Pierce Vane's Plan... Or Not

      When the sun rose on the island, most of the pirates were already awake.  No one had been hurt since the failed attempt to attack the dragons, and now the sudden loss of their crewmate had left them all in shock.

      Ilona sat against the wall of the large cave and looked across the stone floor to where Mason was sitting with her brothers.  They had decided they should try to put a little distance between the two of them before any of the men or Anja got suspicious.  However, now that it was happening and Ilona couldn't be with the man she loved, it left her heart aching.

      Especially after their horrible morning.

      The cave was quiet, the only sound being the crackle of the fire and the muffled murmurs of the men talking.  It felt strange.  Ilona's crew was usually loud, and the men were always talking and teasing one another.  No one was in the mood for that now.