane as he speaks. "I truly am sorry about the situation that you've found yourself in. My father was looking for a wife for me, but I certainly was expecting a willing one to be chosen. Not someone thrust into the role out of necessity."

"Well, the choice between marriage and death is not one to be taken lightly. I like to think that I have more sense than to choose death."

"I may be sentencing myself to death by the look your mother gives me whenever I walk past. I must say, I don't think she's particularly fond of me just yet."

A dry chuckle escapes his lips and I can't help but follow in his laughter, only slightly hysterical. I'm almost thankful when the shrill whistle of the royal ship interrupts our entirely inappropriate outburst.

It's time.