28. The Sun Rose

Chapter 28

The Sun Rose

The Siren

T he morning sun hung high in the sky when I blinked open my eyes, the golden light filtering in through the window along the wall, a sheer curtain billowing on a soft salty breeze. A soft silken blanket cushioned my body as I watched bits of dust glitter on the rays, a content sigh lifting from me as a smile stretched along my lips. The room came into focus around me, the same one Proteus had gifted us for the evening, a room I didn't remember returning to as a foreign tenderness ached between my thighs.

Arching my body, I stretched my limbs as I rolled over, finding Kipp's dark gaze watching me. Last night's tumble along the beach flashed within his inky irises and want, need, heated my blood as my body relaxed into the cushioned mattress. His touch, the feel of his lips, the size of him as he filled me completely. The blade twinkled in a stream of light where it sat on the bedside table.

He smirked, the dimple winking seductively at me as his fingers trailed along my cheek, brushing my hair aside gently. It was as if he could read my thoughts, the way his gaze glittered. He pulled his hand from my face, leaving the icy sting of absence behind as he rolled from the bed. He tugged open a dresser drawer and pulled out simple clothing, dressing quickly as my gaze lingered on the sharpened blade that I'd used to slice his clothing from him.

"We need to figure out what Proteus knows," he said, his back turned to me as he rummaged through the torn clothing. He pulled a brass compass from the pocket, tucking it into the pocket of the stolen trousers now clinging to his form.

I wanted to be angry at his dismissiveness, the attraction between us undeniable, but it was a reminder that we couldn't lose ourselves in the embrace of the other. We had curses to break, and I had Atlantis to rule, my people to save. I didn't speak, leaving my irritation and rejection weighing heavy on my shoulders.

Kipp stood in the doorway, barely a glance over his shoulder at me as he said, "Come, we must find the others." Then he walked through the door, leaving me alone with my warring thoughts.

I didn't need this man, and I shouldn't want him. I threw the blanket off me, kicking my aching legs over the edge of the bed. My clothing lay in a clump on a nearby chair where I'd left them last night when I assumed we'd returned from the beach. Within minutes, I stood wearing Kipp's gifted clothing, his scent of salt and spice intoxicating as it clung to me. He'd quieted the lust my power had sent screaming through my body, but he'd only awakened another. One I feared would be far harder to resist.

I found Kipp waiting for me in the hall, and we followed the sounds of chatter, plates and forks clinking together as Proteus shared a meal with his guests. My bare feet padded along the cold stone flooring as I made my way across the hall and into the dining room where a long table piled with breakfast food sat in the center of the grand room. People sat all around the table, plates of food before them as they ate and talked.

The few members of Kipp's crew that he'd allowed to remain on the island also sat at the table. Patton, Camilla, and another of which I'd yet to learn the name. They glanced up as we entered the room, their faces worn heavy with exhaustion. The festivities of the gods must have taken a toll on them.

Dionysus sat next to the head of the table, Proteus at his side, with the two chairs on either side of them left empty and waiting. Proteus' nose scrunched with every clink and every scrape against the porcelain of his dishes. His fingers pressed to his temples as he groaned. "Must we be so loud?"

"I see you enjoyed my new wine," Dionysus said with a laugh. "I'm thinking of calling it the Olympian Knockout Nectar, because the next day, it knocks even the gods on their asses."

"You are a menace," Proteus grumbled.

"A menace you need for the glorious wine and good fun I bring." Dionysus held up a glass of bubbling liquid, taking a sip before shoveling another forkful of fluffy eggs into his mouth.

Kipp and I took our seats at the table, and I turned to Proteus, needing the distraction. "He didn't make you drink that much." I shrugged, not understanding why Proteus was so upset.

"Minnow, I adore you, but you are quickly going to find yourself on the ‘not adore' list if you keep it up," he quipped back at me, wincing as a nearby fork scraped a plate.

Dionysus chuckled, his bright gaze meeting mine with a mischievous glint to them.

"We need the location of the sea witch," Kipp demanded, the plate of food that had been placed in front of him untouched as he watched Proteus carefully.

Proteus didn't withhold the annoyance from his features as he replied, "Eat breakfast, I insist, and then I'll send you on your way with the information I have." He dropped his attention to his own plate, groaning as he pushed it away. "Why is it so bright in here?"

"Because everywhere in this place is open to the damn elements," Dionysus muttered, taking another sip with a slow shake of his head. "I offered you the cure of the poison," he said, lifting his glass.

"Usually, I like it that way," Proteus answered, his voice gravelly as he spoke. "And that isn't the cure, it's just more drink, you buffoon."

The dryads, who had up until this time been giggling to themselves, began singing a bawdy song that made Kipp's crew groan. Kipp flashed them a stormy look of warning as his fist clamped around his fork, a dark and broody look settling over his face as he watched those around him closely.

"I'd think you'd be in a better mood today, Captain," Dionysus teased with a sly wink.

I felt my cheeks flush, even though I knew I shouldn't. Sirens didn't feel shame or embarrassment. Yet, being around Kipp and his crew, staying in this form for so long, it had left me feeling self-conscious and vulnerable. I internally cursed, vowing to finish this quest quickly so that I could escape his presence.

Grilled fish, dripping with herbs and spices, decorated the porcelain of my plate, and I placed a bite of it into my mouth. The tenderness felt smooth against my tongue, the flavors bursting within my mouth as I swallowed it, a small measure of pleasure rumbling in my throat. It held an entirely different appeal than the raw catches I was used to within in the ocean.

I glanced up to find Kipp's inky gaze on me, his breath hitched as the heat of desire burned behind his eyes. Memories of his skin caging mine on the soft sand warmed my blood, sending tendrils of need through my core as I licked my lips clean. I wanted him, even though I knew I shouldn't, and the tensed posture, his frozen breath, suggested that he wanted me too.

"Enough with the eye fucking," Proteus said with a groan, breaking the tension and shocking my gaze back down to my plate. "It really is unsanitary at the breakfast table."

Dionysus simply laughed at the new development, clearly amused by our subtle flirtation.

Once we finished our meal, Proteus led Kipp and I out into the bright sunlight, keeping his head down until we settled beneath the shade of an ancient tree. The small pond of seawater sat nearby, the salty scent making me breathe easier. Dionysus had followed us, sitting with his back along the wide trunk of the tree.

Barely able to contain his impatience, Kipp growled. "We've stayed the night, we have eaten your breakfast, we want answers now."

Proteus hesitated as he settled into a cushioned lounger with a sigh of comfort. "To find Circe, you first need to seek out Scylla. She's the only one who despises her enough to reveal her whereabouts, and she has nothing left to lose. However, convincing the beast to talk will be…" He paused, as if to choose his words carefully, aware of the dangers that lie ahead. "…challenging, but with her…" His head nodded my way. "…it may be possible."

Dionysus' brow lifted. "How did you originally find her, anyway?" he asked, his gaze flicking between Kipp and me.

With a nonchalant shrug, he answered, "A seer."

"And let me guess, this seer was an older woman with only one eye?"

Kipp threw his hands up into the air. "Why does everyone keep saying that? How did you know?"

"The Fates like to meddle in the lives of gods and mortals," Dionysus replied lazily. "They get bored."

The anger at being so easily fooled set Kipp's jaw into a firm line as he leaned forward, his dark gaze piercing Proteus as if he could glean answers with his glare. "Where is Scylla?"

Proteus leaned back in his chair, his hands folding behind his head like a cushion of flesh as he said, "Last I heard, she was ruling over the treacherous Strait of Messina."

"And keeping Charybdis in check," Dionysus chimed in with a chuckle.

My curiosity piqued at the mention of my half-sister. I'd never met her before, but she was another one of Poseidon's children, just as I was. We were littered across the sea, which was why I had only been mildly surprised by my half-brother's entrance into the throne room the day I'd been thrown from Atlantis. "Why would Charybdis need to be kept in line?"

I'd heard tales of her destroying ships and consuming mortals as if they were nothing more than fish in the sea. She held a viciousness far worse than even us sirens. A shiver ran down my spine as I thought about her ferocity, and I couldn't help but respect her for it.

Proteus lowered his head and sighed. "I'm sorry, but that is all that I have for you."

Kipp stood, his nostrils flaring as the chair he'd been sitting on toppled over in his rage. His face contorted in fury as he growled out, "That's not enough! You promised us the location of Circe!"

"Oh," Proteus said with a cunning grin, "but I did tell you the location of where to find her." He leaned forward, locking eyes with Kipp. "Scylla has the information you need." He turned to me then as he added, "Just be careful, my dear minnow. It would be tragic to lose you." He paused, a glint of mischief in his gaze. "Especially considering we were once almost lovers."

I rolled my eyes, feeling Kipp tense next to me as his gaze swung back and forth between us. Turning to Kipp, I said, "There was never an almost. My father just tricked me."

"A barbaric ritual," Proteus cut in. "And such a shame that he stole your choice from you on your first mating ritual."

"I don't understand," Kipp said, still standing as he watched us all with barely controlled rage simmering just beneath his skin.

Proteus morphed into his old man visage. "Most of the gods believe I look like this," he replied, holding his hands out at his side. They shook with the effort, a real show of his feebleness. "Save for a few in my inner circle."

"Why does that matter?" Kipp asked.

"My father is a real asshole," I cut in, not wanting to go into the details of my heritage. Kipp knew I was the daughter of the late siren queen, but he didn't know about Poseidon, and I wanted to keep it that way. "I fucked up and he punished me by choosing an old man, Proteus, for my first mating ritual."

"Luckily for her, not only am I super handsome," Proteus joked, earning another eye roll from me. "But I'm also one of the decent ones. Most immortals are complete shits."

My hand closed around Kipp's wrist, and he breathed easier beneath my touch. "We spent the night sitting in the sand, talking until the sun rose. After that, I never entered another choosing again."

Understanding dawned on Kipp's face as he realized why I'd never been with a man before our tangle last night. I'd feared having my choice stolen from me by my father. Meeting Proteus had been pure luck, but I worried I wouldn't be so lucky next time. So, I'd never chosen to give myself to a male until Kipp.

I stood, needing this walk down trauma lane to be over. "Find Scylla. Got it," I said, my hand still gripped around Kipp's wrist. "Let's go."

Proteus walked ahead with Kipp once I let go of him, leaving me alone with Dionysus as we trailed behind. I wondered what they spoke about but couldn't give it much thought as Dionysus broke the silence between us.

His shoulder nudged mine as we traveled the beaten path. "While I am sad to see you go so soon, I had the Dryad's guide the rest of his crew to the ship when we came out here." He winked at me. "Now that you have your powers and the ability to stay in this form as long as you want, you should come visit me sometime. It would be nice to get to know my cousin better."

I shook my head at his suggestion. "We will have to keep our meetings to Proteus Island." The thought of visiting Mount Olympus where Zeus was known to be worse than Poseidon, where Hera resided, who had placed the curse on my people, made me shudder. I wanted nothing to do with the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus.

We walked along the path through the forest toward the beach where Proteus and Kipp stood alongside the shores, waiting for us. Proteus patted me on the back as I came to a stop at his side, a mischievous glint in his gaze as he flicked a glance between Kipp and me. "Give them hell, my vicious little minnow."

Kipp and I boarded the smaller boat, which had been carried back to us after his crew had boarded the ship by one of Proteus' siren guests. I only hoped that those who had enjoyed Dionysus' festivities last night would keep my presence here to themselves, but I couldn't worry much about that as Kipp rowed the boat toward his ship.

The bulge of his arms as he cut a path through the tide had warmth pooling at my core as my mouth dried with want. I tore my gaze away from his rippling muscles and stared into the glittering waters instead. This pirate did things to me that I couldn't explain, that I didn't know if I wanted to, but I knew I needed to fight it just the same. We couldn't afford the distraction because, as we sailed closer and closer to his ship, a strange feeling washed over me.

Something big was coming. Something that would change everything. And I wasn't sure if either of us were ready for it.