No wonder the slaver locked her in his quarters. She was by far the most valuable captive on board.
Kyme eyed the creatures warily. Some snapped at her through the bars of their cages. Others appeared passive. For the moment at least. Who would buy such beasts? For what purpose? Biting her lower lip, she frowned and veered to search for another path into the vessel’s underbelly.
A hand clamped down on her shoulders. “A little lost, aren’t you?” The rich, masculine voice resonated in the wooden chamber.
She jolted and twisted but the grasp was firm. Hands itching for her knife, she relented. She would cooperate, for now. “Yes, I’m actually searching for the galley.”
“Other side, rear of the ship. Does Arsenius know you’re out?”
Her silence gave him the answer.
“What might you be wanting with our Cook? You’re not hungry, are you? And just how did you break that lock?”
Hungry? Sure. “Yes, but I have a very special diet, so I deemed it best to consult with the cook myself. And I…melted the lock.”
The male let out a low whistle. “Not going to make the captain happy.” He chuckled. “I like you, female. Stick with me. I’ll take you to Cook. Name’s Thereus, by the way.”
He released her and as she spun to greet her new “friend,” her breath caught in her throat.
A centaur stood before her. If the Amazons chose to mate with one race instead of the Gargareans, it would be the centaurs. Amazons loved horses. They were the first to tame horses and to ride them. Centaurs and Amazons shared a special kinship. They were both brutal warriors, both independent and refusing to conform to societal standards. In the case of the centaurs, this often meant intoxication and brawling.
She immediately returned his grin and the affinity between them filled the tight confines of the ship’s cargo hold.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. I’m Kyme.” She extended her hand, which he gallantly kissed.
“Arsenius warned you’d be a handful, but he didn’t wager you’d wander.” Thereus sent her a friendly wink.
“The captain should know better than to cage an Amazon.” She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.
He offered her a warm, effortless grin. “I agree.”
She assessed her potential ally. Centaurs had the upper body of a man, joined at the waist with the body of a horse. His horse half consisted of a massive black stallion, sleek and muscular. His human half was no less intimidating, from the leather vest he wore over his bare, muscled chest, to his piercing emerald gaze. His easy demeanor made her overlook how powerful he was—until she noticed the dark glint in his eyes. Centaurs were as unpredictable as Amazons, and just as deadly.
One of the creatures, a despicable Lamia, rattled the bars of her cell. The vampiric succubus shrieked, “They’re coming!”
Kyme frowned. “What’s that about?”
“Don’t know, don’t want to.” He shrugged. “She’s been hollering like that for the past week.” He swept out his arm for her to follow him.
Somehow, that massive centaur managed to nimbly—and silently—climb the ladder onto the main deck. How curious. She scooted up behind him and trailed him across the ship. Ignoring the occasional stares of the crew, she marched proudly, shoulders back and face forward. Criminals they might be, none would sense fear rolling off her.
They descended another set of stairs and he led her through a narrow passageway. Her eyes strained against the dusky lighting, and she wrinkled her nose at the foul stench of the dozens of men living on board. Apparently, not every divine creature worshiped hygiene as much as she.
Halfway down the corridor they turned a corner. Thereus opened the heavy wooden doors and held them aside for her. “I’ll return for you after I replace that lock.” The mischief in his eyes told her he’d keep her escape their secret.
She strode into the small galley and spotted a male hunched above a large cauldron. Cook was not what she expected, though she assumed so many arms would be advantageous to such an occupation. He was one of the Gegenees, a race of giants with six arms. Standing eight or nine feet tall, three of his hands wielded knives that were busy chopping vegetables on a side table as he prepared the crew’s meal. The other three stirred and sampled the contents of whatever liquid bubbled in the cauldron. The herbal concoction thankfully vanquished the rank stench of men.
She stole a quick glance at the door to confirm the centaur’s absence. “Hello.”
His jolted at her presence, then his gaze traveled over her in a long, appreciative leer. “Why, hello to you as well. What can I do for you, milady—?”
“Kyme.”
“Kyme,” he grunted.
She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. His proliferation of limbs wasn’t the only thing making her stomach squirm. He was sweaty, pudgy and no doubt the patch over his left eye hid the fact that it was missing. Still, she managed to return his smile.
“I wonder if you might tell me what goes into your ‘seasickness cure.’ I’ve had the benefit of enjoying its effects for the past few days and I’m curious.” She leaned in closer and purred, “It is truly genius.”
Cook mopped his forehead as he cleared his throat. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Males were so predictable, no matter their species. A little flattery and he melted in her hands. She smirked inwardly. Already she’d acquired a second ally on this ship.
His chest puffed. “Ginger, mint, and of course, my own brand of laudanum. There’s no better way to pass the time.” He winked at her. “Though if you’re feeling better, we might find other amusements to occupy ourselves on this long journey.”
Ugh. He didn’t even have the decency to turn around as he used one of his hands to adjust himself.
Laudanum, a mixture of liquor and opium. That bastard slaver. Her vow included not only chastity, but an abstinence from all things impure. She didn’t consume liquor or opiates, or perform any act in excess, except for mayhap bloodshed. Such was the purpose of her powers anyway. Remain pure and be a powerful weapon for Artemis.
Kyme liked her existence. She had a purpose, a family, and way of life to protect. What her goddess asked of her was a small price to pay in exchange for the honor of being an Amazon. For the privilege and responsibility of her gift. Studying her hands, she recalled how she’d melted the slaver’s lock. Surely, if Artemis was angry about her consumption of the opium, she would have stripped her powers. Wringing her fingers, she hoped that was the case.
She refocused on Cook. “Mmm… I’d love to spend time with a male of your obvious talents, but I’m afraid the captain wouldn’t approve. I’m something of a special cargo—”
Shouting cut off the song and rhythm of the sailors. Something was happening on deck and the high-pitched tone of the clamor told her it wasn’t pleasant.
Cook confirmed this by arming each hand with a long, sharp knife. “Time for some dicing and slicing, lass.” He winked at her once more, then sidled past her into the corridor.
The disheveled and odorous crew filled the passage. Swept up with them, Kyme surfaced onto the upper deck. Another vessel drifted beside the Adrasteia. They were under attack? Rather than cowering, the slaver’s men grinned as though eager and ready for blood. She recalled what the slaver had told her about his ship. Humans couldn’t be the ones attacking because the vessel was invisible to them. It must be some other race.
She inhaled and absorbed the energy of the sailors. After the tension of this past week, she craved a dose of fighting.
“Lamiae!” a crewman shouted. The proclamation was followed by a series of curses from the sailors on board. “Bloody, blood-sucking, cursed demons.”
She paid them no heed. She’d fought Lamiae before. Thankfully, as Kyme was female, she wasn’t their primary target.
Even so, she paused as she caught sight of dozens of graceful, seductive beings adorning the attacking ship. Heavily painted and garbed in vibrantly-hued flowing silk dresses, they could h
ave passed for any brothel’s selection of harlots. They were pale and lovely, making it easy to forget they had come to bed the young men and drain them of their blood.
Kyme had no male parts and her distraction quickly passed. She scanned the decks and spotted the slaver racing toward his cabin. With a ship about to go into battle, why should he care where she was? Her heart skipped a beat before she gained control of its rhythm and wove through the men to the cabin. She arrived just in time to receive the slaver’s cold glare.
“What are you doing out?” The relief in his eyes darkened to irritation.
“Relax, slaver. I’m not about to swim fifty miles to the shore. I simply required some air.” She crossed her arms and returned his scowl. “Especially after the opium you gave me.”
***
“Not the swim I was concerned about.” Arsenius attempted to stay the irrational panic in his gut. “I’ve got a lot of lusty sailors on board. I don’t need you prancing about, distracting them.” He lowered his voice. “And nullifying your value to me.” He fought for control while Kyme huffed at him.
Thereus charged up the stairs. “What’s the command, Captain?” His words were tame enough, his admiring expression as he eyed Kyme was not. The two of them grinned at each other. A twinge of something Arsenius didn’t recognize, mayhap jealousy, went through him like an electric shock.
Arsenius unclenched his fists. “Ready the men. No one beds any of them. Destroy those whores.” He gave a curt nod to Thereus. To Kyme he ordered, “Go inside the cabin and this time stay there.”
“No. I’ve been locked up far too long, and I’m not missing out on the amusement.” She slipped behind him into the cabin, and marched up to him a moment later bearing a pair of eighteen-inch-long swords. “Perfect.”
He almost relented at how sweetly she smiled at him, but instead blocked the doorway. “What do you presume you’ll be doing with those?”
“Be thankful it’s not your throat I seek to slit, slaver.”
He crossed his arms and planted his feet apart, filling out to his full size. “Go to the bed and wait for me.” Gods, wrong choice of words.
“While I appreciate the offer, I’m afraid I must decline. I crave blood first.”
His attempt to intimidate her into submission failed horribly. She rose on the tips of her toes. With a spark in her eyes, she placed her hand on his chest and smoothed her palm to rest on his forearm. He swallowed hard and cursed his limbs for refusing to stop her from shoving past him.
“Hell, yes!” Thereus exclaimed at Kyme’s knives. Arsenius silenced him with a deadly glare.
The first of the creatures launched onto his ship. He unsheathed his sword and leapt down onto the lower deck. His frenzy was not upon him, not yet. The thundering of his heart in his ears overpowered the din of the fighting. He wasn’t sure how long he had, but he wouldn’t abandon his men until he was forced to. The chains on the mainmast taunted him, sending an icy reminder down his spine. Gods help them all should his frenzy overtake him before he made it to the chains. Violence didn’t discriminate.
With ease, he beheaded two of the creatures, averting his gaze from their blood. He took a moment to steady himself, and as soon as his pulse was calm enough, he sliced through the attackers, clearing a path to Kyme.
Lamiae. He detested these creatures. They were hideous even in their beauty. A great pleasure to rid this realm of a few dozen more of them.
He grimaced as one of his men, Timon, succumbed to a Lamia’s entrancing song, his eyes glazing over. Without hesitation, Arsenius sliced his sword through them both. The male wouldn’t have survived anyway. Better a swift death than the lingering agony he would have suffered.
After pausing to wipe the sweat from his brow, he blinked and found himself staring into the pool of his fallen crewman’s blood. The coppery scent and the crimson in his vision dragged him to his knees. His frenzy fed on carnage. The beast inside him waged for control.
Clutching his head in his hands, he rubbed his eyes. Must not yield. Not when he didn’t know how Kyme was faring. He checked his right arm. No markings yet. He could control this. He hoped.
Arsenius scrambled to his feet and continued cutting a path through his foes, barely focusing on the task at hand, so eagerly was he searching for the Amazon.
At last, he was close enough to spot her. Like a wave crashing upon the shore, his frenzy washed over him, and…dissolved. Kyme was more than safe. She was in her element.
His breath froze in his lungs while a Lamia hissed and lashed out at Kyme with her claws. The Amazon leapt backward to avoid the blow and used the motion to propel herself in a flip. She landed with her legs wide and low to the ground. Twisting her body around, she sliced through the skirts of another opponent. The creature crashed to the deck, screeching. Kyme rose and spun to pierce the first in the stomach with her other sword. As the she-devil sank, Kyme strode to the second and stabbed her in the heart.
His breath caught up with him, his pulse no longer raced. Damn, she was fast. If he hired females on his crew, he’d choose her in a heartbeat. She wielded her small size and speed to her advantage. As she hacked through the creatures, she never gave them the chance to retaliate. Her swords slashed with both artistry and calculation. Her canvas was the Lamiae, her paint their blood.
He’d always relied on his strength; he’d never considered smaller, weaker enemies to pose any threat to him, before. It did raise the question of why she hadn’t attacked him. Yet.
With his focus targeted on her, Arsenius barely paid any heed to his opponents. His hands performed mechanically as he snapped the neck of one Lamia. He didn’t recall the last time he’d fought with such serenity. Mayhap his frenzy wouldn’t make an appearance. He’d be damned if he understood why Kyme was the cause of its retreat.
Metal flashed and caught in the sun. Crimson rained down. It wasn’t long before they destroyed the creatures who had foolishly ventured onto his ship. Arsenius kicked at a corpse in disgust. When possible, he preferred to fight aboard the enemy ship—less to clean up once he conquered them.
As he opened his mouth to give the command for his crew to board the other vessel and commence the takeover, he spotted a figure climbing the mast. Gripping her two swords and a rope, Kyme swung to the Lamiae ship and continued her slaughter there.
“Kyme!” Arsenius cursed. She should not have gone first, stubborn female. He scaled the mast and vaulted off it, landing in a crouch beside her. “You might…have waited…for my command, Amazone,” he grated between slashes of his sword while he rose.
“You were taking too long,” she countered, thrusting a blade into the belly of a succubus.
“Lovely afternoon, isn’t it?” Thereus planted himself next to Arsenius, so that they formed a nice, tight circle of death. The crowd of Lamiae thinned, leaving the three of them with nothing but air to slice.
Thereus slapped a hand on Kyme’s shoulder. “Nice work, my Amazon friend, but you might have left a few more for the rest of us.” His deep laughter bellowed, and even Arsenius managed to grin.
“Don’t suppose you’d consider a promotion to captain?” Arsenius tipped his head toward the captain’s quarters.
Thereus’s jovial grin shifted into a somber one. “Nay, Captain. I’ll be staying with you.”
“Can’t get rid of you, can I?”
“Not for a Caravel, sir.”
Ever since he’d saved the centaur’s life, the bugger had refused to depart his side. Arsenius had tried almost everything, but Thereus’s loyalty was unshakeable. He shook his head at his unworthiness of such a loyal comrade. Hell, he didn’t deserve any friends. Still, the centaur’s skills had come in handy too many times to count, so he didn’t complain.
“Tidy up then, first mate.” He clapped Thereus on his shoulder and spun to climb one of the masts, but froze as he caught sight of its flag. Swaying in the slight breeze, the ivory banner displayed an image of a daffodil.
Thereus followed his gaze
. “What do you think that means?”
“Damned if I know.” He shrugged off Thereus’s question. That symbol belonged to his buyer, but mayhap it was just a coincidence.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Kyme, kneeling and stabbing her swords into the deck. After rising with the stealth of a leopard, she sprinted with long, quick strides and threw herself off the ship in a masterful swan dive.
Arsenius was one second behind her, flinging himself into the ocean. Surfacing, he scanned the waters until he locked on his target. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Damn, he sounded far too possessive for his liking.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m covered in blood,” she called over her shoulder before diving under.
He clenched his jaw at her retreating form. She might have dismissed him, but, bloody hell, he wasn’t finished with her yet.
Chapter Six
Kyme’s ire, which had been momentarily quelled by the battle, flared again. She wasn’t used to answering to anyone, other than her commander. After a good fight, no one ever questioned her actions or demanded to know where she was. The knot in her gut that had twisted since her capture tightened.
Was this how it would feel to be a slave? To never savor freedom again? She’d rather die. Give her a warrior’s death and she would rest happily in Elysium. But the life of a slave? Considering her near immortality, it would be a very long indenture indeed.
She craved nothing more at this moment than to retrieve her swords and slice the slaver open. Ignoring her straining lungs, she dove even deeper. The icy water stung her body but cleared her mind. She forced her thundering pulse to calm. Killing the slaver would achieve nothing except burying forever the identity of the one pulling his strings.
Her reasoning sobered her enough that as she surfaced, she had removed the malice from her heart. Most of it.
The second she lifted her gaze and spotted him swimming toward her, an unfamiliar ache flared in her core. Forbidden longing fanned through her body and burrowed into her heart.
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