London had never seen anything like her.
The carriage rolled slowly through the iron gates of Buckingham Palace, its wheels crunching softly over the pale gravel of the courtyard. Rows of royal guards stood rigidly along the path, their scarlet uniforms bright against the gray morning sky.
Inside the carriage, Eva Thorne sat perfectly still.
Two years ago, she had been a dock rat sleeping beside crates of rotting fish.
Now she was about to meet the King of England.
Jack Hunter lounged across from her, arms folded, boots crossed carelessly as if they were riding toward a tavern instead of a royal palace.
“You look too calm,” he said.
Eva adjusted the cuff of her dark coat.
“I’ve faced Spanish cannons.”
Jack grinned.
“Fair point.”
Beside her sat Sebastian Black, who looked far more uncomfortable than either of them. His navy-blue coat was immaculate, his hair neatly tied back in the formal style expected of a former Royal Navy officer.
“You should still be careful,” he murmured.
Eva glanced at him.
“You think I’m afraid of nobles?”
“No,” Sebastian replied quietly.
“I’m afraid of politics.”
The carriage came to a stop.
A palace servant opened the door.
“Miss Eva Thorne,” he announced stiffly, clearly unsure how to address a pirate.
Eva stepped down onto the courtyard stones.
The palace towered above her, white walls gleaming beneath the pale London sun. Gold-trimmed windows reflected the morning light. Tall statues of kings and warriors lined the grand staircase.
Everything about it screamed power.
Behind her, Jack jumped down from the carriage and stretched lazily.
“Well,” he said, glancing up at the palace.
“Let’s see if the king likes pirates.”
Two guards opened the towering palace doors.
Inside waited a long corridor of polished marble and glittering chandeliers.
At the far end stood the Royal Council Chamber.
And inside that chamber—
King Charles II.
Word of Eva’s arrival had already spread through the palace.
Whispers followed her as she walked.
“That’s her.”
“The pirate queen.”
“She attacked the Spanish fleet.”
“A dock girl, they say.”
Sebastian walked beside her, calm but alert.
Jack walked slightly behind them, his hand resting casually near the pistol at his belt.
And behind them, chained and guarded by soldiers, walked Olivia.
Her once-elegant hair hung loose and tangled around her face.
Her eyes burned with hatred.
The chamber doors opened.
Inside sat the King.
Charles II leaned back in his throne-like chair at the head of a long table surrounded by royal ministers. He looked younger than Eva expected—sharp-eyed, with dark curls resting against the collar of his velvet coat.
But the moment his gaze landed on Eva, the room fell silent.
The ministers stared openly.
A woman.
A pirate.
Standing calmly before the king.
One of the older ministers slammed his hand on the table.
“This is outrageous!”
His powdered wig trembled with anger.
“You bring a criminal into the royal court?”
Another minister scoffed.
“She’s nothing but a thief.”
“A common girl!”
Eva stopped in the center of the chamber.
She didn’t bow.
She didn’t kneel.
She simply looked at the king.
Charles II smiled slightly.
“Well.”
His voice carried easily across the room.
“You’re taller than I expected.”
Several ministers gasped at the casual tone.
Eva’s lips curved faintly.
“And you’re calmer than I expected, Your Majesty.”
The room erupted in outrage.
“How dare she!”
“Insolent girl!”
Sebastian stepped forward quickly.
“Your Majesty, I assure you—”
Charles raised a hand.
Silence fell instantly.
“I invited her.”
He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand.
“Let her speak.”
The ministers looked horrified.
Eva stepped closer to the table.
“You need me.”
Another explosion of protests erupted.
The first minister sneered.
“The arrogance!”
“You’re a pirate!”
Eva didn’t look at him.
She looked only at the king.
“Spain controls most of the Atlantic trade routes.”
Charles said nothing.
She continued calmly.
“The Dutch fleets are growing stronger every year.”
Sebastian watched her carefully.
Eva’s voice was steady.
“You want power at sea.”
The king leaned back slightly.
“And you offer it?”
Eva nodded once.
“My fleet already controls several trade routes.”
She gestured behind her toward Jack.
“He commands ships that once terrorized half the Atlantic.”
Jack gave a mock bow.
Charles raised an eyebrow.
“And what do you want in return?”
Eva’s answer came instantly.
“Amnesty.”
The ministers laughed loudly.
“Ridiculous!”
“A criminal demanding forgiveness?”
Eva didn’t stop.
“Legal status.”
Charles’s eyes sharpened.
“Go on.”
Eva’s voice grew stronger.
“My fleet becomes a royal privateer fleet.”
A murmur rippled across the chamber.
Privateers were pirates sanctioned by the crown to attack enemy ships.
She had just offered the king a weapon.
“And?” Charles asked softly.