He nodded stiffly. "Fine."
But she could feel it. He was freezing.
She didn't speak. Just leaned closer, tucking her body against his, letting her warmth bleed into him. He didn't stop her. In fact, his hand found her waist, grateful.
Jess lit a lantern near the front of the boat, the warm glow flickering against the sudden grayness of the twilight sea.
Jean, teeth slightly chattering, muttered, "Remind me again why we didn't wait 'til morning?"
Lucius replied without turning. "Because pirates don't wait. And neither does fate."
Salviana laughed out loud, "The both of you are so silly, there's no pausing on sea, we need to hurry to the big ship else we just might freeze to death"
"We know our smart princess" Lucius sassed.
The boat sailed on into the deepening dusk, the wind nipping at their necks, the sea turning to ink around them.
The night had arrived.
But it wasn't just the cold they'd have to survive.
Something was waiting out there.
And the sea was no longer still.
