Chapter 10

Once the Queen Anne's Revenge pulled past the Jolly Roger, Killian closed the gap between himself and Emma in seconds. She wrapped her arms around his body while his hand came to cup Emma's cheek, thumb skimming across her bottom lip before taking a deep breath. "Emma, I…"

"I know." She held his hand, trapping it against her cheek. She intended to savor every moment she was with him.

His blue eyes blazed fierce and hot as he gazed down at her. "Then you'll understand that I want you to stay below deck." His hand squeezed hers, still holding her close.

"What!?" Emma hissed, wrenching her hand free and taking a step back to glare at him. "I am a captain! My place is on deck." Her hands instantly went to her hips as she glared at him.

A small grin flittered across his face as he lightly tapped her nose. "Not your ship, love." He reminded her gently.

Emma rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms. "Pirate."

"Rightly noted."

Her resounding snort of displeasure rang out through the small cabin as Emma continued to glare at him.

Hands spread out obligingly, Killian started again. "Swan, let me go to the top deck alone. Possibly, it might be nothing at all. Maybe he wants just a little chat, pirate to pirate," Killian spoke quietly, his eyes still looking out the window. "He could be looking for some treasure. Who knows with Blackbeard; he's a right rotten bastard. However, if Blackbeard spied a captain of the royal navy aboard? Things could get rocky, my love. I'd rather not have to spill his entrails today." His mouth settled into a tight line.

In the distance, they could hear another cannon blast.

"I will not lose you again, Swan," he whispered, blue eyes holding hers.

"Let me help you, Jones!" She protested, her eyes fierce as she resisted the urge to reach out to grab his wrist. She planted her arms on her hips instead.

Killian blew out an exasperated breath, pinching his nose in frustration. "Bloody hell woman! So damned stubborn!" His arm shot out, sliding around her waist and he pulled Emma to him, dropping his head to kiss her fiercely. His tongue darted out to tangle with her hers, leaving her breathless. "Stay put, Princess," he growled, his words a careful reminder of her hidden stature. With a swirl of his jacket, Killian spun on his heel and left the cabin.

Emma huffed as she watched him disappear up the ladder. She didn't want to let him leave, but she bit her lip and respected his wish.

For the moment.

Emma paced back and forth across the cabin.

She hated waiting.

She hated not knowing the state of the situation on the top deck.

She hated feeling trapped.

She hated not being there to help him.

He had asked her to stay in his cabin, no matter the cost. Because she loved him, she had listened to his word and stayed put.

But… In the past, she hadn't been there for him. It wasn't going to happen again. Emma snatched up Killian's dagger from his desk, tucking it into her boot, and climbed the ladder, peeking out over the deck. She frowned at the relative quiet.

Something was very wrong.

Emma had seen and participated in her fair share of battles. All of them were loud, miserable affairs. This shroud of silence was not right and it was like a hot ball of lead had settled into her stomach.

She scrambled out of the cabin, sliding the hatch closed behind her and slinking along the deck, staying low and out of sight.

Men lay dead and dying on the deck, but there hadn't been any cannonfire. A gangplank and tie-lines stretched across the space between the two ships, linking them together. They'd been tied off on the Jolly Roger, like the two ships had met on friendly terms, but Killian's crew had been massacred.

Emma's lips set into a grim line. It all led to one thing...

Betrayal.

A weak moan to her right distracted from her thoughts. Emma instantly recognized the battered red hat on the wounded man. "Smee." She whispered, pulling a large piece of splintered wood from a wound in his leg and quickly applying pressure to stop the bleeding. Stealing another glance towards the Queen Anne's Revenge, she quickly pulled Smee toward the gunwhale, hiding their presence from any prying rival pirates.

Smee's eyes blearily focused on her. "Lady Captain." He wheezed through his considerable pain. "It was a setup, they came aboard seeking friendship, but had betrayal on their mind. Culliford must have relayed our position to Blackbeard. Culliford built a fair few of the men to rebel against him. We were caught unawares. One stinkin' bastard stabbed me with this hunk of wood and the rest of our men have been taken captive on the Queen Anne."

Emma cursed, her hands balling into fists. "I should have tossed Culliford's ass overboard two days ago."

"Aye. Rotten turncoat." Smee agreed. "The Cap'n went over to Blackbeard's ship to ensure the safety of the rest of the honest crew. I know that the Cap'n wanted to stop Blackbeard's men from raiding the ship."

From finding me, Emma realized, as she applied more pressure to Smee's wound. Luckily, it appeared that the wooden shard did not penetrate his leg too deeply. Looking over her shoulder, she looked for something more substantial to stop the bleeding wound on Smee's leg. Luckily, there was a small discarded rag crumpled on the deck near their hidden location.

Emma dared to peek over the gunwhale, eyes searching for Killian, while she crawled over to the rag. A sudden shout drew her eyes further down the ship, finally spying Killian. Culliford and another crew member were dragging Killian across the deck of the Revenge. He kicked and cursed violently, but the two men held fast, each holding an arm and bending it backward to keep Killian restrained.

The two turncoats dropped Killian and backed up, quickly moving out of Killian's reach as he scrambled to his feet and drew his cutlass—he hadn't even drawn his cutlass! He'd trusted the bastards, and they'd turned on him.

"Pirates," Emma spat, narrowing her eyes. She made herself a promise to repay Culliford for this fiasco knowing he played a hand in this treachery.

Staying low, Emma darted across the deck, hesitating at the gangplank. She moved quickly back over to Smee. "Smee, can you get the men loyal to the captain below deck if I am able to free them? The captain and I will deal with the others. But prepare the ship for a hasty getaway if possible," she whispered as she tied off the rag around Smee's injury.

"Aye. I shall do my best." Smee nodded and pulled himself to his feet with a grimace before he slunk off.

Emma quietly withdrew her cutlass and crept along the deck of the Jolly Roger until she came to the gangplank connecting the ships. She scampered across the boards, moving into position to better see the interaction that was playing out before her. Blackbeard had to be somewhere close by.

Emma watched Killian roll his shoulders, stretching and setting his jaw, pirate persona in full show. Culliford crossed to the quarterdeck door and rapped sharply. A moment later, the door swung open and a barrel-chested man with a long, black beard strode out of the cabin, his eyes roving across the deck with the aloof authority of an experienced captain.

She stiffened slightly at the sight of him. Edward Teach, also known as the infamous Pirate Blackbeard, currently wanted throughout the realm for treason, murder, and many lesser crimes.

"Blackbeard," Killian chuffed, his tone casual, "if you'd wanted a chat, all you had to do was ask, mate." He made the show of examining his nails for a moment before flicking his eyes upward to look at Blackbeard.

Blackbeard's face split into a wicked grin. "So cocky, Jones," he said in a gravelly voice, "even when you are on your back."

"Hook," Killian corrected, his voice sounding bored, but edged with underlying anger, "and I'm far from 'on my back,' Teach. Though you are trying my patience. I have mutineers to dispatch." He looked over to Culliford, eyes burning.

"Ah, yes," Blackbeard said, grinning again, he clapped the grinning Culliford on the shoulder. "Good lads. Very loyal." Culliford preened next to Blackbeard, enjoying his praise and looking very much like the cat who ate the canary.

Killian glared hotly at the other captain and Culliford, no words needing to be spoken at what he currently felt about the both of them.

"What do you want, Blackbeard?" he spat after a long moment of silence.

"S'not what I want," the older man said, his shoulders rising and falling slightly. He turned to the open door behind him. "An… old friend wanted to see you."

Emma frowned, confused, eyes squinting at the cabin door before looking over to Killian. She saw her own sentiment mirrored on Killian's face. And then she stepped out of the cabin.

Milah.

Emma had never met Milah, but she was certain that was who was sauntering across the deck like a well-trained harlot. The circle of her swaying hips was exaggerated and designed to draw men's eyes. Her long brown hair was arrayed just so, held in place by a white headband tied at her brow, making it drape down her back and around prominently displayed cleavage. She wore a confident smile as she sashayed through the pirates who stopped to stare at her confident strut in such a hostile situation. Her chemise was crimson, with a bright white cincher that emphasized the curves of her breasts and hips. The heels of her tall black boots clicked on deck as she prowled over to Killian, eyes trained on only him from the very moment she emerged.

Emma felt the bile rise in her throat at the sight of her. She knew what Milah's mere presence would do to Killian, not to mention the further implications of her connection to Blackbeard.

"Why, it's so good to see you again... Hook," she murmured seductively, running her fingertips along Killian's left arm, stopping just short of his hook. Behind her, Blackbeard chuckled in amusement as he watched the show being put on in front of him.

"Milah," Killian spat. He clearly was trying to play indifferent, but Emma could hear the slight quiver in his voice-and by the flash in her eye, Milah had heard it too. Her feline/predatory smile widened.

"Hello, lover," she purred.