Author's Note
Please be aware that some of the content in this book is adult material and may be sensitive to some readers. Enjoy, comment, vote!

The sound of the ocean swells was a comfort and a torture to Evie as she was led by the wrist back to the ship by Nebula. Myles shuffled close behind, not speaking, Cuinn hugging him tightly. The sun was setting past the line of ships at the docks and swirls of purple and pink decorated the sky. Soon the stars would be out, and the real energy of Shark Anchorage Port would be at its peak.

As she walked along, Evie thought back to their most recent visit to the Ciscoz Prairie Wilds. The Wilds were lush and full of strange plant life and beasts. The fairy people were indigenous to the area and ensured that no harm come to that brush of land. They often lead hunting parties for humans, elves, and ogres; they would show them the hunting grounds and educate on which beasts were in season. If they suspected someone had come to The Wilds to harm any greenery or use the land for selfish acts, they would lure them to a Siren's den, where their souls would be devoured and sent to Fastrever, their underworld, where Ushuros would damn them for eternity.

At the time, Captain Enigma had brought the crew there for a bit of sport hunting. Kelpie had been begging to cook a fresh kill from The Wilds instead of cooking up what they had bought at meat markets throughout Oren. Evie and Myles had made it a competition, and had bet three gold pieces on the first person to nab a kill. The fairies had disappointed them, however, and informed the crew that they had come during Wendigo mating season. Wendigos were vicious,  hairy beasts, with claws over a foot long and sharp teeth that could tear into leather easily. They attacked on sight and were sometimes cannibalistic towards their own, even their offspring. Their goal, as it was observed over the years, was to repopulate quickly, but it didn't stop them from turning on any species for survival, including each other. A deep scratch or a bite could cause any human to turn Wendigo. It didn't seem to have the same effect on other mythical beings. Instead, if an elf or a fairy we're to suffer such injury, they would die.

During the mating season, no one was sure of what a Wendigo might do - turn a human or eat them - and so it was a risky hunt that Enigma cared not for. But, stubborn as they were, Evie and Myles snuck out to put their bets at an end. They split, and for a long time, Evie had thought herself the loser. She spied no ferocious cannibal beasts, nor even the small scurry of a rabbit. When the morning grew near, and first light peaked through the treetops, she had heard a piercing cry by the line of the forest. Upon coming to the scene, she witnessed a dead Wendigo, dual blades protruding from its chest and belly, laid flat on its back. Next to it, Myles, bloody and clutching his ribcage, rolled in agony. Evie was sure he had been bitten, and meant to put a sorrowful end to him right then and there, but he held out a hand and exposed his wound.

"I tripped on a damn root and cut myself with my hidden blade," he cried, throwing a small steel dagger to the side. "The blood brought the Wendigo boundin and I had to fight him half dead," he explained. Evie had helped him back to the ship and then returned with Kelpie to retrieve the beast for their supper that night. Nebula tended to his wounds all through the day and into the next night, and Evie had lingered outside the door of his cabin for hours awaiting news. When he finally emerged, stitched and annoyed for missing the roast Wendigo, the blonde girl presented him with three gold pieces, and never spoke a word of it thereafter.

Now, Nebula was just as angry as she had been that day. She had every reason to toss Evie overboard after breaking her promise. She swung the girl in front of her and gave her a shove in the middle of her back once they reached the dock. They walked in a single file line onto the ship and stood just beside the plank. The elf paced in front of the two, checking her pocket watch a few times and simply thinking on how to proceed.

"I've had enough, Lady Knox, and I think Captain Enigma will agree. You have grown careless, and this crew is anything but," she said, crossing her arms. Nebula's eyes scanned over the pair. Myles stood silently with his head bowed and arms dangling by his side. Evie was huffing silently to herself and rolling her eyes.

"I'm not... a lady," Evie replied between winces. Shards of glass poked from her shoulder in a beautiful array of patterns. Blood trickled down her armpit and soaked her vest.

"Quiet," the first mate commanded, reaching into her coat. She pulled out a gold coin and held it up between them. "You can have this back if you stay here for the rest of the evening. Do not leave, do not speak to anyone. The both of you." She flicked the coin at Evie's forehead, and it clinked and clattered to the boards. Cuinn tumbled down Myles' leg and swooped up the coin, scurrying off.

Nebula pointed a long finger at the two young pirates and said no more; she departed hastily to meet for the pirate council.

"Stay here," Myles said suddenly, walking off towards the captain's quarters. Evie walked with a weak step, feeling the sharpness of the broken glass in her shoulder. She fell into a few crates that were filled to the brim with ropes and extra sails and flags. She supported herself on one that was badly splintered and had rusted nails that scraped her arm when she grazed over it. She sat, exhaling deeply. A pang went through her shoulder again and sent shivers down her spine.

Myles returned with a bucket and some old rags. He pulled up another crate and sat in front of her and draped the rags across his leg. He had a pair of kitchen tongs tucked underneath his arm. "This is all I could find. I'll try to be easy," he said, clicking the tongs in his hand. Kelpie wouldn't be happy if he knew his cooking tools were being used to remove glass from a crew member.

"So you're done keepin quiet then?" Evie said, holding her arm out for him.

Myles took it and placed her hand on his knee and held it there. "Keep it straight now," he warned. He dipped the tongs in the bucket and started tenaciously for the glass.

Before he got too close, Evie could smell the stale alcohol. The bucket must be filled with some rum. Hopefully, not the special liquor that Captain Enigma had hidden away in his wardrobe. Myles held the tool close to the two metal prongs and clipped at the first shard.

"Well? You were in shock for a while there huh?" Evie asked.

Myles scoffed and pulled out a shimmering piece and dropped it beside him on the crate. The hole oozed a thick red sauce. "If I was shocked at all, it was because my reflexes deceived me. I coulda been rid of ya but my hand reached out and stopped it. I was so close to happiness," he said with a smirk.

Evie cocked a brow. She tensed when he went for another shard, but his hand squeezed hers on his knee and she immediately relaxed.

"Why'd you have to start that fight anyway?" He asked, letting another glass shard fall next to him.

"I didn't start it. It was innocent pub chatter and she couldn't handle it."

"Your mockery was idle, I'll agree. Saying she's innate active. Luna is... well, you've seen her. So attacking her looks ain't worth it. I'd say you we're jealous."

Evie's ears heated and she broke into a sweat. Jealous, he says! What would I have to be jealous of? Luna probably has a series of diseases from many a nasty pirate. She curled her fingers with a fury and almost didn't realize Myles' skin was reddening under her nails. He jumped when her nails went too deep and nearly dropped the tongs.

"I have nothing to be jealous of," she replied, dislodging her nails from his skin. They sat without another word for a while. Myles got a few more shards out, each one fountaining some blood down her arm.

Myles began to pull the last bit out, a large piece revealing its length to be quite long. The smooth trip from under Evie's skin was a painful one, and when he finally pulled the entire thing out, it had been about two inches deep. Blood spurted a little and hit the tip of Myles' chin. He wiped it away with his forearm and licked the stray drops of blood from his skin. Evie's abdomen tightened at the sight and her throat went dry but she said nothing.

"You're right," Myles said finally. He picked up the bucket and slowly poured it over her shoulder. The little holes that speckled her tan skin began to fizzle and burn. She whimpered and her eyes watered feverantly. Evie nearly leapt out of her boots but Myles held her down. His arm snagged her waist and he held her close to him. "Almost done, easy now," he said, finishing up. He set the bucket down and grabbed the dressings from his lap and tied them strategically around and around. By the time he finished, the burning had mostly subsided and Evie's heart rate slowed.

Myles lowered her to the boards and they both sat their backs against the ship walls.

Evie huffed, trying to ignore the stinging that pulsed in her shoulder and arm. "Nebula was rather enraged," she commented, trying to lighten the tension.

Myles tossed his hand up in dismissal. "Ahhh she'll get over it. Who could be mad at you for being such an ace fighter?"

"I let my emotions get the best of me." She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. "I was jealous," she admitted. "No one treats me the way they treat other women. I'm the daughter of a traitor." She fumbled with the pistols in her holsters, stroking the butt of each one, and feeling the carved initials that had brought her comfort over the years.

Myles was staring at her, an unreadable expression on his face. "My parents coulda been traitors too for all I know. Least you knew yours a bit."

Green Rolph was a meta-human who had sailed with The Hollow Rovers since Evie could remember. He was the one that had found Myles wandering around in the bilge. The poor kid was dirty and chasing rats and had been a little smaller than Evie. It wasn't long after her father had abandoned, and Nebula was still getting used to her post as first mate. They didn't even search for Myles' parents. Wasn't worth their time.

"I bet that whore Luna has a mother and a father," Evie muttered bitterly. She took one of the pistols out of their holster and fiddled with the trigger.

"Aye, she does," Myles joked, pushing at the girl's side. "But that just means she isn't like us. She isn't like you at all."

Evie rolled her eyes. "Not like me like she's pretty and delicate and well... endowed. Yes, I know you arse. No need to keep reminding me."

Myles set his hand on her thigh. "No. She isn't a skilled swordsman or quick of wit. She also wouldn't know how to read the stars and give headings or raise the sails," he said.

Again, the pit of Evie's stomach ached. Her hand found his and suddenly a soreness in her breasts alarmed and disgusted her and she pushed his hand off of her thigh. "I think you've had one too many drinks, boy."

Myles opened his mouth to reply but stopped himself.

The two closed their eyes and relaxed, heads knocking back against the wall of the ship, feeling the Oren air engulf them in a series of cold bursts and heat waves. It was refreshing. And the salt water lapped against the boat, like a sweet, melodic lullaby. Soon they were both near sleep, and Myles had fell into her. She let him stay there and awaited the return of Nebula and Captain Enigma to hear the news of the council meeting and to receive her lashing. It was sure to be a good one.