As quietly as I can, I flip over the table and reach for the leg on the bottom left corner. I hollowed it out with my dagger and shoved the lockpicks in there after knocking out Azek and Jolek. It’s a shame for Riden that he never thought to check here.

“You know, I might have something you’d like, Enwen.” Belor pulls out of his pocket what looks like a leather string. “Man who gave me this told me it came from a siren’s wrist. It’s supposed to give the wearer protection on the sea.”

Enwen looks at it with reverence, but I’m pretty sure Belor just pulled it off of his boot when no one was watching.

“I’ll give it to you for three gold pieces,” Belor says.

I’ve already got the door open. I stand before the two pirates. “It’s a terrible trade, Enwen. The man’s lying. He just wants your gold.”

“But what if he’s not? How can I pass up such a trade? No more harm at sea, Miss Alosa!”

“Then why in the world would he trade it for only three coins?”

“You’re right. I should give him five for it.”

Belor finally looks up from the sack of gold, the prospect of more money shining in his eyes. “Oi! What are you doing out of your cell?”

“Making sure you don’t take advantage of poor Enwen, here.” Although, now that I think of it, Enwen is probably intending to steal the gold back bit by bit over the next several days.

“Appreciate the help, Miss Alosa, but you best be getting back in your cell,” he says as he reaches for his sword.

“Can’t do that. Sorry about this, Enwen. I rather like you.”

I knock them both out a moment later. Enwen’s going to want to drink as much as Kearan to relieve the headache he’ll have when he wakes. I honestly feel bad, but I don’t have the time to wait for them to fall asleep. That could be a while, and I need to take advantage of a nearly empty ship.

Once I’m up top, I observe everything carefully. The two pirates who were guarding the deck have gone, and Theris is nowhere to be seen. They were probably permitted to go ashore now that Riden is on board. Shame, that. Best to avoid him. Probably in his quarters now. I pass by them silently and walk over to the railing, where I ended my search the previous night. I run my hands over it, thumping with my feet as lightly as possible on the wooden planks below, checking for dead spots.

“Hello, Alosa.”

I sigh and look heavenward before turning around.

“Hello, Riden.”

“Been waiting for you to come up. You don’t disappoint.” Riden steps out of the shadows cast by the stairs leading up to the second level. Ah, no wonder I didn’t see him.

“You knew I would try to escape again?”

“There are only three pirates left on this vessel, assuming you left Enwen and Belor alive. We’re close to land. And I couldn’t find whatever it was you used to escape your cell last time. So, yes. I assumed you would try to escape again.”

“So you’re no longer convinced I’m up to more nefarious deeds?”

“I would have continued to have my doubts had you not gone straight for the edge of the ship.”

Thank the stars I went there first. Who knows what would have happened if Riden had seen me searching the ship?

“Now, Riden. There’s no reason why you can’t let me go. You can tell your dear captain I got away due to your own stupidity. Shouldn’t be too hard for him to believe.”

“I’m afraid not, Alosa.”

“Please don’t put me back in that cell. I hate it down there. The smell is awful.”

“Perhaps we should find you different accommodations, then.”

I don’t like the sound of this. “How do you mean?”

“Here, allow me to escort you, princess.” He picks me up and throws me over his shoulder.

“What do you think you’re doing? Put me down right now!” I push myself up and get a hold of his head. His hair is tied back as usual, nice and long.

Perfect for pulling.

“Ow!”

He gets a door open. I’m too focused on him to realize where we are, but a moment later he throws me onto a bed. Then he grabs my wrist in a death grip, forcing me to release my hold on his hair.

I don’t know why, but it’s very difficult to play the beaten prisoner. I can’t stand giving up too easily, no matter how many times I remind myself to make my stay on this ship look unintentional.

Which is why I don’t lie passively on the bed. Riden stands over me, his hand still holding my wrist captive. My knee connects with his stomach, which causes him to hunch down farther. I grab his other wrist with my own and pull him over the top of me before shoving him down onto the bed. I roll off and stand so I have the higher ground.

But he shoots up a moment later. I don’t expect him to recover so quickly, so he’s able to grab my waist and pin me to the bed. The last position I would ever want to be in.

“You’re stronger than you should be,” he says.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you’re not a large woman, yet you were able to lift me off the ground.”

And those words are the only reason why I don’t shove his sorry arse off me. I have to remember to hold back. But it’s so damn hard! When this is over, I’m going to kill him out of spite.

“I have my father’s rigorous heavy lifting training to thank for that.”

“No doubt.”

“Get off me.”

He looks down at me, trailing his gaze from my eyes to my mouth. So very slowly. “Are you sure you want that?”

“I’m quite sure,” I say, but the words don’t come out as forcefully as I intend them to.

He leans down farther, placing his nose next to mine. “How about now?” he whispers.

He’s too cocky for his own good, but I admit he’s pretty. And he makes my blood boil, but mostly out of anger. He’s a decent sort of fellow inside. But he chooses not to be on the outside. What does that make him?

I’m about to tell him to shove off, but then I feel his lips at my cheek. He’s not kissing me exactly, just touching my cheek with his lips. They drift downward to my jawline.

I have to make a serious effort to keep my breathing calm. Even. Not at all excited. Now is not the time to get all tingly. I have a job to do.