39. The Harrowing Image

Chapter 39

The Harrowing Image

The Siren

" I choose him."

My declaration hung heavy in the air, my heart beating rapidly as I watched Thanatos move closer to Kipp's lifeless body, closer to me. I leaned back, but I didn't release my hold of him as Thanatos brought his head toward my face. Dark tendrils twisted with electric light as it fell from my lips and into Thanatos as he claimed part of my soul.

Was I truly ready for this? My life would still be bound to Kipp's. Did I want my life forever entangled with his? Every fiber of my being sang with the answer as I looked across Kipp's still body and into Thanatos' shimmering blue gaze. This was always meant to be my path.

Thanatos gave me a sad smirk, then he leaned toward Kipp, using his thumb to gently open his pale, blue lips. A moment later, the wisps of darkness and electric light slipped through Kipp's mouth and entered his body.

"Your life is now bound to his for eternity," he declared as he stood. "Your ties to the ocean as a siren the price."

"It already was," I replied, watching every line of Kipp's face for any sign of life as my fingers brushed against the smooth skin of his jaw.

"No, this binding goes beyond even that. What you have given up today, to breathe life back into him, could only be done between two souls meant to be together. It ensures the balance is maintained. This bond is deeper than the one you had before."

I wasn't listening anymore, my attention consumed by the first thump of a heartbeat within Kipp's chest. Tears of relief streamed down my face as I cried out, clutching him even closer to me as the warmth creeped back into my pirate.

"One last piece of advice, child," Thanatos said, already the shadows shifted over his form, stealing him from view. "Emotions are never to be considered a weakness. They are a gift, and true love… well, that is the greatest gift of all."

As the last remnants of my power drained from me, I felt no regrets at the choices I'd made. I lowered my gaze, bringing a gentle kiss to his forehead and then meeting the dark stare of Kipp as his lips twisted into a seductive smile that only he could pull of shortly after death had tried to claim him.

"Careful," he warned in a husky voice. "It's a siren's kiss that got me into this mess in the first place."

I laughed as I slammed my lips to his. "I love you," I blurted as tears glistened within my eyes.

His fingers brushed against my cheek as he stared up at me. We sat together in the sand, surrounded by onlookers, as I explained everything that had happened. Circe, Poseidon, and even his real father's identity. I told him what it had all meant, and everything that I had given up. He listened to it all with awe and shock within his warm brown gaze.

"So, you see," I said, placing another kiss to his lips. "I'm not really a siren anymore."

Kipp looked at me with sadness. "That's unfortunate," he said, his lips on the lobe of my ear and his breath sending a shiver down my spine. "I'm really going to miss those claws."

I laughed again. This man was ridiculous. "Don't worry. We still have sharp daggers."

"That's my vicious little creature." His hands cupped my face as he nipped at my lower lip. "And don't worry. I love you too."

I smiled against his mouth and wrapped my arms around his neck. With a final kiss, I pulled him to his feet so that we could thank the Amazonians who had helped keep Circe contained. They no longer looked at me with the reverence they had earlier, but I was no longer a god within their eyes so that made sense. Camilla still waited by the boats with Glaucus, and we joined her, leaving the island that had changed so much for both of us behind for good as we headed back to Kipp's ship.

By the time we had returned to the ship, the sun began its decent in the sky, painting it in magnificent hues of rose and tangerine. I looked at the horizon, taking in the sight with a sense of awe. It seemed as if the gods themselves had crafted this moment just for us—a testament to our love's endurance.

Kipp stood by my side, his arm loosely around my waist as we breathed in the salty scent of the sea. Both of us at ease as we enjoyed this moment. He had scared me more than I'd ever admit, lying in the sand motionless as death had tried to claim him, but now he held me to his hip looking as handsome as ever, his warm brown eyes holding lines of aquamarine. I couldn't help but marvel at this man who had chosen to share his life with me—the one he'd once called a monster.

As we walked hand-in-hand along the deck, happiness surged within me. The burden of my royal lineage, and the deception that came with it, had been lifted from my shoulders. All that remained was our future, which we could build together without guilt or regrets.

Looking into the depths of Kipp's eyes, I realized that the power I had sought, everything I wanted, could be found within his love for me. It was stronger than any curse, more potent than all the magics, and it could overcome even darkness.

"I wanted to thank you for what you did for our captain," Camilla said as we crossed the deck. She stood with several of Kipp's crew, who all looked to me with admiration and acceptance. She threw her arms around my shoulders, enveloping me in a hug that stilled my breath.

Patton embraced me next, and Kipp stood by, watching as his crew gave me their thanks, patting me on the back and welcoming me into their family. Gone were the looks of doubt and fear. I'd given up everything for their captain, and I had earned their trust.

We walked away from his gathered crew, and I turned toward Kipp. "Your curse may be broken, Kipp," I informed him, my fingers twining in the length of hair that had fallen from the tie at the nape of his neck. "…but you still won't die of old age."

He pulled me into his arms, pinning me to his chest as he stared down at me. "I no longer yearn for a mortal lifespan. I don't want to die and end up in the Underworld without you."

I smiled up at him. "Kipp, your father, Thanatos, said our lives will be eternally tied together, making us both immortal. Our lives are still bound together. No matter what happens, we will live and die together."

"Does that bother you?" he asked, keeping his face blank as he waited for my response.

Shaking my head, I said, "No." I couldn't imagine a world without him in it, and now I wouldn't have to. The harrowing image of him lying dead within my arms flashed within my mind, a memory that would haunt me forever. My lip trembled at the sight of it. "I don't want to be in this world if you are not in it too."

Somehow, we managed to remain clothed as our passion ignited within us and we made our way to his private quarters. Both of us had lost so much, but we'd gained far more. We stumbled into his cabin, hardly able to contain ourselves before we tore each other's clothing off and gave in to our primal urges. Our bodies moved together in perfect harmony, as if we were always meant to be joined together like this.

I fell beneath him onto the mattress, his hands raking down my skin as he slammed himself home. "Look at me when I'm inside of you, my vicious little monster," he purred against the delicate flesh of my neck. He deepened his movements, sliding his length in and out as he held my gaze. "I want to see you come undone beneath me."

My breaths gasped from me as I clung to him. "You forget I'm no longer a monster," I say, digging the tips of my fingers into his shoulders. "No more claws either."

"No, love," he said, nipping at my breast with his teeth. "Both of us will always be monsters."

I grinned as I let my hold drift down his chest, feeling the lifted scars that crisscrossed his entire body. "I think I like the sound of that," I admitted, bringing my lips to the crook of his neck. "…being your monster, and you being mine."

My muscles spasmed around his hardened cock as he rocked into my heat. I moaned at the feel of him, at the way he fit so perfectly within me like he was the key and I was the lock, opening desire and pleasure I could spend the rest of eternity soaking up.

Kipp pressed himself into me until I'd taken his entire width and length, and then he stilled, bringing his forehead to mine. "Be mine always?"

I arched against him, bringing my mouth to his. "And forever." My kiss was gentle, soft, and unlike anything I'd ever done before.

He smiled down at me, his warm gaze glittering. "I love you," he said, his breath warm against my lips.

"I love you too," I said, blinking up at him before adding, "forever."

"My vicious little monster."

Our mouths collided, and we lost ourselves to the passion we never had any hope of holding back.