Chapter One

"Dragons!" the lookout cried.

I didn't jump up like the rest of the day crew aboard the Lu-Ken. I just swung my head toward the shore. We had been docked for a few hours now, and the Captain was out with the First Mate and a few others, looking for buyers for our latest take. And I do mean take. Everyone thought the Lu-Ken was a merchant vessel, participating in an honest trade. The truth was that we were pirates, just really good at hiding it.

Frowning at the docks, I sat up out of my lean. There weren't any Dragons there. Only whores and fishermen. Slightly more of the latter, since it was so early in the day. I looked back at Shu, up in the nest. He was pointing at the water, not the land. That got a reaction out of me.

Sprawled as I was on the broad forecastle railing at the bow of the ship, propped against a stack of crates, I didn't have to move much to look into the water. But I couldn't help leaning over the side. Because there, just a few feet away from me, were dragons—sea dragons.

It hadn't been so long ago that the Sea Dragons had been hibernating, forced into slumber by the entrapment of their god. But then some land Dragon freed the God and a shitstorm of divine proportions hit Serai. The Dragon Goddess displeased by the God's release since she was the one who trapped him in the first place. They fought, the God won, and now, the oceans were ruled by the Sea Dragons again.

Not that I minded. Things had been getting a little wild under the waves without the Sea Dragons to keep the peace. And that says a lot coming from a pirate. But we're nice pirates. We don't like bloodshed. Most of the time, we leave the ships and crew we target afloat and alive, wearing masks to protect our identity. We only kill if we have to. Some of the things below the surface were not so agreeable. Plus, the Sea Kings didn't give a shit about pirates. They let us do whatever we wished above water. As long as we didn't fuck with the sea folk below, they left us alone.

Back to the sea dragons. And I mean lowercase sea dragons because they were in their beast forms, making them even more fascinating.

Sunlight glittered on scales of green, blue, and violet. Long whiskers and fins trailed around the serpentine bodies like ribbons spinning through the air. They were massive, each one about the length of our ship, but as they passed by, they shifted, bodies condensing into those of men. Beautiful, naked men.

Another part of me came to attention.

I watched avidly as the men climbed up a ladder attached to the dock—the same dock the Lu-Ken was moored at. Each of them had remarkable physiques, with long, dark hair. And that hair flowed freely as soon as they exited the sea, their Water Magic pulling every drop of moisture from their skin and out of their hair. Waterproof satchels were slung across their chests, and when they reached the dock, they removed clothing from those satchels and got dressed. All but one of them. He waited by the ladder with a set of clothes held before him, all folded and nice. When the last Sea Dragon emerged, the waiting man bowed and offered the clothes to him.

"A king," I whispered.

Even had the other Sea Dragon not bowed to this one, I would have known he was a king. The man had a regal air that didn't require clothes or a crown. His hair hung past his hips, teasing me with glimpses of an amazing, plump ass, dimpled at the sides. Once on the dock, he swung that wealth of hair aside. No shits given about his nudity. The really shocking bit was that even when he turned, giving me a mouthwatering view of his front, I focused first on his hair. The Sea Dragon King had hair that shimmered like a Neraky's eyes. Iridescent. Jewel tones of emerald green, sapphire blue, and amethyst highlighted the rich black of those thick tresses, made all the brighter by the sun.

The crew often teased me about my hair, saying it was the loudest thing about me. But my purple locks had nothing on this man's brilliant mane. I sighed, actually sighed at its beauty. Like a priceless black pearl. And that body. Dear Gods, he had a body made for sex. Tight abs, powerful chest, lean hips, and a cock that, even limp, made my balls clench. I licked my lips, imagining how he would taste.

And then I saw his face.

Did I think his hair was the most glorious thing about him? I was so wrong. The Sea Dragon King had a face that would haunt me forever—both waking and asleep. Strong and yet soft features. His lips were full, the most kissable lips I'd ever seen, but his jaw was hard, unyielding. His cheekbones looked sharp enough to slice a man's throat, and his brows were two blades above his . . .

"Holy fuck, his eyes are purple," I whispered.

Yes, that's how close the Sea Dragon King stood to me. I could see the color of his eyes. And they matched my hair. He was also close enough to hear me. As he slipped into his pants, he looked up, and our stares collided. Clashed. Fucking slammed into each other. It was like a hull hitting rocks. I splintered. Came apart in seconds. My chest ached, my throat went dry, and my hand clenched on the railing. A creak came as my nails dug into the wood.

The Sea Dragon King froze halfway up, then stood slowly. He held my stare as he fastened his pants. Then he licked his full, kissable lips as if his thoughts had also collided with mine.

I did the only thing I could; I smiled at him.

And the Sea Dragon King smiled back. No, he grinned. Smugly. Yeah, he knew exactly what I was thinking.

Then he turned away.

As my hearts slowed down, I couldn't help but feel a measure of disappointment. I wasn't sure what I expected from the interaction, but I must have been hoping for something because that disappointment was bone-deep. I continued to watch the Sea Dragons as I rubbed at the ache in my chest. I couldn't rub at the other ache yet, not in public, but I would. I'd rub it while thinking about him.

The Sea Dragons finished dressing, then went to a waiting carriage. A waiting royal carriage. How had I missed that thing rolling up in all its golden grandeur? So, the King of Gavemor was expecting the Sea Dragons. Interesting.

Then the Sea King said something to one of his men. The man looked back. At me. No. No, he had to be looking at the Lu-Ken. Not me. Surely not me. But even if he was looking at the ship, it was odd. As the Sea Dragon King climbed into the carriage, his knight loped back to the docks, right to the edge in front of me. I gaped at him as he pointed at me.

"Me?" I asked and tapped my chest.

The Sea Dragon nodded.

The rest of the day crew gathered around me as I briskly walked—not ran, mind you, that would be shameful—to the gangplank. My fellow pirates stood at the railing and watched like a pack of wolves as I left the ship, hands on the hilts of their daggers—Gods love them. They would have taken on a Sea Dragon for me, and I for them. That's how we lived. Fuck, it's how we survived. But I didn't think their bravery would be necessary today.

With my three hearts racing once more, I smoothed a hand over the top of my head and the braid that ran down the center there, to my shoulders. The sides of my head were shaved to show off the intricate tattoos there—one side adorned with coral and fish and the other with vines and birds. With the remaining hair braided, there was nothing out of place, but I couldn't stop the nervous movement. I kept glancing at the royal carriage.

"How can I help you, sir?" I asked the Sea Dragon when I got close enough.

"King Vaxarion of Morilren sends his regards," the Sea Dragon said. "He will also send a carriage for you tonight at six o'clock precisely, if you are amenable to spending the evening with him."

"I . . . he . . ." I cleared my throat. "Yes, I'm amenable."

"Very good. It will be here at six . " He pointed at the road. "Your name?"

"I'm, uh, Zixin, Sir."

"Zixin, you are one lucky Neraky," the Sea Dragon said with a smirk. Then he turned and hurried to the royal carriage.

I watched him nod at someone just before he jumped on the back ledge, and then the carriage pulled away. I thought I saw movement inside, the flash of teeth from a smile, but I could have been imagining it.

As soon as I turned around, the crew started cat-calling, blowing kisses, and thrusting their hips at me. I grinned and strutted back onto the Lu-Ken.

"Fuck off, all of you," I said with my grin locked in place. "I'm having fresh Sea Dragon for dinner."

" Royal Sea Dragon!" Wei whooped. "Well done, Zix!"

"He hasn't done anything well yet," Joo said. "Don't blow it, Zix."

"Yeah, don't blow it, but blow him," Feng added, then motioned with his hand before his mouth as if he were sucking a shaft. "Blow him good."

I chuckled and went back to my spot on the railing. The crew continued to tease me, but my thoughts were already on the coming night. I was going to tease and please that Sea Dragon until his purple eyes rolled back in his head. And then I was going to do it all over again. All night. He'd be swimming home with a smile, and if it went really well, I might even tell the crew about it. In great detail.