Free Saved by My Blackguard (Linked Across Time Book 1) by Dawn Brower

to be found.”
    Evelyn opened her mouth; no doubt to tell him how one of his crew shoved her overboard but the man responsible beat her to the punch.
    “It’s the witch!”
    Captain Jack turned around. “What nonsense is this, Percy?”
    “It’s her fault. The storm and the destruction of the Siren Song. We’d have made it to port if you hadn’t insisted on bring her on board.”
    Paul rolled his eyes. There was one thing to be grateful for being from the twentieth century. Witch burning and blaming them for the world’s problems had gone out of style. This man wanted to blame Evelyn for something his tiny mind didn’t understand.
    “There is no such thing as witches. At least not in the sense you’re spouting.”
    Percy rushed forward and poked Paul in the chest. “You’re only saying that because you’re under her spell. She did the same to the Captain. He’s never taken a lady on board before her.”
    “She has done no such thing.” Captain Jack shook his head. “I’ve never liked one on sight before. Lady Evelyn is a treasure and I wanted her for my own. That doesn’t make her a witch.”
    Percy got even more erratic at the captain’s words. “You’re wrong. It’s why I pushed her overboard. If she’s not a witch how did she survive? Everyone knows a witch floats and can survive a storm of her own making. The proof is standing right in front of you. She is alive and well so surely she must be a witch. Can’t you see it?”
    “You pushed her overboard?” The captain’s voice was cold and filled with menace as he turned on his crew member. “You knew what she meant to me and that she was not to be harmed and you took it upon yourself to dispose of her, because you got some nonsense inside your head. You must have a death wish.”
    The captain’s hand rested on the cutlass at his side. Paul was waiting for him to unsheathe it and skewer the man for daring to go against his orders. He wondered what was holding him back.
    “I had to. You must see that.” He waved his hands at the sky. “She’s working her magic again. Another storm is going to hit. We must kill her if we want to save ourselves.”
    “The man is insane. Evelyn is not a witch.” Paul had to make the captain see reason. “No one has the power to control the weather.”
    “I don’t blame Evelyn,” Captain Jack paused and looked up at Paul, “I know what must be done.”
    Before the captain could react, Percy pushed past him and rushed at Evelyn. She screamed and ran away from him.
    “Evelyn!” Paul shouted.
    Paul’s heart stopped at the familiar sight. This is how he’d seen her before. The vision that appeared to him before he fell back in time and in an instant he knew why he was there. It was to save her. That was why he’d seen her before he fell and passed out.
    Evelyn stepped out of Percy’s reach and spun around, heading back toward Paul. She tripped and fell as Percy lunged for her. Paul reacted and yanked him away from her before he could do her any permanent harm. The pirate fell back toward Captain Jack. He shook in fear as he glanced between Paul and Jack.
    “She must die. You both know it. You’re just afraid. Look past her charms and you’ll see the truth.”
    Paul looked Jack in the eyes and said, “Kill him or I will with my bare hands.”
    “It will be my pleasure.” Captain Jack’s smile looked menacing as he stalked toward Percy.
    Evelyn stood and ran toward Paul. He opened his arms and held her close. The wind picked up. It was familiar to Paul. The storm was going to send him back. He knew it deep down. He didn’t want to let her go. If he held on tight perhaps she could come back with him.
    Captain Jack held up his cutlass. As he was about to strike Percy, his crew member reached out and tripped him. His cutlass tumbled to the ground landing near Percy. The wind spun around him and lifted Jack. Paul’s mouth held open in shock as the captain disappeared before them. Where had he gone?