She closed the door behind her but stayed against it as if ready for a swift exit. Her jaw set, solid, and her mouth carved a straight line. Deep creases furrowed her brow.

It was like watching a battle. He cocked his head.

Eventually, she drew a deep breath and met his gaze. “I’m sorry, Knigh,” she murmured. “I—I shouldn’t have let Perry’s teasing affect me. I was stupid to react like that.”

He mastered his expression before his eyebrows rose, but—Wild Hunt. Vee, apologising. And admitting that she’d been ruffled. She was so close to talking about her feelings—precisely the thing she so often joked to avoid. The thing Perry had confirmed she refused to speak of.

For her, this was a huge step. He wouldn’t make her feel even more uncomfortable by showing surprise or by teasing.

He nodded slowly. “I understand.” Only thanks to Perry.

It didn’t help that Vee was too stubbornly committed to her tough, frivolous façade to admit the truth. How much her husband’s death had hurt. How much she feared loss and breaking. How much she shielded herself because of all that.

But yes, he understood.

A slow swallow rippled through her throat. “And, it didn’t go—”

“I know what happened—or, really, what didn’t.” He gave a slight smile he hoped was reassuring.

Much as Perry telling him what had gone on in FitzRoy’s cabin had made him grip the edge of his bunk until it groaned, not a great deal had actually happened. Vee had retreated before that.

Even if she hadn’t, they weren’t beholden to each other. In private, they had one mind-blowing sexual encounter after another, with soft-voiced talks in the dark after. In public they flirted, teased, and even manufactured a few arguments to throw the crew off the scent, eyes smouldering at each other all the while.

But they hadn’t discussed what this was between them. They hadn’t made any commitment to each other or declaration of feeling or intent.

Realistically, what could they even have? His stomach twisted.

His assignment here was temporary until … Well, under the old plan, it was until Vee was arrested. But that wasn’t going to happen anymore. Not that FitzRoy knew yet—telling him required the opportune moment. And there never seemed to be an opportune moment with the prickly FitzRoy. Still, Knigh had written the new report and just needed to send it back to Albion when they stopped at a suitable port.

Under the new plan, he wasn’t sure how any of it would turn out. It all depended on whether the Admiralty would still give FitzRoy and Bricus their rewards. If they didn’t, that could be a problem and an uncertain future for The Morrigan.