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The Finch had docked an hour ago, and Gael knew she couldn't keep Ainsley cooped up aboard the ship until they were ready to leave again. It wasn't fair to the princess. It also wasn't safe for her to leave, of course, but Ainsley would know the risks.

"I'll be by your side the whole time," Gael said. "And you'll be armed, of course. If we do happen to run into any trouble, we can take care of it."

"I know. I'm not worried," Ainsley replied.

The two stood in Gael's quarters, lit up by a shaft of warm sunlight that shone in through the open porthole. Outside, the smell of saltwater and fish and the cries of birds filled the air. Gael had selected a heavy cloak from the chest on the floor, and their hands met when she passed it to Ainsley. She unfolded it and wrapped it around her shoulders, then let Gael come closer and take the metal clasp in her hands. The pirate slid the copper pieces in place, aware of how close they were to one another. A strand of Ainsley's hair moved under Gael's breath, and it seemed as though a physical warmth radiated from her, drawing Gael so close that mere inches separated them. Ainsley's chest rose and fell.

Since the night they'd kissed, conflict had stormed inside Gael, and they had never done it again. The thought of kissing Ainsley just once more set Gael's heart racing, but it would only be setting herself up for heartbreak.

Ainsley had a kingdom to return to. A fleeting relationship with a pirate captain wouldn't mean much to her.

Gael stepped away and arranged the cloak on Ainsley's shoulders, wrapping it tightly around her and pulling it closed so it completely obscured her lithe form. Ainsley's hands found the hood and she pulled it over her head, letting it drape low over her face and casting most of it in shadow.

"Will that be alright?" Gael asked.

Ainsley tugged at the hem of one of the wide sleeves that dropped past her knuckles.

"Yes. I don't think anyone will recognize me." She smiled, and Gael smiled back, heart fluttering.

"Shall we?" She asked, offering her arm.

Ainsley grinned, eyes glittering beneath the shadows of the hood. "I see you haven't forgotten your nobility days. I have a better idea, though." She wrapped her hand around Gael's, fingers curling over it with a protective confidence. Gael smiled, hoping the shakiness she felt suddenly in her stomach wasn't visible.

No one had ever made her feel so unsteady, yet so thrilled and elated all at once.

"This is a better idea," she agreed.

This city was busier than the last they had visited, with merchants calling from every direction and rushing pedestrians bumping into the two of them unceremoniously. The rest of Gael's crew had gone their separate ways, eager to spend their time on land away from from the people they spent most of their days cooped up with. Everyone would meet back on the Finch by nightfall.

"Remember, keep the dragons away," Gael warned. "That'll be the quickest way to have someone recognize you."

"I know," Ainsley replied, watching the sky. "I'll make sure they don't come near."

The two were standing at the edge of a seller's blanket, examining the wares, when a wayward gust of wind tore Ainsley's hood from her head and sent her hair ruffling in the stiff breeze. Evening was falling, and the air was getting chilly. She sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed it again, pulling it back up to disguise her face, but the damage had been done.

"Princess Ainsley? What are you doing so far from Ellay?"

Ainsley flinched, and a anxious lump rose in Gael's throat. She hurried to turn to the person who had recognized Ainsley, a younger woman with wide brown eyes.

"Please, Miss, I think you must be mistaken."

"No. I know the Princess' face. I saw her once, you know, when I travelled to Ellay. She was at her father's public address." The woman's voice was rushed and breathy, amazed at meeting nobility in the cramped roads of a city marketplace. "There are people here looking for you, you know. Did you lose your escort?"

The two exchanged a glance, and Gael took a sudden step forward, grabbing the woman by her shoulders. Her excited words trailed off to a nervous squeak.

"What did you say?"

"I—"

"Miss, please, this is important." The urgency in Gael's voice was scaring her. "Please. Did you say people are looking for Ainsley here?"

"I—yes—a patrol of soldiers on horseback came through asking about her." The woman's round brown eyes quivered as she stared pleadingly at Gael. "They're her own soldiers. It's not as though they're a threat to her or anything. Please just let me go."

Gael released her and stepped back. Ainsley's chest rose and fell, her hands bunched tightly in the folds of her cloak. They were drawing too much attention. Several civilians were already staring openly, listening to the entire conversation.

"Which way did they go?"

"South. I think." The woman licked her lips. "Wait, are you a pirate? What are you doing with the princess?"

Gael cast a desperate glance at Ainsley, who stepped forward. She wasn't nearly as imposing as Gael, but she lifted her chin regardless, staring at the woman in a way that seemed to scare her more than Gael's presence had. Ainsley tended to have that effect on people.

"What I'm doing here is irrelevant to you. If you come across those soldiers again, you will not tell them anything about my presence. Do you understand?"

She dipped her head in a hurried nod. "O-Of course, Your Highness."

"Thank you. We must be going."

Ainsley grabbed Gael's arm, and she wasted no time in following the princess out of the gathered crowd, pushing their way through the throng until Ainsley could pull her into a quiet side alley.

Their ragged breathing mingled in the dusky air between them.

"We need to leave."

Ainsley nodded.

"Now."

Another shaky nod. "I know, Gael."

Gael let out a sigh and rubbed at her eyes. "We'll need to search for the crew. I have no idea where they've all gone to."

"I should stay here—stay hidden."

"I can't leave you alone. What if they find you?"

Ainsley reached for Gael's hands, but Gael pulled away instinctively, then regretted it.

"Ainsley, I can't let you be taken again. I don't want to—I don't want to lose you."

Ainsley's hands found either side of Gael's face now, the warmth of her palms searing the pirate's skin. She stared into Ainsley's light eyes, breaths faltering. The princess' gaze was soft, almost melancholy in the shadow cast by her cloak.

"You won't. I'll be alright, Gael, I promise."

Gael swallowed and reached up to wrap her hands around Ainsley's, fingers curling around hers, but she couldn't force herself to pull them away from her face.

"I won't leave you again, Gael. I don't ever want to, either."

She edged closer, and Gael tilted her head down instinctively, letting out a shuddering breath as Ainsley edged so close that their foreheads brushed and she could feel her breath on her lips. Her hands moved around to the back of Gael's head, then slid down to her neck, tangling in the dark curls. Gael closed her eyes to avoid Ainsley's stare.

"I want to spend the rest of my days with you," Ainsley whispered. "Forever and ever."

"You don't want that. You shouldn't."

"I do. I've never wanted anything so badly before."

Gael sighed and pulled away, gently untangling herself from Ainsley's embrace.

"Here. Have you ever used a pistol before?"

Ainsley's eyes flicked down in disappointment, but she swallowed and shook her head.

"No."

"Alright. Take this instead, then." Gael unsheathed her cutlass and passed it to Ainsley, hilt first. "I'll return for you as soon as I can. Please be careful."

"I will." And then— "Gael, wait—"

Ainsley grabbed the front of Gael's tunic and pulled her in. The kiss was rough and harsh, a flash of pain igniting as their noses bumped together, but Gael gave in to it willingly, taking Ainsley's shoulders in her hands and kissing back with all the fierceness she could muster. Then she pulled away, breathing hard but full of renewed determination. Ainsley's eyes glowet with new resolve, and she held the cutlass with the hands of an experienced swordsman.

Gael's lips burned as she cast one final glance at Ainsley, shrouded in the dark blue shadows of the alley, then stepped out into the quieting streets.

—

She found Nathe, Ed, Holman, and two other pirates, and sent them to find the rest and then return to the Finch, explaining the situation in breathless tones.

Ed returned almost immediately, steps so fast and haphazard he crashed directly into her. She grabbed him, planting her feet and steadying his reckless dash.

"Ed. What's wrong?"

The boy was breathing too hard to speak, trembling from head to toe. "The Finch," he gasped, shuddering. "They—they've taken her. They've taken the Finch, Gael."

Dread blossomed in her chest like a noxious plant.

"What? Who has?"

"The soldiers."

Heart thudding erratically, Gael nodded once, then took off the direction Ed had come from, ignoring his exclamations.

"Gael, there's too many of them, you can't—"

The run through the twisting streets of the city took only a few moments, hard cobblestone pounding against the soles of her boots with every rushed step she took. Finally, the jumble of buildings opened up before her, leaving her at the edge of the waterfront, staring out at her ship.

The Finch's deck crawled with soldiers, a haze of movement in the falling darkness. And there was fire. It took her a moment to realize was what happening ask she stared out at the bobbing craft. The masts were stark, empty skeletons against the deep blue sky. And on the deck, fires burned, casting circles of red.

"They're burning the sails," she breathed. Ed caught up in rush of chaotic footsteps, and he stared out at their captive ship with her. Even if they could take her back and fight off the pirates, this would make it a lot harder to leave before backup could arrive. Gael clenched her fists to stop the trembling. How has everything gone wrong so quickly?

"Wait. They would only be doing that if they knew it was us, right?" Ed mused.

A cold rush went down Gael's spine. They knew their princess was here.

"Stay here," she commanded. "If any of the men show up, tell them to stay away. Don't go near and don't get spotted."

"Where are you going?"

She pulled her pistol from its holster on her waist and held it securely, wishing she also had the comfort of her cutlass.

"I have to find Ainsley."

oof, things are starting to spiral. please vote and comment if you've got a moment, it means a lot to me! also, if you haven't already, feel free to head over to my profile and check out my new project, the heavenly void! it's a sci-fi space thing with giant cosmic beings and some good lgbt romance and characters. thanks for your time!