by Frost Kay
“Where’s the fun in that, Lil?”
Lilja smiled at his good-natured ribbing. It wasn’t often that Blair was playful. When he was, she treasured every moment. “What are you doing this evening?”
“Fishing, lounging around.”
“Fishing?” she scoffed. “When is the last time you fished for fun.”
“My point exactly.”
“Mmhmm…well I am going to finish my new book, so don’t interrupt me. Then, I may go for a swim.”
His face grew serious. “This close to other people?”
“I’ll be careful. When I get back, most of them will be so deep in their cups that if they managed to spot me, they would doubt what they saw.”
“Just keep your senses.”
“Always do.”
She waved and sauntered into her room, excited at the prospect of an evening to herself. Grabbing her snack off her desk, she moved to the nest of pillows and blankets in her window seat. With a grateful sigh, she sunk into the nest and squirmed until she got comfortable. Time to find out if the maiden found her true love.
***
What an ending!
Lilja blinked and rubbed her eyes. She glanced around the room, squinting. No wonder it was hard to see the words. Almost all the light had faded from the room. She laid her book down and stretched as she stood. A happy groan escaped her. Why did stretching feel so good? She dropped her arms, scanned the room and spotted her seal skin.
She marched toward it and snagged it off the rung. She couldn’t wait to go for a swim. The seal skin suit made it so easy to glide through the water with speed. Lilja slipped on the one-piece suit created for speed and wrapped a robe around herself. She snuck out of the room and out to the railing. Quickly, she surveyed the area. No one was around. She threw her robe over a barrel and climbed over the railing. Lilja sucked in one last breath before pushing off the side of the ship and into a dive.
Her skin tingled all over as the sea welcomed her back. She sucked in a breath and grimaced in pain as the air was shoved out of her lungs and her gills opened. The transition wasn’t painless, but it was manageable. Lilja allowed herself to sink to the ocean floor, sand cushioning her knees. She opened her eyes and pushed the tendrils of her hair out of her face. There was nothing like swimming in the sea. Life teemed everywhere. Fish, crustaceans, corals, and sea stars decorated that land she called home.
Peace engulfed her, causing her to lie back and float. She soaked in the murmur of the sea. The quiet melody it was always singing. Little fish darted in, tempting her to give in and join their game of tag. Lilja swatted at them playfully and enjoyed her peace. When the little inhabitants of the sea went silent, she smiled. She sat up—her hair floating around her—and smiled at the dark creatures waiting for her silently.
The Leviathan.
She pushed from the sand and glided towards the beasts feared by many. She stopped before the alpha and hummed a little tune. All the Leviathan hummed in excitement. They loved to race. Lilja held her hand out in offering. The immense beast slid forward and bumped her hand, its black eyes never leaving her. She smiled and darted below her new race partner, gaining a head. Her muscles burned as she swam as hard as she could. A series of happy hums vibrated through the air. The race was on—it wouldn’t be long before they passed her.
Sure enough, within moments the first of the dark shining beasts whipped above her and moved ahead. Dark shapes surrounded her, gliding in and out in patterns that astounded her in their beauty. Breathing out, she paused and continued to glide through the water. The alpha paused, noticing her slowing, and swam back to circle her. She was out of shape. No beast or man could outswim a Leviathan but she used to be able to keep up for a time.
She smiled when a young one bumped her with its nose and rubbed against her side. A sound like a purr rumbled out of the youngling when she scratched behind its dorsal fin. Lilja grinned as, one by one, each Leviathan of the pod moved in to receive its own massage. Last was the alpha—he circled her and rubbed against her finally. When she scratched him, the purr almost startled her in its loudness. Carefully, she ran her hand along his fin and floated above. She hummed her race song, hoping he would allow her to ride with him.
Without warning he jerked forward, startling a squeak out of her. He stopped at the sound and twisted back to nuzzle her leg. Lilja smoothed a hand down his side, letting him know it was okay—she was just surprised. The beast straightened and burst forward again, but this time she was prepared. She grinned as he raced against the rest of the pod, weaving in and out of his brethren, trying to impress her.
When they arrived at the coastal shelf, Lilja let go of his fin and swam around him. Again, she held her hand out respecting his choice to say farewell. He bypassed her hand and bumped her in the face. Honored and surprised, she wrapped her arms around his snout, avoiding the huge sharp teeth, and kissed his slick skin. “Thank you for the honor,” she hummed. Lilja waved to the pod as they faded back into the darkness and slowly swam towards the harbor where the ships bobbed.
She stopped to flip a crab over and smiled as it scuttled away. The little crustacean would live another day. Satisfied with her swim, she moved towards the moonlight dancing on the water. Breaking through the surface, Lilja sucked in a breath. Her gills closed, forcing the water out of her lungs. She coughed, sputtering up sea water until her lungs were finally able to suck in great lungfuls of night air. She scanned the area before climbing up the rope ladder, which hung over the side. Speedily, she reached the railing and hauled herself over. Lilja threw her robe over her seal skin and spun, moving towards her room.
The Lure would be strong, so she needed to get to her room. Something slammed into her back, crashing her into the hallway wall.
“Gods, you smell good,” Blair growled, pressing his nose against her neck.
Hell.
Lilja closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Blair, you need to think about what you are doing.”
“What?” he asked, sounding dazed as his hands caressed her waist and his nose skimmed her jaw.
She gritted her teeth. “You are reacting to my smell. It’s science, Blair. Pheromones. The sea water activated it. This isn’t your choice. It’s my protection. You are supposed to want me. It’s who I am. It’s just the Lure.” His hands clenched on her waist then moved to the wall on either side of her, his face never leaving her neck.
“Damn it,” he mumbled against her skin. “YOU. JUST. SMELL. SO. GOOD.”
“I know, it’s just the Lure. Once my scent leaves you, your senses will come back. You need to step away.”
Blair pressed his face further into her neck. “I’m sorry, Lil.”
“Nothing to be sorry about, it’s not your fault.”
He nodded and then jerked himself from her and stumbled down the hall.
Lilja pushed off the wall, watching him stagger away. “Sorry.”
“Damn sirens,” he mumbled, shaking himself. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
She tightened her robe and slunk into her room, closing the door. Stupid Lure. It turned men stupid around her. Lilja began to shrug off the robe sticking to her skin when something pricked her gill. Something suspiciously sharp and short, like a dagger.
“You will answer for what you’ve done.”
Hayjen.
Nothing like ending your evening at knife point.
Lilja breathed shallowly so as not to provoke the man behind her into doing something they would both regret. “Calm down, Hayjen.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down, murderer.”
She winced as her neck stung and she felt blood trickle down onto her collarbone. “Okay.” Her eyes flitted to her desk where she had daggers stashed. If she could move him in that direction, she might be able to defend herself and knock him out. A tendril of fear snaked through her at the plan forming in her mind. Maybe if she went limp she could use her dead weight to unbalance him and get away. But she also ran the risk of be
ing cut.
“Stars above,” Hayjen muttered, pulling her back against his broad muscled chest. “What is that bloody smell?”
Lilja blinked. The Lure. Either the Lure would work in her favor—distracting him enough that she could escape—or it would anger him enough that his lust would turn to something sinister. His nose pressed behind her ear and his hand tightened.
“What is that?” he demanded, his voice tight. “It’s like chocolate, citrus, and sin.”
She squeezed her eyes closed and tapped into her sultry side. “What do you think it is?” She lifted a hand and ran it along the fingers gripping the dagger. “My body is calling to you.” His voice hitched. Carefully, she drew a pattern on the forearm wrapped around her body. “Can’t you feel it?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Hayjen panted even as he pulled her closer, molding her to himself. “What is happening?” he whispered.
“Biology.”
A hot tongue glided up her neck causing her breath to stutter out in shock. He paused then jerked away, pulling her wet hair from her neck. “What the hell?” The arm around her body released her and touched one of her gills. “What in the hell is that?”
Lilja seized the moment of his distraction and wrenched the dagger far enough from her neck that she was able to slither out of his arms. Her hand barely stung from the cut as she lunged for her desk. Hayjen crashed into her, causing her to hit her head on the corner of her desk. Stars dotted her vision, and her stomach rolled. Blindly, she kicked out and was satisfied when she felt her foot connect, and a curse exploded out of Hayjen. She crawled to her knees, the world spinning around her. She needed to secure a dagger. He wasn’t in his right mind. A hand landed on her hips and flipped her over. Lilja grunted and lashed out, hitting whatever she could. In a quick maneuver, her hands were pinned beneath knees as Hayjen sat on her hips. No matter how she bucked, the giant man didn’t move.
“Stop moving,” he growled.
“So you can kill me? I don’t think so!” she hissed, the pain in her head so bad that tears dripped from the corners of her eyes.
“I said stop it.” Cold metal touched her collarbone.
She stilled. The dagger danced along her skin, pushing her hair from her neck, and paused on her gills. Lilja’s eyes slammed shut. By seeing her gills, he basically signed his own death warrant. Blair would never let him escape with her secret. “Don’t,” she pleaded.
“What are you?” Lilja felt him lean forward to study them. “What are these?”
“Just forget what you saw and leave.”
“No, I want answers.”
“I don’t have any.”
“Lies. Stop lying to me.”
The darkness in his voice made the hair on her arms stand. She swallowed and uttered something she rarely admitted out loud. “They’re gills.”
Silence reigned in the room except for their harsh breathing. “You can breathe underwater?” he questioned.
She went to nod, but froze when the nausea overwhelmed her. “Yes.”
He stiffened. “The dreams are real,” he murmured. “Look at me.”
Lilja squinted through her pain and met his untrusting eyes.
“Did you save me from the Leviathan?”
Staring back, she didn’t blink. “Yes.”
Hayjen’s mouth pinched and the skin around his eyes tightened. “Why?”
“Because it was the right thing to do.”
“Damn it.” He pulled the dagger from her neck and slammed it into the floor. “Then why Mer?” he cried. “Why? She was only a little girl!”
“Hayjen.”
“Why her? Why not me?”
“Hayjen.”
“What?” he yelled, glaring down at her.
“Look at me.”
His eyes filled with confusion. “I am looking at you.”
“No,” she said softly. “Look at me. Who do I remind you of?”
“No one. You’re too unique to look like anyone I know.”
“You’re looking but not seeing. Think of possibilities. Who looks similar to me?”
Hayjen’s eyes scrutinized her face. He paused when his eyes met hers. They just stared at each other until suspicion, recognition, and shock flitted through his gaze. “Mer.”
Relief shot through her bones. The guilt of keeping the truth from him had weighed her down more than she’d realized.
“You’re lying,” he said.
“Why would I lie? Think, Hayjen. Doesn’t it make sense?”
He cursed and looked out the window, his gaze darting back to her eyes, face and hair—then to the window. “Mer?” he asked with so much longing and pain that it nearly killed her.
“Alive.”
His breath rushed out of him, his eyes glazing over. “How?”
“Leviathan respect us.”
“How can I believe you?” He shook her a little bit, causing blackness to encroach on her vision.
“The proof’s in front of you,” she gritted out. “You’re alive, and so am I.”
“I want to see her.”
“I don’t know if you can, but I will try.”
“Trying isn’t good enough. I need to see her with my own eyes.”
Frustration built in her. “There are laws.”
“What are you talking about? What damn laws?”
“Sirenidae laws!”
Hayjen’s eyes widened. “You are spouting nonsense.”
“No, I’m not.”
“The Sirenidae aren’t real.”
“Says who?” she challenged, feeling sick.
“History.”
“Well, history isn’t always correct. You felt the Lure.”
He jerked back and scrambled off her. “You controlled that?” he yelled.
Lilja grabbed her head, pain exploding as she tried to sit up. “No, I can’t control it.” She blinked at Hayjen as he blurred into three people. “I’m sorry,” she whispered before everything went black.
Chapter Ten
Hayjen
Her eyes rolled back and she crashed to the floor. The loud crack had him back at her side in no time. “Lilja?” Nothing. Hayjen leaned forward and scanned her face, his stomach dropping. He was so angry that he hadn’t noticed how badly she was bleeding. He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her a bit. Still nothing. Damn. He quickly ripped a section of her robe off and wrapped the wound. When he pulled his hands back they were covered in blood. He blinked. She was bleeding on the back of her head, too? What should he do? He shuddered again at the sight of the strange lines on her neck. She wasn’t human, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t be treated with humanity. She needed a healer. But if he took her to a healer, questions would be asked—questions neither of them could afford to answer. Plus, if she died, he wouldn’t get more answers out of her. He would have to take her home.
Grimacing, he pulled her limp body into his arms and carefully stood. With difficulty, he opened her door and shuffled down the hallway. He paused in the dark, listening for any sign of life. If her crew caught him with her looking a mess, they would kill him on the spot and ask questions later. When no sound reached him, Hayjen swept across the deck and down to the dock. Drunken singing, crass jokes, and thundering waves filled the air around him. He pulled the hurt pirate closer in his arms and moved as speedily as he could. His heart practically beat out of his chest when he passed one of her crewmen. Luckily for him, they weren’t paying any attention to him.
Wetness dripped down his arm and into the crook of his elbow. He gritted his teeth and picked up his speed. When the forge came into sight, relief filled him. His arms were practically shaking from carrying her so long. He didn’t dare throw her over his shoulder because of her head wound. Hayjen cut across the yard and stormed into the dim kitchen. “Gwen!”
His sister and a rumpled looking Colm burst into the kitchen and halted, staring at the bloody woman in his arms.
Gwen’s eyes snapped to him, an accusing
light glowing in them. “What did you do?” she growled.
Shame filled him. He didn’t cause all her injuries but he’d cut her. He hurt her.
His sister spun to the sink and began pulling towels and rags from her collection of healing supplies. “Put her on the table, Hayjen. Colm, could you heat up some water?”
Colm grunted and disappeared into the other room.
“Put her on the table.”
“She has a wound on the back of her head, too.”
Gwen glared over her shoulder at him before she turned back to her herbs and towel, angrily digging through them. “Lay her on her side then.”
With care, he placed her on her side, making sure that she was covered by what was left of the robe.
“Get out of the way,” Gwen growled, shoving him aside.
Hayjen stared, clenching and unclenching his hands. “What can I do to help?”
“You can get out,” she said coldly.
“I want to help.”
A hard laugh rumbled out of his sister as she placed a towel beneath Lilja’s head. “By the looks of it, you’ve helped enough.”
He glared at her, his emotions still high after the night he’d had. “I didn’t do this.”
“Sure, brother. You spoke of nothing but revenge earlier, and then you show up with a battered bloody woman in the middle of the night.”
Colm bustled in with the hot water. “Where do you want this, sweetness?”
“In the bowl with the herbs.”
He watched as she began to clean the large wound on the pirate’s face. “She’s going to need stitches. Hand me the whiskey, Hayjen.”
Obediently, he grabbed the spirits and passed them to his sister. She poured the spirits over the sizeable cut. “That will kill whatever is in there. Colm, could you heat up my needle?” The large man nodded and disappeared out of the room again. “I am going to need your help holding her. It’s going to hurt. She’s passed out for now, but it won’t be a pleasant experience for anyone.”
Hayjen sat on the table and stared blankly at the pale woman under his sister’s hands. He had caused this. What had he been thinking?
“Hell if I know.”