It’s a quick walk along the starboard side of the ship and up the companionway. We stop at the aftercastle, near the helm.
“That’ll be all, Riden.”
“Are you sure, Captain?”
“Yes.”
“But she might—”
“I’m quite capable of handling myself.”
“Of course.” Riden descends the stairs again. He takes position at the other end of the ship, on the forecastle, where he can survey all the men and keep them in line. I note that he also has a clear view of us up here. Even from this distance I can read his colors. He’s black with a little green. Black is fear. Why should Riden be afraid?
“You are relieved, Kearan,” Draxen says. “Go fill yourself with drink.”
“Don’t need to tell me twice. Just keep her due northeast, Captain.”
Draxen takes the helm while Kearan leaves, giving me a bored nod as he swaggers on by. That leaves us alone on the upper deck. Of course we’re in view of most of the pirates. But they’re not able to hear anything that might be said. And I can tell that Draxen wishes to talk. Peculiar, that.
“Have you directed a ship before?” he asks.
“No,” I lie. It’s the answer he wants to hear. He’s a fool for believing it. I’m the pirate king’s daughter. Of course I've directed a ship.
But Draxen isn’t exactly thinking at his best right now.
He grabs my hand and leads me in front of him. I grasp two random knobs on the helm.
“No,” he says. “Put one hand here.” He moves my hand for me. “And the other here. There, doesn’t that feel better?” His voice is as commanding and firm as ever. He enjoys telling others what to do. It’s a good trait in a captain.
I can’t help but glance over at the other end of the ship. Riden hasn’t moved from his spot, and I can’t see his face to tell if it’s changed. But I can sense what he feels.
And he does not like Draxen touching me.
That makes two of us.
“Keep the bow of the ship heading northeast. The sun is close to setting, so see that it remains behind you on your left. Once it sets, we use the stars to guide us.”
It takes some effort not to roll my eyes. “Really?” It is an innocent question. Not sarcastic.
“Yes, we should all worship the stars. They are as useful as they are beautiful. Some never change position. They are constants in the sky. Without them, we would be lost.”
“Fascinating.”
He continues to prattle on. He prefers that I stay silent. I can feel it. This change in his attitude is not really a change. It is more of a performance. Everyone changes when they want something. And right now, Draxen wants me. How can he not? I’m giving him exactly what he wants. He can’t help but be pulled nearer and nearer. That darker, pirate nature is momentarily cast aside. He is trying to enchant me in the way I’m enchanting him. It’s a usual response. But it never works, of course.
I am always the one in control.
Chapter 14
IT’S FINALLY NIGHTTIME. I can soon be done with this charade.
Unfortunately, being able to see the stars only prompts Draxen to talk more.
“You see this constellation here?” He points north. “And this one here?” He points toward the south.
“Yes.”
“They weren’t always stars.”
“What were they?” It’s incredibly sappy of him to use this story.
“They were lovers. Filirrion”—he points to the one in the south—“and Emphitria.” He indicates the one in the north. “Theirs is said to be the greatest love story ever told. Sadly, it does not end well.”
“What happened?” I ask, hoping he’ll move it along more quickly.
“There was another in love with Emphitria: Xiomen—a sorcerer of the blackest arts. He loved her dearly, but Emphitria had eyes only for Filirrion. Enraged by his jealousy, Xiomen cursed them both. He changed their forms and placed them both in the sky, on opposite ends of the world so they could never be together.”
“How tragic,” I say.
Draxen nods. “While all the other stars in the sky move, there are three constellations that never change. Filirrion and Emphitria are two of them.”
“Who is the third?”
Draxen points upward again. “Xiomen. It wasn’t enough to separate them. So he cursed himself as well. There he remains, equidistant from the two lovers, blocking their view of each other. See how he’s pointed toward Emphitria and she toward him?”
“Yes.”
“Emphitria tries to see her Filirrion, but no matter how hard she looks, she can never see past Xiomen’s form.”
If this story ever persuaded a woman to climb into bed with Draxen, I’d slice my arm off.
A soft silence follows his story. Every once in a while, I lead us off course, forcing Draxen to grab my hands and redirect me. He doesn’t think I’m trying to steer us away. He only thinks me incompetent. I’m giving him encouragement to touch me, to want more. To take me into his quarters so I can search him for the map.
The night sailor comes up top. “Shall I take over, Captain?”
“Yes, I think I’ll retire now.”
“Very good, then.”
“Come over here, girl,” Draxen demands. I follow him over to the door leading to his quarters. “Shall we continue our discussion of the constellations for a while more?”
“Oh yes.” As if we could still see the constellations while in his room. Blundering idiot. I don’t know how much longer I can stand this.
Draxen lights a few candles once we’re alone in his quarters.
“Tell me more about the two lovers,” I say.
“I’ve a better idea,” he says.
Here it comes. He just wanted me alone so his crew wouldn’t see him. Or see me struggle. Though I don’t see how he can conceal what we’re doing when every man still on deck saw me enter his room.
“And what might that be?” I ask.
“Lie on the bed.”
“What for?”
He loves my questions. He wants to answer them. He wants to show me. He’s too caught up in the moment to realize this is all a ploy. He should know better. But when I focus on one man, they never can tell. They’re too caught up in, well, me.
“I’m going to show you something more magical than the stars.”
Oh yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. I can’t do this. I can’t stand to hear him talk anymore. He needs to shut his mouth.
I step forward, get right into his face. “How about if I show you?” When I lift my head up to his, he greedily meets me for a kiss.
He’s not a bad kisser—though I doubt Draxen has had as much practice as Riden.
But I get no enjoyment out of this. Because I’m not bored and looking for fun. I’m trying to get something done. And I know exactly the kind of foul man Draxen is. It’s impossible to ignore when I’m so focused on the desires of his heart and mind.
I remove his coat and toss it to the floor with the intent to search it soon. Draxen takes it for an invitation. He goes right for my breeches, fumbling with the clasp.
Ugh. That’s enough of that.
I shove Draxen down onto the bed and climb on top of him. From there I make it look as though I’m hurrying to undo the belt on his pants. I can feel the lust burning in him. It’s disgusting and wretched, and I want to stamp it out.
When I get his belt buckle undone, I slide off his sword, sheath and all.
I use the end to knock him out, square on the head.
“Oof,” he says before lying down, motionless.
I’m not sure what’s worse: what I just did or what I still have to do.
Don’t look at him, I tell myself. Focus on the clothes. Not what lies beneath.
I undress him. Every last article of clothing. I leave him lying naked on the bed while I search through every pocket, check for hidden linings, a fake sole in his boots.
But it’s …
Not here.
My stomach sinks. How can it not be here? I was so sure. I was desperately counting on it. Now what am I to do once he wakes? He’ll know I conked him. He’ll know I used him for something. And he will not be happy.
And then we’ll soon reach my father. And he’ll—
No, I have to stop that line of thinking at once. It’ll do me no good. I must keep my mind firmly in the present. How can I fix this?
Singing Draxen into forgetfulness isn’t an option. I haven’t enough song left to erase his memories. Fiddling with memories takes more than putting men to sleep.
I’ve made a fine mess of things. Seduce Draxen? That has to be my worst idea yet.
I have to cover my mouth to keep from grunting out in frustration.
Suddenly, there’s banging at the door.
“Draxen!” It’s Riden. “Open up now or I’m coming in.”
I hear the handle unlatching, so I race to the door. As it opens, I climb out and shut it behind me before Riden can see inside.
“What is going on?” he asks.
“Your brother was telling me about the constellations,” I say.
Riden’s eyes widen. This must be a usual play for Draxen. “He didn’t…”
“Didn’t what?” I ask.
“You didn’t let him…” He can’t get it out.
“Riden, we were hardly in there for two minutes.”
He shakes his head. “Of course. But what’s he doing now, then?” His eyes widen. “Tell me you didn’t kill him!”
While I’m flattered he knows I’m easily capable of killing Draxen, I still roll my eyes. “I didn’t kill him.”
“Then why isn’t he yelling and swearing?”
Fair point, that. I’ll have to throw in a bit of honesty if I’m to get out of this one. “He was getting too handsy, so I knocked him out.”
Riden relaxes a bit. I find it humorous that he isn’t offended or worried I knocked out his brother. He eyes the door.
He absolutely cannot go in there. I can’t explain why Draxen’s naked if I didn’t bed him, and, well, I don’t want Riden thinking I bedded him.
“What is going on, Alosa? Why did you go in there in the first place?”
We need to get away from here. Right now. I don’t know how much time I have before Draxen wakes.
“Can we talk somewhere else?” I ask. “Back in your room, maybe? I’ll answer all your questions. It’s cold out here.”
He still eyes me suspiciously, but he finally consents, weaving the way back toward his room. There’s extra force in his strides. Riden leaps onto the main deck, not bothering with the stairs. The night watchmen turn their heads to see the cause of the racket. When Riden wrenches open the door to his room, I can’t help but smile. He’s in a mood.
But my amusement vanishes almost instantly. I have a big problem. It’s taking everything I have not to panic. Maybe I should go back and kill Draxen. When he wakes up, everything will go to hell anyway. And Draxen deserves to die.
I’m just not sure I could do that to Riden. For reasons I can’t explain, he loves his brother. I think he would be devastated at his death. Maybe even broken.
But what other choice do I have? Where else could the map possibly be? If it’s not on the ship and Draxen doesn’t carry it on his person—
I’m staring at Riden’s back when it hits.
What if Riden has it?
After I searched Draxen’s room on the first night of my capture, my next thought was that he might’ve given the map to Riden to hide. But what if Riden hides it on his person? How could I be so slow? I’ve had ample opportunities to check Riden for it. On the night I sang him to sleep, not even a hurricane could have woken him.
Now I suppose I’ll have to knock him out like I did Draxen. I can’t really do any more harm now, can I? I’ve already sabotaged the mission. Or perhaps not. Maybe when Draxen wakes, he’ll do no more than put me back in my cell. But I doubt it.
When we’re alone, Riden stands expectantly, arms crossed. As soon as I knocked Draxen out, I released the siren part of me. It takes its toll on my mind after a while. It’s hard to explain, but I lose myself in others if I’m focused on their feelings and desires for too long. They start to become my own, and I forget who I am. It’s terrifying. Father would push me, help me understand how long I can endure being consumed in others before I start to become like them. I’ve never allowed myself to pass my breaking point since then.
If that weren’t enough, I have to deal with the short-term side effects as well, the feelings of otherworldliness. I hate the desires and emotions that are as clear to me as paint on a canvas. They’re not mine, and I don’t like feeling them, sensing them. Besides, I don’t need to read Riden. I just have to be careful because he’s already suspicious and confused. If I’m to get the drop on him, I’ll first need to get him to relax, to talk. I’ll need to give him lies mixed with truths.
“I’m worried, Riden,” I start. “My father—he may seem as if he cares for me, as if he’s eager to have me back in exchange for a ransom, but he’ll be furious with me.”
“Why?” he asks.
“For getting caught in the first place. He’ll think me careless and stupid. And he’ll rage about the money he lost as a result. I—I don’t know what he’ll do to me once he gets me back.”
Riden glances down at my legs, no doubt remembering the scars he once saw there. “I can believe that, but what was with all of that?” He jerks his thumb in the direction of the deck. His face hardens.
“I was trying to get Draxen’s attention. I needed to speak with him about it. I thought maybe we could work something out. Find a way for him to get his money and for me to be set free.”
“And?”
“Draxen wasn’t interested in talking.”
Riden winces at that. He puts his hand up to his face, scratches the back of his head. “I’ll speak to him.”
I don’t have to fake my confusion. “About what?”
“I’m sure there’s a way we can get our money and then let you walk free. You’ll have to divulge all the information you’ve been holding back, but you don’t have to return to your father.”
I laugh, a short, doubtful sound. “Where else would I go?”
“Anywhere.”
“He’ll find me no matter where I go.”
“Then don’t leave. Stay.” Riden’s mouth widens at his own exclamation.
“Stay? Why ever would I do that?”
“I don’t know why I said that. Forget it.”
He looks very uncomfortable, possibly ready to bolt. I need to act quickly. How am I to get a clear shot to his head? And what am I supposed to knock him out with? Riden’s removed all weapons from the room. And he’s definitely still suspicious after everything that happened with Draxen.
This doesn’t leave me with many options. It’s hard to think clearly when everything’s falling apart. For now, I need to keep him talking. Something will come to me eventually.
“You said it because you were thinking it,” I say.
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Really? Your mouth came up with it all on its own?”
“It’s very talented.”
“Yes, I’m well aware.” I could slap myself for saying that, but I need to keep him talking. I need to think.
He smiles, knowingly. “We probably should talk about that.”
“About what?” I ask, too innocently to be believable.
“You know what.”
It’s been a couple of weeks. Why should he want to talk about it now? Actually, he’s a pirate—why should he want to talk about it at all?
“What exactly do you have to say?” I ask, curious as ever.
Riden says nothing. I can see him searching for the words, but nothing will come to him.
“Here is all that needs to be said,” I say. “I’m a prisoner on this ship. I’m also the only woman on the ship. You got a little lonely, and I got a little crazy. That’s it. It was stup
id, but it’s over, so let’s move on.”
Should I ram him into the wall? He’ll be knocked unconscious like Draxen, but if he sees me do that, he’ll be very suspicious when he wakes. How many women have the strength to do something like that? Riden already knows something is off about me. What if he guesses?
Paranoia must be setting in. I need more sleep.
“I don’t think so.”
“What?” I ask, coming back to the conversation.
Riden knows I heard him, so he doesn’t bother repeating himself.
Has he gotten so used to arguing with me that it’s all he can do? Even when I speak the truth? Why is he so adamantly pressing the matter?
I decide to cheat. Right now my curiosity is more powerful than my revulsion, and I have plenty of time before I lose myself.
I home in on Riden. On his mind and his heart. I can feel his frustration. Both with himself and with me. I just don’t know why. I can sense feelings and desires. But I can’t read minds, helpful as that would be. I never know the whys behind people’s intentions.
All I know is Riden wants to kiss me again. Right now it is his greatest desire, and he can’t hide it from me. I feel it as though it were my own emotion. And though I’m sure it’s merely because he hasn’t had some alone time with a woman in a while, this is most definitely something I can use to my advantage.
Forget knocking him out. I need Riden’s greatest desire to become sleep. Once he’s asleep, I can keep him that way with my song. There’s enough in me for that.
But there’s only one way to change what he wants most. I have to give him the first one, so he will be satisfied and think of something else.
I swallow. For some reason, the thought excites me. Must be the thrill of the game.
So how to start?
“You don’t think so?” I ask. “What do you think happened, then?”
A deep, stormy gray surrounds him. He feels guilty. That’ll be the betrayal to his brother, no doubt. He wants to be assuaged from that guilt. He wants to get what he wants without the consequences that’ll come with it.
Typical pirate.
No responsibility. Just selfish desire.
Daughter of the Pirate King Page 14
