by Frost Kay
“You heal at an extraordinary rate, too?”
“Sirenidae.”
“I’ll escort you back to the ship.”
She held her hand up. “I would prefer to go back by myself. Thank you for caring for me.” Lilja opened the door and paused, looking over her shoulder. “We leave port tomorrow at dawn.”
With that parting remark, she slipped out of the room and down a hallway to the kitchen. A petite brunette woman with hazel eyes smiled at her from the table.
“How’s your head?”
“Fine, thanks to you I’m told,” Lilja replied with a smile.
The brunette stood and offered her hand. “I’m Gwen.”
“Lilja. I hate to be ungrateful, and I wish I could stay, but I must return to my ship. Thank you for your care, and for sharing your home with me.”
Gwen moved to the door and opened it. “My pleasure. Safe travels.”
Lilja surprised the woman by hugging her before she left the home. Outside, she set a brisk pace toward the fishing district. Blair was probably ripping apart the dock searching for her. She grimaced. He would not be happy.
Chapter Twelve
Lilja
She sucked in the salty air as she meandered down the dock to the Sirenidae. She couldn’t believe how much had changed in the last day. Exhausted as she was, happiness bubbled beneath the surface. Lilja had fixed things with Hayjen. He was no longer out for revenge, or hating her for a crime she didn’t commit. That was a success in her book.
A shout went up when she arrived at the Sirenidae. She inhaled a deep breath. It was time for the interrogation. Lilja smiled broadly as she boarded, her crew huddling around her.
“You okay, Captain?” Johnathan asked, gesturing to her head.
“I just took a nasty fall.”
“It was some fall. It took hours to get the blood out of your carpets.”
Lilja forced a smile to her face and held Blair’s gaze. “Yes, well, you know head wounds bleed a lot.” She gestured to herself. “As you can see, I am in perfect health. Now, prepare the ship. We leave at dawn.” With her dismissal, her crew dispersed, leaving Blair glaring at her.
“Would you like a word, First Mate?” she asked while moving to her study.
“Indeed I would, Captain,” he growled.
Lilja noted the absence of her favorite rug as she entered her study. She turned and sat in the window seat. “I’m sorry.”
Blair crossed his arms, eyeing her. “Are you okay?”
“I am.”
“That was a lot of blood, Lil.”
“I was taken care of.”
“By whom?”
“A friend,” she hedged.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I was so worried. I had men sent out discreetly to find you. You didn’t leave a note.”
“Well, I was kind of unconscious.”
Blair scowled at the sarcasm in her voice. “It’s not funny.”
She held her thumb and pointer finger together. “It is a little bit.”
“I was worried.”
Lilja dropped her teasing. “I know. I didn’t mean to worry you, but I’m okay. I had an accident.”
“How did you get to a healer?”
“Hayjen took me.”
Blair’s eyes widened. “Hayjen? How did Hayjen get on the bloody ship?” His face darkened. “Did he do this to you? Are you protecting him, Lil? So help me if—”
“He didn’t crack my head open. We did fight,” she explained, “but we’re on good terms now.”
“How?”
“He knows.”
He stiffened. “Please don’t tell me you were stupid enough to tell him.”
“Hey now,” she cautioned. “I am not stupid. It was the Lure.”
“The Lure?”
“Yeah—what you experienced last night?”
He blanched.
“He caught me off guard. We fought, he saw my gills, and I passed out. He took me to his sister. They took very good care of me and promised to stay silent about my heritage.”
“And you trust them?”
“I do.”
Blair kept silent, thinking things over before blowing out a breath. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
He flashed her a faint smile. “Okay.” He stared at the floor for a beat before meeting her eyes. “I need to speak to you about something.”
Her stomach dropped at the tone of his voice. “What?”
“Last night I made a decision.”
“A serious one?”
“Indeed.” He blew out a breath and met her gaze squarely. “I’m going back.”
“No,” she breathed, staring at him in horror. “No, you can’t.”
“I can and I will.”
“No, I won’t allow you to.” Lilja jumped to her feet. “I will never let you go back to that hellhole.”
“I have to.”
“Why?” she cried.
“We need to know what’s going on beyond the wall. We need someone on the inside.”
“They’ll kill you on sight.”
“They think I’m dead. They don’t know I escaped with you.”
“You’re just one person.”
“I can help the slaves there.”
Lilja’s eyes filled with tears. His decision was final. She saw it in the way he stood. “You’re leaving me?” she asked, her voice cracking.
Blair’s stern face melted into sorrow. He pulled her from the window seat and wrapped his arms around her. “You don’t need me.”
The tears burst free. “I’ll always need you,” she sobbed into his shirt. “How can you leave me? Is it because of what the Lure did to you last night?”
He pulled her wet face from his shirt. “The Lure is the least of our problems.”
His face blurred. “Then why now?”
Gentle fingers wiped the tears from her face and serious, deep brown eyes searched hers for something. “I’ve felt this way for a long time. The only reason I didn’t leave sooner is because I wasn’t ready to part with you, and I knew you needed me. You don’t need me anymore, Lil. You haven’t for a long time.”
“What are you talking about? You’re my first mate and my best friend.”
“Can you survive without me?”
“Yes.”
“Can you run this ship on your own?”
“Yes,” she stuttered out.
“You want me here, but you don’t need me. Others need me, Lil.”
Her heart squeezed painfully. “I don’t want you to go. I’ll never see you again.”
His hand clasped her face. “I am going to ask you a question and I want a serious answer.”
“Okay,” she hiccupped.
“Do you want me?”
“Of course I want you.”
“No,” he tipped her chin up with his thumbs and leaned closer. “Do you want me?”
Understanding dawned, and blue eyes flashed through her mind. “No.” It was one of the hardest things she had ever had to say.
He smiled. “It’s okay.”
“Do you?” she left the question hanging in the air.
“No, but I love you.”
“I love you, too.” A tear dripped down her cheek.
Blair kissed the tear away. “We’re comfortable with each other and that’s okay. But I saw how you looked at Hayjen. I’ve been waiting for the time you would finally show interest in someone. We have been to hell and back, but we need to move forward. That’s the only way to live a healthy life.”
“If you go, I’ll never see you again.”
“This is not goodbye. I am widening your scope of spies. We can take Scythia down, but only if we have someone on the inside.”
Lilja placed her ear against his heart and hugged him tightly as the last of her tears dried. “Can you go back to that life?”
“I have to.” Blair’s arms tightened around her.
She leaned back and held onto his forearms. “Can you hold
onto yourself?”
“I’ll have to.”
“Blair,” she said softly, “the life of a spy is painful.”
“If my suffering can save hundreds and thousands of others, it will be worth it.”
“You’re a good person.” She stepped out of his arms and scrubbed at her face. Her best friend was leaving her, but she understood why. “How long until you leave?”
He smiled sadly. “Tomorrow morning.”
A small sound of pain escaped her. “So soon?” she croaked, trying to keep it together.
Tears flooded her dearest friend’s face. “The Mort Wall is close.” He pulled her back into a fierce hug. Wet drops plopped onto the top of her face, causing her tears to burst free. “Leaving you will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“If I could go with you I would.”
“I know.”
They held each other and cried until no more tears were left. Lilja didn’t want their last day spent together to be drowned in sorrow. She tilted her head back and smiled. “How about a swim?” He loved swimming.
Blair grinned. “That’s a perfect idea.”
“First one inked by an octopus has to buy drinks.”
“You’re on.”
Chapter Thirteen
Hayjen
The last day on the land was the best day he had since he arrived home. He spent the morning helping Colm in the forge, and then helped Gwen with household chores in the afternoon. The evening passed with a divine stew and hearty bread that his sister had perfected. Hayjen sat near the hearth drinking his brew before bed when Gwen sat next to him and laid a hand over his.
“When do you leave?”
Startled, his eyes flew to his sister’s. “What?”
“You’re stir-crazy here. I can see it, and I heard part of your conversation this morning.”
He clasped her hand. “Would you be angry if I did?”
“No, but I’ll be sad. I finally have you back.”
“I wouldn’t be gone forever. I will be home every couple of months.”
Gwen studied him in her keen way. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. This is your life. You’ve been living for me since papa and mum died. It’s okay to make choices for you. I’m well cared for.”
She’d grown up. Hayjen could hardly believe it. It felt like just yesterday his mum was placing Gwen in his chubby little arms. Soon there would be a new little one. “I’ll be here for the babe as much as I can.”
She smiled and touched her belly. “It’s hard to believe I created life.”
“It’s wondrous.”
“It is.” She lifted her eyes. “Will you be in danger?”
Hayjen couldn’t lie to her. “Yes.”
Her jaw tightened and she looked away. “Can you tell me any specifics?”
“I am going to protect others from what happened to me.”
“As a pirate,” she stated carefully.
“Yes.”
Gwen nodded and met his gaze. “I support you in this completely, but after the baby is born, we need to be careful.”
His actions from here on out would put his family in danger. “We’ll work something out.”
“Even if it means no contact except through letters?”
He swallowed. “If that’s what it takes to protect you and your family.”
“I don’t think it will come to that, but we need to think about the consequences.” Tears filled Gwen’s eyes. “I want you to be happy.”
Hayjen stood and wrapped his arms around her. “You’ve made me a happy uncle.”
***
He stuffed his last shirt into his sack and swung it over his shoulder. Hayjen scanned the little room, smiling at the touches of his sister here and there. He closed the door behind him and moved through the quiet house to the kitchen. Through the window, he could see Gwen standing in the tall grass, haloed by the first rays of sun. He smiled and slipped out of the kitchen to her side.
“All ready to go?” she whispered.
“I am.”
Gwen turned to him, a wobbly smile on her face. “I always wanted to be a pirate, and now I’m related to one. So that makes me one by extension. Pirate Gwen Blackwell has a nice ring to it.”
Hayjen sniggered and held open his arms. “Come here.” His sister rushed into his arms and held him so tightly he swore his ribs creaked.
“I love you,” she murmured into his vest.
“I love you too, baby girl.”
“When shall I expect you?”
“In the next couple months.”
“You’ll be back before the baby?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He lifted his head as Colm wandered in their direction and stood behind Gwen. Hayjen let go of his sister and clasped hands with the younger man. Colm surprised him and jerked him into a hug with a lot of back-slapping.
“Safe travels.”
He grinned at his brother-in-law. “Will do.” Hayjen grabbed his sister for a last hug and pecked her on the cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll hunt you down if you aren’t.” She sniffed, huddling into her husband’s side.
That brought a smile to his face. “I don’t doubt it.”
Hayjen waved and strode in the direction of the fishing market. It amazed him how quiet and peaceful everything was. Nervous energy filled him when he reached the bustling docks. How would the Sirenidae crew react to him?
A dark, familiar person moved in his direction, carrying a rucksack like his. “Blair?” His head snapped in Hayjen’s direction and his eyes sharpened. The first mate halted in front of him.
“Hayjen.”
“Isn’t the Sirenidae leaving?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going in the wrong direction,” Hayjen pointed out slowly.
“I have a new assignment. I’m on leave.”
“Enjoy your leave.” He moved around the dark man.
“Hayjen.”
He paused and met Blair’s serious eyes. “Take care of her.”
Understanding passed between the two men. “I will.”
“She needs someone like you.”
He blinked. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Blair smirked. “Don’t lie to yourself.”
“Wise words.”
“They’re Lil’s.”
“Figures.”
Both of them grinned at each other. “Best of luck on your new journey.” Hayjen held out his hand.
Blair clasped it. “Same to you.”
Hayjen watched him disappear into the crowd before turning and lifting his eyes to the Sirenidae. His future was right in front of him if he was brave enough to take it. A silver-haired beauty leaned over the railing, shock racing across her features. He waved and she lifted a hand in greeting, a smile blossoming on her face. His breath rushed out of him at the sight of her smile. He was right. His future was staring at him with magenta-colored eyes.
Epilogue
Hayjen
He stared at the shrinking bay, the large ships appearing like child’s toys bobbing in the waves. There was no going back now. He peeked out of the corner of his eye at Lilja. “So what’s our next step?”
“We wait.”
His eye brows lowered. “We wait?”
Lilja smiled. “Yes, we wait.”
“And what are we waiting for?”
“Change.”
Change. It was sometimes slow and elusive. “And until then?” Hayjen asked.
Her smile became fierce. “We sabotage and thwart Scythia in every way we can.”
His smile mirrored hers, all vengeance and mischief. “Togther.”
“Together,” Lilja echoed.
The End
***
Thank you for reading SIREN’S LURE, a prequel to the Aermian Feuds! If you fell in love with Lilja and Hayjen, continue the Aermian Feuds Series in book one, REBEL’S BLADE. Grab your free sample here!
Rebel’s Blade
> ***
Thank you for reading SIREN’S LURE. I hope you enjoyed it! If you liked this book, please review it BECAUSE the review rating determines which series I prioritize. If you want the next book in this series soon, review this book❤ Thank you!
About the Author
If you’d like to know more about me, my books, or to connect with me online, you can visit my webpage https://www.frostkay.net/, check out my Facebook group Frost Fiends, or follow me on Bookbub to receive news about my new releases.
You’ve just read a book in my AERMIAN FEUDS series. Other books in this series include REBEL’S BLADE, CROWN’S SHIELD, & ENEMY’S QUEEN.
If you love SCI-FI, TWILIGHT ZONE, and ALIENS, check out my MIXOLOGISTS & PIRATES series! (More info on the next page!)
Read More from Frost Kay
www.frostkay.net
Mixologists & Pirates: Book One
Amber Vial
By Frost Kay
Never again.
After unwittingly entering the draft for colonization of an alien planet, Allie believes nothing could get worse.
It could.
A failed escape attempt leaves her chained to an airship chair with nothing but her bag, a vial, a wild redhead, and her anxiety for company. Numbing her fear seemed like a good idea… until it wasn’t.
It was just one sip.
www.frostkay.net
