Excerpt: The Pirate Queen

He knew she would come. She would never leave something as precious as the Sword of Salt to anyone for long. Valentine watched from the shadows as the Pirate Queen's long form emerged from the sea and dropped noiselessly onto the deck of his ship. He waited some more but no one else followed her.

“You know,” he said as he stepped into the moonlight. “People would say you coming here alone is a very foolish move.”

Victoria gave a smirk. “As would they with your sending all your crewmen away when you knew I was coming.”

Valentine looked about his empty ship. “They were due shore leave.” He approached her and let his gaze travel down her form, taking in how her wet clothing clung to her body. “And I prefer to do business with you...” He dropped his voice to a little more than a whisper. “...in private.”

“You think that's wise, captain?” Victoria asked, matching his sultry tone and moving to stand closer before him. “No one would come to your rescue.”

“Or yours.” Valentine reached out to touch his visitor's bare shoulder. “Which suits me rather well.”