Page 32 of The Summons (Legend of the King’s Ring #1)

E

meline’s hair hung to her waist in a tangled sticky mass, and her salt-encrusted skirts grated upon her stockings with each step, but she couldn’t be happier as she emerged from the jungle arm-in-arm with Blake.

Despite the wounds on his chest and arm, he’d told her he had won the sword fight. Even so, before they emerged onto the shore, they halted and peered through the leaves of a thick shrub. Yet they saw no battle, no waiting enemy, and hence, no trap set for them. In truth, neither Della Morte’s crew nor his frigate were in sight, while Blake’s men lounged aimlessly upon the sand.

Upon seeing them, Finn leapt up from the boulder he perched upon and approached, Pedro and Charlie following behind.

Only then did Emeline see three bodies lying in the sand.

Blake followed her gaze, then released her and uttered, “Stay here” before heading toward them.

“It be Della Morte hisself.” Finn slipped beside Blake. “An’ ’is henchmen.”

Defying Blake’s orders, Emeline followed, her mind spinning with Finn’s news and her heart clenching at the sight of renewed blood trickling down Blake’s arm.

Halting before the bodies, Blake frowned when he saw Emeline beside him. She’d seen the dead before, but these men appeared to have suffered immensely. Their lips were blue. Their vacant eyes stared up at the sun, a mangled look of horror frozen on their features.

“What happened?”

“Dunno,” Charlie offered. “That pirate lady, she sprinkled something on them, an’ they all dropped t’ the ground.”

Pedro let out a whimper and Emeline drew him close. “’Twas most likely some evil hex.”

“Death and wounds,” Finn muttered, backing away. “Sweet Jesus, preserve us.”

Blake frowned. “Did they find the Ring?”

“Nay.” Sam’s voice turned Emeline around to see the old surgeon approaching, medical satchel in hand. “I overheard them arguing. When they couldn’t find it, she killed these three and left with their crew. Let me bandage your wounds.”

Blake glanced at the cuts on his chest and arm as if just now noticing them. “Nay, I’m all right.”

“Let him do it, Blake,” Emeline appealed, drawing his tender smile. Was it her imagination or was there something different in his eyes, in his smile?

“Sure were some fight ye ’ad, Cap‘n,” Finn shoved his pipe back into his mouth.

Taking Emeline’s arm, Blake drew her away from the gruesome scene. “Where are Della Morte’s crew?”

“They went wit’ her, Cap’n’,” Charlie said with an incredulous snort.

“Willingly?” Blake lowered to sit on a boulder where Sam could begin his ministrations.

“Aye, after they saw what she did to their leaders.”

Emeline nodded toward Blake’s crew scattered across the beach. “Why didn’t she harm you or take Blake’s ship?”

“That be the strange thing,” Finn mumbled, teetering the pipe still in his mouth. “She came right up t’ us like she were going to kill us all, but something stopped her.”

“Aye!” Pedro added in an excited tone. “She said somethin’ about us bein’ protected afore she marched away, cursin’ an’ hollerin’, carryin’ on like a beached shark.”

Blake faced Emeline, and they both smiled, a look of understanding flowing between them that sent warmth to her toes. Had he finally submitted to God?

Finn tugged the bandana lower on his head. “I still can’t believe ye walked away from the Ring like ye did.”

Emeline blinked. Surely, she heard incorrectly. “What was that?”

“Aye.” Charlie smiled at Emeline. “Della Morte gave the cap’n a choice. Save you or get the Ring.”

“And he saved you!” Pedro announced proudly, as if it were him who’d done the heroic deed.

Emeline stared at Blake, stunned, almost afraid to believe ’twas true.

She hadn’t time to consider it before Blake’s crew headed toward them with huzzahs on their lips and bottles of rum in their hands.

b

Hours later, Blake paced the length of his cabin back and forth, back and forth, cursing himself for behaving a moonstruck toady. How had he gone from being a powerful—the most powerful—scavenger of the seas in need of no one, trusting no one, man or woman, to a sniveling sod whose heart could be crushed by a single word from one woman?

Not just any woman, but a woman who was everything he was not—an angel sent from heaven, whose very smile and goodness radiated a light that scattered all darkness. He had a question to ask her, a question burning on his heart, a question that if he did not ask her this night, he’d never have the courage.

Therefore, time was of the essence before he came to his senses and realized he had no right to ask anything of her.

But the crew had deserved to celebrate, the ship needed repairs, and Blake had orders to dispatch, commands to issue, and responsibilities to uphold as captain.

Yet now as the Summons glided along on an inky sea beneath a waning moon and a majestic expanse of sparkling stars, he’d requested Emeline’s presence in his cabin.

Would she come? Or was she too exhausted from the day to bother? Hence the reason he paced.

Light footsteps padded, and he looked up to see her standing in the doorway, a stunning mirage of purity and light. Tendrils of loose hair hung about her long, graceful neck. Her cheeks were pink from the sun, her face glowing, her golden eyes sparkling. She bit her lip and lowered her gaze as if suddenly shy in his presence.

“Emeline.” He held out his hand for her, ushering her inside before closing the door.

“’Tis hardly proper, Captain, to be alone with you.” She gave him a teasing grin.

“Too late for that, is it not?”

“But now…” She ran a finger over the dust on his desk.

He approached, wanting to know what had changed between them and hoping ’twas exactly what he longed for. “Now?”

She faced him, her chest rising and falling rapidly as if she were nervous. “You forsook the Ring. You chose me over your dream.” Even as she said it, moisture glistened in her eyes. “Why?”

Swallowing, Blake gripped the lion medallion, wanting to declare his love again, but…unsure of her reaction. He deserved her scorn, her disdain and disgust. After what she’d endured by his hand, he deserved naught but a slap in the face. And far worse.

Yet he’d never been one to cower from anything. He raised his eyes to hers. “I discovered that the Ring was not as important to me as you are, Emeline.” Taking her hands in his, he squeezed them. “Power, wealth…Scads, should the entire world be handed to me on a platter, ’twould be empty without you. I love you, Emeline.”

Confusion twisted her brow, followed by shock and…disbelief? Breathless, she stumbled backward, jerking back her hands to catch her balance on the shifting deck.

Blake grabbed her waist to steady her, his heart sinking. Not exactly the reaction he’d hoped for.

Lantern light shifted over her face, dark…light…dark…light…like the swaying of a deadly pendulum, sealing his fate.

Releasing her, he backed away. “Forgive me. I over spoke. I’ll call someone to escort you back to your cabin.”

b

“You will do no such thing!” Emeline could hardly keep up with the capricious man’s moods. One minute loving, the next sad, and now an angry resignation had overtaken him.

He stared at her, those green eyes of his like daggers into her soul. ’Twas the second time he’d declared his love for her. The first she’d ignored, being on the heels of a passionate kiss. But this one? No seductive gleam shone from his eyes. In truth, neither did she see an alcoholic haze. Hence, the reason it had taken a minute for the shock to reach her heart. Lifting a coy chin, she moved to the stern windows and gazed out upon the moonlit sea. “Tell me more about this newfound love for me, Captain.”

He took the bait. His footsteps followed her, and she felt the heat radiating off him across her back. He leaned forward. His warm breath on her neck sent shivers down to her toes, his masculine scent an elixir for every ill.

“Not newfound. Merely hidden beneath my prideful delusion.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “You are the most enchanting, beautiful woman I have ever met. You are good and kind and generous. I know I don’t deserve you, but I could not let another day slip by without telling you of my true affections.”

She swung about. No man had ever graced her with such compliments, such words of love. Were they true or merely a result of an emotional day? He stood but inches away, his closeness heating every ounce of her. “And what of the Ring?”

He shrugged. “’Tis a mere trinket and naught compared to God’s power.”

She smiled, hope flooding her soul. “Have you made your peace with Him, then?”

“I have.” He grabbed the cross around his neck. “At that moment on the beach when given a choice between you and the Ring, I knew. I knew God was there. I felt Him. I felt His love. And you have shown me His power.” He sighed. “What need have I of some Ring?”

“What of the power you crave, the control?”

His lips curved. “Perhaps I will give God control over my life. Seems He knows far better than I.”

She flew into his arms. “I’m so happy, Blake. ’Tis what I’ve been praying for.” Nudging back from him, she searched his eyes for a hint of any insincerity. Show me, Lord. Show me . But only love beamed from within them.

“I love you, Blake. I have for a long—”

Before she could finish, his lips were on hers. Once again, her world imploded in a pool of pleasurable sensations—loving, caressing, all-consuming. Until naught else mattered but the man whose arms encased her in a barricade of strength and warmth.

He withdrew, leaving her breathless and wanting more.

“Forgive me. I want to be the honorable man you seek. I will not take liberties with so precious a lady.”

“Pah! Take liberties, I beg you.” Her sultry tone shocked even her, but she did not want him to stop. Ever. She kissed him again. Passionately…deeply, wanting more and more of him, and all the while hoping this wasn’t a dream.

Grabbing her shoulders, he withdrew and pushed himself back, a look of both surprise and censure on his face. “Scads, woman. Who knew such passion lurked inside…”

“Inside so virtuous a covering?” she teased. “I am still a woman, after all.”

“Then you give me no choice but to make a decent lady of you.” He winked above a sensuous grin, but then suddenly grew somber.

The elation of only moments before trickled away as she stood waiting.

“I do not deserve you, Emeline. You deserve a hero, a gentleman, as you’ve so often made clear. I am far from being that man, though I sense I am on my way.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.

She leaned into his touch. “Ask me, Blake.”

He stared at her quizzically.

“Ask me.”

He hesitated for several seconds as the swish of waves and creak of wood serenaded them while ribbons of moonlight draped them in silver. Then, dropping to one knee, he gazed up at her. “Marry me, Emeline. I promise to become the hero you’ve always longed for.”

Her heart nearly burst through her chest. “You already are, Blake. You already are!”

Rising, he cocked a brow. “Is that a yes?”

She fell into his arms. “More than a yes. A promise.”

Blake lowered his lips for another kiss when the door creaked open. Flustered and angry at the interruption, Emeline leapt back, warmth flooding her face. Thankfully, she gripped the desk before Bandit flew into her arms.

“Sorry fer the interruption, Cap’n.” Finn ambled in, looking embarrassed and shifting his eyes away from the couple. “Shoulda knocked.”

“Indeed.” Blake growled. “What is it?”

“Jist thought ye’d want to know as soon as possible.” Finn gestured to the monkey. “The varmint ’as somethin’ fer ye.”

With a ragged sigh, Blake faced Emeline and reached for Bandit.

Before he could grab him, Bandit extended his open paw toward the captain, squealing as if it contained a pouch of doubloons.

Lantern light flickered off the crimson jewel in the center of the Ring.

Emeline’s heart dropped like an anchor. Not that dastardly trinket again! A thousand doubts crowded out her recent joy. Now that Blake had his Ring back, would he go back to his old ways?