Sofia's eyes locked onto Ryker's, her mind racing.
Marry a pirate? The idea was absurd, yet... She looked at the treasure, the gold and jewels glimmering in the moonlight. She thought of the palace, the life she'd known, the fate that awaited her if she returned. She thought of Arin, Leila, and Jafar, who had risked everything to help her escape.
And then, she looked at Ryker, his eyes gleaming with excitement, his scar adding a hint of danger to his smile. He was a pirate, a man who lived by his own rules. He was the opposite of everything she'd been raised to be.
But that's what made him intriguing.
"Why would I agree to marry you?" she asked, her voice firm, her heart pounding in her chest.
Ryker's grin grew wider. "Because, Princess, you'll be the queen of the seas. You'll have power, wealth, and freedom. And I'll give you something else - revenge against those who've wronged you."
Sofia's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about those who've wronged me?"
Ryker chuckled. "I know everything, Princess. I know about your father, the king, and his dirty secrets. I know about your mother, and how she died. And I know about the man who killed your real father, Malik."
Sofia's heart skipped a beat. How did he know all this?
Leila's voice was urgent, her eyes pleading.
"Princess, don't listen to him. He's just trying to manipulate you."