Page 109

Chapter 17

Fara

H ands tied to prevent her from jumping ship, Fara sat on a crate near the steps leading up to the stern’s deck. All day, she’d been ignored by Teague and his crew as they repaired the damage the dragons had wrought. They cut out fire-eaten boards and replaced them with lumber they’d stored below decks. Some of the pirates were reworking the shrouds near the bow so they were usable. They cut away the scorched rope and knotted the loose ends to the areas that had gone untouched.

For the first few hours, she had screamed and leapt from the ship and fought Teague tooth and nail. But now, well, she’d given up—for a little while anyway until she thought of some escape.

Escape didn’t feel right though. An odd feeling had stolen over her in the last hours. Each time Teague walked nearby, the feeling intensified. It was a fluttering sensation that started in her chest, then moved to her stomach, ultimately landing between her legs. She shook her head at herself. Clearly, her asinine body was physically attracted to the Unseelie. He was incredibly built and hadn’t actually hurt her in any way, but he had kidnapped her. He planned to take her to the Unseelie realm somehow. He was most definitely not lover material. But that strange sensation didn’t care about any of that. It wrapped her up now, the fluttering evolving into a sensitivity of sorts. She could almost feel Teague’s breath as he sawed a plank at starboard. His movements were her focus even when she tried instead to watch the gulls fly or keep a keen eye out for the knights. It was as if his presence pulled her in like a whirlpool’s impossible current. Part of her didn’t want to escape. She tugged at the rope binding her wrists. The other part of her knew she was losing her mind.

Could he be right about this Seer’s Heart thing? Panic laced cold fingers around her throat. She refused to be fated to this kidnapper who spoke in riddles. She snarled at him, frustrated and hot with confusion.

Teague left his work and walked over. He dusted his hands together, his clawed fingertips clicking lightly. “Do you need a drink? Food? You could go below and take a break from the sun if you like?”

“I need to be free, you bastard. That’s what I need .”

He grinned sadly at her and lifted her chin with one claw. Lightning shot down her body and warmth pooled in her core. Her breathing became unsteady and she hated herself for it. She jerked away.

“I am sorry you don’t enjoy the bond. You will in time. Once you see what I am up to.”

“Why don’t you just tell me?”

He rubbed a hand through his hair. It wasn’t braided today and instead dusted his powerful shoulders. “Well, it’s a bizarre plan and I worry it will upset you. It’s better if I tell you right before we go through with it so you’ll only have a minute or two of fretting about it.”

“Oh, that’s incredibly comforting. It’s so bad that you don’t want me to know until it’s bound to happen. Great.”

“Perhaps, I’m wrong then. All right. Let’s have a strong drink and I’ll explain everything.

As the sun lowered itself against the horizon and drew pink skirts around its final rays, Teague served her a heavy pour of what smelled like cherry brandy. They were alone in his quarters though the noise of the pirates’ dancing and drinking made it feel as though they weren’t completely isolated.

“What is this?”

“It’s not dosed with anything if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“I’m glad you’re not poisoning me, but no, I meant what type of drink?”

“It’s redleaf whiskey, a local favorite.”

She sipped it and the warmth of the drink smoothed its way down her throat. “Not bad.”

After they took a few more sips and her limbs were feeling looser, he shut the door to his quarters and locked it.

“That’s a fantastic way to start this little tale. Making sure I don’t flee in fear, eh?”

“You never have anything to fear while I am with you. I value your life above mine. It’s the bond.”

She didn’t want to think about that and how her heart told her he was speaking the truth and how much her very soul seemed to luxuriate in his words like a sleepy cat in a ray of sunlight.

How in the hells was her kidnapper comforting? Gods, she’d heard of things like this happening, captives falling for captors. She’d always thought it to be so very sad and truly pathetic. But here she was, falling right into that very trap. She downed another swallow of whiskey, hoping it would drown the physical desire for Teague that was swirling through her blood.

“Promise me you will sit and listen to my entire plan, that you won’t attempt to run or climb through the window again.”

That had not gone well. She didn’t really fit and he ended up tugging her out, his grin telling her how much he enjoyed having his hands on her arse.

“Fine. I will listen to the whole damn thing. Fine. Yes. I promise.”

He nodded and took the chair opposite hers—a high-backed velvet contraption with loads of shell carvings just like the one she was in. His elbows rested on his knees and still his head was high above hers. He wore an ivory tunic rolled to his elbows. Forearms scarred and marked with odd inkings in red, he would have made an imposing figure even without the claws, longer fangs, and those claws of his.

“Fara—”

“Did I tell you my name? I don’t remember doing that.”

“I heard your friends call it out when they attacked.”

Fara bristled. “Go on, then.”

“I will call up the full moon kraken.”

Her heart hit the back of her teeth. Leaping out of her chair, she nearly fell backward over the overly ornate arm of the thing. “The kraken? I heard you wrong.”

“Alas, you did not. But sit. You promised.”

Fara felt her nostrils flaring. She was covered in sweat. “If you think you can sacrifice me for your wildest dreams, you are painfully wrong. I won’t let my death benefit you, you arsehole. I’ll find a way to end myself first if it comes to it. I can’t believe you pretended?—”

He rose and took her hands in his. The movement was so gentle that the urge to fight back, to pull away, didn’t even cross her mind or make her flinch. The warmth in his fingers soothed her, sending waves of comfort through her arms before spreading out to all areas of her body. She exhaled slowly and met his gaze.

“My heart, you will not be touched by any monster except me. And then, only if you will it. You are safe with me.”

“You keep saying that, but you make no sense.”

“Listen to my plan. You’ve seen my magic.”

“Yes. So? What is that against the chieftain of the northern waters?” Fara’s great uncle had told her tales of the great kraken and the wishes he granted when the sacrifice was right.

“I will fool the kraken into believing he has already consumed you.”

“How? There won’t be time when he surfaces.”

“I will paint you in runic magic before we summon him. The moment he sees you, the magic will act on his mind. I am a Seer, remember? I have seen this.”

“What will you ask for? What is this all about?”

“I will ask it to right the wrongs done by all pirates. To avenge the innocent. To balance the scales.”

“That’s ridiculously vague.” She gripped his fingers even though he was her captor, her nightmare, the one she had to escape from before it was too late and he enacted this mad plan. “You have no idea what such a request would do to this area. There are no parameters.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Would Marius get his revenge on the pirate who murdered his sister, Bellona? “Why are you so angry with the men who live as pirates? Aside from the fact that they kill and pillage and gods know what else.”

Teague’s amber eyes seemed to glow with grief and rage. “The Eelsmen killed my father.”

“Why was he here? How? How are you here?”

“There is a portal deep in a sea cave near this island. No one knows of it, but me. My father showed me. He brought me here to see this realm. He said the world was larger than most knew and that he wanted me to know of things beyond the Realm of Night.”

“Were you with him when he died?”

“I was. The pirates attacked the small boat we rented for fishing. They didn’t see me hiding under the tarp stored in the bottom of the craft. Father hid me, then…” He shut his eyes and a shudder shook his frame.

“I’m sorry, Teague. No youngling should see the end of a parent.”

“Thank you.”

He reached out and brushed his knuckles over the back of her hand. Longing drummed through her bones.

“Now, will you trust me to paint the runes on you and go through with this?” he asked.

“I… Of course, I can’t. This is madness.”

“It’s not. What if I prove to you what my magic can do? I will paint you and then you can test it on the crew.”

“Teague, I am not going to?—”

His hand shot out and pressed gently against her heart. One solid, hard beat thumped from her body and into his fingers. She lurched forward, pulled to him by some invisible force. Her breath caught and then he was cupping the back of her head with his free hand. She was tethered to him by an unseen rope that felt stronger than the one that had bound her hands earlier. It was invisible, but it held firm as she tugged backward. She should have felt panic or had the sensation of being physically trapped, but instead, that fluttering sensation traveled through her chest, down her limbs, and even to the top of her head. She wanted him to devour her and she longed to do the same to him. His scent. His hands. His warmth. Him. Just him.

“Gods, it’s overwhelming,” she said her voice raspy with want and joy and whatever the hells this was.

He dipped his head, his mouth so close to hers and his breath soft on her cheek. “It is. I’ve felt this way since I saw you.”

“This strong? I can’t pull away.”

“I fought it. I fight it still.”

“No wonder you nabbed me from the back of a fire-breathing dragon. I would have done the same.” Swallowing against a dry throat, she shook her head. She didn’t want this feeling. But it was the best sensation she’d ever experienced.

He drew back slowly and the bond’s hold on her lessened so that she felt free to move. Her mind and soul and body still longed to be fused with him in every way possible, but it was weaker now and she was able to sit back and not touch him.

“Will you let me paint you?”

“Yes.”

She could feel his thoughts somehow and sense the truth there. He needed to avenge his father and this was the only way to truly rid everyone of the pirate scourge. He was a hero, not a villain. She knew that now as well as she knew her own heart.