The price of a lie

-Richard Morgan!- The screams came furious.

Jackie glanced sideways at Richard and frowned. Of course, she wouldn't let the farce go like that. It was by no means deceiving the sister. Mayra was furious. He intended to make it clear that the ancient customs would still be respected. There was no way Richard could keep a wife and mistress.

Richard Morgan's laugh was cruel.

Hell Woman! You weren't going to tell me.

-Not even God would believe it! No! You weren't going to tell Kassandra. - he pronounced her given name as if it was an insult. – At first, I believed that Mayra...

Mayra! Was it Mayra he was with when everyone was worried? Cassie just walked away.

-Were you with Mayra? she asked in disbelief. For two days everyone in the village had been desperate for news of him. Mayra had almost gone into labour before, leaving a midwife very angry when she learned of everything that had happened during the Court's visit. - And did she decide to tell her before or after sharing her bed?

-You bet that before!- He for a moment tried not to pay attention to her hurt look.

The girl was an actress, no doubt. Anyone could believe that cute little face with its hurt expressions. He held on to anger to keep from getting carried away. It was just another lie. Nothing else. His mind was too numb to take in his wife's pale face or realize that all the arguing wasn't going to do the pregnancy any good. All he wanted was to hurt and destroy and hurt. She had never trusted him! It was hell!

-I'm a man. – He teased mercilessly. "Otherwise I can have in my bed a woman I can trust… You have no right to complain if I have lovers. Or is she apprehensive that her son might not be Scarlet's only heir? Your father will not have possession of my castle or my family's lands, listen up.

-Cassie... I...

-You're a devil! I want you to leave me alone. Keep your damn money! Did you think you would return to the Armada?

He widened his eyes, frowning.

-You make the holiest of men lose their temper. -He guaranteed to try to control the frustration. - Drop the damn weapon!

-I won't drop the damn gun. Don't you dare give orders to me? I don't obey your orders. I'm not one of your damn sailors. Don't you dare treat me like a child? She managed to spit out the words.

Richard sighed. Where was his unfailing charm with women? The girl in front of him was the most tempting of the images.

Your fault, old man. You made a big mistake.

-And it's not the same anymore a child, not now ... - He rolled his eyes, twitching his mouth noticing the girl lower her head in shame. Oh hell. -Look at me! It wasn't supposed to be this way.

His outburst was sincere as he admired the grieving girl. She forced him to advance into unknown and mined terrain. His dealings with women included nothing but sex, money, and gifts. Kassuim, well... Cassie was his wife. He was beginning to have a terrible suspicion that gifts would not please. He was unprepared for pushing the limits.

-Don't you dare approach. Or I will shoot! - she teased pulling the trigger. - I don't want your help. Not even you around!

Her threat made him look up in disbelief. Bah, the girl wouldn't shoot. Even so, she began to remember comments. They said that the aim of this supposed kid was enviable. God! He could have found a helpless young lady. He watched her very calm face as she planted her feet on the floor with her legs apart. Their hands were shaking as they gripped the pistol.

-You won't shoot, le loup.

Cursing, he walked back toward her with steps, not letting go of his gaze. It wasn't wise to argue with a woman, especially if that woman was furious and irritated and also knew how to handle weapons.

-Don't you dare say what I'm going to do or not do. I will even shoot!

She fired and the bullet skimmed the ground between her feet. He whistled. On second thought, he intended to make sure there were no weapons within her reach when they argued.

- She is a bloody savage, sweetie. - He provoked. - You missed it!

A cloud of sudden hesitation came over her face.

- Seriously, my captain. I'm going to shoot and I'm not going to hit her feet. The next shot won't be a warning. I will shoot her in the chest. - She assured, impatiently wiping the tears with her hand.

Richard assessed the situation and her hesitation as he bit his lip. He sighed, arming himself with total patience.

- Hell, Cassie! I'm so sorry. You can't talk at gunpoint. Can we come up with a solution regarding the damn name?

-And why not? - she was amazed.

- Be sensible. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. It was her fault for posing as an expert. Give me the gun. Anyway, it's not loaded. She shouldn't be showing off as an experienced woman then. She didn't hate to imagine that she would be so annoyed by a detail... Hell! The world is ending. The Armada is in chaos.

Kassuim raged indignantly and enraged. She sat on the bed displaying the haughty carriage of a queen watching his confident and convinced smile. Damned man!

The pistol whizzed past Richard's ears as he dodged and gritted his teeth. He would be very careful not to make her that angry. He gaped at her. He couldn't believe it. Was it another...?

-Do you always have a reservation? he-he asked in amazement. The girl was pulling out another pistol, even more irritated.

She was undoubtedly daring. No other man would have done it. Maybe it was finally the essence of her charm. She was bold and defiant. She simply defied her orders with complete ease. He was in serious trouble. He had fallen for her charm and antics.

- I've always learned to have one. Zagorra is an excellent teacher. - Said the triumphant girl.

Morgan nodded, smiling. Zagorra defended his protégé, indeed he protected him with inordinate fury. He inevitably managed to keep the girl safe from everyone and even himself. In a fit of jealousy, he could have sworn that Thalagar was his lover.

He forced all possible calm. One-step and another getting lost in her gaze. Those eyes were...

- It's really serious! I'll shoot if I take one more step...

- Really, werewolf? I warned you that you never turned down a challenge, dear. Therefore, it is better to try to collect sharp claws.

She glared at him.

-No!

-Cassie, please...

Both of them stopped in awe. The girl had fired on an impulsive reflex. The whir of the bullet passed close to his ears, almost hitting him. He arched an eyebrow at her impulsive temper. The bullet could have grazed him. Morgan jerked forward and threw himself onto the bed, fending off her blows, struggling to pin the girl beneath him. He cursed impatiently when she nearly hit him in the groin with her knee.

He swore again, oblivious to the apology. Her small body thrashed under his inviting, arching in her desperate attempt to get rid of him. He grunted excitedly.

Kassuim noticed the significant detail with his undisguised panic as he finally saw him breathing heavily, settling her against him.

-No! Please do not!

- Cassie! Hell! Be quiet!

-No, don't hurt me again. She's had enough fun with her people.

-Hell! Of course, I won't hurt! - he complained tensely and hugged him close. Trust in me. You are a little crazy! What did you do?

The sobs returned and became an immense torrent of tears. Morgan rocked her until she waited for the storm of emotions to subside with terrible remorse. She was simply beautiful and reckless in her adventures.

- Honey, look at me. Want to talk about... about what happened.

A pair of bleak, lost eyes turned from him.

-I do not know. I can't go back to Scarlet! Tears began to glisten in her eyes again. You did not understand ...

Morgan let his hand delve into her hair in a possessive gesture. The desperation was too genuine to ignore. The Council had managed to scare the girl away. hells! Worst of all, he was starting to understand more angrily, perhaps why Will had kept the girl on the deck of the Star. Shouldn't she approach? Why he and Thalagar spoke little to each other. He would never find her aboard Thalagar's ship.

- My dear, this is absurd. William...

The man's name brought new desolate sobs.

-Will? What am I going to tell him? God!

What was on her mind to let him have her? How was he going to explain to his father, dear God? He tried to walk away to no avail.

- Cassie, no! Morgan spoke softly, pulling him closer to her arms, burying her nose in her neck as he kissed her. - I'm sorry about what happened. Her low voice was velvety and smooth.

He kept giving her kisses after she gave in to a new wave of low solution.

They stood there in silence for a long time, saying nothing. He kept her warm in his arms and slowly Kassuim noticed the soft crying stop as he relaxed. She had her head on her arm, watching that beautiful, seductive face. In such a short time, the sighs she'd held back to catch a glimpse of him from afar were forgotten. She was totally in love with him. He let his fingertips slide through the stubble, letting his breath out slowly.

-I can't go back. -She muttered. -It ends here.