Royal Pride

by Zelda Knight

  Melanie nods. “Ready.”

  It’s nighttime, and only a few paths on the ship are well lit, so we stick to those, careful not to make any noise. We get to where the lifeboats are kept, undetected.

  No! My heart drops when I see the guard unlatching the boats from the ship. Splash!

  We pull our backs against the wall. How did he know? He must’ve have been watching me, but from where?

  “Fuck, what do we do now?” Melanie whispers.

  Adrenaline pumps rapidly through my veins as I grab Melanie’s hand. “We jump.” I don’t think, I just do, dragging my best friend behind me. We hit the water before either of us has time to scream. The cold current pulls us under, but my hold on Melanie's hand doesn’t budge. We desperately swim to the surface and wrangle a boat toward us by a rope. I steady it so Melanie can climb in. She then reaches down to help me up. “You crazy, bitch.” She lets out a breathy laugh.

  “I’m just trying to keep us alive.” Jokingly, I shove her aside to notice we only have one paddle. “Damn it. Well, at least one paddle is better than none.” I dip the paddle into the black sea and row us west. The rain continues to pound down on us as we move away from the ship of death.

  The waves suddenly pick up, oddly pushing us back towards the boat. They grow larger and faster, nearly tipping our boat over.

  “What the hell? This makes no sense. The wind is blowing westerly. How are we going backward?”

  Splash!

  At the sound, we both snap around to look at the ship. All is quiet except for a rippling of waves and heavy drops of rain hitting the ocean. The sky is pitch dark now, and I gulp as an unnerving feeling takes over my core. Melanie must feel it too because she latches onto me for dear life. “Blaire, I should’ve listened to you.” She pulls me in closer, and we position ourselves in the middle of the boat.

  “Doesn’t matter now because we are going to get through this. We always do.”

  “Soul Sista power,” we say in harmony as tears spill from our eyes.

  The boat suddenly rocks to the right, and a pair of sharp claws appear out of nowhere. I’m pulled back into the ocean, screaming at the top of my lungs. Something inhuman and beast-like glides through the muggy waters at super speed. I blink, and we are out of the water, back on the ship. What the…?

  I turn around to see Melanie being restrained by the bartender, her eyes transfixed on the man-beast standing behind me. “Let her go.”

  The creature grumbles, vibrating my entire body before spinning me around. My gaze meets a pair of glowing yellow eyes so vicious; I feel myself slowly dying from its stare. “I’m sorry, but you can never leave,” it says, voice demonic. The beast latches its claws around my face. Melanie’s scream drifts into the air. Its eyes glow brighter, then everything goes dark…

  Chapter Five

  DORIAN

  Bora Bora

  Two Days Later…

  The sight of over-water bungalows, and waterfalls tumbling down fern-carpeted basalt cliffs, never gets old — just the meaning of what my life has become — an ongoing prophecy as the result of my greed. My men have also suffered.

  The cruise ship sails over the glittering lagoons, and past beaches lined with coconut trees before it anchors down. My crew escorts the other females ashore to Vaitape while Flex and I keep an eye on Blaire and Melanie. They attempted to escape; I can’t let them out of my sight. Blaire had witnessed Hunter and Flex tossing Jessica overboard and shifting, thus adding complications to our situation.

  After plucking them out of the ocean, I wiped their memory, leaving only the good parts, and adding new memories. But there’s no telling how long we have before their amnesia wears off. Goddamn it. Our Goddess cannot catch wind of this, or she’ll have my ass for dinner.

  I open the shades to my cabin, and Melanie and Blaire begin to stir. Here we go…

  Blaire’s eyes open and immediately connect with mine. “Captain…” She quickly glances around. “What are we doing in your bed?”

  Melanie laughs. “Yes, I’d definitely like to know.” She bites her lip at me, and I refrain from smiling. I wouldn’t mind having both all to myself.

  “I’d like to tell you we had an amazing time, but unfortunately that’s not the case.” I clear my throat. “You two were so wasted you jumped overboard. My crew had to take a lifeboat out to rescue you.”

  They both shake their heads, trying to recall something they cannot remember.

  “Ugh, I’m super annoyed I don’t remember shit. It’s hard to get this one to loosen up.”

  Blaire rolls her eyes.

  “But I have good news.” I smile. I open the sliding glass door to my balcony, and they both get up and peer out of it. “Welcome to Bora Bora.”

  The sight of them jumping up and down in glee temporarily lifts the gloom from my heart. The day is what I look forward to—showing the girls the time of their lives. Tomorrow—not so much. Seventy-eight years of playing this role of captain of a cruise ship. Seventy-eight years of lies and torment and murder. Seventy-eight years of bodies sacrificed, blood, and carnage. The weight of the seventy-eight years of names I carry around in my heart is like a wrecking ball. Put on a fucking happy face, Dorian. It’s showtime!

  “Melanie, you remember Flex, don’t you?” He mentioned to me on the first day of this trip, he caught her checking out his ass.

  She looks him up and down. “I most certainly do. How’s it hangin’, handsome?”

  Flex just smirks. He is the introvert of the group, so I find it funny that the crazy, loud-mouthed females tend to flock to him. Opposites attract, I guess.

  “Great because he is your escort for the remainder of the trip.”

  She struts over to him and laces her arm through his. “Well, what are we waiting for…escort me.” She waves to Blaire, then they’re out of the door, leaving us alone.

  Blaire twiddles her thumbs with her head down to the ground. “I’m sorry we put your men in harm’s way. Normally, I wouldn't behave that way… how embarrassing.”

  I lift her chin, so our eyes meet once again, and she sucks in a jagged breath. “Don’t sweat it. It’s our job to keep you safe.

  “Okay.” Her creamy cheeks tint with red.

  “So, where to?”

  “Huh?” Her eyes go wide, lips forming into the perfect shape of an O.

  Now, all I can think about is the kiss we shared on our first night. She says it was just a dare, but that kiss was raw and passionate as if she had poured her heart and soul—

  every small fiber of her being—into it. I must kiss her again. I smile. “I’m your escort.”

  “No way. I get the captain all to myself?”

  I nod, my smile growing wider. Oh, I have plans for us.

  “I want a tour of all your favorite places.”

  The request seems easy enough. I know this place like the back of my hand. It is my prison after all. I hold my arm out for her to grab onto. “You’ve got it, my lady.”

  “Oh, and one more thing…”

  “Yes?”

  “Do I get to wear the captain’s hat?” She flutters her eyelashes in my direction; her eyes pleading with me.

  “Certainly.” I remove my hat and place it on her head of lustrous black hair. “I’ll call you my first mate.” God, you’re so fucking adorable.

  “Thank you. I’ll be the best first mate you've ever had.” She strays over to the corner of the cabin to look in the mirror.

  I watch her, imprinting every curve visible to me through her blue sundress. I’m sure you will. My mind gets carried away with dark thoughts of how much my cock yearns to be inside her. Quickly, I dismiss them, clearing my throat as she turns around.

  “How do I look?”

  Like my forever. Unfortunately, that life is no longer in the cards for me. “Like a true Golden Goddess.”

  Blaire

  * * *

  I feel honored to have Captain Dorian as my tour guide on this tropical paradise. He hasn't le
ft my side since we left his room. It feels nice to have his undivided attention, although I'm quickly becoming enemy number one when it comes to the other females. They all want a piece of the captain.

  But I kissed him. And it was mind-blowing. I feel the phantom presence of his lips against mine every time he is so close to me. I must kiss him again. For once in my life, I am grateful for a Melanie dare.

  We walk past wild passion fruit vines draped over hibiscus trees and down a bridge to the bungalow Melanie and I will be staying in. Inside, I’m stunned at such beauty. It steals my breath. “This place is unreal.” Part of the floor is glass so you can see the turquoise lagoon below. “Like something out of a dream.”

  “You haven’t seen anything yet.” He takes my hand and walks me to a royal blue Jeep with no doors. “Your chariot, my lady.”

  I squeal inwardly and hop into the Jeep. Soon, we are driving down a narrow pathway until we reach a small abandoned village, surrounded by lush vegetation. He opens the passenger door for me, and we begin hiking on foot. “What is this place?” I glance around in awe of the fruit trees, growing varies fruits like mangos, bananas, and passion fruit.

  Dorian smirks, handsomely. “This is the Valley of the Kings. A place of refuge where one can gather the ‘breath of life’.” He raises his arms in the air, speaking with so much enthusiasm it makes my whole body sing with anticipation of what’s to come. I sense his sudden calmness; he is in his element—at one with the earth.

  As we continue trekking through the hills, he outlines more legends surrounding this island rich with culture and traditions. Dorian seems to know a great deal of what took place here in 1941, almost as if he was there himself. When there was an attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States chose Bora Bora to serve as a military supply base. He shows me around the bunkers hidden throughout the jungle, pointing out various artifacts and landmarks.

  After our hike, we get back in the Jeep and travel down the path, passing by the volcano I wanted to see. He pulls over suddenly, his demeanor shifting, and he just stares off into space, blinking rapidly.

  Have I done something wrong?

  “Maybe we should call it a day.”

  “What? I've been waiting for this stop all day,” I frown. Why is he so hesitant suddenly? “This place is breathtaking—why can't we go up?”

  He turns to me. His eyes, once vacant of emotion, filled with admiration. “You're breathtaking. Now, let's go back. I think we've done enough sightseeing for one day. Plus, I may have a surprise for you.” His smirk reaches from ear to ear, making my heart palpitate.

  “Fine. Only if you promise to bring me here tomorrow?”

  He grimaces as if my request pains him. “Yeah, sure.”

  Watching his internal struggle uproots sadness in my heart. I want to ask questions about what is bothering him, but I barely know this man, and the last thing I want to do is to upset him. So, I don’t push it.

  We continue our descent down the hill and end up by the ocean near a hut. Dorian helps me out of the Jeep, before disappearing into the straw hut, appearing seconds later with a bucket of small fish. In silence, we walk together toward a vibrant coral garden near clear, shallow waters.

  “Get in,” Dorian demands.

  “Umm...is it safe?” I can see a pair of shark fins in the distance.

  “They are Black Tip Reef Sharks. They won't hurt you. I promise. Now, get in.”

  The firmness in his voice startles me, and I don’t hesitate to do what he asks. “Aye, aye, Captain.” I grab ahold of the security rope as I lower myself into the cold, crisp water. A couple of stingrays and a shark swim in my direction, spiking adrenaline in my veins. I haven’t encountered such exotic aquatic life before, and I feel completely out of my comfort zone.

  “I’ll feed them. All you have to do is remain calm and enjoy the show.”

  I nod as a stingray brushes against my leg. “Right,” I gulp. More sharks and various schools of a fish circle around me and feeling them so close to me makes me squeal with laughter. I reach down nervously and glide my hand across a shark’s fin, and soon exhilaration shoots up through me. “This is incredible. Thank you.”

  “Anytime.”

  “So, what's on the agenda for tomorrow?”

  “If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?”

  I splash him. “You’re such a tease.”

  He laughs, splashing me back. “That I am.”

  Chapter Six

  DORIAN

  The welcome festival is the highlight of this vacation, on the shores of Bora Bora, where we treat the women to a colorful display of traditional Polynesian foods, drinks, and music. The last hurrah before we kill them. Spending so much time with Blaire is making me question the whole killing part. Do I want to remain king of Bora Bora? The dilemma is ravaging my insides like a hungry beast. I down my frustration with a shot of whiskey. I struggle, debating with myself about avoiding her completely or saying fuck it and running away with her into the night. Far away from here, where my past haunts me like a ghost.

  Blair ultimately decides for me. “Care to dance, Captain?” I hear her sweet voice sound from behind me. The sensation has goosebumps pricking my skin. This woman will be the death of me instead of the other way around.

  I look off into the distance and realize the sun is starting to set. The ritual will begin in a few hours. I don’t have much time with her, so I better make the best of it. I gulp down the bitterness in my throat and slide off the barstool in front of the outdoor bar. I turn around with a smile on my face. My eyes immediately find hers and trail of the length of her, draped in the color of seduction—the dress practically painted on her voluptuous curves. Fuck me. I am a dead man.

  “How could I ever turn down my first mate?” I smirk, taking her small hand in mine, leading her over to the middle of the beach where there is a makeshift dance floor encircled by strung up lights to create a romantic ambiance.

  With the sun setting on the horizon, I pull her close to me, my heart instantly breaking with guilt. My mistakes nip at my heels, and I realize I am cheating myself out of the life I could have.

  With her.

  “Turn Your Lights Down Low” by Bob Marley plays in the background and I find myself getting caught up in my feelings, the burn consuming my chest. “Blaire, you look incredibly beautiful tonight,” I murmur into her ear.

  She exhales a small breath, pressing her sexy body against mine. “You are too kind, Captain. “

  “Please, call me, Dorian.” I inhale the black raspberry scent of her, hating the barrier of clothes between us. If she isn’t saying my name now, she will be later.

  “Dorian,” she says on a breathless whisper. I clench tighter onto her waist, biting back a moan. She says my name like she was born to.

  The tempo picks up, and she turns around to ground her sweet ass into me, making my cock kick in my pants. I notice her bite her lips. Yeah, that’s it. Feel me, baby. Then she dips lower, winding her hips back up, slowly making a figure eight, and the tiger in me growls. I need to taste her now. “Hey, I’m sorry that we never made it to the volcano today. I was hoping I could make it up to you?” I wrap my arms around her and graze my teeth along her earlobe.

  I feel her breathing pick up. “What did you have in mind?”

  I smirk even though she can’t see me. “Follow me.” I lead her away from the crowd and deeper into the foliage down a dirt path. A waterfall comes into view.”

  She gasps, bringing her hand to her chest. “Dorian, this is magical. Better than any volcano.” Thank God! I avoid that place like the plaque. It’s just an ugly reminder of how much I’ve fucked up my life.

  “Well, what are you waiting for? Take a dip.”

  “She bites her lip at me. “Is this just a ploy to get me naked?”

  I shrug. “A man never shares his secrets.”

  “Uh-huh. Well, in that case. It’s your lucky day.” Slowly, she struts to the waterfall, leaving her shoes…t
hen her dress behind. Her black thong caresses where I long to. Fuck! I bite my fist, a grumble ripping up my throat. I’ve broken the most important rule of being a shifter king—never fall for the sacrifice. Her entire existence will be my undoing, but at this point, I’m in too deep to care.

  Watching her enjoying my favorite waterfall, I can’t control my thoughts. All I see is her. All I need is her. Her beauty is glimmering in purity and depravity all at once. After the amazing day we’ve had, my tiger just wants to bring her filthy ways to the surface. Bend her will until she is on her knees, begging me to fuck away her joys and fears. This delicious morsel with curvy hips could be marked so easily and bred to my liking. As I lick my lips at her, I covertly dive into the water, plunge myself underneath the current and swim to her. She continues to bathe under the waterfall, oblivious to the predator about to pounce. I brush my hand against her leg, and before Blaire can let out a blood-curdling scream, I pull her down and glue my lips to hers. She struggles with me at first but gives into temptation, allowing me to devour her mouth like I wish to eat her sweet, virgin pussy. That’s why I’m so drawn to her. I discovered this fact when I went through her belongings and smelt her panties. It’s been years since I’ve had pure blood. The most powerful. My cock hardens at the thought, the tip of me caressing her leg.

  She moans against my mouth then swims up for air. “Dorian,” she says in a breathy exhale.

  “I’ve been craving to feel your lips against mine. Have you?” I weave my hand through her wet locks, pulling her back to me, reconnecting our lips in a sacred dance.

  Her hands sensuously glide down my back to my ass. “You have no idea.” Slamming my pelvis into hers, she hungrily presses her soft lips against mine. “I am sorry I ran away the first time.”