Jasper's stance deflates as he puts down his sword and sheathes it. His eyes meet mine and send me a message he won't say out loud: You're explaining the truth later. 

I have never been able to fool Jasper. 

He pulls me to his side, away from Gabriel's reach, and lets out a heavy sigh. "As soon as I heard that you were being held as prisoner, I challenged my father to a duel." My eyes widen as I breathe in a sharp intake of breath. Jasper's father, the captain, is known as the most skilled swordsman- aside from Jasper; they are the only two that come close to rivaling each other. 

Jaspers squeezes my arm in comfort and pauses to kiss the side of my head. "Father refused to duel with me, but he has agreed to let the both of you go. In return, you, Ann, will be on kitchen duty and stuck by my side until you have proven you are worthy of father's trust again."

I grip Jasper's arm tighly, surely I heard him wrong. "I- we- won't be killed?" I ask in astonishment. 

Jasper shakes his head. "You will both be spared."

Gabriel holds out his hand to shake Jasper's. "Thank you, sir" he says in gratitude.

Jasper glancs at Gabriel's hand and turns around, heading back to the deck, his arm still tightly holding me to him. "Follow me, Prince" he yells back to Gabriel, not bothering to look and see if he listens. 

"We're on watch for the night" Jasper whispers in my ear. 

I groan. That means no sleep tonight. We'll have to stay awake all night to watch for land, trouble or other vessels. 

Jasper chuckles and slips his arm down around my waist. "It won't be that bad, at least we get to be alone all night." 

Shivers trail down my spine until I realize that I still have to explain to Jasper about Gabriel. He's the only one, other than Gabriel of course, who knows who I truly am. Jasper and I share everything with each other, and I would and could trust him with my life. 

A rugged man with a glass eye stops Jasper and I, glaring over our shoulder at Gabriel, and grunts a hello. A smile lights up my face as I greet him. After Jasper, he's my favorite person on the ship. He used to take over my chores when the pirate life became difficult for me, and he's a great guy to go to just to talk and joke around. 

His good eyes catches mine, and he raises an eyebrow at me as he pokes me in the stomach. "I know Randi, I'm stupid" I giggle, rolling my eyes at him. Randi never speaks if he doesn't have to, he's just a quiet person, but I've gotten really good at knowing what he means. 

"Oh yeah!" Jasper exclaims as he snaps his finger and punches Randi lightly in the arm. 

"Yo Prince!" he yells, looking back and motioning for Gabriel to come closer. Gabriel comes closer and raises an eyebrow at him. "You're supposed to go with Randi to change and stuff."

Gabriel's eyebrows scrunch together and his eyes widen as my face pales. Oh no. Please no. 

I snap my eyes over to Jasper, and he sends me a sympathizing look. Oh no. 

A rock settles in the bottom of my stomach. 

"Change?" Gabriel asks Jasper.

"Yes, change, you idiot. You're to become a pirate."

Gabriel scoffs. "I will do no such thing" he says in disdain. 

Jasper pulls his sword out and has it pressed again Gabriel's throat in a heartbeat. Randi chuckles at the look of terrified shock on Gabriel's face. 

"You will become a pirate, or both of you will be killed" Jasper growls. My heart drops. The captain's orders? He must have known Gabriel would object. 

Jasper presses his sword tighter to Gabriel's throat, drawing blood, and Gabriel stumbles back in alarm. 

I had pulled away from Jasper when he pulled out his sword, but he pulls me to him again, wrapping his free arm tighly around my waist. He grips my side so tightly that I know there will be a bruise there tomorrow. 

"You will become a pirate, and you will like it. I will not allow your idiotic stubborness to kill my Annette" Jasper growls out once I'm by his side again. 

Gabriel swallows soundly as his forlorn eyes meet mine.

No.