CHAPTER 45: [45] IN RAVEN’S WORLD

The horizon cracked open, spilling molten gold across the ocean. The water burned with shades of amber, turning the waves to liquid fire. Pierre sat cross-legged on the deck, his back against the mainmast, watching the light dance across the water. The sea-blue stone of Mika’s necklace rested warm against his chest, a small anchor of comfort in the vastness of the morning.

How the hell did I get here?

The question had been bouncing around his skull since he’d woken up, and he still didn’t have a decent answer. Three days ago, he’d been a bitter critic ranting about terrible web novels. Now he was a "pirate captain" sailing toward a deal with other pirates to sell stolen Navy charts. The absurdity of it should have been funny, but the memory of Hardy’s essence still lingered, a metallic poison in his blood that left the taste of old coins.

The cabin door opened behind him, and he turned to see Alyssa emerging onto the deck. She moved carefully, one hand trailing along the rail for balance, but she looked... better. Her platinum hair caught the morning light, and the rigid posture that had defined her for days had softened into something more human.

She carried two steaming mugs in her hands.

"I made tea," she said, approaching him with tentative steps. "I thought you might want some."

Pierre accepted the mug, wrapping his fingers around the ceramic warmth. The tea was simple—just hot water and leaves—but it was not burnt and actually kind of good. Baby steps.

"Thanks," he said, taking a sip. "This is good."

"My mother taught me." Alyssa settled beside him, leaving a careful distance between them. "She said a proper lady should know how to make a decent cup of tea, even if she had servants to do everything else."

"She sounds like she was smart."

"She was." Alyssa stared out at the water, her pale green eyes reflecting the morning light. "Father always said I got her stubbornness and her temper, but none of her grace."

Yeah, Hardy sounds like a real charmer.

"Stubbornness isn’t always a bad thing," Pierre said. "Sometimes it’s the only thing that keeps you standing when everything else falls apart."

Alyssa glanced at him, something unreadable crossing her face. "Is that why you’re doing this?"

"Something like that," he said finally.

She nodded, accepting the non-answer without pushing for more. They sat in comfortable silence, drinking their tea and watching the sun climb higher. The Crimson Sparrow cut through the water with a gentle rhythm, her red sails full of wind, and for a brief moment Pierre could almost forget the complications waiting ahead.

Then Raven’s voice rang out from above.

"Land ho! Dead ahead!"

Pierre squinted against the morning sun, watching as Alyssa scrambled to her feet, nearly spilling her tea in excitement.

"Where?" she called up to Raven, shading her eyes with one hand. "I don’t see anything!"

Raven’s voice floated down from the crow’s nest, tinged with that familiar hint of mockery. "That’s because you’re looking with those pampered noble eyes. It’s there—straight ahead!"

As Pierre approached the bow, the horizon sharpened into focus. At first, it was just a smudge on the skyline, a rumor of land. Then, the smudge sharpened, resolving into the hard, black line of jagged volcanic cliffs that clawed their way out of the sea.

"Orellia," he murmured.

Alyssa glanced at him. "You’ve been there before?"

"No." Pierre touched the sea-blue stone at his neck. "Just heard stories."

Orellia. In the novel, this was Captain Lydia Moreau’s territory. This was where Jack Steelheart was supposed to meet Raven. Supposed to. He touched the stone at his neck. He’d stolen Raven, ripped a key player right out of the plot. What other dominoes had he just knocked over?

"It’s beautiful," Alyssa said, interrupting his thoughts. She leaned forward against the railing, her platinum hair whipping around her face in the wind. "Look at those cliffs!"

"Beautiful and dangerous," Raven said, sliding down from the rigging. She landed on the deck beside them, her half-red, half-white hair tucked beneath a bandana. "Those rocks have torn apart more ships than storms in this part of the sea."

Pierre studied her face. "You’ve been here before."

"Once or twice. The locals make excellent jewelry from amber they mine. Worth good money in other ports."

As they drew closer, the harbor came into view—a natural crescent of calm water protected by two jutting headlands. Fishing boats and merchant vessels bobbed at wooden docks, while larger ships anchored further out. At the harbor’s entrance stood a lighthouse, its exterior covered with what appeared to be amber panels that glinted like gold in the sunlight.

And there, flying high from the tallest mast in the harbor, was the flag of the Black Serpent Pirates—a coiled black serpent on a field of dark green.

"I don’t like this," Alyssa said, her fingers gripping the railing. "Most pirates are lawless thugs."

Raven snorted. "Says the daughter of a Navy tyrant."

"Ladies," Pierre interrupted before Alyssa could respond, "let’s focus on why we’re here."

The harbor grew busier as they approached. Men loaded crates onto ships, fishermen mended nets on the docks, and what appeared to be a market sprawled along the waterfront. From this distance, it looked like any prosperous port town—except for the men patrolling in pairs, their green bandanas marking them as Black Serpent crew.

"We need to talk about how this is going to work," Raven said, her voice turning serious. She motioned them to follow her to the helm, where she’d spread out a rough map of the harbor. "Here’s the plan," Raven said, her voice all business. "I go in. Alone. I make the trade with Moreau. I come back. No complications."

"Alone?" Pierre asked, raising an eyebrow. "You sure that’s smart?"

"Moreau knows me," Raven said, tapping the map. "She doesn’t know you. And bringing the daughter of a Navy captain into a pirate stronghold?" She jerked her thumb at Alyssa. "Might as well paint a target on our backs."

Alyssa’s cheeks flushed. "I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t announce my lineage."

"Your entire existence announces it," Raven replied, looking Alyssa up and down. "The way you stand, the way you talk. You reek of privilege."

Pierre stepped between them. "How long will the exchange take?"

"An hour. Two at most." Raven folded the map. "You two stay out of trouble."

Alyssa bristled, her pale green eyes flashing. "You don’t give orders on this ship."

"Actually," Raven said with a thin smile, "when it comes to not getting us killed in pirate territory, I do."

Pierre sighed. "She’s right, Alyssa. We’re in her world now."

Alyssa looked ready to argue further but instead pressed her lips together and gave a stiff nod. "Fine. But if you’re not back in two hours..."

"What?" Raven challenged. "You’ll storm the pirate stronghold in your fancy boots?"

"I’ll come looking for you," Pierre said firmly. "Two hours, Raven. Not a minute more."

For a brief, unguarded moment, the hard line of Raven’s mouth softened. Her sharp eyes widened almost imperceptibly before her mask of cool indifference snapped back into place.

"I’ll be back before you know it. With our money."