Belle and the Pirate Read online

  Belle and the Pirate

  Vivienne Savage

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Connect With Vivienne Savage

  Once Upon a Time…

  1. Chapter

  2. Chapter

  3. Chapter

  4. Chapter

  5. Chapter

  6. Chapter

  7. Chapter

  8. Chapter

  9. Chapter

  10. Chapter

  11. Chapter

  12. Chapter

  13. Chapter

  14. Chapter

  15. Chapter

  16. Chapter

  17. Chapter

  18. Chapter

  19. Chapter

  20. Chapter

  …Happily Ever After

  Author Note

  Other Books by Vivienne

  Other Books by Payne & Taylor

  About the Author

  “When a new baby laughs for the first time a new fairy is born, and as there are always new babies there are always new fairies.” — J.M. Barrie

  Tinker Bell may long for companionship, but unpaired male fae are a rarity in Cairn Ocland. When her dearest friends become parents, Tink embarks on a journey to the fairy birthlands to meet the sprite born from the baby’s first laugh. Unfortunately, her adventure doesn’t go according to plan when poachers interrupt her mission.

  Captain James Hook deserted the Eisland Navy twelve years ago to battle slavery on the high seas. As a pirate, he raids the ships of his former kingdom and their corrupt allies to the east while liberating them of ill-gotten goods. Rescuing a little fairy bound for the pet trade is an unexpected bonus.

  Tink is everything James has ever desired in a woman—courageous, feisty, and loyal—but her diminutive size isn’t their largest obstacle. The Eisland Navy has a new weapon at its command, a mystery capable of demolishing a ship in a single blow. And the Jolly Roger is their next target.

  Copyright

  Belle and the Pirate

  An Adult Fairy Tale Romance

  * * *

  By Vivienne Savage

  All material contained herein is Copyrighted © Vivienne Savage 2017. All rights reserved.

  ISBN PENDING

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  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your preferred e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  * * *

  Edited by Hot Tree Editing

  Connect With Vivienne Savage

  You can connect with Vivienne Savage online via her website, on Facebook, or if you are interested in receiving updates about her releases and books join her newsletter.

  * * *

  Don’t be a stranger!

  Once Upon a Time…

  12 Years Ago

  JAMES CLASPED HIS fingers together behind his back and stood tall before his superior officer. Commodore Edward Teach of the Eisland Navy reclined behind his desk, feet propped on the edge and crossed at the ankle. As a child, James had read stories of the man’s heroic deeds on the high seas, and more than anything, he’d wanted to be like him.

  For over a decade, James had served the navy in any capacity he could, first as a cabin boy and then as a sailor when he reached adulthood. Years later, after climbing through the ranks on his own merit, he’d finally achieved his dream of becoming Captain Hook. Due to his string of recent personal successes and the wealth of his parents’ winter vineyards, he’d even gained the favorable attention of the king’s eldest daughter.

  And soon, they were to be married. To think, if he hadn’t delivered her favorite vintage in person to the castle, declaring such an honor could be given to no one else, Princess Rapunzel could have slipped through his fingers.

  “I have a special favor to ask of you, James,” Teach said smoothly. “Pull up a chair and have a seat with me.”

  “Of course, Commodore.”

  The senior officer stroked his black beard and studied James through dark eyes. “Edward. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be on a first-name basis, my boy. Call me Edward.”

  When James pulled up a chair to the desk, his idol removed a sterling silver cigar case and snapped it open. Almost dizzy with enthusiasm, the young captain accepted a cigar, and they both puffed at the expensive, fragrant tobacco, inhaling the aroma of cloves, vanilla, and spice. Maintaining a stoic expression took every ounce of his self-control, preferable to clapping like a giddy child in the presence of his lifelong hero.

  “You’ve come a long way, James.”

  “I’ve had good men to model myself after.”

  “King Harold and I see great things in your future, especially now that you’re soon to become his son in marriage. As I’m soon to become admiral of the fleet, we’ve given some thought to who should take my place.”

  James straightened in the seat and stared at his mentor. He couldn’t possibly mean him, could he?

  “My promotion provides the ideal opportunity to elevate a young man with great ambition, intelligence, and loyalty to both the navy and the crown. You are that young man.”

  Anticipation churned his insides, but James remained still despite the urgent desire to leap to his feet and crow in victory. “I am humbled by your continued faith in me,” he said, maintaining decorum. Inside, he celebrated.

  “I have a special cargo I’d like you to oversee. A merchant ship from the Ridaeron Dynasty will be transferring it to you.”

  “Ridaeron? I had no idea we were trading with them.”

  “Talks about greater cooperation between our kingdoms have been ongoing for some time.”

  “I see. What’s the cargo you’d like me to take on? Weapons?”

  “People,” Edward replied. “We’ve purchased labor for the vineyards.”

  “Migrant help?”

  “No,” the commodore said, confirming the younger man’s suspicions.

  The joy conceived by a possible promotion crumbled like dry pastry, happiness replaced by a sour taste in James’s mouth. “What you’re asking me to do is immoral, Commodore,” he said. “And not merely that. Slavery is outlawed in Eisland.”

  A thin smile came to the commodore’s face as he stroked his black beard. “Not for long. It’s a profitable venture and has the potential to bring greater income into Eisland’s coffers than these blasted bundles of frozen vines. Think of it, James. Hundreds of workers able to produce results even in the frigid cold of night.”

  For centuries, the sweet ice wines fermented from Eisland’s winter vineyards had provided prestige and money. Their wines were highly sought after across the kingdoms, from their closest neighbor, Creag Morden, to the west and all the way to Samahara in the south.

  James opened and shut his mouth, positive the man had given him a test. Was he supposed to oppose it? Agree blindly? No words came to him.

  “Have I chosen my man poorly?”

  The thick lump in his throat didn’t budge when he swallowed. Wary of speaking his mind, he crafted an excuse for his hesitation instead. “No, of course not, Commodore—Edward. I’m merely concerned about our native Eislanders who will be put out of work.”

  “Ah. There’s that brilliant mind. Your concern for our people isn’t misplaced, but I assure you, they’ll be trained to perform other valuable duties. Have you ever been to the vineyards during a harvest?”

  James clutched one fist against his thigh. “I have. My paren
ts both worked my grandfather’s land during their youth, and now they own the same vineyard.” Thanks to his commission, he had been able to help his parents invest further in the property by purchasing the surrounding land. Their operation had doubled in size.

  “So, you know firsthand the dangers faced during the cold season. People lose fingers.”

  “Without the proper protections, yes.”

  Edward spread his hands out. “And how much do those magical protections cost? A single pair of drakeskin gloves is more than the worth of five laborers from Ridaeron. Ten if they’re young.”

  “You want to use children?”

  “Naturally. If trained at a young age, they’ll be more useful in the long run. Children heal faster, too. All in all, we gain more money than we spend.”

  “I see.” He forced down the bile threatening to rise in his throat.

  “Good. I need you to be ready to set out two days from now. I’ll be sure the Jolly Roger is supplied.”

  James studied the naval officer who had, until that moment, been his greatest hero. The cigar tasted bitter, no longer pleasant and satisfying. “Does… does the king know of this?”

  “My boy, it was the king’s idea. As for his board of advisors, that’s another matter. But let’s not worry too much over the details. You’ve been chosen to perform a task of great importance for Eisland, and once these bodies have been delivered to the vineyards, we’ll prove their necessity to the council.”

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  A week into their sea voyage, the Jolly Roger encountered a ship flying Ridaeron’s colors. James had hesitated to share the true purpose of their mission to most of the crew beneath his command, still holding on to his hope that it was a sick joke told by an aging war hero with an addled mind.

  Until that moment, James had even tenaciously dared to hope Commodore Teach had been testing his loyalty to Eisland.

  Once the Golden Goose moved into place beside them and dropped anchor, her crew slid planks across for transporting their living cargo. Captain Hendrik el’Vartellan’s wind-weathered features crinkled with unconcealed delight, wrinkled brows drooping into his solemn eyes.

  “Let us get this done, and quick. We’ll bring them to you,” he called from the main deck. “A storm approaches from the south, and trust me when I say neither of us wants to be caught in that nightmare.” One whistle from Hendrik sent his crew scrambling across the deck.

  James wiped his damp palms against his pants and gave a salute to the foreign captain. “Is the cargo hold ready, Nigel?” he asked his second-in-command in a hushed voice.

  “For supplies, yes. But I’m not so sure now,” the lieutenant replied. They’d both been assigned to the Jolly Roger at the same time, eager to prove their worth and value to the navy. While James had advanced a couple years ago, Nigel had remained one rank below him and happily transferred to serve under his command. “This isn’t right.”

  “We’ll have to make do,” James replied, voice low.

  Four dozen slaves or more—he lost count as each row of shackled men, women, and even children—boarded his vessel. Those small, bruised faces wrenched James’s heart the most, and there seemed to be no end of them. The captives cringed whenever a member of either crew moved toward them.

  “Can you take it from here, Captain Hook?”

  “Aye.” James mastered his voice and took command of his emotions, forced to hold a stoic expression in the presence of his equal. “We’ll handle it from here. Lieutenant Gaumond, take the… captives below deck to the brig.”

  Nigel’s eyes widened. It lasted a split second, too brief for anyone but James to notice his friend’s hesitation. “Aye, Captain,” he muttered before he gave commands to the other crewmembers.

  Once Captain el’Vartellan returned to his ship, his crewmen removed the planks, lifted anchor, and sailed away. James had barely moved an inch, still staring into the distance until the Golden Goose was little more than a dark silhouette against the gray horizon.

  “This can’t be real,” Nigel said as he returned to the deck.

  James found all eyes upon them, eyes filled with skepticism, disgust, and even bewilderment. He couldn’t blame a single member of the crew if they doubted him for what they’d just witnessed.

  “Captain, are we dealing in the slave trade now?” a sailor asked.

  “It appears Eisland has decided there is some value in it, yes.”

  “Then why are they aboard our vessel?”

  James swept his gaze over their curious faces. “We’ve been ordered to smuggle them into Eisland to provide labor to the winter vineyards by Commodore Teach himself. Our instructions are to bring them to Port Progress and unload them in the dead of night.”

  The ship’s only doctor shoved her way to the front of a growing crowd as men abandoned their posts to surround him. Eliza wore the blue and silver robes of a naval physician upon a lean, broad-shouldered frame. He hadn’t warned her, and the white-hot fury in her hazel eyes told him excluding her had been the wrong choice. “What’s the meaning of this, Captain?”

  “It’s by no choice of mine. Commodore Teach does this at the behest of the king. This is their experiment, a test to prove the value of the flesh trade to our monarch’s advisers,” James said.

  Mutters went up from the crew and his unease grew. The whole thing went against everything he stood for.

  “Many of them are in no condition to sail,” she spit out between her teeth.

  “Make them as comfortable as possible, Eliza. Please examine them and treat any wounds and ailments you find. Someone instruct Cook to provide water, bread, and stew.”

  Unable to face them a moment longer, James retired to his cabin and sank into the desk chair.

  How could he possibly turn over so many innocent lives? Of course, it occurred to him that some may be criminals, as that was what he’d learned about the Ridaeron Dynasty during his school years. They enslaved their criminals and murderers first, their debtors second. But there had been children among those sad faces, with matted hair and dirt-smudged skin.

  “What am I to do?” James wondered out loud to the empty cabin. The wealth of a pampered Eisland office surrounded him, the bed sumptuous and draped in velvet over the frost silk sheets, the wood lacquered and polished to a glossy, mirrored shine.

  If he delivered the commodore’s chattel then resigned, he’d be surrendering everything he’d worked his entire life to achieve.

  And he’d never be able to forgive himself, not for abandoning his dream, but for condemning the innocent to a long life of pain and misery.

  “I can’t do this. I can’t take them to Eisland,” he muttered before leaning forward to take the bottle of rum from the desk. As he took his first swig, an idea sprang into his thoughts, nebulous and without form. By the third glass, it had taken shape, overpowering all reason and smothering what remained of his sanity.

  The perfect plan. Just as he began to write his letter of resignation, Eliza gave her characteristic three-tap knock and entered. Before he could greet her, she tossed a folded packet on his desk. Her ivory face shone red. He’d never seen her more furious than when he’d thrown fish guts in her hair as a boy.

  “What’s this?”

  “My letter of resignation.”

  “Eliza—”

  “Don’t you ‘Eliza’ me. If this is what our navy is sinking to, I want no part of it. Mum’s letter is in there as well. We refuse to engage in this, and you should be ashamed for agreeing to it.”

  “You’re right.”

  “I—what?” She blinked.

  “I said you’re right. I can’t turn a blind eye to this any longer,” James murmured under his breath. “I’d decided that moments before you arrived.”

  “What else are we to do? We’ve received our orders.”

  “We’ll free them.” He turned his grim expression to Eliza and poured a shot of rum for her, too. “I plan to sail until we’re a day’s travel from the coast, then we’ll force
anyone who wants no part of this scheme to disembark. We’ve got enough space in the longboats for almost all of the crew.”

  “Everyone won’t go, James.”

  “I know. I’m counting on it.”

  “They’ll hunt us down. You can’t just run off with one of their prized ships, let alone the cargo they paid for.” She grimaced at the term.

  “Splendid. You always claimed to enjoy a good fight, didn’t you?”

  “You’re serious about this?”

  “You should know me by now. As you said, if this is what our nation is turning to, I won’t participate. We’ll run, and after that, I have no idea what the tides will bring us.”

  “Mum is already lighting bloody candles and praying to Triton for you to see sense.”

  “Let her know I have. Then I want you to unshackle the slaves. You’re fluent in Ridaeron, right?”

  “I am.”

  “Find out if anyone knows how to sail.” James tossed back the remainder of his rum and stood, fueled by liquid courage as he approached the cabin door to make his announcement.

  Chapter

  WITHIN THE HUMBLE wolf den of Mount Braeloch, Tink had found a loving home, surrounded by big people who cared about her. But as time passed, she missed her fellow sprites and often tried to persuade them to befriend the werewolves.