Serah smirked at our surprised expressions.

“How long have you been standing there?” Amber asked, as the rest of us remained frozen in shock.

“Oh,” Serah glanced back at the window, “Not too long. Henry doesn’t like heights so we had to make it quick.”

The rest of the pirates jumped in after her, appearing one by one. First Henry, then Elizabeth and finally Tanner.

“I’m not afraid of heights. I just don’t like the idea of falling from them.” Henry sniffed. He was taller than I remembered and his brown hair was longer, giving him the rugged, seaworthy complexion of a true pirate.

Elizabeth ducked behind him the second she stepped into the room, peeking out from behind his broad shoulders to study us. For once, she didn’t say anything, instead, her sharp sky blue eyes pierced into me before settling on William and her rosy lips curled into a fond smile.

Tanner stepped into the room, his very presence radiating anger and hostility. Almost automatically, the warm feeling in the room vanished and was replaced by his anger. His emerald eyes glared at us before they locked on Lydia’s letter in my hand.

“I don’t mind the falling, it’s the death when you hit the ground that scares me.” Elizabeth said quietly.

“Now then.” Serah turned to us and promptly reached for the letter in my hand, “May I?”

I took a step back without realizing it, “Why are you here?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Serah frowned at my hesitant movement, a flash of hurt passing through her eyes. I understood why, however. She was a pirate, we were royals and she had somehow broken into our turf. She was a pirate, and no matter how many times she had helped us in the past, she was no more than that.

“Because my hitman is missing and I fear that if we don’t find her soon, Tanner will indeed go on a rampage that could destroy all of mankind.” Serah’s hand remained outstretched.

“Okay, but how did you know she’d send for us?”

“And also, how did you get past the guards?” Philip added.

Serah’s eyes flicked from me to Philip and back again with her trademark look of disinterest, “Well, Lydia doesn’t usually need help. She tends to fix her own problems by herself. But considering she’s been gone for months and no matter where we look we can’t find a single trace of her, we figured might as well just come here and see if she decided to ditch the pirate life and have a go at royalty with this—“ She waved her hand at Robin, “—one. She seemed to have an interest in you the last time. Why? I don’t know but there you have it.”

Robin swallowed and I saw the small tinge of pink crawling up his cheeks.

“As to how we got in, there aren’t many guards circling the perimeters and those who were…”

“Please don’t say you killed them.” Perryn sighed.

“No, love. Elizabeth has a way with people to get them to do what she wants.” Serah’s eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint.

“That reminds me,” Henry pushed Elizabeth away, “Don’t touch me ever again.”

Elizabeth grinned back at him, “Persian guards suck.”

“No they don’t!” Perryn protested.

“Yeah, they do.”

“No, they—“

“—Okay! Can we focus on the task at hand, please?” I snapped, interrupting their banter.

“Yes, please.” Serah once again reached for the letter. This time, I placed it into her hand.

Tanner, Henry and Elizabeth crowded around her.

“Read it.” Elizabeth said suddenly.

“You can’t read?” Amber asked.

Elizabeth pouted, “I mean, Lydia was teaching me. But I grew up in an orphanage, while Lydia was raised with a cultured brother.”

“Who only learned how to read because I taught him.” Henry said proudly.