Drake wrapped his hand quickly and readied the line to tie the boat to the dock. Colton throttled back on the motor and guided the boat alongside the dock. Drake couldn’t wait any longer. He jumped across, taking the line with him.
“Little eager to get ashore?” Colton grinned.
“Aye.” Drake looped the rope around the iron cleat on the dock. “I’ll meet you at the hospital,” he called over his shoulder as fast as his exhausted mortal body would allow.
…
Heather woke to the beeping of a heart monitor. She turned her head and smiled at her snoozing visitor. Drake was slumped in a chair, sleeping beside her. How long had she been in the hospital? She peered underneath her hospital gown to find the hole in her abdomen had been replaced by a neat line of stitches.
It was over. Relief and regret stewed in her heart. Ashley wouldn’t hurt anyone else, but their last moments together would haunt Heather forever. If there had been any other way to stop her twin, she would have taken it. In the end, Ashley left her with no choice.
Kill or be killed.
She forced the dark thoughts away, focusing on Drake again. He’d come for her, just like she knew he would. She allowed her gaze to wander down from his face, to his shoulders, and down to his…bandaged hand. She frowned. Shouldn’t the stab from her sister be healed?
A nurse walked into the room, and Drake jerked awake in the chair. His gaze locked on Heather’s, and the beep on the heart monitor picked up the tempo.
“You’re awake.” His voice sounded scratchy and gruff.
Heather nodded, ignoring the nurse buzzing around to check the monitors and IV fluid. “So are you.” She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “How long have I been here?”
He glanced at the clock and back to her face. “Day and a half.” He stood, came to her bedside, and took her hand.
Her thumb brushed over the wrap on his hand.
“Everything looks great,” the nurse interrupted. “I’ll let the doctor know you’re awake.”
“Thank you.” Heather waited until they were alone and whispered, “Why isn’t your hand healed up?”
Drake brushed a kiss to her forehead. “Long story, love.” He straightened. “I need to tell you something first.”
“Okay.” She had plenty to tell him, too, like how she had been shortsighted to push him away, and how it had been her love for him that kept her fighting out on that boat, and maybe even tell him how much she wanted to share her life with him however long that might be.
She waited as the seconds ticked by.
Drake squeezed her hand. “I want to respect your wishes, but I’m begging you not to ask me to walk out of your life. Until you, I never had one. I’ve been alive for almost two hundred and fifty years, existing and going through the motions. You showed me that being alive and just living are two different things. I don’t want to live in a world without you beside me.”
Heather’s vision clouded as tears burned her eyes. “I know I said it would be best for you if I walked away, but…I can’t. I don’t want to.” She swallowed, fighting to get the words out. “I was scared of what the future could hold for us, but when I was trapped on that boat with Ashley, all I could think about was how I would’ve given anything for one more day with you. If you’re willing to watch me get older and hold my hand when people start thinking you’re my son, then I’d count myself lucky.”
She lifted his bandaged hand to her lips, pressing a tender kiss to the back. “Can we just pretend I never had that conversation with One-Eyed Bob?”
Drake chuckled, and the sight of his smile warmed her all over. “Aye.”
He cupped her face, his gaze like a caress before he bent to kiss her. She hummed into the kiss, sighing as he pulled back. When she opened her eyes, she caught his hand. “Why haven’t you healed?”
“Greyson connected me with a local root doctor.” He shifted his weight, breaking eye contact. “I couldn’t lose you.” His gaze met hers again. “I needed something to bring you back in case we lost the fight with Ashley. The root doctor works magic with her Loa, Met Agwe.”
“My grandmother used to tell me about the root doctors. Loas like to make deals.” Heather inspected his hand before shaking her head. “What did you trade?”
He unwrapped the bandage, exposing the red angry skin around the stab wound. “I’m not immortal anymore.”
She must’ve looked like a fish gasping for air. She couldn’t find words. Finally she choked out, “You could have died.”
He shrugged as he rewrapped his hand. “You were the one Ashley wanted.”
“Drake!” Heather gave his arm a weak shove as a tear spilled down her cheek. “I could have lost you. You had eternity in your hands. Why would you trade that away?”
He braced himself on either side of her hospital bed, leaning in until his forehead rested on hers. His breath warmed her lips as he whispered, “I’ve seen forever, love. I would rather have you.”
Her fingers slid back into his hair as she drew him close, kissing him over and over. When she released him, she searched the ocean in his eyes. “You didn’t have to give up immortality for me.”
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He took her hand, threading their fingers together. “Will you grow old with me?”
Nothing in the world could’ve wiped the smile off her face as she nodded. “Aye.”
He raised a brow, growling, “Love it when you speak pirate.”
She laughed and clung to him as his lips met hers.
The future was suddenly very bright.
Epilogue
“This is really a formality, but be ready for Captain Flynn to be an asshole.” Skye rolled her eyes. “He’s not really excited about expanding the crew.”
“Well, he was pretty keen on bringing Harmony into the fold,” Dr.
