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CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

JACE

J ace was shaking. His wet clothes clung to his skin, cold against him despite the warm evening air. Irene dragged him through the narrow corridor of the ship without a word, letting his feet stumble and drag behind her.

“Idiot. Usurper. Curse.”

Each word he’d heard echoed in his mind, the ache in his chest deepening. A hollowness no warmth could reach. The golden glow of the setting sunbathed the ship, yet to him, it felt cold. His legs faltered. Irene didn’t stop. The door to her cabin swung open, and she shoved him inside. He caught himself against the wall, his breathing ragged. He didn’t look at her. Couldn’t.

The tears were hot and relentless, tracing silent, bitter paths down his cheeks. He wanted to blame them—her, the crew, the pirates who mocked and belittled him. But deep down, he knew the truth. He wasn’t crying because of their cruelty. He cried because despite his title, despite the gold and privilege that cloaked him, he had never mattered. Not even to the people who should have loved him most. His parents had lied to him, weaving secrets too dark and heavy for him to grasp. His mother’s desperate prayers had brought him into this world, but his father’s sins had cursed him before he had even drawn breath. He was just a pawn.

“I’m nothing,” he whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking like fragile glass. “Just a key. A curse wrapped in silk and gold. Meant for a sapphire. Nothing more.”

The door slammed behind him. Irene paced nervously up and down the cabin. She stopped abruptly, turning to Jace, her voice breaking, hoarse with emotion. “What’s wrong with you?” she demanded. For the first time, Jace saw the exhaustion in her reddened eyes. She looked just as lost, and drained as he felt. He opened his mouth, hesitant, but she didn’t give him the chance to answer.

“One day you beg for release, the next you defend your father. Then you refuse to talk for days. And now… now you—you jump overboard!” Her voice broke, the words choking in her throat. She turned away, jaw clenched as if swallowing something bitter.

Jace shifted on his feet. The truth of everything he had just discovered pressed on him like a crushing weight, so heavy he could barely stand. He searched for the words to explain himself, but they wouldn’t come. The silence between them stretched.

“What the hell do you want, Jace? What are you doing?” Her voice rang out.

He took a shaky breath, his emotions spilling over.

“I don’t know!” he shouted, his voice rough with anger and despair. “I don’t know anything! My whole life… I’ve been useless!” His voice cracked, echoing painfully in the small cabin. “And now I’m surrounded by people demanding answers—answers I don’t have! Answers I never deserved! I’m not even worthy of my father’s curses!” Panting, he pressed his hands to his head, as if trying to stop his thoughts from spiraling out of control.

Irene stayed silent, her gaze steady, letting his storm rage without interruption.

“What do I want, you ask?” Jace’s voice dropped to a whisper, filled with a sorrow that felt bottomless. “I want to live. But I don’t even know who I am. I swear I didn’t know about that sapphire. I didn’t know anything.”

The Eldorians were dreamers. His ancestors, the women of his dynasty, were said to see truths and answers through their dreams. Their visions had made them rulers, their choices carving lines into destiny, granting them unworldly wealth. Jace dreamed too, but with open eyes.

And in this painful waking dream, everything made now sense. His mother’s veiled whispers, his father’s accusations. The echoes of their disdain. They had both hated him, each in their own way.

He almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. At his fate. He almost wanted to help these pirates find the damn sapphire himself, just to see what would happen.

Irene’s eyes softened, and for the first time, Jace didn’t see impatience or disdain in her gaze. Instead, there was something else. She looked sad.

“Why live if everyone lied to you?” Jace thought. He belonged nowhere. Not on this ship, not in the palace whose walls whispered his insignificance. Everywhere he went, he was a ghost, an existence shaped to serve ambitions that were never his own. And worse yet, why escape the pirates hands only to fall back under the spell of the man who had kept him prisoner in a gilded cage?

And these pirates were strangers, brutal, but oddly… they felt more honest than his own family. He wondered if it wouldn’t be easier to leave it all behind.

Jace looked up, not expecting to meet Irene’s gaze, fixed on him with unsettling intensity. She was soaked, her white shirt clinging to her skin, revealing the outline of her bustier in places. Her panting breaths made the fabric tremble, and Jace, inexplicably, couldn’t look away. Irene parted her lips, but no sound came at first. Her brow furrowed, her eyes widening.

“You knew you were going to drown…” she whispered, her voice trembling as the truth unraveled too slowly.

Jace said nothing. He didn’t deny it. Deep down, he knew she was right, and he no longer had the strength to pretend otherwise. Princes, he thought bitterly, weren’t supposed to lie. But then Irene’s gaze shifted—her expression softening, touched by a pity he couldn’t bear. That look, filled with unexpected compassion, made him falter.

The tears he had held back for too long burst forth in uncontrollable sobs, shaking his body and causing his legs to give way beneath him. Irene closed the distance in one swift step, gripping his shoulders firmly and bringing their faces close.

“Listen to me!” Irene said. “Listen to me… You’re going to stay alive. You… you’re not going to die.”

"What do you want... Jace?" Irene asked again, raising her head to meet his gaze, locking their eyes. "I want to be a free man," Jace said, his voice breaking. "I want so much, but I... I can’t put it into words. I don’t know what I truly want..."

Irene stepped closer. "It’s not a problem," she said, her eyes burning with intensity. "You have your entire life ahead of you to figure it out. And when you do, never lose sight of it. Never."

She paused, the sound of the waves outside filling the silence. Then, her lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "For me, it’s glory... gold... and, most importantly, an eternal life at sea. The sea is my true north, my compass. It’s what pulls me forward when everything else falls apart."

Her gaze softened, but only for a moment. "You just need to find yours."

Jace nodded, feeling panic tighten in his throat, but she didn’t let go, her gaze holding him captive. He wasn’t sure if she was talking to him or herself, but she insisted, her voice softer, almost pleading. "Say it... say it, that you’re not going to die. I want to hear you, say it for me."

Jace’s forehead brushed against Irene’s, his breath ragged against her skin. Their noses touched, barely, as he repeated, his voice broken but resolute, like a promise torn from pain, "I’m not going to die..."

Irene nodded before continuing, her eyes locked with Jace’s. "Beyond your golden walls, in real life, fate has a twisted way of giving us what we dream of, what we think we want. You remember telling me you wanted to see the world? Well, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. You’re going to stay alive, Jace. You’re going to see the world. Starting with Tulindor, where the next fragment is hidden. And you’re going to keep discovering the world, step by step."

She spoke with relentless fervor, but Jace cut her off, his voice breaking with a sob. "By being your prisoner!"

Irene grabbed his face and forced him to look at her, her fingers firm, almost burning against his icy skin. His pulse pounded in his temples, uncontrollable. "I told you... you’re not my prisoner anymore."

Her smile softened, though her eyes glimmered with unshed tears. "You’re my salvation, Jace. And you’re going to keep exploring the world, putting distance between yourself and the man you thought was your father, until I finally get my hands on that sapphire. And this damn life gives me back everything she owes me. And then..."

They stared at each other in silence, a suspended moment where anything seemed possible. "Then... you’ll be a free man. And you’ll be able to read all the books you want," she added with a smirk, referring to those books he’d told her about that night, when they’d first met.

The more she spoke, the more Jace felt his thoughts crumble, lost in this ocean of emotions. Maybe that was why he’d chosen to help her, against all reason.

Irene tilted her head up slightly, leaning closer, lifting herself up a little to reach his ear. He felt her lips stretch into a smile that tickled his skin as she whispered, "And one day, you’ll brag to the world about having met me. After all, it’s not every day that you get kidnapped by the famous Captain Irene Delmare."

Jace stepped back for a moment, his eyes wide with surprise. Then, despite himself, a smile broke across his face, a burst of light in the darkness of his heart.

Irene straightened up, satisfied. She stepped back and began to unbutton her wet white shirt, the fabric clinging to her skin as she prepared to change. Jace blushed and quickly turned away.

"Get ready," she said, her tone commanding yet almost playful. "Our journey’s just begun."

The days following Irene and Jace's discussion had been lighter than he would have expected. He was almost grateful, because the crew had welcomed him in a strange but genuine way. He knew he wasn't completely free yet, but he felt less like a prisoner. He was always watched, yet included in everything—meals, celebrations, their laughter, and discussions.

He had learned many things. Lan had shown him how to ward off seasickness with dried herbs. He had prepared meals with Javier and learned to read maps with Zahra. He had laughed alongside Blade and Hezra, who were always bickering. The days passed quickly as the StormBreaker sailed toward Tulindor. The air had grown warmer, and the evenings were no longer bitterly cold.

He now slept in Irene's cabin instead of the dark cell in the hold. Jace suspected she wanted to keep a closer eye on him. Sometimes, she even let him have her bed on nights when she couldn't sleep and spent hours on the deck, either behind the helm or gazing at the stars. On some of those nights, Jace joined her, unable to face his thoughts alone.

And those nights were the most beautiful. They stayed there, side by side, observing the dark sea reflected by the moon. Jace had even taught Irene the names of a few stars in exchange for her epic pirate stories, tales of her adventures at sea. She spoke with joy and nostalgia about her old pirate guild—the one she had shared with Captain Dax, the pirate his father had sent after him with Eldorian soldiers.

Those moments left Jace with a knot of guilt. Men of his people had died, and yet he spent his days and nights admiring the girl who had condemned them. Despite that, he was now included in discussions about the sapphire, where the atmosphere turned deadly serious. Strangely, he had even found himself helping them. He answered all their questions about the king and the history of the Eldorian dynasty without hesitation, and disturbingly, without guilt.

The more time passed, the more he became certain of one thing: the sapphire was tied to his destiny. If he ever wanted to start a new life, he needed to understand his role in this story. Through all these days spent with the crew, no matter the chaos, Jace's eyes always found Irene. It wasn’t deliberate; he didn’t do it on purpose. It had become instinctive, as if something invisible bound him to her. She didn’t need to speak, didn’t need to turn toward him. She was simply there, and that was enough to draw him in.

One day, he overheard a conversation between Blade and Javier. Blade laughed and whispered, "She has a way of pulling people in... even the prince feels her pull." Javier chuckled in response. "She pulls everyone in. That's why she’s dangerous."

Jace had blushed at their words but felt a lightness settle over him. His eyes truly were always drawn to Irene. The way she moved, the way light and shadows seemed to follow her, fascinated him. And as he watched her, he wondered if she wasn’t his North.

Jace was sitting with the crew in the cabin below deck, the air thick with the scent of salt and wood. Around the table, Zahra’s voice carried, deciphering Lady Death’s cryptic words, while Jace offered what little he knew about his father.

Suddenly, the cabin door flew open with a thud. Irene stood there, out of breath, her curls wild from the wind. Silence fell as all eyes turned to her.

Her gaze swept the room before landing on him. Jace’s heart raced.

“Come with me,” she commanded.

“What?” Jace blinked, startled.

“I said, come with me. It’s an order.” Her tone was sharp.

Zahra protested. “I still need him?—”

But Jace was already rising. Irene turned, and he followed, shutting the door behind him.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness as she quickened her pace ahead of him. “Did I say something wrong?”

She glanced back briefly. “Just follow me. I have something to show you.”

They climbed the stairs to the main deck, the creak of wood beneath their feet the only sound between them. As they reached the top, Irene turned abruptly, blocking his path.

“Close your eyes,” she said, a playful smile teasing her lips.

“What?” Jace asked, half-laughing, half-confused.

“Trust me,” she said insistently, her smile deepening. “Close your eyes.”

Hesitating, Jace finally did as she asked. Adrenaline coursed through him as she guided him forward, her hand brushing his arm. They stepped onto the main deck, and the salty breeze hit his skin, while the wind tousled his hair. “Go ahead,” she whispered. He took a cautious step forward, his heart pounding, but when he instinctively tried to peek, Irene smacked his shoulder.

“Don’t open your eyes!” she said, her laugh breaking through her mock sternness.

“Are you going to throw me overboard?” Jace asked, his nervous chuckle betraying him.

“Maybe,” Irene teased, her hand brushing against his arm as she guided him. “Keep moving straight.

Then, she stopped. He froze too. A moment passed, and panic crept in when he realized she wasn’t beside him. “Captain? Captain?” he called, his voice shaky. “Irene!”

“I’m right behind you,” she whispered, sending a shiver down his spine. Before he could respond, she took his hand and guided it to the rope. “Climb up. There’s a wooden step.”

Jace hesitated, his body stiffening. “No?—”

But Irene was already moving ahead of him, her grip steady on his forearm as she pulled him up. “Trust me,” she said again, her voice soft but commanding.

They reached the bow, and the wind whipped around them, tugging at his clothes. She placed his hand on the taut rope, her fingers lingering for a moment. “Hold on to this,” she instructed.

Jace obeyed, gripping the rope tightly. Panic bubbled in his chest as he felt the height and the rush of wind pressing against him. “No—no, I—” “Hold my hand,” Irene said, her fingers intertwining with his. The warmth of her touch calmed him, and he exhaled shakily.

Her breath brushed against his ear, “Open your eyes.” Jace opened his eyes slowly, blinking as the light hit him. And then, all at once, the world unfolded before him.

His mouth fell open as his wide eyes drank in the sight. The horizon stretched endlessly, the sun dipping toward the water in hues he’d never imagined, pouring molten hues of pink, purple, and orange across the deep blue waves. The ocean sparkled like a living thing, catching the fire of the sky.

“It’s beautiful,” he breathed, his voice barely audible. A tear slipped down his cheek, and before he could wipe it away, Irene’s fingers brushed his face. She stared at it for a moment, then smiled as though amused. She turned her gaze back to the horizon. “Do you know what these colours mean?” she asked.

Jace shook his head, still speechless. “It means we’re close to Tulindor. I’ve sailed so many seas, seen so many sunsets, but none like these.” Her voice softened, almost wistful. “These colours exist nowhere else.”

The ship’s bow tilted gently with the rhythm of the waves, and Jace tightened his grip on the rope. He glanced down and saw the ship slicing through the water fast. Then he felt her eyes on him. When he turned, Irene was watching him with that teasing smile of hers that always left him blushing.

“So?” she asked finally, her tone playful. “What does it feel like?”

Jace blinked, confusion flashing across his face. “What does what feel like?”

Her smile deepened. “The sea.”

And then it hit him, like lightning. He'd asked her the same thing when they first met. Jace closed his eyes, letting the salt and wind fill his senses. When he opened them again, the sun had sunk lower, painting the waves in deeper orange and pink hues. “It feels wild and beautiful,” he said, his voice soft.

When he turned back to Irene, the sun’s fire had cast her in its glow. Her curls danced in the breeze, shimmering like bronze threads, and her skin, kissed by the light, seemed to radiate warmth.

When he turned back to Irene, the sun had bathed her in golden light, her curls dancing in the breeze, and her skin, kissed by the warm light, seemed to glow. “Just like you,” he added, his voice quieter now, almost like a confession. “Wild and beautiful.”

Irene’s smile softened for a heartbeat, deepening the faint dimples on her cheeks. He could swear he saw her blush. Then, she turned her gaze back to the horizon, her hand tightening around his.

For the first time in his life, Jace thought he understood the feeling of freedom.