15. Kyeria

CHAPTER 15

Kyeria

K yeria stood on the deck of a small but decadent ship next to a dark haired woman who was deeply intimidating. Near the steer stood Grim, deeply glowering in Inaya's direction. The ship's crew moved swiftly around them and Kyeria felt the lurch of the ship pushing into action.

Inaya glanced to Kyeria, "You'll get used to it." She said it gently, a vivid stark difference from her dark eyes and intimidating glower that matched Grim's. Inaya's features softened looking to Kyeria.

"Have you been on a ship before? Shadow boy over there mentioned most people from where you're from do not leave the land." The light was cresting the mountains and the morning glow was illuminating. Kyeria could feel the warmth on her back, the light catching Inaya's eyes, making her darkened eyes show their true color, rich golden specks surrounded by a brown as deep as chocolate.

"I have." Kyeria nodded, playing with the strands of her copper hair. "But not since I was a child." She looked past Inaya to the sea. "I am from an island in the far west."

"I gathered, shadow boy has been rather cagey about sharing information, but the ears gave it away." Kyeria laughed at Inaya's perpetual dismissal of the pirate lord.

"I take it you two do not get along." Kyeria smirked. Inaya met her with a loud roll of her eyes and a wave of her hand.

"I despise him." She glared up the deck of the ship, Kyeria peered over and Grim still had his eyes trained on the horizon, but she swore she felt them baring into her back only a moment before.

"He despises me as well, and all is right in the world. He's simply my ride." She began walking the deck, Kyeria following by her side.

"I'll show you your room if you need to rest." She sent Kyeria another soft smile.

"I hear you are searching for a Merstone?" Inaya questioned. Kyeria paused, unsure about why she was asking such a specific question.

"We are," Kyeria simply said, but fixed her gaze forward. The energy shifted and Inaya remained silent, guiding them below deck.

"Grim has very few quarters so this one will be for you and Kellian." She nodded forward, the door was ajar and light streamed through it. A large banister bed sat in the middle of it, a table to the right under a window that looked out beyond. She could see the waves crashing and splashing against the window. And Kyeria's gaze fixed back on the one large bed. She nodded her thanks and Inaya left her to her thoughts. She glided away, her footsteps near silent. She seemed to find the shadows wherever she went, easily slipping from sight down the walk. Kyeria watched her curiously until she shut the door.

She let herself collapse on the bed. Her body was exhausted from the trek through the woods and northern gate. She had never been to the isles and excitement pumped through her veins, magic under her skin buzzed. She didn't like being on the ocean surrounded by water and not land. But the ocean itself had a magic. She could sense the vast abyss under them and on all sides. She could feel life here, the ocean harboring so much of it.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the door creaking open. A mass of white hair tangled from the sea breeze and the large frame of Kellian came into view. His body took up the doorway, and she smiled. He looked too large to be in a small underdeck chamber room.

"Why hello." She bit her lip.

"Hello." His voice was gravel filled, golden eyes sharp.

"This is our room," he stated rather than ask.

"This is our room," she repeated. Slowly she untied her cloak. He walked to her, taking it and hanging it on a hood on the back of the door. He reached out, his hands trailing along her collar bone and pushing aside the fabric of her shirt. There was no mistaking the hunger in Kellian's eyes. She reached down and began to unlace her boots but a hand stopped her, clasping gently and yet firm on her wrist. He knelt to the ground below her, thrill shot through her very limbs. Kellian slowly undid her laced boots, taking one boot off gently then moving to the next. Then his hand trailed on her skin, pushing up her skirts. Golden eyes met hers, his touch was burning and her magic hummed in response.

A storm raged outside, its sudden ferocity reflected in the creaking timbers of the ship. The cabin was dimly lit by a single flickering lantern, its light casting trembling shadows that danced on the walls. The confined space felt even smaller with the tempest's howling wind seeping through the cracks, adding a sense of urgency to the charged atmosphere inside.

Kellian stood up and paced anxiously, his regal attire in disarray from the tumultuous journey.

His face was a mask of frustration and desire, each step echoing the turmoil within him. He paused by the edge of the bed, a large, imposing piece of furniture that took up most of the room, its simple wooden frame a stark contrast to the opulence of the prince's usual surroundings. Kyeria was seated on the edge of the bed, untying her copper braids and letting her hair pool around her shoulder. Her eyes seemed to shimmer with an anxious light, mirroring the turbulence of the storm outside.

"You can't keep doing this, Kel," Kyeria said, her voice strained but resolute. "Blaming yourself for that night"

Kellian's frustration boiled over as he whirled to face her, his gaze intense. "I know," he said, his voice a low growl. "But every time I look at you, I feel like I'm losing control. This—" he gestured between them, "—this is unbearable."

Kyeria's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and desperation. "Do you think I don't feel it too? Every glance, every touch... it's driving me mad. We're on the brink of this huge thing, of finally ridding the land of this beast, I wanted to help your kingdom, to pay my dues to you and your people. I should be focused on that, the mission. But I can't sleep, I can't think of anything but how all I want is to be close to you. But you're so far away Kel, you have been so detached."

The ship lurched suddenly, a jolt that sent both of them stumbling. Kyeria's hand shot out to steady herself, landing on Kellian's chest, her touch sending a shiver through both of them. Their faces were mere inches apart now, the heat from their bodies mingling in the small space.

Kellian's breath quickened as he looked down at her, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. "I can't keep pretending this isn't happening," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I want you, Ky. But I didn't want to push, after everything I just—I need you to know, you are the sun, guiding me always, my light that keeps me grounded."

Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes searching his face for any sign of doubt. Finding none, she closed the distance between them, her lips meeting his in a kiss that was both fierce and tender. The storm outside seemed to echo their emotions, the wind howling as if it too were caught up in their turmoil. As their kiss deepened, they stumbled back toward the bed. Kellian's hands roamed over her back, his touch sending waves of heat through her. Kyeria's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as their bodies pressed together. The bed felt like a haven amid the chaos of the storm. With a shared, breathless laugh, they fell onto the mattress, their movements a blend of urgency and unrestrained passion. Kellian's weight settled beside her, his hands exploring with a reverent touch. Kyeria's body arched into him, her body responding to every caress and kiss.

The confined space of the bed only seemed to heighten their connection, each touch and whisper amplified by their proximity. Kellian's lips traveled along her neck, his kisses leaving a trail of fire that made her gasp. Kyeria's fingers traced the lines of his jaw, her touch both delicate and demanding.

Outside, the storm continued to rage, a fierce reminder of the world they were leaving behind, their hidden kingdom that even Kyeria called home now. But below the deck of a ship, in their own chambers, they were lost in their own tempest, a whirlwind of emotion and desire that consumed them entirely. The only sound in the room was their shared breaths and the occasional creak of the ship as it battled the storm.

In that small, storm-battered cabin, with only one bed and the world outside in chaos, Kellian and Kyeria surrendered to the moment. They were bound together by more than just the confines of the bed; they were united by a powerful, undeniable connection that neither could deny any longer.

"Mine, you are mine, my love. Beyond our last breaths, beyond the farthest seas. I am yours, you are mine." Kellian whispered into her neck. She let her hand slide up his neck, pulling her lips to hers, and at that simple guidance, Kellian gave in. He slammed into her, like the waves against the ship, his arms wrapped around her, almost crushing her. But she didn't mind, she only wanted him closer. Her legs wrapped around him, and his hands drifted up so slowly to hold her face.

"Say it." His voice was almost raw, sending a shiver through Kyeria's very being.

"I'm yours," she gasped out as one hand traveled to her hair, wrapping around the copper strands. He tugged lightly, lighting chilled through her body as the storm crescendoed beyond their chambers. He groaned into her mouth. His teeth nipping her, and running down her jaw. His breath was hot on her skin, she wanted to dig in, stay in this moment forever. She slid her hands to his hair, his hips snapped forward. And he pulled her to him, their moans drowning out among the storm. Her hands pushed him down, their mouths parting in panting breaths. She let a contented smirk settle on her features, and gave his chest a small shove until he leaned back on the bed with a chuckle.

"Much better." Kyeria's voice was almost unfamiliar to herself. So sultry and unlike herself. But in this moment, in this space, she felt safe and cherished. She liked being in control, liked being devoured by his eyes alone. She pulled one leg over, straddling the white haired prince.

"Fuck." He groaned as her hands worked quickly. Clothes were thrown to the wayside, limbs intertwined. Kellian whispered praises in her ear as she took control.

"That's it." His voice pushed her on as she dragged her body down. "That's my girl."

Kyeria woke later to the sun high in the sky. They had fallen asleep easily. Kellian's fingers were tracing mindlessly on her back. Maybe she had been the only one to get rest.

"What is filling your mind?" she asked, tipping her chin up to him. He let out a deep long held sigh.

"How long has it been since you saw your brother?" she asked instead. He grunted in response. She knew he was more of a listener than the one who filled the silence. And while she was usually happy to fill that with her own thoughts, she worried. The permanent crease at his brow had persisted over the last two days.

"Years," Kellian replied, a frown deepening into the lines of his face, etching itself there in a seemingly permanent way.

"Kel–" her voice made her expression soften, he met her eyes, and leaned to kiss her forehead.

"Worry not, love," he assured her. "Grim and I can be cordial when needed. We just disagree on the morals and the thought that he can be in the wrong."

Kyeria only nodded in response, keeping her head on his chest and their legs intertwined. She wished they could stay like this forever. In that feeling of what she knew now was the soul bound, being content and happy. Breathing him in, she let her eyes close again. The feeling of his fingers trailing down her arms and back drawing circles and patterns all the way down.

The next time Kyeria woke was surrounded by blankets, a pillow under her head instead of Kellian's warm skin. There was shouting and the clanging of metal coming from somewhere. Disoriented, Kyeria rose and was met with the inside of the ship's bed chamber and not her room in the palace she had grown so accustomed to. She missed her fireplace and books, and Aura and Esmeralda having zero boundaries and bounding into her room every morning.

Instead, the bitter cold bit at her naked arms. She turned to see a grey sea, angry and viciously sloshing at the port window in the room. She rose quickly, dressed in her discarded clothes, tying her wool cloak tightly around her shoulders to fight off the cold.

She walked the creaking splintered wooden floors of the below deck and closed the stairs up to the top. Immediately a gust of wind so strong and filled with anger pushed her back, making her hand clap down on the railing with an iron grip.

"Careful Lass!" a crew man shouted out to her and leaned down, offering her a hand. She thanked the man and rose onto the ship's deck.

"We've hit a rather large storm," the man shouted over the wind. The ship rocking in the waves had her working to stabilize her feet.

"The captain is in that room there, better hurry before the next big set of waves comes crashing." The man pointed. A dim lantern glowed behind a fogged glass door. It must be the captain's quarter, she thought. She sent her magic into the air, asking for peace, it calmed only a fraction as she walked towards the dim light.

Then the ship rocked, pushing her into a wooden pillar nearby and knocking the air right out of her chest.

"Goddess above, what has angered you," she whispered to herself and pushed off the pillar. Two more wide steps and her hand wrapped around the cool metal doorknob, she thrust it open.

Entering with the gust of winds behind her she crashed into the quiet candle lit room. Grim and Inaya stood around a table with a map. Lucius was sitting by a grand fireplace and Kellian was sitting in a chair swatting away the bird. Kellian turned as she entered.

"Close the door before we all blow away in that god's forsaken wind," Grim commanded, still focusing on the map in front of him. She huffed and pushed the door shut with all her might, the lock snapping into place, and the room was again calm.

"Good morning, sunshine." Inaya sent a knowing look toward her.

"It's half past high sun." Grim's voice was dripping with irritation which was quickly followed by a wince and a sharp flare sent to Inaya who was next to him. "Watch it," he seethed through his teeth.

Inaya sent him a sickly smile. "My foot slipped."

"How did you sleep, love?" Kellian asked, walking over to her, his arm slipping around her waist and kissing the side of her forehead. Kyeria blushed and nodded. She was unused to this outward show of affection from Kellian. He was so reserved at the castle. She had an inkling of a feeling it had to do with Grim and Kellian's overly male need to assert what was his.

His.

Chills erupted on her arms despite the warm wool cloak. Remembering Kellian's heated words, " Mine, you are mine, my love. Beyond our last breaths, beyond the farthest seas. I am yours, you are mine." Kellian's gaze heated and he squeezed her hip,

"What are you thinking of?" he growled down her mind. Kyeria shivered, without sparing him a glance.

"That I am yours."

He squeezed harder on her hip and Kyeria fought to keep a straight face and not react. Inaya and Grim were too enraptured, annoying the other, to notice her or Kellian silently communicating.

"Well." Kellian cleared his throat. "Grim was showing us on the map where we are headed. Kellian pushed her forward towards the table gently, his hand sliding to her back. She noted how he kept himself touching her throughout the conversation. Grim pointed to spots on the brown stained map on the desk. Explained the isles, and how the Mermaid queen ruled under the Isles, and on the Golden Isle was were they could find one of the Merprincesses who knew Grim.

"And how do you know a Mer, let alone a princess?" Inaya pressed.

"I have connections across all the isles and kingdoms," he scoffed. Kyeria bit back a smile looking between the two of them.

"Of course you do, so well-connected, Captain." Her tone was dripping with sarcasm and Kyeria decided she liked Inaya then. She was strong and fierce and loved to annoy Grim, she reminded her of Aura. The refusal to listen to authority and annoyance to the man she was obviously infatuated with.

"Here," Grim pointed, "is where we will enter, the ocean is narrow between these rocks; this is why we will be using this ship, the Golden Maiden. She was built for the isles."

"Golden Maiden?" Inaya scoffed. "You did not name a ship that."

"I'll be sure to consult you next time I add to my fleet."

"Best you do, or else they'll all be shiny ladies," Kyeria quibbed. Kyeria couldn't hold back the laugh, it was throaty and deep. Inaya looked at her, eyes meeting her and a smile growing on her face.

"See?" Inaya pushed. "The two actual women here agree." She poked Grim in the chest. It was rather a commercial scene. Inaya was half a head shorter than Kyeria and Grim was even taller than Kellian. At almost half his height, Inaya stood her ground, eyes fierce as her small finger poked Grim's large chest.

"Your boat's name is stupid," Inaya finished, with a devilish grin.

"It is a ship, Inaya." Grim sounded annoyed now, his words sighing out.

"Mmhmm, of course." She nodded.

The four of them ate dinner together in the captain's quarters. It was warm and fresh, much to Kyeria's surprise. The storm was settling outside, the ship no longer rocking back and forth under violent waves. But she could still hear the rain pattering on the glass door and deck above. By the time she and Kellian left, the rain picked up,

"Oh!" Kyeria shrieked as they were soaked. Kellian cursed and raised a hand over her head, blocking the rain from her face. She looked up, a blooming smile and stopped walking.

"Come on!" Kellian shouted over the rain and wind.

"Kiss me," Kyeria said, the rain running over her, hair drenched, clothes soaking through. He stood there, golden eyes bright. She repeated herself, "Kiss me, your highness."

That was enough to make Kellian move, one long stride and he was back at her side, hand running up her cheek into her hair.

"As you wish," he muttered before taking her breath away with a harsh kiss. Kellian kissed like it was a punishment. Harsh and hard and filled with so much emotion. Mornings were reserved for long and soft kisses. But nights, nights were theirs. He was holding himself back here in the open air of the deck. But no one was around and Kyeria pressed her body to his, Reaching for him and holding him to her, she kissed him back just as fiercely.

"Goddess above." Kellian pulled away, forehead pressing to hers. Rain falling on them. "What am I to do with you?"

Kyeria smirked, meeting his eyes lifting her chin. "Everything," she whispered.

"Fuck." His voice was deep and dark pulling her to him. They stumbled below deck. Their quarters were on the other side of the ship than the crews. Kellian threw their door open, pulling Kyeria through with him. Slamming it shut, his hand skated down her thighs and he lifted her, spinning them and pinning her against the closed door while her legs wrapped around his middle.

"Mine," he growled.

"Yours," Kyeria responded. It came out breathy and airy between the kisses, when his lips left her they trailed down her neck. He pulled them away from the door and turned, tossing her onto the bed.

"Take those wet clothes off," he commanded. She shivered, pulling off each article of clothing.