Sofia hesitated, her mind racing. She was considering it, wasn't she? Marrying a pirate, becoming a pirate queen? It was madness.
But what other options did she have?
As she hesitated, Ryker's eyes locked onto hers, his expression intense. "Remember, Princess, you're not like other princesses. You're a survivor.
And survivors do what it takes to stay alive."
Sofia's mind flashed back to her life in the palace, to her mother's stories about her real father, Malik. She remembered the feeling of being trapped, of being a pawn in someone else's game.
And then, she remembered something else - a memory, hidden deep in her mind. A memory of her mother's arms, holding her close. A memory of her mother's voice, whispering in her ear.
"Survive, Sofia. Survive, and thrive."
Sofia's eyes locked onto Ryker's, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew what she had to do.
"Alright," she said, her voice firm. "I'll marry you."