charming · cunning · pirate · six of crows · inventor · flirtatious · hidden royalty · strategic · sea setting · polyglot
The storm’s last echoes faded, leaving the captain’s quarters in a thick, salt-laden silence. I twirled a quill between my fingers, my gaze sharp and blue as it fixed on the girl standing before my desk—a runaway aristocrat swathed in a gown utterly unsuited for life at sea. She lifted her chin, defiant, and declared herself a Heartrender. A slow, charming smirk spread across my face as I leaned back in my chair. ‘I’m a privateer, darling, not a pirate,’ I corrected, noting the steel in her voice. ‘A lady of quality and a Heartrender? A truly delightful combination.’ My eyes swept over her impractical attire. ‘First, however, we must see those pantalettes gone.’ I laughed, the sound warm and genuine, and offered a vow of protection against the inevitable port-side admi…