The Tides of Loss and Longing (Love from the Deep #1)

Chapter 24

Drake

D rake finally felt like he could breathe again. Aurelia was safe behind him, miraculously unharmed. Though he’d make sure of that later, inspecting her himself to confirm it. For now, all that remained was to kill that bastard Villiers.

He surveyed the situation. Villiers’ focus had shifted to the white-haired woman, who eyed him warily in return. His sword lay just out of reach, while Drake’s was conveniently close at hand. Sebastian had the other man kneeling before him, a blade pressed to his throat, looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else.

The advantage was theirs. The only uncertainty was the Sea Witch. Though Aurelia had walked out of the cave unharmed, Drake still wasn’t convinced she was no longer a threat.

“Stay here,” Drake ordered Aurelia, starting toward his cutlass. But Aurelia tugged sharply on his coat.

“Wait!” she whispered urgently. He leaned down, and she murmured in his ear, “Villiers only wanted me to lead him to the Sea Witch, Cordelia. He hasn’t hurt me. He even planned to let me go.”

Drake cared little for whatever plans Villiers had once he ultimately got what he wanted. The man had nearly killed him and taken Aurelia. That was reason enough. Ignoring Aurelia’s grasping hands, Drake stepped forward and retrieved his cutlass from the sand.

The movement caught Villiers’ attention. “Now, now, Hawthorne,” he said, raising his hands. “Would you not agree we all have what we want?”

Drake arched a brow.

“Your mermaid is unharmed, and I have my witch. As for you,” he smirked, gesturing to Drake’s bloody side, “you’re in no condition to keep fighting.”

The smug arrogance in Villiers' voice made Drake’s blood boil. He clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around his cutlass. But he knew Villiers was baiting him—one wrong move and the situation could spiral out of control, endangering both him and Aurelia.

“I say we kill them both, Captain,” Sebastian called from across the beach.

Drake agreed—caution be damned. The anger coursing through him drowned out the searing pain in his side. His vision narrowed, the edges of his awareness blurring as he focused solely on Villiers. Sword raised, Drake advanced with deadly precision. He wasn’t about to miss, not like Villiers had. Drake’s blade would find its mark. It was heading straight for the man’s chest, promising to end this once and for all.

Villiers’ grin faltered. He glanced around, searching for his sword. But it was too far away, lying abandoned in the sand.

“Wait.” A flash of white hair appeared before Drake. Like a shield, Cordelia stepped between him and his target, her violet eyes calm but unyielding. “You cannot harm this man. I need him,” she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension on the beach.

“Why should I care what you need?” he growled.

Cordelia’s gaze didn’t waver. “You kill him, and you may regret the consequences,” she warned, her tone steady but laced with something dangerous.

Drake froze, frustration mounting as Aurelia touched his back, her gentle strokes calming him. He was acting rashly, with no real understanding of what the Sea Witch was capable of. When he glanced back at Aurelia, he found her eyes locked on Cordelia’s as if they were sharing an unspoken conversation.

“Please, Drake,” Aurelia’s turquoise eyes pleaded. “I just want this to be over.”

Before Drake could respond, a shout came from the sea. They all turned to see men waving from Villiers’ ship. But it wasn’t Villiers’ crew—it was Drake’s. Emilio and the men had taken over the vessel.

Drake let out a sharp laugh. “It seems, Villiers, we truly do have everything we want.”

Villiers’s smug grin vanished, replaced by a dark scowl. He yanked a dagger from his coat and stepped forward, pushing Cordelia aside—only to freeze mid-motion, his hand still pressed against her arm. Her skin had turned ashen, and her violet eyes were glowing with a distant, eerie light.

Aurelia moved toward them, but Drake caught her by the waist, holding her back.

Suddenly, Cordelia gasped, her eyes returning to normal. She glanced at Villiers, her expression unreadable. “Amaro, our fates are bound together. You have no quarrel with them, and we have much to discuss.” She patted his chest before turning to face Drake and Aurelia.

Drake instinctively shifted to shield Aurelia, but she slipped through his arm to stand beside him. This mermaid was going to drive him mad.

Cordelia placed a gentle hand on Aurelia’s cheek, her gaze soft. “I wish you happiness, Aurelia. I’m sorry for the pain I caused you, but your tears will not be wasted. I promise.”

Aurelia smiled, tears brimming in her eyes. “Thank you for my new life,” she whispered.

With a final nod, Cordelia turned and walked toward the cave. She paused at the entrance and called back, “Come, pirate.” Then she disappeared into the shadows.

Villiers arched a dark brow at the witch before a slow, vicious smile crept across his face. He turned to Drake, malice simmering in his eyes. “Until next time, Hawthorne," he sneered, his voice low and taunting. “But let’s hope we don’t meet again—because next time, I won’t miss.”

“Neither will I,” Drake growled, his eyes burning with promise. His grip tightened on his cutlass, every muscle tense as he fought the urge to lunge forward. But Aurelia’s hand on his arm, her soft touch, kept him grounded.

“Hugo, address the crew. Let them take their treasure and wait for me. I won’t be long.” Villiers winked at Aurelia. “It’s been fun, little mermaid.” His laughter echoed across the beach as he turned and strode toward the cave, disappearing into the shadows.

Sebastian turned to Drake, waiting for direction. At Drake’s nod, he released Hugo and sauntered over to them, a grin tugging at his lips. “Well, that was awfully dramatic. I thought I’d stumbled into the theater.”

Drake laughed, the tension finally easing from his body.

He turned his gaze to Aurelia, his softhearted mermaid. Her turquoise eyes drifted from the cave to meet his, a shy smile spreading across her face. Drake didn’t know what the future held, but he was certain of one thing—Aurelia was his.

Forever .