Maybe she doesn't agree. - she retaliated. She was going to tell him how his luscious woman had been receptive in bed, satisfying his lust.
Philip burned with anger at Richard. And it was terrible. the woman had almost ripped off his testicles with the damned knife.
Richard swore. Morgan noticed the significant detail and his blood burned. If they were at Garrone... He was the alpha, Philip knew. Was he really going to have the audacity to face him? Damn you. He just got in the way. Did he really think Cassie would be moved by orphaned children adopted to care for and be with Philip? She had laughed out loud at the antics. The children were in a shelter.
-If you try to kiss my woman against her will… – he hissed each word with a snarl of fury – you won't have to worry about new scars. It will not be she who will make them I myself will leave them in her face.
-This is absurd! A wolf and a witch? Do you really think she's going to put up with that?
Michael grunted. This was going to turn into a bloody battle. Richard held himself back under iron control.
What did Thalagar hope to achieve? If it had been Cassie in the beta's arms, he knew with absolute conviction that Philip wouldn't be alive.
Philip glared at him. Richard despite all fury was controlled. Months of waiting and now...
-And are you going to deceive yourself? - There was contempt in his voice. "Are you going to trust your pitiful sense of interpretation of how a woman reacts of her own accord in a man's arms?"
The floor of Thalagar disappeared. The woman hadn't been so elusive with the captain then. Philip never achieved anything. It didn't matter what he did. Only she wasn't going to stand by him. He would rather see her dead. It was a detail he could easily arrange.
-I didn't agree to give up.
I'm going to kill that bastard., Richard was trembling.
The mood was tense. Some corsairs began to approach.
- You won't go near her. - Morgan crunched the words and the calm tone only accentuated the threatening tone. - You won't even talk to her. Did I hear you right?
-Don't you think he should give his opinion? he asked petulantly.
Thalagar stopped as if he had been slapped.
-Not in dreams! -Richard assured. The small movement he made brought a groan from her. - If you get close, I'll report you to the authorities for harassment...
Pain radiated into her hand as she tried to move her fingers. Agh! His thumb was swollen, twisted and throbbing painfully. It was broken to say the least. He didn't believe he had...
Richard clenched his jaw as he noticed that. Despite the relief of knowing at least where to look for the woman, he was trembling, ready to attack.
His eyes darkened again. Unexpectedly and quickly, it was as if he felt her presence and...as he faced Thalagar face to face. He was going to end this right there.
- Come on, Thalagar. It's better to go away!- Michael suggested. Richard's hands grabbed Thalagar by the shirt. He personally preferred it to be his neck. His gaze gleamed darker and metallic and cold.
-Knows our laws. He knows and knows how the wolves of the pack behave to bring shame to our customs.
"God, Rick!" Michael sighed. -That's enough man. Not!
-You deliberately attacked one of the females of your own pack. – he was categorical and his voice was cold as steel. "You also know we're endangered," Morgan breathed, ignoring the convulsions. – Worse than that. He attacked my wife.
Thalagar gasped.
- What do you mean by that?
Morgan took a deep breath. There were laws and customs. A pack female could not be touched. It was their most sacred law. They conserved the gift of creation.
-I mean... You're not going back to Scarlet anymore. I don't want you back in the pack. I don't want your damn paws in the Armada. – he trembled with rage. "If you come near again, if I find you in the wolves' domain, your throat will be at a premium." I will tear your veins.
"Are you going to banish me from our people because of a sorceress?" – He screamed as he was pushed hard and staggered looking for balance, before being immobilized and grabbed. - I'm a wolf.
The alpha narrowed his gaze implacably. His will was to beat the animal. Every instinct in him called for it. Only his wife was hurt. Somewhere... And...
-It's better to go! – Giles warned diplomatically – You heard what had to be said. – You're out of the Navy.
Ripping piece by piece...
-I'll only warn you once. And I don't usually give the second message. Don't mess with me, or I'll create more problems than you'll be able to solve...
Philip sighed. Ah, what a waste of money!
A varied crew. There always existed certain hostilities between captains. And the captain of the Revenge didn't like Thalagar one bit. The feud was personal. Dispute for territory. She would never subject herself to obeying orders precisely from the miserable, traitorous captain of the Star of Tomorrow.
Thalagar and Cassie faced each other in mock tolerance. Thalagar was a wretched bastard who had attacked Madame Lili's tavern. His anger only grew. His children were there.
Was she intended to be tolerant or friendly? Definitely not, especially after the damned rumors the people of Thalagar had spread about her. Not after she's been away from everyone she's known before...
-Philip could be an excellent option. He has enough resources and means to support a woman and a house...
Cassie's eyes darted with fury. Men. They thought they were the kings of the world. They never knew how to hear the word no. Philip was no different. And it was not to be expected another attitude from Thalagar.
-He's been overdoing it with opium tonight, comrade. If he had been kind enough to drink rum he would have been drunk already and not bothering me. She forgot one small detail. In the piracy business... I also know how to lead Revenge. Corner ended up handing over the helm of the ship. Of course we had some disagreements, but... And you stink like a pig.
Thalagar's eyes burned with fury. Damn. He hated that woman. If it weren't for the bloody family money... He could get rid of her. But Philip's ambition had laid down basic guidelines. Divide to conquer. It was a rat that prowled the edges waiting to attack.
To think that before perhaps it had been easy to dominate the woman... Months before perhaps... In fact many months before. But everything had suddenly changed. Heavens. And she didn't even know about the setups and all the cheating. A carefully crafted plan over the years. Philip had been waiting for the perfect moment to attack.
-I think she bumped into Philip. - Thalagar spoke with some boredom. -She tends to be a little nicer when she doesn't hear his name.
-Or maybe when you don't see the damned bastard's face. She missed the detail that the Revenge crew is tight-knit. The bosun was very clear when she warned. Better stay away from a miserable traitor. Better an enemy close than far? I don't have the patience to put up with it.
-Nothing like a few months to show yourself who you are!- Thalagar looked at her seriously.
-So it is. Daughter of sorcerers. James isn't very lenient, and his brother... I think they've been messing with the wrong people. After all, the whole truth always comes out, doesn't it? Cheer up. You might still be fine. You only get good friends when you set limits. do not be part of your ilk.
Thalagar breathed the world. Uncompromising. Intolerant. Cassie was going to make trouble. But simply disappearing with her... It was going to be impossible.
-Could be a little more malleable. With all the problems... Phil is not in good health... His heart...
Cassie burst out laughing.
- And the infamous mouse has one? It's none of my business if you guys have problems. Honesty never hurt anyone. What is always missing from you.
-Do you really not know how to forgive a betrayal?
- Absolutely not. And the whole story that the wretch was going to die in six months... Oh, it's already seven and he's still walking around. I hate melodramatic people.
-Maybe his brother doesn't like the way you've been treating Philip and...
Cassie turned cold and unfeeling. Did she not like it? Since when did it matter what he liked or disliked? That he wouldn't dare ask for a wretch like Philip Morgan.
- I think I made myself clear earlier. I don't want anything from your damn people. And if he hangs out with people like that... he better stay away. And since when do I care whether Richard likes or dislikes?
Cassie tossed a handful of coins onto the tavern table for drinks. She didn't intend to be sociable at all. It didn't matter what they did.
She wasn't going to worry. Richard Morgan was just past. And as for Philip... it was good that she understood at once... It was to keep her distance... He didn't expect her to be quiet and wait for a great hero. She made her own life.
The hurts from before... He took a deep breath, swallowing the tears of betrayal. It had already been the subject of enough laughter. A ruined reputation. And what did it matter? All the papers found by the ship to lay her fame in ruin... The Council had done better than they expected.
He was never going to go back to the Armada.
-Tell them to prepare the Revenge. We're heading for more hospitable waters. We left the harbor with the tide. There are better waters to earn money on Ravlen.