Erin_McLain_4927

Ilona Black is the oldest daughter of the Pirate King. All her life, she's wanted to be a great pirate captain, just like her father. When she's finally given the chance, however, things go terribly wrong- Ilona's younger siblings have been captured and now it's up to her to get them back.

All hope seems lost until she happens to meet the wickedly handsome Prince Mason who is having his own bad luck. He has been promised to marry a princess who he is quite certain is evil. He has no way to escape the marriage but once he meets the beautiful pirate Captain he comes up with a plan that will help them both. He will marry the daughter of the cruel king who took Ilona's siblings.

They sail away and the plan seems perfect. Mason will escape the evil princess and Ilona will get her siblings back.

But what happens when they start to fall for each other and put their whole plan in jeopardy? And what if their ship never reaches its destination at all?

The Prince and The Pirate

"Here, love.  Have something to eat."

Ilona looked up from where she was sitting on her blankets on the stone floor of the cavern.  Mason stood in front of her holding out a bowl of baked figs.  She stared at the bowl for a moment, contemplating telling him she wasn't hungry, but she knew he would worry.

"Thank you," she said quietly, taking the warm bowl from him and holding it in her lap.  A smile flickered over Mason's face, but it was quickly gone again, replaced with his expression of concern.

"You should eat too," she tried, "You'll need it more than I will."

"I've already had plenty to eat today," he replied, "But you haven't eaten at all."

He was right.  Ilona had awoken from a fitful sleep and found all of her troubles were still waiting for her.  Anja's words were still fresh in her mind, and the man she loved was still going to be marching off to fight a dragon.  Nothing had changed.

[Bonus chapter]Last Meals