Rats and Sinking Ships

By Lilith T. Bell

In a matter of days, Brigid O’Cullane has been taken captive by pirates twice. The first time by the dangerously handsome Liam Lynch, who hid a gentler side behind his harsh exterior. She’d give almost anything to be arguing about the treasure they’re hunting with him again, or finding sweet ecstasy in his arms. This new batch of pirates aren’t nearly so charming. No, these ones are shape-shifting feline monsters and seem more interested in hunting her than gold.

After a lifetime of betrayal and loss, Liam long ago decided he would make and keep no promises. Yet the unspoken vow to protect Brigid drives him now to rescue her. He finds her strange ignorance of her own paranormal heritage confusing, but a sense of honor he’s only just now discovering brought her under his protection. And who better to take on cats from hell than a rat?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Selkie Publishing
• Release date: Sep 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463924181

Book preview

Lilith T. Bell

Copyright © 2018 Lilith T. Bell

All Rights Reserved

Book Design by Selkie Publishing

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, and locations are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons or events, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

This book is licensed for private individual entertainment only. The book contained herein constitutes a copyrighted work and may not be reproduced, stored in or introduced into an information retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electrical, mechanical, photographic, audio recording, or otherwise) for any reason (excepting the uses permitted to the licensee by copyright law under terms of fair use) without the specific written permission of the author.

In a matter of days, Brigid O’Cullane has been taken captive by pirates twice. The first time by the dangerously handsome Liam Lynch, who hid a gentler side behind his harsh exterior. She’d give almost anything to be arguing about the treasure they’re hunting with him again, or finding sweet ecstasy in his arms. This new batch of pirates aren’t nearly so charming. No, these ones are shape-shifting feline monsters and seem more interested in hunting her than gold.

After a lifetime of betrayal and loss, Liam long ago decided he would make and keep no promises. Yet the unspoken vow to protect Brigid drives him now to rescue her. He finds her strange ignorance of her own paranormal heritage confusing, but a sense of honor he’s only just now discovering brought her under his protection. And who better to take on cats from hell than a rat?

***

Other Books by Lilith T. Bell

The Captive to a Pirate Series

Trapped Like a Rat [Free]

Rats and Sinking Ships

To Catch a Rat

The Claimed by an Alpha Series

Cat and Mouse

Like a Cat in Heat

Once Bitten, Twice Claimed

Lost in Heat

Fighting Like Cats and Dogs

The Captive to Egypt Series

Taken

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Further Reading

About the Author

Chapter One

It had been such a pleasant day for Liam and Brigid. All the day was spent in bed and wrapped up in one another, save when they had left for a midday meal in the galley. By late afternoon, Brigid had decided that they needed to get out for some fresh air.

We’ll never leave this room again if you don’t get a shirt on, Liam Lynch, she warned him, wagging a finger.

Sighing and rolling his eyes, he pulled it on with exaggerated effort. This would go much faster if you let me help with your corset.

No, I won’t be tricked by that one again. She gave him a scolding look over her shoulder and he had to laugh. The would have left their cabin on the ship in the morning to break their fast, but she had made the mistake of asking for his help that time and it had led to soft kisses at the back of her neck and caresses along her hips until they ended up back in bed.

He held his hands up where she could see them and backed away until he sat on the edge of the bed, as far from her as he could get in the small confines of their room. While she continued dressing, he walked her in fascination, some part of him he hardly recognized thrilling at every small intimacy. They were only pretending to be husband and wife to keep her safe from unwanted attention—and protect her reputation now that they were so vigorously lovers—but he found the ruse far more appealing than he could have expected.

I brought a deck of cards if you get tired of me, he said.

She laughed at that, then finished fixing her hair and stood to face him. Playing cards might be nice. It’ll take a while to get to New Providence.

Cannon fire cut the conversation off. Years at sea had trained the response into Liam so that it was automatic. He bounded off the bed and was out the door in two strides. All hands were rushing up onto deck and he melted in among them, driven by the push of other bodies as much as his own efforts until he came up into fresh sea air.

It had been a single shot. A warning shot. He was already expecting to see pirates moving into firing range, but what he saw turned his guts to water and he staggered backwards. No, he breathed. All these years searching, ready to die if that was what it took, and now when it was the last thing he wanted to see the devil’s cats had stumbled onto them. Brigid had been below deck all day, so they couldn’t possibly have seen her. Was it just bad luck then?

The other ship had raised a black flag, signaling that they wouldn’t kill anyone provided that the ship surrendered without fighting back. In theory, black offered mercy, while a red flag meant no quarter would be given.

He pushed his way across the deck to find the captain, who was giving the order to raise a white flag. Liam took the man’s arm in a punishing vice grip and nearly jerked him off his feet as he hauled him in. You can’t surrender.

We haven’t a choice! Do you recognize that ship?

Oh, aye, I do. He rubbed his thumb against the thin scars on his left cheek, rage boiling within him. Any other day, any other voyage, and he’d gladly raise the white flag to bring the bastards in close enough to slaughter. "It’s the Gato del Diablo. They might give quarter to you and your crew, but not to the two of us. He noticed Brigid had come up on deck as well and swore under his breath before pointing at her. Especially not her."

The captain looked regretful, but it didn’t stop him for long.. It’s the danger of traveling with a woman.

You fucking coward. Liam spat in the captain’s face, then spun on his heel to charge back below deck. There was only one thing to be done at this point, though it would hardly be pleasant or easy.

In their cabin, he threw as much of their belongings as he could fit into his own bag. One bag would be easier to manage, though it would mean leaving far too much behind in her bag. So be it. They’d have weapons, they’d have the map, they’d have their lives.

From behind, he could hear Brigid approaching Liam, should I hide? Dress in your clothes and pretend I’m a lad again?

He paused to unhook the chain from around his neck and tuck it and the ring it carried safely into the bag. Wouldn’t help. They’d sniff us out no matter what we did. If we go overboard we might have a chance, though. Shift and I’ll carry you while I swim a while and then we can switch off so neither of us gets too tired.

Shift? She sounded uncertain. I don’t know what—

Oh, this is much better than rum and silk, an unfamiliar man’s voice said from the doorway.

Liam bared his teeth at the pirate who had sneaked up on them. He was getting careless and sloppy with Brigid around. They should have already been off the ship and instead the pirate had them cornered, a flintlock pistol pointed at Brigid.

Come along peacefully and I don’t have to hurt your whore, the pirate said.

Liam could see Brigid’s hand going for where she would have carried a weapon in a lad’s clothing, but she wore a dress now. The pirate must have caught the gesture as well, because he stepped forward and snatched her by the arm.

Don’t touch her, Liam growled.

You want her to live? the pirate asked, pressing the barrel of his pistol to the side of Brigid’s head. Get in front of us. Backing out of the doorway and dragging Brigid along with him, the pirate gave a nod toward the bag Liam had been packing. "Are those your things, puta?"

It’s just my wardrobe. It’s nothing important, she said, her voice sounding far calmer than expected. Liam’s heart leaped at her bravery and quick thinking.

The pirate looked to Liam. Take it. Less trouble for us then.

Liam stooped to pick up the bag. Knowing the pirate wouldn’t trust him at his back, he walked in front of him up onto the desk. The crew were being tied together, but Liam spared them no looks. If they had any hope of surviving now, he had to stay focused. The pirates were much older than they had been the last time he’d seen them, which he founded gratifying. Only one of the whole crew looked to be in his twenties and he kept turning his face away from the scene, clearly unhappy about being there. All those who showed no conflict in what they were doing were grizzled, covered in scars and missing their hair or what remained had turned gray.

The one who had grabbed Brigid shoved her roughly past Liam. He watched, feeling sick, as he recognized the captain. Aye, it had been over a decade, but Elazar’s face had been burned into his nightmares for life. The captain laughed and took hold of Brigid, burying his face in the side of her neck to get her scent.

Interesting. I didn’t expect to find any vermin here, the pirate