PirateQueen817: You still there? I didn’t mean to be a killjoy. I’m sure Drake is amazing and his intentions are pure. I’m just a bitter bitch. You know that.
Heather rubbed her hand on her leg. She must’ve mentioned her house during one of their gaming sessions. There was no other explanation.
GrayGhost: You’re not a bitch. It’s nice to know someone is looking out for me. Sorry I ignored your messages earlier. Ready to sink some ships?
PirateQueen817: Hell yeah!
They completed three missions by the time Drake came in from the kitchen and his crewmates waved their goodbyes as they left. He sat beside her and pointed at the screen. “Take that one next.”
Heather glanced his way with a half smile on her lips. “That’s a supply ship. They’re usually full of spices and coffee.”
Drake shrugged. “Looks like it’s riding awfully low in the water for the cargo to be coffee.”
She raised a brow. “You think they’re hiding gold in the hull?”
He nodded slowly, meeting her eyes, but the hunger in his gaze didn’t seem to be for virtual gold. Her toes curled in her shoes. “Let me tell Queenie.”
GrayGhost: Drake thinks we should take the supply ship. He thinks there’s gold on board.
PirateQueen817: Drake’s there now?
GrayGhost: Aye.
Drake chuckled, shaking his head. “Enough talk. Plunder that ship before it sails away.”
Together, with Queenie coming from the north and Heather from the south, they overpowered the smaller ship while incurring minimal damage. Heather gave the command to board the ship, and her crew, with the help of Queenie’s, quickly bound the supply ship’s men to the main mast and rushed below.
After tossing aside burlap sacks of coffee beans, the true cargo was revealed. Trunks of gold coins. Heather laughed, grinning at Drake. “You are a damn fine pirate.”
He tipped his head playfully with that spark in his eye that melted her heart. “Used to be.”
PirateQueen817: That was awesome! I gotta log off and get some sleep before work tomorrow. Fair winds, GrayGhost!
GrayGhost: Night, Queenie!
Heather closed her laptop and set it aside. “Now that we know the coven doesn’t have your dagger anymore, you can sleep tonight, too.”
Drake took her hand, his smile fading. “You heard Bale. This isn’t some faceless coven, love. This is your sister. He saw her.”
Heather’s stomach twisted painfully. “I know, I know.” She stared up at the ceiling. “I’ve been thinking about all this, and she hasn’t committed a crime, at least not yet.”
Drake raised an eyebrow. “She runs the Digi Robins on the dark web. They steal high-priced artifacts and sell them to the highest bidder. There have been plenty of crimes.”
“But she hasn’t hurt anyone. Not physically.” God, even the ceiling seemed to be judging her. She lowered her gaze to Drake’s face. Desperation seeped into her voice. “Maybe I can meet up with her and explain the trouble that she’s in. If I can get her to turn over the figurehead in trade for a pardon for the Digi Robins, then she could help David chase down more of the dark web thievery rings.” Her tone rose with her hopes. “Ashley could be a big help to Department 13. I just need to sit down with her and make her see reason.”
Drake ran his callused thumb along her knuckles. “Your love for your sister is admirable, but we have to be realistic.” He cleared his throat, his voice taking on a rough edge. “When some of the crew were here earlier tonight, we were making arrangements to keep the Grail close, just in case she tries to hurt you. If Bale isn’t successful in arresting her, we need a backup plan.”
Heather’s eyes widened. “The Holy Grail that made all of you immortal is your backup plan? No. No way.”
“Why not?” His brow furrowed, clearly confused by her reaction. “We both know the easiest way for her to hurt me is to go after you. You put your house on the line with Flynn to get him on board with stealing the figurehead. This is just in case she uses it against you or comes after you with her magic before we can steal it from her. If you were immortal, too, then she couldn’t hurt you.”
“My sister is not going to kill me.” She couldn’t even entertain the thought.
“She won’t have to.” Drake ran a hand down his face. “At any time, she could send every spirit who has died at sea right here into your living room. And, since you can already hear them, how long would you last with thousands crying, threatening, and wailing at you? I won’t sit by and pretend you wouldn’t go mad or worse. You could jump out a window or run into the street.” He shook his head, pain lining his features. “You’re too important to me, Heather.”
She stared into his eyes, imagining eternity at his side. God, they barely knew each other. Well, that wasn’t exactly true, her soul had known him much longer, but in this lifetime their relationship was still new.
She wasn’t ready to die today, but if she took a sip from the Grail, she would be trapped in this lifetime, forever.
Ever since she could remember, she’d been communicating with souls who had crossed over, transitioned from this plane. They’d shown her images of pure light, given her a sense of the freedom of time and space, no longer impeded by a mortal body. Many of them chose to reenter the mortal world, each lifetime bringing new lessons and miracles, and sometimes, even second chances at love. Immortality enticed plenty of people, but she was more interested in what might come after life.
She shook her head
