Page 12

Chapter Twelve

THALIA

T he first smack was a shock, and I cried out. What the fuck? I tried to break free, but he pinned me down, rendering me helpless as his hand branded me again, this time landing at the juncture of my thighs, smacking my private parts more than my ass. A shock wave of sensation spreads out, leaving me tingling. A moan slipped past my lips, and I clenched my teeth, because fuck that felt good.

Another smack had me gasping to swallow my moan because although it stung, the spread of heat that came after left me wet and throbbing.

His hand came down once again, and I thought I was ready to swallow my groan, but when it landed, a sob of need broke free from my lips.

His hand stilled, fingers coasting my private parts. I wanted him to press down. I wanted him feel him there. I wanted him to pull down my britches and?—

No!

I rolled off his lap, and this time he let me go. I landed on my sore ass and looked up at him, pulse humming in my throat, chest heaving for breath. He stared at me, his large hand hovering in the air where my ass had been but a moment ago. His eyes were dark, mouth parted, powerful chest heaving as hard as mine.

A wild, untamed tension crackled between us, leaving my lungs hungry for air.

“You will not disobey me again,” he said, his voice a thick, gravelly rumble. “Do so, and I will punish you.”

“You think that was a punishment?” Why did I say that? “Maybe I liked it.” For Thalor’s sake, shut the fuck up, Thalia. “Maybe I’ll misbehave so you can do it again.” Why was my mouth still moving? And, oh Luna, that look on his face—pure primal hunger—had my stomach flipping and my thighs begging to open. I hadn’t wanted a man with such visceral intensity in a long time, and it frightened me. Enough to shut my mouth.

His jaw flexed, and he stood slowly, towering over me, a mountain of a man that I was suddenly gripped with the desire to climb.

“Get up, Princess.”

“Thalia. My name is Thalia.” Why had I given him my name? But it was all right. Bryony had only ever been referred to as princess in the correspondence.

“Thalia…” He said my name as if he was tasting it. “And you may call me Vaarin.” He held out his hand, the same one that had assaulted me a moment ago, and I took it, allowing him to pull me to my feet.

He held on to me, drawing me close, and my pulse thrummed hard in my throat at his proximity.

“Look at me,” he said.

I lifted my gaze to his, careful to shield my depraved thoughts behind a veil of decorum.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and I suspected that he could see right through my shield. “You will obey me or you risk death. This isle is not safe, but I can navigate it. I can get us to where we need to be.”

“And where is that?”

“The far north side to a ship that can carry us to Merida.”

“Then why did we not sail the rowboat directly to that part of the island?”

“And risk being spotted by Obsidian Pearl’s aerial spies?” He snorted. “No, we stayed to the west, hidden in the storm to avoid being tracked. I need you to listen to me, Princess. Do as I ask.”

I dropped a nod. “Very well. No running off to save imaginary damsels.”

“Come, we should find shelter till dawn.”

“How far is the cave?”

“A day and a half trek.” He set off down the valley, and I followed.

The next day and a half in this male’s company was going to test my libido because even his scent made me ache. I wanted him, but I couldn’t have him.

I had a job to do, and it didn’t involve satisfying my desires.

* * *

Vaarin didn’t speak to me for the rest of the journey to shelter, and I was glad for the chance to reflect on what had happened between us. The valley was narrow, cliffs rising on either side. We ventured into the gloom, only stray beams of moonlight to guide us, but my night vision had always been good, and I was able to make out the rocks and nooks in the ground that might have tripped me up.

After a while, Vaarin led us onto a path that hugged the side of the cliff into an aperture that wound up toward the night sky.

I stumbled once, and he was quick to grab my arm, the heat from his hand searing me through layers of cloth.

How could a sea fae be so warm? I would have thought them to be cold-blooded creatures, but he’d loaned me his heat earlier today, and I imagined it still coursed through my body. Maybe that was the reason for my inexplicable desire for him.

Or maybe it’s simply been too long since you got laid.

I shut down the inner voice because it was more than that. He’d been affected by me just as I was by him, both in the bed on his ship and here on the island. I’d had my dalliances, but I’d never been drawn to a male like this before. Maybe he had this effect on all females? Maybe it was a sea king thing?

If Bryony had lived, then maybe I would have had a chance to explore this…whatever it was. My cheeks heated at the selfish thought, and my stomach turned.

What was wrong with me? Relegating my sister’s death to weigh up what might or might not have happened between Vaarin and me.

I’d give up everything to have her back.

My eyes welled, and guilt dug claws into my chest.

Vaarin let out a heavy sigh. “You’re tired.”

I wiped at my tears and lied. “Yes. I guess I am.”

“Then you’ll be pleased to know that we are at our destination.”

We took a turn onto a platform that led to a small cave. Vaarin ducked to squeeze inside, and I followed him into the warm, dry space. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, but there was enough moonlight filtering in to make out the general structure.

Vaarin crossed the chamber in quick, sure strides, telling me that his night vision was much better than mine. I trailed after him at a sedate pace, not wanting to trip up.

Something rustled, and I peered harder to make out what he was doing. “Are those baskets?”

“Yes. Supplies.”

“You come here often, then?”

He snorted, not indelicately. “Just the once to pave the way to the ship. Supplies for whoever may come after.” He pulled out blankets and a smaller basket which he handed to me. “There will be dried meat in there. It will sustain you.”

I was used to ship supplies on long voyages, and a little dried meat didn’t bother me. I was accustomed to the leathery texture, and I hungrily unwrapped a piece and took a bite.

His brows went up. “And what do you think of that, Princess?”

Shit. Bryony would probably be sick if she ate this. I settled for making a face that communicated my disgust. “Needs must.”

“They must indeed.”

As he unpacked supplies and made up a bed, his shoulders relaxed.

“Will we make a fire?”

“Best not to alert any more locals of our presence.”

The wind whistled past the cave entrance, and a flurry of ice flakes swirled in.

“Frack,” Vaarin growled. “We must retreat farther into the cave.”

He gathered the bed he’d made and led me deeper into the cave where the ground was covered in soft moss and it smelled of earth and hidden life.

He arranged the blankets, then tugged off his boots.

I stared at them, bone dry leather… “You were in the water.”

“Yes.”

“But when you found me, you were dry.”

He smiled, a secretive smile that lit up his sapphire eyes. “You have much to learn about the sea fae.”

“Then teach me.”

He lay down and patted the spot in front of him. “It will get colder soon. Best we create a cocoon of heat now.”

Wait…He wanted us to share? It had been different on the ship. I’d been about to freeze to death, but now…Now I was a little too aware of him and his…assets.

“Thalia? Your virtue is safe with me.”

But was his safe with me? I fixed a smile on my face. “Of course, I know that.” I quickly lay down before I could say something foolish, and he pulled a blanket over us both.

“Would you like me to tell you a little about my people?” he asked. “After all, they will be your people soon enough.”

“I’d like that.”

“Some sea fae can move between land and sea without needing to remove their vestiges. My human clothes become a part of me when I’m beneath the waves, and when I emerge, they too appear.”

“Do you have…legs underwater?”

“I can have legs or a tail. I can choose. But there are those that cannot. The sea fae are like humans in many ways, just as varied and different. Here in the northern waters, our body temperatures run hotter than in other sea realms because the water here is so much colder. But we can reduce our body temperature at will. We are born to exist in the ocean, but we may also traverse the land for short periods.”

“How short?”

“Hours for some, days for others. But we must always, inevitably, return to the sea, for without its embrace we die.”

“Can you speak beneath the waves?”

His chest rumbled in a chuckle. “Of course.”

“How?”

“Maybe I will show you sometime.”

“But wouldn’t I need to be beneath the waves too?”

“Yes.”

I turned in his arms, curious and confused. “I cannot breathe beneath the waves.”

His warm gaze tracked over my face. “When you are married to my son, then you will be afforded some of his abilities.”

“Wait…that’s possible?”

“You will be able to visit the undersea for a few hours at a time. I am sure Dylon will show you our kingdom, the place where your children will one day reside.”

My excitement cooled because it had no basis to thrive. I wasn’t the princess. I wasn’t royal blood, and there would be no children for me.

Once my deceit and duplicity were discovered, I would most likely be executed.

“You are afraid…” He lightly touched my cheek. “He will not harm you. I will see to it.”

I tucked in my chin, not wanting him to see the guilt in my eyes.

“I will protect you.”

This was the moment I could claim an oath from him. A vow that would compel him to keep me alive, but my honor wouldn’t allow me to do it. I’d lied enough. So instead, I changed the topic of conversation. “What is this place? This island and the creatures on it.”

“We call them the lost because the knowledge of who they were and where they came from is lost in the chronicles of time. They call this the Cursed Isle due to the popular belief that the creatures native to it are in fact trapped here by a curse.”

“What kind of curse?”

“Nobody knows.”

I was intrigued now. “I wonder if we could find out.”

His eyes lit up, and a slow-burn smile painted his beautiful lips. “Curious little thing, aren’t you?”

No one had ever called me little before, and I had to admit that I liked it. Once again, I dropped my gaze, and it fell to the amulet around his neck. A silver trident.

“Pretty.” I lightly touched it, and I was sure that it glowed for a moment.

“It’s a family heirloom,” he said. “Passed down through generations from father to son. The stories say that it once held magic that would draw the monarch’s heart’s desire to him.”

“Heart’s desire?”

“His soul mate. The story says that the first kings were each given a gift from the moon for their service to the tides. A promise that their heart would always remain full, and with their gifts they each found true love.”

“Did you find yours?”

His expression closed off. “There are no such things as soul mates, Thalia. It is all a story, and this…this is merely an amulet.”

“But you had a queen once. A son and?—”

“Marriages do not always lead to love, especially for royals.” He winced. “Although I hope you find it with Dylon.”

“You could marry again? Find love?”

“You should sleep now.” His expression remained closed off. “We have a long trek ahead of us.” The conversation was over.