Chapter Text
"Her… uh… she's not cooperating."
Amber looked at her two lieutenants, who were staring back at her quite timidly.
"What do you mean, 'she's not cooperating'? Make her cooperate!"
"She… doesn't seem that afraid of us," Mikhail said in an apologetic tone.
Mikhail was a tall man. He wasn't particularly intimidating, but he was an alpha. And on top of that, he had a rather long and dangerous sword strapped to his belt. That combination had always been quite effective.
Amber looked at Ilia, expecting some more plausible explanation, but Ilia just rubbed the back of his neck, looking nervous.
"She simply doesn't believe she's in any danger," the alpha said, shuddering.
"You have swords," Amber reminded them, because apparently that was something they had forgotten.
"Yes, but well, we've never actually used them in these situations," Ilia said. "Unless we're changing our methods…"
"Don't remind me of the rules of my ship," the older alpha said.
"Right, unless you want a huge mess in the brig, I don't think she'll be writing that letter anytime soon."
Amber looked at her men with an incredulous expression. They were two of the most intimidating when they needed to be, and that was why she had put them in charge of this specific task. It was a shame Isabeau was busy at the moment, because she truly had a talent for convincing people to do things they'd rather not in a way Amber had never seen before. But still… The two alphas standing before her shouldn't be having difficulty enforcing her orders on the noblewoman they had captured that morning.
But if those two couldn't get the job done… Amber had to admit she was curious about her hostage's fearlessness.
"What was her name again?" Amber asked, rising from her chair.
"Alysa Liu, Captain," Mikhail said.
"Though she doesn't seem to like being called by her last name," Ilia said. Amber couldn't help but shoot him an exasperated look.
"And you just went along with it?"
Ilia simply shrugged again, though at least he had the decency to look embarrassed in front of the alpha.
Good grief, no wonder they hadn't gotten very far with her.
"I'll handle her. Go back to your regular duties," Amber said.
Ilia and Mikhail exchanged a furtive glance.
"Yes, Captain."
They left Amber's office, and Amber followed them, though not without first grabbing her sword, which was leaning against her desk, and fastening it to her belt. She didn't intend to use it, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to have it nearby.
The walk to the brig was brief. The lower part of the ship was vast and dark, but you could clearly hear the noises from above, and the stuffy, slightly musty smell—it was a rather effective method of intimidation. Currently, everything was quiet, and whoever had been last had left the lantern on, illuminating the space.
In all honesty, Amber still hadn't seen her latest victim. She had simply ordered her capture based on intelligence brought by her scouts on land. She had been a logical choice: her father was extraordinarily wealthy and foolish enough to build his house with easy access from the coast. She figured that if the intelligence was correct, the ransom would be easy and satisfying. They needed that gold.
The first thing Amber noticed was that the omega was… well, beautiful. If the alpha had to guess, she'd say she was around twenty or perhaps a bit younger. She had a soft, round face, a small nose sprinkled with freckles and beauty marks, dark brown hair that, despite the ordeal she had been through today, was somehow impeccably styled, except for a few loose strands here and there.
The second thing she noticed were her eyes. A strong but warm shade of brown. Her golden dress wasn't one of those eyesores that made you cringe, but rather something that suited the person wearing it. Though Amber could tell it might not be the omega's favorite style.
And the third thing… was her scent. God, her scent was perfect: something clean with a strong note of cinnamon. And despite the situation she was in, Amber couldn't detect any trace of fear. It was as if being kidnapped didn't matter to her all that much.
Even though she was sitting on the floor of the cell, she had somehow managed to maintain a sense of poise. She was leaning against the wall with her legs crossed, the skirts of her dress pooling around her. Amber had the distinct impression that this omega was someone who controlled things on her own terms. And Amber intended to crush that notion as quickly as possible on her ship.
She looked up as Amber approached. Amber could practically see the spark of recognition in her eyes. For some reason, a small smile formed at the corner of her mouth. The sight of it irritated Amber — why the hell was this girl smiling? Didn't she understand the real danger she was in?
"Miss Liu," Amber said, stopping in front of the cell, "I heard you were causing some trouble for my crew."
"No trouble, ma'am," she said, shaking her head gently. "I think you'll find I've been completely civil with everyone involved in this… delicate situation. Though I suppose if they are your crew, as you say, that means you would be the captain of this lovely ship, correct?"
"You assumed correctly."
That only made her smile widen, just briefly, before she could suppress it, adopting a serious expression.
"And would I also be correct in assuming that this ship in question is the Triple Axel and that you would be Captain Glenn?" she asked.
"Yes, you would be correct," Amber confirmed.
Alysa smiled again, though this time it was more visible in her eyes—a triumphant glint.
Amber wasn't one to brag, but she had a terrible reputation around these parts, especially in the social circles that Miss Li… Alysa must frequent. She couldn't understand why the omega would be pleased to know she had been captured by Amber and her crew.
"I see," she said, nodding as if this was a conversation she had been eager to have.
"Well, if I've caused you any trouble or discomfort, I apologize, Captain. But I would like to initiate a respectful negotiation with you."
There was so much wrong with what she had said. From the words themselves to the utterly relaxed behavior. Something that left Amber stunned, and a brief silence fell over the brig.
Alysa remained perfectly calm, patiently waiting for the alpha to speak again.
"You… do realize you've been kidnapped?" Amber asked. "You're hardly in a position to be making demands."
"Of course," she said as if it were obvious. "And I'm not demanding anything. I'm simply requesting an open dialogue regarding the nature of my captivity."
"I hate to be the one to disappoint you so severely, but you're not going to get that," Amber insisted, keeping her voice low and firm. "There's no negotiation. You will write a letter to your father demanding your ransom, or you will face the consequences of failing to do so."
"I'm afraid I'll have to refuse your request," she said, in a tone that left no room for discussion.
Amber just stared at her, bewildered. Who did this girl think she was?
"Miss Liu, I'm not sure you're grasping the precarious nature of your situation," Amber said, trying not to let her frustration show. "My command wasn't, as you call it, a request. I am giving you an order."
"Oh, I understand perfectly," she said, matter-of-factly. "You kidnapped me from my home, quite rudely I might add, and you intend to secure a handsome ransom from my father in exchange for my safe return. If he doesn't comply with your demands, I presume I'll be killed."
"You presume correctly," Amber said bluntly.
There was no reason to correct her, no reason to ruin her reputation in case she was eventually returned to her family — something the alpha was beginning to wish would happen as soon as possible — Amber was starting to lose her patience with Alysa and couldn't understand how she managed to remain so completely unafraid. Amber was far more accustomed to her hostages crying and begging for their lives. But nothing about this omega screamed fear or worry; her scent remained as soft as it had been before this conversation even began.
"He would, without a doubt, pay the demanded amount, of course. Not out of any care or love for his daughter, but simply because it would be socially appropriate," Alysa said, calmly and matter-of-factly.
That perhaps explained why she seemed so unconcerned with her situation: she had the impression that her life wasn't in any real danger anyway. She was correct, regardless, but Amber couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at her presumption.
"Then why refuse to write the letter?" Amber asked, now with a hint of curiosity.
"I don't wish to return," Alysa said simply.
At that, Amber couldn't help but hesitate for a moment. Here was an omega born and raised in the lap of luxury, who had just been—as she put it—rudely kidnapped from her home; an omega accustomed to all the privileges of the world who was currently sitting in a pirate ship's brig and who, for some inexplicable reason, wished to stay there.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken about this situation," Amber said, somewhat offended. "Your father pays the ransom, or you die. Would you rather drown than go home?" the alpha asked.
"Of course not," Alysa frowned, as if the suggestion had offended her. Amber was convinced she had never met a single soul who possessed as much audacity as this girl before her. "I simply reject the notion that there isn't a third option available to me."
"And what might this wonderful third option be?" Amber asked, dreading her answer.
"To stay here," she said seriously, "to earn my keep and join your crew."
At that, Amber allowed herself to laugh. The idea of Alysa, with her delicate hands and her soft brown hair—so impeccably styled—and her expensive, beautiful, impractical dress, working on her ship for her own keep, was quite absurd.
Despite the alpha's reaction, Alysa's expression didn't waver once. She seemed increasingly bored with the situation. That should have made Amber laugh even more, but instead, Amber felt a deep twinge of discomfort.
"You are very presumptuous," Amber said, when she finally caught her breath.
"I don't see why you're reacting that way," she said, holding Amber's gaze steadily. "Wouldn't one of your crew members be Isabeau Levito?"
Amber frowned, her stomach churning. "How…"
"We played together as children. I would recognize her features from a mile away," Alysa said, completely casually.
Amber closed her eyes, trying to keep her temper under control. She apparently held all the power in this scenario, except that with every word, Alysa seemed to manipulate the conversation more and more in her favor. How could she have had the bad luck to kidnap the most irritating, stubborn, and well-informed omega in the country? It was beyond her comprehension.
"Isa was a special case," Amber said, which was true. Isabeau had sought her out—not the other way around—and she had a way with words that had proven exceptionally useful in various situations. But unfortunately, her cleverness hadn't been enough to free her from the arranged marriage her parents had set for her. Isa, instead of bowing her head, had decided to do something about it.
Unlike Alysa, who was sitting here acting as if the kidnapping by Amber's crew was nothing more than a scheme orchestrated by Alysa herself. Her certainty was such that Amber was frankly beginning to have her doubts.
"And yet we come from the same social class, the same social circles. In fact, my father still speaks with her father from time to time. I'm sure he would be very interested to learn that his beloved daughter is still alive."
She said this innocently, but her eyes couldn't hide the threat behind her words. Amber was beginning to accept the fact that she couldn't let her go now, not with Isabeau's identity compromised like that.