Nyxian's grin widened.
Her horns protruded slightly further from her head as excitement overtook her.
"Oh, how sweet," she purred while looking directly at Emberlyn. "If you win, you dictate the terms tonight."
Then her eyes slowly drifted toward Jax.
"But if Jax wins…"
Her smile somehow became even more dangerous.
"I do."
Jax immediately pointed at Nyxian.
"No. Absolutely not. We are NOT turning this into some kind of—"
"Too late!" Bunny interrupted excitedly.
Pixelle floated down beside the board dramatically. "This is the most interesting thing to happen all week."
Lexi nodded in agreement. "I support this entirely."
"You support everything chaotic," Zee muttered.
"That is not true," Lexi protested.
"It absolutely is true," Llandra added while sipping her drink.
Emberlyn sat calmly across from Jax, though inwardly she was in complete panic. She initiated the bet. If she wins, she joins them tonight.
What in the drowned hells am I doing?
She had started this as a bold gamble.
Now somehow the entire group was involved.
And strangely…
Nobody seemed angry.
Protective of her? Yes.
Concerned? Sure.
But not hostile.
That part confused her more than anything.
She had expected jealousy.
Possessiveness.
Territorial behavior. A little chaos.
Instead these women acted like a bizarre family trying to determine whether a guest was joining dinner.
Jax rubbed both hands over his face.
"This got wildly out of hand."
Nyxian leaned over his shoulder.
"You say that like you aren't enjoying yourself."
"I'm not enjoying—"
He paused.
The Vixens all stared at him.
Emberlyn stared at him.
Even crew members nearby were pretending not to stare at him.
"…I'm enjoying maybe ten percent of this."
"That's honest at least," Llandra admitted.
Bunny plopped herself beside Emberlyn and looked at the board.
"So how does this game work again?"
"Strategy," Emberlyn answered.
"A battle of territory and control."
Nyxian smirked. "Sounds romantic."
"It absolutely does not," Emberlyn shot back instantly.
Nyxian only looked more amused.
Jax finally sighed and sat down.
"One game."
Emberlyn's heart jumped.
He accepted.
The crew nearby immediately started whispering.
One sailor elbowed another.
"Ten silver says the captain loses in twenty moves."
"You're insane. She's unbeatable."
"She WAS unbeatable."
"Good point."
Jax glanced sideways at the crew.
"You guys are betting on this?"
One of them straightened immediately.
"No, sir."
Another nodded seriously.
"Absolutely not."
A third held up a small notebook titled:
GO BETTING POOL.
Jax pointed at it.
"That literally says betting pool."
The sailor slowly lowered the notebook behind his back.
Nyxian walked behind Emberlyn and rested her hands on the pirate captain's shoulders.
Emberlyn nearly jumped out of her skin.
"You're tense."
"You're touching me."
"Yes."
"You smell like trouble."
Nyxian leaned closer.
"That is because I AM trouble."
Jax cleared his throat loudly.
"Can we not psychologically attack the pirate before the game even starts?"
"Oh?" Nyxian said innocently. "Are you defending her already?"
"NO."
Emberlyn tried very hard not to smile.
She failed.
The game began.
At first, neither side spoke.
Stone after stone clicked softly onto the board while ocean waves rolled beneath the ship.
Jax played aggressively.
Emberlyn adapted quickly.
She had never seen someone improve at a game this rapidly before.
Most people plateaued.
Jax evolved.
Every loss became fuel.
Every mistake became data.
It was terrifying.
And attractive.
Which annoyed her greatly.
Several moves later, Pixelle gasped dramatically.
"Ohhhhhh."
Lexi leaned down.
"Is that bad?"
"For Emberlyn? Yes."
Emberlyn narrowed her eyes.
"Whose side are you on?"
Pixelle shrugged.
"The winning one."
Jax looked up.
"You know how to play?"
"I know enough to know you're trapping her left flank."
Emberlyn immediately looked down at the board.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Dammit.
He WAS trapping her.
She adjusted quickly.
Jax smiled.
"You noticed."
"You made it too obvious."
"Actually I wanted you to notice."
"You wanted me to counter."
"I wanted to see HOW you'd counter."
Nyxian slowly whistled.
"That was dangerously sexy."
Zee nodded reluctantly.
"A little."
Emberlyn's pulse quickened.
This man flirted through strategy.
What kind of insane person was this?
The game intensified.
The crew became fully invested.
Even sailors from the other ships had gathered near the rails watching.
One sharkfolk sailor yelled:
"CAPTAIN! DON'T LET THE PRETTY LAND MAN OUTFLANK YOU!"
Another shouted:
"He already outflanked her emotionally!"
"That's not helping!" Emberlyn snapped.
Jax chuckled.
That stupid calm laugh.
Everything about him irritated her.
And fascinated her.
Another ten moves passed.
Then twenty.
Sweat formed on Emberlyn's brow.
Not because she was losing badly.
Because she wasn't.
For the first time since their second match…
She was actually competing evenly.
Jax leaned back slightly.
"You're improving."
"You sound surprised."
"I'm impressed."
That stupid warm feeling returned to her chest again.
She hated it.
Nyxian noticed instantly.
"Ohhhhh, she likes praise."
"I do not."
"She absolutely does."
Llandra walked over carrying another drink.
"To be fair," she said calmly, "Jax praises effort more than results."
Jax blinked.
"That's… actually true."
Llandra smiled softly.
"It's one of your better qualities."
Emberlyn looked between them.
The interactions felt real.
Natural.
Not forced.
Not performative.
These people genuinely loved each other.
Even their teasing carried warmth.
It made something inside her ache unexpectedly.
The game continued another fifteen minutes.
Then suddenly—
Jax placed a single piece.
Click.
Emberlyn froze.
The board shifted in her mind instantly.
Routes closed.
Territory collapsed.
Her entire center structure was compromised.
The realization hit like cannon fire.
"…you sneaky bastard."
Jax grinned.
"Thank you."
"You baited me twelve moves ago."
"Yes."
"You sacrificed the corner intentionally."
"Yes."
"You've been building toward this the entire game."
"…yes."
Nyxian leaned over the board.
Then immediately burst into laughter.
"Oh she's doomed."
Bunny looked confused.
"Is it over already?"
Pixelle nodded dramatically.
"She is spiritually deceased."
Emberlyn stared at the board.
Then slowly leaned back in her chair.
"…bloody tide-drunk barnacle licking son of a sea witch."
Jax blinked.
"Was that an insult?"
"A very aggressive one."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
She laughed despite herself.
Actually laughed.
A real one.
The crew erupted into cheers.
Some celebrated.
Others groaned over lost bets.
One sailor dramatically threw his money pouch onto the deck.
"I believed in love and got punished for it."
Jax looked back at Emberlyn.
"So…"
She crossed her arms.
"So."
"You lost."
"I did."
"And according to the terms…"
Emberlyn slowly stood.
Every eye on deck followed her.
She stepped closer to him.
Close enough that only he could hear her next words.
"I keep my word, Jax Darquebane."
Her voice lowered.
"And honestly?"
She glanced toward the Vixens waiting near the doorway.
"…I'm not entirely sure this counts as losing anymore."