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And yet, I keep trying—partially because every time I do, he uses sex to shut me up. I’m not sure he realizes how he’s trained me, but neither of us are complaining in the end.

Tonight, however, I have decided to seek out Abe. Priest doesn’t know my plan, and I waited for the right time so that I had the privacy to do so. At the moment, Priest is playing a card game with Ramsay and Thane, and I’m waiting for the chance to leave and say I’m going to talk with Maren.

But Maren told me she is taking a nap during their game, as she often does, stealing a bit of quiet. I do plan on talking to her about my plan, because it could involve her as well—if it’s at all possible, would she want to become a Vampyre too? Join Ramsay for eternity? I would assume so, because the two of them are awfully in love, but she has changed a lot over the years. Her quest for adventure has quieted a little, perhaps because she’s living it every day.

Yet, I could see her as a Vampyre, sucking the blood out of humans like a creature of the night. It would suit her. I think it would suit all Syrens.

I wait until the drinks are flowing and Priest starts to win a few rounds of the game, which assures me he won’t suddenly quit, before I excuse myself and disappear down the ship. I find Abe exactly where I thought he would be: on deck, up in the crow’s nest. He’s taken quite a liking to observing the sea from that height, probably studying us all scurrying below him like ants.

“Abe!” I yell up the mast. “Do you have a moment?”

I see his red mop peer over the side. “Want me to come down?”

“I’ll come up!”

I’ve never climbed the mast before, but I figure it can’t be hard. One hand over the over.

But halfway up, I have to pause, my muscles shaking. I’m still gaining strength again, this body is still new, and I’ve actually never climbed anything before. I have to take a few deep breaths before I continue up, calming my shaking nerves and muscles.

Finally, I reach Abe on the tiny wooden platform, my heart hammering in my chest. I bet the Vampyres don’t expend this much effort. Everything they do is effortless.

“Afraid of heights?” Abe asks me as I lean back against the mast, away from the railing.

“No different than staring down into the abyss of the ocean,” I say.

“Even though swimming and falling to your death are completely different?”

I give him a dirty look. “I’ll try not to think about the difference.”

He stares at me with amusement. “What can I do for you, Larimar? I assume this is about Aragon?”

“Can you turn me into a Vampyre?” I ask, not caring if I’m blunt.

He doesn’t look surprised at the question. “You’re asking if I can?”

“Priest. You. Anyone on this ship.”

“You want to become one of us? Because I think you’re already an honorary member of the Brethren.”

“I want to live forever,” I tell him. “I don’t want to lose Priest. I want to be by his side for all eternity.”

He scratches at the dark auburn hair on his chin and looks off into the sunset. “Yes, I suppose love does that to people.”

“Can you do it?”

“You’ve discussed it with Priest?”

I pinch my lips shut and nod.

“And I assume he’s against the idea.”

“He says I would become a monster. Would I become one?”

“Well, you can see why he might think that. That’s what happened to him.”

“And in your experience, is that what always happens?”

He stares at me for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.