Queen Of My Nightmare (Uncharted Secrets, Book 2): Endless Horizon Pirate Stories by Cristi Taijeron

as I ran my hand along the bars of solid gold. But there was more than just boring old bars. There were chains and bracelets, necklaces and rings. Some were plain gold and some were trimmed with colorful jewels. With jolly sounds from the upper deck drifting through the open stern windows, I sifted through the treasures as the sun set into the sea.
    Thinking of the peddler’s change I made for selling my paintings, I rambled on as Mason lit his lantern. “I will never have to paint again. I could buy a house and a bathtub and I could have a servant wash my hair in warm water every day.”
    “That you could. It’s yours to do with what you wish.”
    “What will you do with your portion?”
    He shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll figure that out when I get to port.”
    Picking up a golden crown bejeweled with many colorful gems, I asked, “Do you think this belonged to a princess?” I put it on my head.
    “It does now.” He stared at me in a way that reminded me how much he loved me, but as I fell into his gaze he shook his head like a wet dog. “All right, I have to get up there afore they miss me. What are you going to do?”
    “Maybe I will join you for the festivities.” I smiled, feeling much better.
    He winced. “You aren’t going to like it up there one bit.”
    “I didn’t like that terrible battle one bit either, but I survived it, didn’t I?”
    With a ridiculous grin, he fanned his hand toward the door. “As you wish.”
    Coming up onto the deck, we found a wild crowd of drunken buccaneers singing and dancing under the light of the moon. Gold and jewels decorated what was left of their ripped and torn, bloody attire. Strangely humored by the unusual sight, I elbowed Mason in the side. “I’m glad I came up here.”
    Laughing as he took a shot of rum, he swallowed down the flavor that lingered on his breath and smiled at me. “We cleaned her up nicely, eh?” He waved his hand around the clean deck. It looked as if it had never seen a war. Everything was spotless. The body parts were gone, buried at sea. The sand had all been swept away, taking the splatters of blood with it. The gunnels that had been blasted to bits had already been repaired. As I looked around in awe, Mason told me, “We’ll be mending the rest of the battered hull tomorrow, and you can bet your candied arse Mister Gilroy will be working extra hard to make up for me having to do his job earlier.”
    The terrible memory of Mason doing Mister Gilroy’s job flashed through my mind—Ziare’s heart-ripping screams included. Not wanting to ever again revisit the thoughts that would forever make me want to vomit, I shook with shivers and asked, “How is Ziare doing?”
    “He’ll be all right. I’ve learned a thing or two from the doctors who’ve sailed with me, and though that was the first time I’ve hacked through a limb myself, I’ve done a few cauterizations. From what I gather that’s the important part. Getting everything back in place and all sealed up nicely.”
    Suddenly, the fearsome acts of war which terrified me to the point of sickness, reminded me how ferociously brave he was. I would always be safe with him. And because of his dedication to those whom he loved, I would always be cared for.
    Shark and Perk came over laughing so hard about something that I couldn’t even understand them. Mason started poking and jesting right along with them. While they teased each other, I looked out across the moonlit sea. Reid had already sailed away with his winnings and the solitude at sea made me feel tiny and afraid. But next to Mason Bentley, there was truly nothing to fear. Regardless of all my attempts to deny it, by his side was the best place for me to be.
     
    X
     
    “Hannah.” The sultry whisper awoke my senses. All of them. “Hannah, my sweet.” I felt kisses on my neck and a hand on my hip. Struggling to open my heavy eyes, I saw Mason kneeling before my bunk with the light of morning sun faintly