Page 65 of Forever My Siren Luna
Jack scoffed, “Your wifeslashmate has spent more time in my company than yours, I believe.” Jack pasted a smile as everyone began to stare indignantly at him. “What? Is that not true? Oh. My mistake. I didn’t take into account that this is her second life. In that first one, did you two look at each other the way you were just now? I thought there weren’t a lot of happy times between the two of you, so I’m just curious if I was wrong?”
A low growl rumbled from not Lachlan, but me. Val didn’t like the line of Jack’s questioning all of a sudden.
“I’m just curious, Ela. I didn’t mean to offend,” Jack’s easy smile was still in place, but there was something in his eyes I had never seen there before. Or maybe I just didn't notice before.
Percy and Yasmin have gone quiet, Percy watching Jack with a hostile expression while Yasmin has her lips pressed together, the way she does when she is trying to hold back her amusement. Cherum, who was just moments ago merrily counting the collection of money he obtained from betting on my fight this morning while slurping down stew, had a cold expression on his face. He is eyeing me, and I know he is gauging my mood to see if he needs to step in.
Lachlan is the one to speak up, though, placing his hand on my leg, the sparks from our bond cooled Val’s irritation.
“Lira and I, as you have taken the liberty of pointing out, have had our share of hardships. She and I have discussed that in detail, and I do find it offensive that you are trying to divulge that information in such an inappropriate setting. What is the reason for your statement and line of abhorrent questioning? Is there something you wish to say, or are you just trying to get a rise out of me?”
“Not at all,” Jack claimed. “I was just curious, that is all. I am still looking out for my pirate princess here. Just two days ago she was dead set against you. I’m curious how all that changed so fast.”
Dead set against him? Did I ever tell Jack that? I don't think I told him much of anything about me and Lachlan.
I said to him in a dead tone, “Myhusbandand I talked things out for the first time, like he just said.” I studied his face for a moment, trying to decipher what this is really about, because it doesn’t feel like he is trying to look out for me at all. Maybe it’s because Cedric’s words are still bugging me, but I can’t let this go. “Where is this coming from, Jack? We were having a peaceful and friendly lunch. I don’t understand what you are trying to do right now.”
“Nothing, Ela,” Jack laughed dryly. I notice he reaches for the inside pocket of his jacket, then stops midway. Whether it be the coin he enjoys flipping through his fingers or his flask, he was reaching for one of the two. “As I said, I was just trying to look out for you. I wanted to make sure you weren’t being forced in any way.”
Cherum snorted, then coughed to try and cover it up, his fist, covering the smile starting to form on his face.
“No one can force Lira to do anything she doesn’t wish to do. Seeing as you spent so much time with her, I expect you to know that,Captain,” Lachlan barely restrained a sneer.
Jack and Lachlan are in a tense stare-down, one that seems to end up happening every time they are around one another. I’m sincerely getting sick of this pissing contest between them. It’s unfounded and uncalled for. They should be putting this energy into fighting my uncle. Not each other. Not when there are much greater concerns.
“Cedric was right,”Val whispered in my head.
“Maybe,”I muttered back, though now I could see more and more that Cedric was on to something. I don’t think it is lust as he claimed. I hope not, but I feel I need to find out. We need to work together in the coming battle. The leader of the pirates and the leader of this pack shouldn’t be fighting against each other. Especially over me.
There is no fight to be had there. Not over me.
Jack was the first to look away, his hand reaching for his inside pocket again before dropping back down. He sighed, running his hands through his beard, then looked at Joe. Joe was staring wide-eyed at Lachlan, a hint of respect in his eyes. Jack’s stare when he notices causes Joe to look away, hanging his head like he was caught doing something wrong.
“Well,” Jack tossed his napkin on his plate, and pushed away from the table. “I have some business in town to attend to. If you will excuse me, I hope you all have a good rest of your meal.”
Joe started to get up to follow him, but Jack held out a hand to stop him. “Not where I’m going, lad. You go ahead and head back to the ship if you need to. I’ll find a way back later.”
Joe slowly sat back in his seat, staring worriedly at his captain. I do too. I’m tempted to send for Beretta. She will know what to do about the captain.
One thing I know for sure right now is that it should not be my place to go after him. Not after what he just said to me and Lachlan.
I see it. I could feel his animosity toward my mate, and the only reason for that would be because of me. If it was really out of friendly concern, he wouldn’t have pushed it the way he did.
My heart ached a bit, because I do love Jack, in the same way I love Cherum or Cedric. If his love doesn’t match mine, it wouldn’t be fair to either one of us for me to go after him right now to see what his problem was. I might very well be the problem. It definitely wouldn’t be fair to the man beside me either, who was the far more respectful one in the last conversation, even though he didn’t have to be.
“Lachlan,” I squeezed his hand that was still pressing into my leg.
He turned to stare down at me, his hard expression that was trained on Jack a moment ago was turning tender as he studied my face.
“Yes, Lira?”
“Um, about what I was curious about earlier, would you mind if we went somewhere private so I could ask you about it?”
His brows shadowed his eyes with concern. “Of course.”
Twenty
Lachlan and I walked alongside one another down the dock beside his personal ship. I used to walk here frequently in the past. I stared up at it as we walked by his ship, wondering what it might be like on board.