Haunted by Pride

by Kaye Draper

  She smiled. "I was raised by the sea. By fish and sharks, and mermaids and sprites. I drifted. But I was happy."

  She turned to me, her blue eyes intent. "I miss the ocean sometimes, but you are my family now."

  I didn't like the thought of her constantly missing her home, but I nodded. She was mine, for however long she chose to stay.

  Chapter 10

  Over the next week, our life aboard the boat took on a routine. I puked. A lot. Orion quietly drove us insane with his need to please. And kai got constant visits from all manner of sea life, including things I didn't even know existed.

  On the fifth day out at sea, we got close enough to Halstad for Oisin to scry for him, giving Orion a rest from constantly reaching out his energy for the mage.

  I wasn't sure just how much of his power Orion was burning up by using the locator spell attached to Halstad's tracking rune, but we didn't have any more pirates to feed him right now, and I knew he wouldn't accept any offers to feed him the normal way—Oisin had already tried that when we first learned what he was. Orion was a mess. I didn't see what was so bad about fucking for power, if that's what you needed. But what did I know?

  Oisin grumbled about everything the entire time he was working his spell. It was too hot. There was too much of a breeze. The equipment was sub-par. The sea air was ruining his complexion and all the salt was interfering with his magic. Mages were assholes. It went on and on.

  "Just find Halstad already," I said, nudging him with my foot as he knelt, peering into the surface of a bowl of water.

  I knew what his real problem was. We all did. He still hated mages and blamed them all for the depravity his father had carried out. He didn't want to help Halstad. But more than that, he didn't want to admit he was wrong about the guy.

  Something about what the ghosts had shown him had rattled my snarky little fae. And he wouldn't tell me what it was. No matter how much I bugged him, he and Hisashi only said it wasn't their story to tell. As if Oisin respected Halstad enough to play that card. Bullshit.

  Oisin tied his flaming red hair back from his face and gave me an emerald glare. "You owe me for this."

  I smiled sweetly and called over my shoulder. "Hey Kai? Maybe once we get Halstad back, we can all find a nice beach somewhere and go for a swim. Oisin wants to learn all about your half-shift form."

  Kai grinned at me as she leaned over the railing and waved to a watery shape that must be some sort of sea sprite. "Oh, I'd love to educate him. In fact, I think you all need a lesson."

  I turned back to Oisin. "There you go. You're welcome."

  Oisin gave me a wicked smirk. "You are such a sweet-talker, gryphon."

  I laughed. The fae was such a pervert.

  He pulled on his powers and gazed into the water, humming to himself. I heard him whisper Halstad's name, then say something in elvish. Finally, he straightened. "All set. I can feel him. I'll go help Orion adjust his course."

  Oisin stood and I crossed my arms over my chest, giving him an unimpressed look. "That's it? Where is he?"

  The fae smiled. "On an island."

  I threw my hands up. "Glad your amazing fae powers are so useful, Mr. Obvious."

  Oisin relented, coming to stand on tiptoes and plant a kiss on my cheek. "Calm down, beastie. We're close. And he seems well. I got the sensation of white sand and tropical fruit. We'll see more in a day or so."

  I huffed. I hated waiting. And all I'd been able to do was wait on this damned mission. It was frustrating as hell. And I still didn't know how we were going to talk whoever had Halstad into letting him out of his new contract early. I swallowed down another bout of nausea and looked out at the horizon. "Can't this damned boat go any faster."

  Oisin tilted his head, strands of hair coming loose from his short man-bun to drift around his mischievous eyes. "Is there something you're not telling me, darling?"

  I glared at him. "Keep your nose to yourself," I ground out. My fae was perceptive. He could feel hints of people's emotions, read them better than your average person could. A handy trait to have when you were embroiled in the politics of the fae court. Not so handy when you wanted him to butt the fuck out of your business. "Go bother Hisashi. I'm pretty sure you haven't teased him about that orgy enough yet."

  The poor fox. I never would have pegged him for being so modest, based on our sexual encounters up until now. But apparently, he was worried about upsetting the pride. It was cute. Dumb, but cute.

  Oisin grinned. "Have it your way, gryphon. But I'm on to you."

  I stuck out my tongue. "Serves you right for all the times you've kept shit from me, asshole. Care to tell me why you suddenly tolerate the idea of getting Halstad back?"

  He sniffed, lifting his nose in the air. "Hisashi!" he called, turning to where the fox was chatting with Con and Orion about fishing. "What did it feel like to fuck me with a straight guy in the room?"

  I laughed. For once, I was glad Oisin was more interested in keeping his own secrets than he was in finding out mine.

  Oisin was right. With his adjustments to our course, we arrived at a small island the next afternoon. The place wasn't on any map. As we approached, I felt this building sense of…something. There was magic here that I was unfamiliar with. It was both alluring and repulsive at the same time. Which was just weird.

  Con slouched against the railing beside me, looking a little odd. "What the hell is that?" he said in a thick voice.

  I glanced at him to find his honey-brown eyes looking slightly dazed and a faint flush on his brown cheeks. "Con?"

  Oisin came to stand on his other side. "Sirens," he muttered. He clapped a hand on Con's shoulder. "Keep it together, man. Your dick belongs to Gesa. And sometimes Kai."

  I choked out a laugh. Con shook his head. "I don't feel good."

  I frowned at Oisin. "I've never met a siren before. I didn't think they were real." I studied the sex-crazed fae for signs that he was about to jump overboard. "Are you okay?" I glanced behind me as Hisashi and Kai approached. "What about the others?"

  Oisin scoffed at my question. "Please. As if I'd lose my mind over a bunch of wet manatees."

  Hisashi crossed his arms and shook his head at the fae. "Please don't say that in front of them. Gods, Oisin. Do you even know how touchy they are?"

  I raised an eyebrow at that. "If these chicks are easily offended, maybe we should leave the fae here."

  That got me an elbow to the ribs and a haughty glare. "I am a king," he reminded me. "Like I don't know about decorum."

  Hisashi smirked. "Oh, you know about it. But can you follow it? Last thing we need to do is start a clan war."

  I frowned. Why was my pride always one step away from causing some interspecies incident?

  "How do you know so much about sirens?" I asked Hisashi.

  The fox shrugged. "I had to learn about all sorts of cultures." In that one motion I was reminded how he looked, not in the t-shirt and cargo shorts he currently wore, but in ceremonial robes. His clan was the definition of ceremony and tradition.

  Kai sighed. "I haven't interacted with a siren in a long time, but…nobody wander off. They shouldn't be able to effect full supes, but better safe than sorry." She looped her arm through Con's. "And you stay with me, okay hon?"

  He blinked at her. "Maybe I should just stay on the boat."

  She shook her head at the same time that I did. No way were we separating. The alpha in me would not leave one member unprotected.

  Orion joined us as one of his men brought the boat up to a pristine dock. "I am staying on the boat with the men," he said softly.

  I studied his face, curious. "Because you were ordered to? Or because you're an incubus?" It seemed like the sirens wouldn't really enjoy someone else feeding on their prey.

  He lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. "It just seems prudent."

  I narrowed my eyes. Prudent my ass. It was probably all part of some grand scheme concocted by Derek fucking White. Whatever. "Just don't fucking leave us
here," I huffed, knowing it was useless to try to get real answers.

  He put his gloved hand on my arm. "I wouldn't abandon a friend." Then he withdrew, as if shocked he had touched me. "Neither would my employer."

  I rolled my eyes. Here we go with the friend crap again. Bullshit.

  We had barely stepped foot on the dock before a figure approached us. It was hard to pick out features in the glaring afternoon sun that reflected off the water and white sand, but I thought it was a woman. As she drew closer, I shifted to stand in front of Con and Kai, putting out an arm to halt Hisashi and Oisin, just in case. Cause, damn.

  She was the most stunning creature I'd ever seen. And since I was surrounded by hot people all day long, that was saying something. Gods. Long, red-gold hair tumbled in loose curls down to her waist. Her ebony skin had the sheen of well-oiled teak, contrasting with a pale blue wrap dress made out of some sort of filmy fabric that barely hid her inviting curves.

  "Greetings," she said in an accent that was somewhere between African and Australian, but older somehow. "We don't often get visitors on our island. How may I help you?"

  I just bet they didn't get visitors. The magic pulsing around the place as we approached made more sense to me now. It was only repulsive to me because I was a supe. If I had been human, I bet all I would have felt was the alluring pull of the place. They wanted visitors. Just not powerful ones who could fight back against their charms.

  Oisin ducked under my arm, ignoring my warning growl. He sketched a brief bow to the woman. "We mean no harm, especially to one so beautiful," he said, taking her hand and dropping a kiss on the back of it, all courtly fae nonsense. "We wish to speak with your leader, please."

  She watched him with eyes the color of jade. "Fae don't come here," she breathed, magic emanating from her like a caress. "Maybe you should get back on your boat and sail away."

  He straightened and dropped her hand, a soft, deadly smile tilting one corner of his lips. "Your compulsion won't work on me, love." I felt Oisin's own compulsion magic swell in response. "Perhaps you should take us to see your leader."

  The siren stared at him for a moment, as if she was fighting the impulse to do what he said. She half-turned back the way she'd come and took a few steps before she stopped and spun around to face us again, pissed at being compelled, at having her own tricks used on her. "How dare you!"

  I held up my hands. "You started it, chick. Don't use your freaky magic on my mates, and they'll keep their magic to themselves, okay?"

  She studied me. "You are the owner of these men?"

  I raised an eyebrow at her. "Uh, whoa there. Nobody owns anyone."

  Kai pushed Con at me and stepped forward. "Gesa owns us all. She is the head of the U.S. gryphon clan, and a powerful female. It would be wise not to anger her and those who belong to her.” My voluptuous mate's eyes flashed to the vertical-pupiled form that said she was about one second away from going kraken. The sea air stirred around us.

  The siren huffed a sigh and turned, all regal grace. "Follow me. Touch nothing. Any unaccompanied males will be considered fair game."

  I squeezed Con's arm. Gods, this place might be one of the most beautiful I'd ever seen. But it was also shaping up to be the creepiest. What the hell were they doing with Halstad?

  Chapter 11

  I got the answer to my question soon enough. The island didn't look to be that big, comprised mostly of one village and a fair amount of untouched forest and beach. The whole place gave off an air of purity and beauty that reminded me of the feeling I got when I looked at old paintings of Greek landscapes.

  Everything was just a little too pristine and perfect. All the buildings were white, with only a bit of pastel here and there to break up the monotony. It didn't escape my notice that the only people we saw out running errands were men, and that they all wore bracelets or chokers that looked more like collars than jewelry.

  Now and then, I'd catch sight of a stunningly beautiful woman dressed much like the one leading us, and I would feel cold eyes drilling into my back as we passed.

  We were led to a pretty white beach house not far from the dock. The place was open and airy, with sunlight and the sea breeze spilling in through the open windows, stirring filmy white curtains like something out of a romance novel.

  The siren led us through the house to a living room area where a bunch of women sat sipping cocktails on puffy white couches, their feet bare against mahogany floors. They were also draped in the same gauzy type of dresses as the one who led us here. A dark-skinned goddess with the longest, most intricate dreads I had ever seen sat up as we approached, setting her drink aside and resting her hands along the arms of her chair as if it were a throne. Her fingers were tipped in bloodred, sharp-pointed nails. Her golden eyes lacked any sort of warmth.

  Sirens were some freaky shit.

  "Delu," the woman said in a throaty voice. "We have visitors?"

  The woman who had led us here nodded her head. "Yes, mistress. They claim to have some business with you." She shot a pouty look at Oisin. "And they could not be compelled to leave."

  I felt the weight of about half a dozen hungry eyes slip over me and narrow in on my men. I crossed my arms over my chest and stepped in front of Con, who had just tried to take a step forward. Kai caught him and pinched him, making him yelp.

  "You have a mage," I said, cutting right to the point before I had to get out my talons and gut someone. "We need him back."

  The woman looked down her nose at me, all regal, feminine beauty. Her body looked soft and welcoming, but her eyes looked like cold and death. "We have a mage, stranger, but he is contracted to us by the mage guild. We paid dearly for his services."

  Oisin touched my arm and I glanced at him. "May I speak please?" he asked softly.

  I arched a brow at him. Why the fuck did he need my permission? "I'd rather you didn't."

  Hisashi poked me in the middle of the back with one big finger.

  I looked around at the haughty women…and the completely silent, submissive and almost invisible males they had stashed here and there like potted plants. "Fine. You have my permission to talk, Oisin." I waved my hands, not quite believing I had to say it. "My entire pride all has my permission to speak whenever the fuck they want. Gods."

  The head bitch in front of me wrinkled her perfect nose like I'd just suggested we all eat dogshit sandwiches.

  One corner of Oisin's mouth twitched before he put on his perfect mask and addressed the sirens. "The mage in question was under our care when he went missing. Our…alpha…had plans to petition for his contract. The gryphon and fae clans in the U.S. would be most grateful if you would allow his return, mistress."

  I almost laughed at the whole situation. I had never seen Oisin ask for anything with such a complete lack of haughty arrogance. What the actual fuck? I needed to know what those ghosts had done to my fae. Because I was pretty sure that was the only reason he was playing nice.

  The siren tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "I paid for the mage's contract, which is legal and binding. You should take your complaints up with the mage guild. Maybe find another mage to contract. Why would a group of…creatures…such as yourself travel so far to bring back one man?"

  A big hand touched my shoulder from behind, and the cool taste of Hisashi's magic caressed my skin. I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Hisashi. I already said you can talk, for fuck's sake."

  The fox stepped forward and bowed, as if he was wearing silk and standing in a temple. "You are Queen Amaka?" he asked softly. The woman nodded.

  I snorted. Kai had told us there was no hierarchy among the sea folk. But I could totally see this chick declaring herself a queen.

  "It is my understanding that sirens don't experience mate bonds in the way of shifters," Hisashi said in his even, kind voice, just a whisper of his magic swirling around him, calming, ethereal. "But among shifters, the mate bond is precious, honored. It would be unforgivable to tamper with such a gift." He looked at the wom
an meaningfully with his ice-blue eyes.

  She turned her gaze to me, condescending and almost pitying. "Am I to understand this mage is your mate?"

  I ground my teeth together for a moment before I bit out my reply. "Yes."

  She narrowed her eyes, the gold orbs staring at me as if she was trying to look inside me. "You are an alpha gryphon. Even though you are female. I didn't know this was possible with your kind."

  I was losing my patience real damned quick. "Surprised the fuck out of me too," I said flatly. "And my family was just thrilled. The mage?"

  She tapped her long fingernails on the arms of her chair, considering. "Among our kind, we honor only the energy of the feminine," she told me with a lift of her chin. "You seem to have reversed the backward thinking of your male-centric clan. I will consider your request."

  She nodded to the woman who had brought us here. "Delu. Go fetch the mage. I believe he is working on the east wards."

  The woman scurried off to do as she was told, and the queen turned back to me and my companions. "Come," she said with a wave of her hand. "Sit. Drink." She gestured at a wine carafe and a cluster of empty seats.

  I heaved a sigh but did as I was asked, plopping into one of the cloud-like chairs. Kai followed suit. But Oisin and Hisashi caught Con by the collar as he tried to follow. They herded the human over and they all knelt on the floor by my chair.

  I glanced at them in surprise. Hisashi kept his head bowed like a good little pet. Oisin kept his head up and his sharp eyes held a sarcastic glare. He didn't bow to anyone. Even when he was literally bowing on the floor. I smirked at him.

  Con looked uncomfortable. He glanced at me, then around the room. Then the human scooted closer to Oisin, so their shoulders and hips touched. I would have laughed out loud any other time, at the sight of the bigger man trying to seek safety with the little fae. Instead, it pissed me off that he was feeling threatened. Oisin grasped Con's hand and interlaced their fingers together, sending a little trickle of his magic over the human, and my heart gave a squishy little thud. My pride was so fucking amazing, always looking out for each other.