He didn’t like Nereus or trust him, which didn’t help.
What if she’d been charmed?
It had happened so fast, but then she didn’t believe it was possible for selkies to charm each other? Rhys didn’t doubt that Nereus would use any tool to get what he wanted.
Was it wrong that he wanted to be sure Lila was okay? Rhys decided it wasn’t. He grabbed his coat and followed them.
A luxury yacht preparing to go to Ireland. It couldn’t be that hard to find.
The yacht was every bit as luxurious as Lila could have imagined. It was large enough for a dozen people and outfitted with every amenity. There were large screen televisions and leather-upholstered furniture, as well as a kitchen sufficiently well-equipped even to impress Rhys. There was a dining room, a bar, and a big deck at the back that had a pool. It looked strange in the snow, like a mirage conjured from the Mediterranean.
That made her think of Rhys and his fondness for Malta.
Everything made her think of Rhys. She knew that whenever she saw a mention of New York, she’d think of him. Food and restaurants and kitchens would bring the memory of him cooking into her mind. Then there were the obvious associations: fire and flames with the firestorm, dragons obviously with the Pyr, and garnets would always make her think of his dragon form. She knew he’d admire the sleek stainless surfaces and smoked glass panels of the yacht, the polished wooden floors laid in a herringbone design, the modern spiral of the staircase. The spare design with good materials reminded her of his home and his restaurant.
An hour apart and she missed Rhys already. Lila told herself that it was for the best, but she was regretting her decision with all her heart.
She’d seen eight staff members so far, and was a bit concerned that they all had that glazed look of people who had been heavily charmed. They were like automatons, not people, and fulfilled their duties with both efficiency and unwavering smiles.
They gave her the creeps.
“What do you think?” Nereus asked, obviously filled with pride. He was happy, expansive even, since she’d gotten into the cab with him and Lila knew that was because he was unaware of her pregnancy. Male selkies couldn’t read auras, and only the healers among the females could read them as well as Lila. What Nereus lacked in those skills, he clearly made up in charm.
“You should give me your skin,” he suggested as they walked down a more narrow corridor toward the staterooms.
Lila tried to hide her horror at the suggestion.
She obviously failed, because Nereus chuckled. “I had a chamber made for keeping skins at their best,” he informed her as he unlocked a cabinet. She realized that the smoothly paneled wall actually hid a lot of storage. Nereus showed her clear units filled with water inside the compartment, though only one held a dark grey skin. “Look, mine is there. It’s in the perfect balance of salt and nutrients, better than ocean water.”
It did look particularly healthy. “How can that be?”
“No pollutants,” he said. “My skin is in better shape every time I retrieve it from here, as sleek as if I were a thousand years younger.” He opened an empty unit in invitation. “It’s like the fountain of eternal youth. Give it a try.”
Lila hesitated.
“Lila,” Nereus chided in a playful tone. “I’m your king. I would never ever betray you or any of our kind.” He rummaged through his ring of keys and removed one. “Here. I’ll give you a key of your own to the compartment, if that makes you feel better.”
“It does. Thanks.” Even with the key in her hand, it still wasn’t easy for Lila to surrender her skin. She put it into the water herself and was reassured as it seemed to blossom as soon as it was submerged. She felt cool and soothed herself.
She’d become too suspicious, probably a result of living alone and communing with seals and introverted researchers.
She remembered Rhys’ comments about those who didn’t trust having one foot out the door, then forced herself to push the memories away.
“You’ve been working too hard,” Nereus scolded, his tone almost paternal. Lila wasn’t going to tell him about Embron and Maeve’s treatment of her skin. It didn’t matter anymore and it would only infuriate him. “Come and get some rest. My chef is preparing dinner, but you can get settled while the yacht leaves the harbor. I never eat until we’re on the open seas. It’s so much more tranquil that way.” He swept open a door and Lila blinked at the sumptuous room revealed.
It was almost a half-circle, with floor to ceiling windows around most of the outer curve. The wood was golden and smooth, and she suspected the paneled walls concealed storage, like that in the corridor. The floor was dark wood laid in a herringbone design and a king-sized bed was against the wall opposite the windows. The lamps were lit on either side of the bed, their golden light making the space welcoming. She could see a large ensuite bath on the other side of the bed. Nereus touched a switch and blinds descended over the windows, one after the other, hiding the open sea before them. He touched another and a large television rose out of the floor opposite the bed. Another switch started some light classical music and yet another turned on more soft lighting.
“I never would have expected this on a boat,” Lila said as she turned around to look.
“Exactly! It’s almost too luxurious for a king.” Nereus stroked the fur covering on the king-sized bed, as if he was amazed by the yacht, too. If he’d bought it, though, why would he be so surprised by it? It would be like Nereus to specify every detail.
“How did you get this yacht?” Lila asked.
Nereus chuckled. “Toll of the seas. The owners were stranded. They ran out of fuel and abandoned ship, then died, floating in the middle of the ocean in their lifeboat.”
“Did you know them?”
“Of course not. They were mortals.” He was scathing, as if their death had been the inevitable outcome of their nature. “The yacht was abandoned, spoils for the first to find it.” He smiled and stroked the fur again. Lila had the definite sense that he was glossing the truth. “The glory of the seas, ripe for the taking.”
Lila turned away so he wouldn’t see her doubts. “Lucky for you.”
“Lucky for me,” Nereus agreed. He took off his jacket and snapped his fingers. One of his crew appeared in the doorway, then bowed his head and took the jacket. He touched a panel in one wall. A door opened, revealing a closet full of clothing.
Men’s clothing. The crew member hung up the jacket, closed the cabinet and retreated. A chime rang somewhere and Nereus glanced up.
“They’ll be wanting me,” he murmured. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Wait. Is this your room?” Lila asked.
“Best one aboard. They call it the Captain’s Suite.” Nereus smiled. “I call it the King’s Chamber.”
“Where’s my room?”
“Right here, of course.”
“You don’t have to surrender your room to me.”
Nereus paused in the act of leaving the room and glanced back. He held Lila’s gaze steadily. “I’m not.” Their gazes held for a long moment, his intention crystal clear. There was only one bed, after all, and she could see the heat of desire in his eyes.
“I don’t think sharing is a good idea,” she said, bracing herself for his reaction. She might as well get this part behind her.
“Why not?” Nereus asked. “We need more children, another generation of our kind. I’ve explained it to you, repeatedly, Lila.”
“But I’m already pregnant,” she confessed.
Fury blazed in his eyes and she thought for a heartbeat that he might strike her. A veil was torn away and Lila saw the savage truth of the King Under the Seas. She took an unwilling step back, realizing that she hadn’t made the choice in Rhys’ apartment on her own.
“You charmed me,” she whispered.
“I saved you from making another mistake,” he said through gritted teeth.
Lila felt like the hollow in her life was yawning wider.
She should have believed Rhys when he’d suggested it might be possible for a selkie to charm another selkie. She should have been prepared to defend herself against Nereus’ will.
Would Rhys ever forgive her?
Would she have the opportunity to ask for his forgiveness?
Nereus took a long breath, his gaze simmering when he eyed her again. “I suppose it’s another abomination?” he asked, his voice quivering with anger.
Lila was startled by his choice of words. “I don’t think so.”
“You never think so!” he snapped. He flung out a hand. “You surrender what is precious to those who don’t deserve it. You willfully create children that are mongrels, instead of adding to our numbers, and you consistently, persistently, deny me!”
“I can stay in New York,” Lila said. “I don’t have to remain as your guest...”
“Of course, you will remain. It is time you learned the consequences of your actions.”
“I’m going to have a child, a Pyr, who will be raised by Rhys. That’s the consequence of my choice.”
“Your child will be half-selkie,” Nereus said, his tone poisonous. “You think you’re creating life but you’re bringing death to another creature. Such mongrels must die.”
“The Dark Queen might not find him,” she dared to suggest.
“Then I will give the child to her.”
She was shocked by how fierce Nereus was. “You can’t mean that...”
“Of course, I mean it,” he retorted. “It’s the way of every kind to eliminate the weak and the wounded, to sacrifice those who are damaged or impure. You’ve lived among humans too long. Think of the seals. Think of the pups they leave to die because there’s something wrong with them.”
“They don’t...”
“They do! And you have refused to take responsibility for your choices, leaving me to repair the damage.”
“It’s not the same.”
He glared at her. “It’s exactly the same, and once again, I’ll clean up your mess.”
Lila felt cold. “What have you done?”
“What had to be done. What was right and just.” Nereus tugged a second smaller key from his ring. He tossed it at her, the gold flicking in the light as it flew toward her. Lila caught it instinctively. “Look upon the consequences and reconsider the wisdom of your choice,” he said, his voice soft with threat. “I’ll give you time to come to your senses.”
He spun on his heel and left then, slamming the door behind himself. Lila heard the lock click, but seized the doorknob anyway and tried to open the door. It was secured against her, just as she suspected.
She pivoted and leaned back against it, surveying her fine prison. Trapped again and charmed into it. Plus the staff were charmed into following Nereus’ orders without question. Her skin was locked away and out of her reach, and she felt the engines of the boat throb underfoot.
They were leaving New York.
Lila dug in her purse for her phone, but it still had no service. She surveyed the stateroom, fighting her fear.
Then she remembered the key, still clutched in her hand. What did it unlock?
The consequences of her choice.
Did she even want to know?
Fifteen
“The harbor master says there’s a super yacht,” Balthasar confided when he met Rhys at the docks. “He’s annoyed because the paperwork isn’t right.”
It was cold, even though the wind was calm. The snow was gaining momentum and Rhys could think of a dozen places he’d rather be than on Manhattan’s docks. The smell of fish and brine was strong and the dampness made it seem colder than it was. He’d called Balthasar to help because Balthasar knew boats. “How so?”
“He thinks something might be forged. But every person he sends to investigate comes back without an answer. He’s convinced they’ve all become incompetent.”
“No,” Rhys said grimly. “They’ve been charmed.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s like beguiling, but it’s what selkies do.”
“That would explain it. It’s docked down here,” Balthasar said and they strode together toward its berth. “You sure about this?”
“I need to be sure that she’s glad to be with him. She chose so suddenly. I wonder whether she’s been charmed.” Rhys shrugged. “One word from her and I’ll stand back. I just want to know that she’s safe.”
Balthasar nodded understanding, then gave a low whistle as they approached the berth. “Now that’s a yacht,” he said softly.
Rhys stared. The boat in the berth looked more like a spaceship than a yacht. It was sleek and silver, shining as if it was made of stainless steel. Its shape was streamlined and it looked expensive. It was also enormous, though he imagined that the kind of people who traveled like this didn’t pack themselves into little staterooms.
“It’s got to be three hundred meters long,” Balthasar said in wonder. “You don’t see these yachts often in New York.”
“Why not?”
“They’re for cruising and partying. There are a lot of them in the Mediterranean, and a bunch in Australia. It probably has at least one pool, a bar and dining room...”
“And a kitchen,” Rhys said. “Do you think you could get us on board?”
Balthasar smiled and redid his man-bun, tidying it up a bit. “I’ve been looking for the chance to try out a beguiling tip from Lorenzo that Arach shared with me. This looks like the perfect opportunity.”
“If I can help, just tell me what to do.”
“We’ll figure out who’s in charge of the staff and I’ll focus there. If you’re going to be in the kitchen, I should probably work my way up to the bridge.” Balthasar nodded. “Try to take care of anyone I miss.”
“Deal. I just want to see her. If she tells me to leave, then we’ll be gone.”
Balthasar nodded. “The engines are starting. We’d better move fast.”
Lila found the lock that fit the key. It was in a cabinet opposite the closet where Nereus’ clothes hung. She guessed it had been designed to hold a woman’s accessories, because of the position of the shelves. She could imagine designer shoes in the smaller sections and purses arranged in the larger ones. It would be almost like a store display, the way she’d seen fancy closets online. There were drawers that could hold sunglasses and jewelry, but none of those accessories were stored there.
The shelves and drawers were filled with little tokens, carefully arranged in rows. Most of them were metal, and she was struck by a sense that they were the detritus of many lives. The styles of the jewelry were all different, as if it had originated in different eras. There were rings, bracelets and brooches, a sextant, carved tusks and necklaces. There were hair combs and clouded mirrors, several compasses, and even a hook that might have been a replacement for a man’s hand. There was a silver picture frame, the photograph damaged by water beyond recognition, and a cigarette case with an elaborate monogram.
It could have been a display from a junk market or a thrift shop, but each item was given its own space. Some looked as if they had been polished. Lila stared, unable to make sense of the collection, if that was what it was. Why was it locked away?
What was it?
Then she spotted Malcolm’s pocket watch. It was in the middle of the top drawer, displayed like a prize, and she immediately reasoned that it wasn’t Malcolm’s watch at all. It must just be a similar one. His pocket watch had been plain, after all, less expensive and ornate than many of its kind. Just a plain pocket watch in a plain gold case on a simple chain. She remembered how the gold had been worn away, revealing the grey metal beneath.
This one showed similar wear.
It had a slight dent in the lid that covered the face of the watch, proof that such protection was needed. Malcolm’s watch hadn’t had a dent. She was sure of it.
But it had been a long time.
The chain was the same, much cheaper than the watch, with the same clasp. She picked up the watch
and listened to it, not at all surprised that it wasn’t running. Malcolm’s watch had been broken, too, broken after Thomas played with it one day.
She closed her eyes in memory of Malcolm’s fury with the boy and refused to remember the lashing he’d been given. The watch had belonged to Malcolm’s older brother. Duncan had been dead by the time she met Malcolm, all of his possessions passed to his younger brother. Malcolm had been alone, which she’d thought explained the sorrow tinging his aura. She turned the watch in her hand, remembering Malcolm’s resentment of his older brother, and wondered one more time just how Duncan had died.
It couldn’t be the same watch.
Lila opened the case and read the inscription.
For Duncan—
With every good wish for a prosperous future.
—Father
She closed the lid with alarm. It was the same watch. But what was it doing here?
“He was wicked,” Nereus said in the speech of their kind, his words flowing into Lila’s thoughts.
Lila heard the door unlock behind her but didn’t turn. She tried to hide her reaction to Nereus’ return. “I never wished him ill,” she said. “I just wanted to be free.”
Nereus came to stand behind her and she felt him looming over her. One hand closed over her shoulder and she feared his intentions. He slid her hair to one side with a gentle fingertip before gripping her other shoulder with that hand. He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck and her heart thudded a warning.
“Because you are gentle and a healer,” Nereus said quietly. “That is why you must be protected.”
Lila kept her gaze fixed on the watch and fought the force of his charm.
“He abused you,” he breathed against her skin. “Why would you mourn him?”
“Because he’s dead, of course. I tried to heal him,” Lila said, keeping her tone mild. She remembered the damage to Malcolm’s aura. “I wanted to help him.”
Dragon's Heart (The DragonFate Novels Book 3) Page 28
