The ship, The Tempest's Grace, cut through the dark waves like a blade.
Salt hung thick in the air, and the sea hissed against the hull as if whispering warnings.
Evelyn stood at the deck's edge, her hair caught in the wind, eyes tracing the endless horizon. The sky above was bruised with clouds — a storm was coming.
Behind her, Captain Rowan Hale barked orders, his voice steady as iron.
"Reef the sails! Hold her steady!"
Edward emerged from below deck, his arm still bound but healing. He joined Evelyn at the railing, gazing into the distance.
"Still thinking of the shore?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No. Just wondering if peace exists anywhere that isn't paid for in blood."
He smiled faintly. "If it does, I'll find it — and give it to you."
---
That night, the storm broke.
Waves rose like mountains, lightning split the sky, and thunder roared across the sea.
The crew scrambled, ropes snapping, sails whipping in the wind. Evelyn gripped the rail as water crashed over the deck. Edward lunged toward her, pulling her close before another wave struck.
She could barely hear him over the storm. "We'll be fine!" he shouted.
But the look in his eyes — wild, protective, desperate — told her what words couldn't.
For a heartbeat, the world disappeared into water and noise.
When the ship steadied again, she found herself pressed against his chest, their faces inches apart.
The chaos around them seemed to fade.
Later, after the storm passed, the night was eerily still.
The sea stretched out, black and infinite beneath the stars.
Evelyn sat wrapped in a blanket near the stern. Edward joined her, his hair still damp, his shirt clinging to his skin.
"Are you cold?" he asked softly.
"A little."
He removed his cloak and placed it around her shoulders. Their hands brushed, lingering for a moment longer than either intended.
Evelyn whispered, "I thought we might die tonight."
Edward smiled gently. "Then I'm glad we didn't."
Their eyes met, the distance between them shrinking with every breath — but before words could become more, footsteps approached.
Captain Rowan appeared, carrying a lantern. "We'll reach the outpost by dawn," he said. His gaze shifted between them, a knowing look in his eyes. "Rest while you can. The next shore won't welcome you kindly."
As he walked away, Evelyn leaned against the railing, heart unsteady.
Edward looked at her, his voice low. "Storms will come again, Evelyn. But I'd face every one — as long as you're beside me."