17. The First Challenge

Chapter 17

The First Challenge

The Pirate

M uffling a groan, I stood from the chair and pushed those dark thoughts swirling within my mind away. Her scent, salty like the sea mixed with the floral scent of sea orchids, was heavy in the air between us, intoxicating. I turned my back to her, shifting myself as I felt myself harden. I dragged my hands down my face with a sigh, feeling her tense gaze between my shoulder blades.

"I didn't curse you, if that is what you are wondering," I admitted, my words directed at the wall as I kept my gaze averted from her. I didn't know what spell she could weave over me, the lure of a siren was dangerous. I dropped my hands to my sides. "What harm comes to me will befall you as well." I showed her my forearm, where my skin had torn as she'd jumped through my cabin's window. It was already nearly mended to the point only a raw, red line remained. "We are bound so, as you see, you need me as much as I need you right now. If you want out of this," I said, with a wave of my hand to indicate us, this ship, this situation between us. "You will need to help me."

"What do you want from me?" she demanded again, her words coming from her clenched jaw with barely restrained rage.

I turned then, watching her body coil in on itself, her hands wrapping tightly around her lifted knees until her grip turned white. It was as if she were physically holding herself back from retaliating. Any harm she inflicted would do her no good anyway.

"I just need you to come with me. I need a siren to break through the protection spells of the island. I need the sea witch to break this curse, and I need your help to find her. She has evaded my every advance. With you, I will finally be able to confront her and demand a release from the curse that holds me." I sighed, shoving my hands into my pockets to keep them from fidgeting. "Do that, and then you are free to go."

She'd be able to leave, but she would be bound to me until the day I would die naturally, at least that's what the witch who sold me the compass and spell had told me. Which, luckily for her, once the curse was broken, wouldn't be all that long in terms of her long lifespan. Mortals only lived a matter of years. Then she'd be free once and for all, and I'd live the rest of my years content, finally able to fill the endless void of want and desire within me.

"That's all you need?" she asked as her gaze went distant. She let out a frustrated sigh as she settled her chin to her knees. "This is inconvenient. You have no idea what you put yourself in the middle of, what you've done…"

I had an idea, but the less she knew about what I knew… I knew she held royal blood, knew the queen hadn't been ruling for ages. I could do the math. I'd caught up to her as she had been performing her rite of passage ritual, claiming her siren heritage, and I'd captured her before she could return, where I assumed she'd meant to claim the siren throne. I kept my face blank, wincing slightly as if to agree with her.

"Yes," I lied, crossing the room to peer out my now-broken window. I'd have to get that fixed soon. I didn't enjoy the spittle of sea that would dampen my space every time the boat rocked toward the sea. "I understand it may hinder your plans, whatever they may be, but, unfortunately, it couldn't be helped."

She let out an aggravated exhale as she let her legs flop back to the floor. Her lip practically curled as she glanced up at me, her fingers twisting into the fabric of my bed as she said, "I suppose I have no choice but to help you then. If for no other reason than to be rid of you." A vicious smile crested her lips as she added, her tone low and husky, "But just so we are clear…" She paused, dragging her tongue over her sharpened teeth one-by-one. "…I will be feasting on your heart at my earliest opportunity."

I leaned forward until just a breath separated us. "If you want to claim my heart, you're going to have to try harder than that." I let my gaze travel up and down her form. "In the meantime, I'm happy to eat anything you'd like."

She jerked backward, the first real look of shock crossing her features as she gasped, "I didn't say you could eat anything!"

I let my gaze linger longer. "Oh?" I said, a hunger growing within me at the reaction I was receiving. "But I bet you taste really good. Like nectar of the gods themselves." I lifted my attention back to her eyes. Enjoying the flush my words caused her as I winked. "Now, don't be rude. What's your name? I've already told you mine."

It had been a long time since I'd desired another. Every warm body that had shared my bed over the past several decades had left me feeling emptier and wanting in ways that no longer felt worth it. Anything I wanted would be mine, but the ease in that consumption made it all feel so worthless. This creature, this beautiful creature before me, presented me with the first challenge I'd faced in as long as I could remember. It made me hungry for more, and I craved this new game forming between us like a vital breath of air to a drowning man.

A blush creeped along her flesh and her fingertips roamed her heated skin as a frown tugged at her lips. She slammed a fist into the mattress at her side. "Stupid human body!"

I smirked, pleased at her obvious reaction to me.

"Stop it!" she snapped.

"Stop what?" My smirk grew as she squirmed in front of me. I relaxed into the chair next to the bed again, leaning back as I allowed the relief to settle within me. I'd convinced her to help me, and it felt good.

She pressed her red lips together as if she didn't want to share her name with me. With the fight spent from her, she looked to me again. "Swear another blood oath."

"For what?" I asked, steepling my fingers as I watched her.

She leaned forward, the blanket dipping from around her shoulders, her thin chemise still damp and hugging her like a second skin. The water had left it nearly transparent, and my gaze slipped to the pinkish hue of her nipple. I lifted my leg and crossed them, feeling myself harden at the sight. She growled, her fingers lifting the blanket back into place around her shoulders.

"Because," she gritted out through her teeth, "names hold power in my world."

I pulled the dagger from my hip again, and she didn't flinch this time, expecting the movements and the weapon. I pricked the freshly healed wound on my thumb, letting the blood well before I put the dagger back. "By the seas and by my blood, I promise I will not share or use your given name to do you harm. If I do, may the god of the seas, Poseidon, strike me down."

She tensed as Poseidon's name passed my lips, her nostrils flaring as the muscles in her neck corded as if it took great effort to swallow back her anger. Her face and expressions were so easy to read, I wondered if she knew just how easy.

"Not by Poseidon, please," she whispered, her voice quiet as the tension in the room thickened.

I rubbed the blood between my thumb and finger. "I amend my oath. Not by Poseidon, but by the siren queen herself."

I watched her, awaiting her reaction. A slight wince before she schooled her features into an indifference, but I'd seen enough. I didn't know how long she'd been on land before I'd found her, but her reactions, her expressions and emotions, left me suspecting that she'd been on land long enough for her humanity to have infected her. It would make what I needed to do easier.

"Fine," she muttered. "My name is Talia, but you can call me Lia in front of…" She gave a wave of her hand. "…your people."

She stood then, letting the blanket fall from her shoulders as she watched me. Her fingers lazily traveled down the center of her chest, down her stomach, around her hips. I swallowed, forcing my eyes to remain locked to hers and not the pink rosebud nipples poking through the damp fabric.

"Now," she said, her voice husky and lust filled. Her eyes glittering with her seductive intent. "If you don't mind, I'd like some proper clothing if I'm going to remain in this form."

I stood from the chair and turned my back to her. She didn't need to see the effect she was having over me. It seemed two were playing this game. I smirked as I crossed the room and pulled out some of my own clothing. I passed it to her.

"It is a pleasure to officially meet you, Talia," I said as she took the clothing. "For now, it will be better than… what you're currently wearing. I will find something more fitting shortly. I have some smaller crew members aboard. We will ask them to offer something up until we dock elsewhere."

"Thank you," she said, turning her back to me as she pulled the damp chemise over her shoulders, baring the smooth skin of her back to me before she dressed herself in my clothing, which hung loosely over her smaller form.

When she turned back around, her fingers working a knot into the fabric of my wispy shirt so it hugged her curves, I asked her, "Now, would you happen to know where we could find the sea witch, Circe?"

The light fell from her face then. "No one knows where Circe is. Not even the gods." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Please tell me that is not the witch you are looking for."

The playful mood of the cabin evaporated instantly. My smirk fell and I pressed my lips into a tight line as I nodded.

"What is it that you think you need me to do other than find this witch?" she asked, peering forlornly out the window to the sea that probably seemed farther from her than it appeared. Worry etched lines into her brow and along her eyes.

"You really should watch your expressions. They show everything you're feeling when you're in this form," I replied instead.

She tilted her chin as she scoffed. "Not possible. I managed to fool Marcus for weeks to the point where he declared his love for me."

With a laugh, I answered, "Yeah, well, I am not him, nor am I a fool."

"You're right," she deadpanned, a cocky glint behind her eye. "You're nothing like him. You are dumber and crueler."

I covered my heart with my hand as if I had been maimed. "You wound me with your words, Talia, but…" I smiled. "I am thankful not to be like him. I am alive and he, well…" I looked her up and down again. "…he is not."

She almost looked guilty as her fingers fiddled with the hem of my gifted shirt. She wore an elegant looking ruby around her narrow index finger, but she didn't seem to pay it any mind. "It's the only way to gain our powers." She tore her attention from the sea passing by our window, pinning me with a glare. "Now answer my question. What is it that you need me to do other than find this witch?"

I busied my hands by retying my hair as I spoke. "I sought Circe a few… years back for something and she?—"

"She cursed you," Talia cut me off with a smirk. "She's always been known for not giving people exactly what they want. It's more trouble than it's worth."

"I learned that the hard way."

"So, what exactly did she do to you? Is that darkness behind your eyes her doing?"

"Yes, I think so." I crossed the room to stand next to her, both of us peering out the broken panes to the sea beyond. The sun tucked beneath the horizon, painting the skies and seas in oranges and purples that melded together breathtakingly. I searched the distance to see if I could spot Apollo's chariot, known for riding to meet the dusk. I searched for the sight every evening, yet I'd never caught sight of it yet.

"If you're looking for Apollo, he is far too lazy to ride anything this late in the day." Her lips quirked as her gaze flicked from my eyes to the sea again.

"You know Apollo?" I asked, clasping my hands behind my back.

"I know of him." She shrugged. She held her hand in front of me, her claws poking from her fingertips for a moment before she retracted them. "But you are stalling. I need you to tell me everything if you have any hope of getting my help."

"Did you just consider killing me only to realize you'd be killing yourself?" I lifted a brow in question.

"No," she glowered. "Maybe." She shrugged again, her lips twitching with amusement. "So," she said, getting back on topic, "you're the captain of this ship, cursed by Circe to what… become evil?"

"Sort of, but it's more complicated than that," I admitted, rocking back on my heels as she blinked at me.

"I'm not sure how I'm supposed to help you if you aren't going to tell me the problem. At this point, you might as well just kill me, which will kill you, so that we can both be free of this problem. It would probably save us both a lot of time."

I sighed. She was right, of course, which only frustrated me more. "She gave me what I wanted. Power, fame, riches…" I let my words trail off as my gaze traveled the curves of her body. "…women."

She laughed, giving a shake of her head as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. She leaned her back to the wall as she crossed her arms over her chest, drawing my attention to her cleavage. "Doesn't sound like a very good curse if you get all that."

"It is when nothing and no one can fill the growing dark hole inside of you. I am rich, powerful… I am the most known pirate in all the seas?—"

"—I've not heard of you," she cut me off with a lazy wave of her hand.

I opened my mouth to retort but then just shook my head. "Apparently, I'm wrong. Not such a famous pirate then. That isn't the point, though. Everything I achieve, the more I gained, I?—"

"—You were never satisfied," she cut me off again.

"Are you just going to keep interrupting me?" I asked, a mixture of annoyance and amusement warring for control as I resisted the urge to twine my fingers through the strands of hair falling along her brow. It had been a long time since I'd been with a woman. I needed to remind myself she wasn't entirely a woman.

"You sound incredibly whiny," she replied.

I lost my line of thought as her words shocked me. "I sound whiny?"

She nodded. "I mean, why did you need that in the first place?"

She stood before me seeming completely human. Her brow quirking in curiosity as she pestered me with questions. Her chest rising and falling with her breath and her disbelief. It was a stark difference to the predator my crew had pulled from the sea not that long ago. She'd coiled her tail around her with her claws digging into the plank lifting her from the waters, an expression of pure hatred glaring at me with a look that suggested she wanted nothing more than to rip me and my crew to bloody shreds. Now, she stood next to me like a disgruntled teenager.

"For the most feared pirate in all the seas, you certainly don't appear all that intimidating." She looked me up and down, almost as I had done to her earlier, only she didn't seem all that impressed by what she saw.

A pang of hurt flickered within my darkened heart before I laughed. "We can't all be perfect specimens like yourself. Some of us are just mere mortals."

She turned her back to me, her fingers working the last shards of glass from the window and tossing them into the water below. "Please, I've seen sea slugs with more charm," she said, but I didn't miss the grin she fought to conceal.

I sucked a breath in between my teeth as I leaned onto the surface of my desk, not giving the maps or papers strewn about the surface a second thought. I couldn't remember the last time I'd enjoyed anything, and this back-and-forth game between us was invigorating. "And I've seen manatees more graceful than you on land."

She snapped around, her eyes narrowing as if she had something to prove. "You didn't see me long enough on land to know," she spat, crossing her arms over her chest.

I couldn't hold myself back any longer. I stalked forward, navigating her body away from the broken window with my hand on the curve of her hip. She stepped back as the ship rocked beneath us, causing her to stumble, still not entirely used to her legs on a rocking ship. My hands reached out, quickly catching her before she could fall, my arms wrapping around her as the ship jostled us both. I held her flush to my chest, and heat ignited between us both, undeniable. She steadied herself, her breath just inches from mine.

"I find myself wanting to know why a man would lose his heart for just one kiss of those luscious lips," I murmured, my gaze flicking from her aquamarine irises to her lips.

Her hands pressed against my chest, pushing me from her with surprising strength. The heat had melted, replaced with wrath as tension radiated from her and filled the room between us. "I'd sooner kiss a shark than you." She shuddered at the threat. "And I hate sharks so that should tell you something."

I took a step back, giving her room to breathe. I felt drawn to her, and I couldn't shake it. Again, the thought that she'd spelled me crossed my mind, except she seemed annoyed with my words and advances so why would she do such a thing? What was this between us. I backed up several more steps because the closer I stood to her, the more I realized she was like a prize to be won. My prize. Mine.

"Gods," I said, turning from her and moving toward the door of the cabin. My fingers tugged at my hair. "You're like an enigma that will haunt even my dreams."

It was the darkness, that wickedness in me that needed to control her. Needed her to want to be mine. It was her lyrical voice and the pull of the siren. I had to get a hold of myself, needed to control it.

She chuckled. "Nothing haunts your dreams but rum and treasure, I'm sure."

The bantering shook me from my possessive thoughts, and I let my hands fall to my sides as I faced her again. "You know," I said, the playful atmosphere back in the room with us. "In the right light, and with enough rum, you could almost look like a chest of gold and jewels."

"And you look like a Kraken, and I don't need to be drunk on drink to see it either," she retorted with a hiss. She snapped her teeth as if to bite me.

Fisting my hand over my mouth, I yawned as I kicked off my boots. "It's been a long, eventful day. Let's get some sleep and I'll introduce you to the crew in the morning."

Crossing the room, I sat on the edge of the bed as I lifted my shirt over my head, baring my chest as I lay back on the mattress. The evening air drifted in through the broken window, a chill rising in the air that did nothing to cool the heat of my veins as I watched her.

"And my room and bed are?" she asked, frozen in place next to the bed.

I patted the bed next to me, a wicked grin lifting my lip and dimpling my cheek. "This is your room, and this is your bed."

Her foot jutted out as she cocked her hip, her fingers gripping her hip as if she were just barely holding onto her anger. "Then you must leave and go to your room," she demanded, flicking her head toward the door as if to tell me to get out.

Sitting up on my elbows, I gave my head a slow shake. "This is also my room and my bed." I lifted the blanket to indicate she could lie beneath them while I'd remain atop them. "I promise to remain a perfect gentleman. However, I cannot in good conscious put my men at risk by leaving you unattended when our agreement is still quite fragile between us." I let the blanket drop and rolled over, giving her my back.

"I'm not sleeping next to you," she announced stubbornly. "Even Marcus granted me my own room…"

"Suit yourself. There is always the floor." I tossed a pillow behind me, listening to the rustle of fabric as she caught it.

"Can I at least have something to cover myself with? The air is frigid tonight."

"And whose fault is that?" I asked, still not turning to face her. "You can use the blanket from earlier, though it may still be damp from your dip in the sea." I stifled a yawn. "Or you can join me in bed and use the one I am choosing to lie on top of for your benefit."

I almost laughed when her foot thumped onto the boards as if she'd just stomped, but then the bed shifted beneath me as she climbed into bed next to me. She made sure a length of space remained between us as she tugged at the blankets to cover herself. I didn't say a word as she groaned, her back to me as we both remained silent until we fell into a tense sleep.