Chapter Ten
LOCH
Somehow I convince Keres to spend the rest of the afternoon talking. I should be focusing on dealing with the crew and their ill-advised plan to overthrow me. I’d rather spend my time getting to know her. It’s a dangerous route to sail.
We avoid our pasts, neither willing to fully give up our secrets.
Until she settles against me, my back to the rock and my arms wrapped around her.
Her tail flips between my legs and I suck in a sharp breath.
I’ve never met a mermaid, though I knew they existed.
They’re solitary creatures who don’t mingle with humans. I don’t blame them.
Silence descends around us, broken only by the lapping of waves.
Breaking it will send us back to reality.
I’ll go back to my ship and deal with my crew.
Most of them will probably be sent to the gods for judgment.
It’ll be a bloodbath. Despite her already taking care of Nock, I don’t want her anywhere near me when things happen.
I’ll have to let her go. I can’t risk triggering my curse.
If I do, I’ll end up some hideous beast and she’d swim as far away as possible.
“How’d you get the ship?” she whispers.
I clear my throat. “She was a gift.” I’m not ready for her to ask from who. “How’d you end up with legs?”
“They were not a gift. At least, that’s what I used to think.”
“And now?” I ask softly.
“Now I’m tired. Except this”—she flips her tail—”wouldn’t have led me here. Can’t begrudge the memories.”
Memories. That’s all our time together will amount to. At least we’re on the same page. That’s what I tell myself. It’s easier than examining why my chest is tight. I glance at the sun, barely peeking through the fissure across from us. It’s sinking toward the horizon faster than I want.
“Vixen,” I murmur, and she shifts in my hold. “I have to go.”
“Okay, let’s go.” She attempts to slip away, and I cling to her.
“No. I have to go alone.”
When she sits upright, I let her go. “I’m going to try not to take offense to that.”
“You shouldn’t. I have to deal with this on my own.” My gaze dips to her tail. “If you want, circle the ship and drown anyone I throw over the side.”
She purses her lips. “And then? No. Don’t answer that.”
I grab her face and kiss her softly. I push to my feet and climb into the dinghy before I can change my mind.
If I don’t go now, I’ll end up fucking her again.
Maybe falling even further than I already have.
I need to cut this off before I’m in too deep.
She flips the rope in the boat, and I take up the oars.
By the time I’m through the gap, she’s disappeared. Smitty lifts a hand and drops the ladder when I get close to the Black Maiden. He doesn’t ask any questions as I drop onto the deck. He knows I wouldn’t answer him.
“Did anyone ask about Nock?” I ask quietly.
“Yes. Told them it was normal for this vessel. I was waiting for you to tell them the rest of the story.”
Smitty follows me to my cabin. Several pairs of eyes track us across the ship, and I mark each of them.
I could end this whole thing right now. None of them know why they’re truly here.
It’s my job to inform them. I used to do it right away until I realized they’d try to run after I did.
Now I let them get used to being stuck on a pirate ship they have no recollection of joining.
Typically, waiting helps. Not this time.
When we reach my cabin, I usher him inside. “They’re planning a mutiny. Going to get rid of us both.”
Smitty laughs, a boisterous cackle echoing around us. “Too bad we can’t die, huh?”
“Die? No. But you might get sent to the gods. You want to risk that?”
He shrugs. “I’d be happy living out my time here. If the gods deem me worthy enough to stay on the Black Maiden, I’d consider it an honor.”
“That makes one of us,” I mutter. “Question is, do we let them carry out their plans or stop it now?”
“Fate must find its way. Interfere and you risk catching her eye.”
A chill walks down my back. I nod, knowing we need to let things take their course.
We spend the next hour talking in circles.
It’s not like we can make an actual plan other than don’t get stabbed, and even that one is up in the air.
My mind keeps wandering back to Keres and my time with her.
Nothing productive gets done, especially with her consuming so many of my thoughts.
Cook rings the bell for dinner and I sigh, pushing to my feet.
Smitty’s out the door before I’ve tucked my knife in my belt.
I doubt they’ll make a move before they’ve eaten.
By the time I make it out to the main deck, most of the crew are scattered around with bowls in their hands.
Cook hands me one and I take it to the bow.
Night falls and stars materialize in the ever-darkening sky, yet I don’t eat.
My stomach lurches every time the aroma from the stew hits me.
Subtly, I tip the contents overboard. Hopefully, Keres isn’t below me with her hair full of my dinner.
As the hours pass by, the crew settles into their typical routine of mooring lines and swabbing the decks. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think it was just another night. Except there’s a nervous energy winding its way through them. The tension grows by the minute.
Between one blink and the next, everything changes. Shouts ring out across the ship, and swords are drawn. Two men, Bosco and Ward, rush toward me and point the tips of their blades at my throat. I tip my chin up and raise an eyebrow.
“Care to tell me what you’re doing?” I ask, a slight hint of annoyance in my tone.
“We’re taking over,” Bosco snaps.
“We’ll send you to the gods. You’ll be their problem soon,” Ward adds, then glances at Bosco. Of course they don’t know what they’re doing. They’ve probably never pulled off a mutiny before. Or rather, Ward hasn’t.
“I’ve been the gods’ problem long before you were alive, and I suspect I’ll continue to be one long after you’re gone. I’ll give you one chance to withdraw.”
Bosco’s lip curls and he sneers, “Or what?”
I heave out a heavy breath. I’m so fucking tired. After almost a century of ferrying lost souls across the seas, I’m exhausted. Maybe being turned into a hideous beast would be better than this. Maybe one more night with Keres would heal part of my soul.
“Or you’ll truly feel the gods and their wrath.”
Ward’s sword wavers, indecision in his dark eyes.
Perhaps he’s not quite as lost as I’d once thought.
A pained scream rings out, and he glances over his shoulder.
Within seconds, he abandons Bosco and runs down the steps before disappearing into the melee.
Apparently, they didn’t get quite as much support as they thought.
Then again, it could be Smitty holding his own.
I’m sure they thought he wouldn’t be able to fight, and they’re finding out just how wrong they are.
“And then there was one,” I murmur. “Shall we?”
I rest my hand on the hilt of my sword. I’d prefer to use my dagger, but I need this to look real for his sake.
He nods and steps back until his feet hit the main deck.
The others have moved away, giving us plenty of room.
He blanches as I draw my weapon and touch my blade to his.
A commotion by the hatch has his head whipping around and his jaw dropping.
I sigh and follow his line of sight to only a few feet away.
The tip of my sword sinks to the deck while my mind processes the scene in front of me.
Keres, completely naked with her fingers digging into Morley’s cheeks, standing on two feet.
She jerks his face closer, her mouth almost on his, and shimmery black smoke swirls between them.
After only a few seconds, she drops him to the deck and wrinkles her nose.
When her gaze meets mine, her eyes glitter a deep purple.
“He was going to shoot you,” she says, shrugging. As if that’s all the explanation I need. Bosco’s sword clatters across the wood. He sprints for the railing and jumps straight over.
A shadow looms over Keres. I make it one step, a warning crowding my mouth, when a thin blade appears through her stomach.
Her eyes widen, and her gaze drops to the foreign object sticking out of her.
Time slows as I draw my knife and fling it at her murderer.
I catch her in my arms before he’s hit the deck.
“Not...good,” she gasps, then coughs, and blood coats her lips.
“Don’t talk. Just...keep breathing.”
She smiles, her hand lifting to cup my cheek. “I’ll be fine. Just take it out.”
I shake my head, knowing she’ll leave me sooner if I do.
She’s dead either way. I shove the thought away, not ready to accept it.
In such a short time, she’s become vital to me in a way I don’t fully understand.
Perhaps it’s the gods, or the sea, or fate.
None of it matters. When she tries to speak again, I cover her mouth with mine.
“Do you feel it?” I whisper against her lips.
“The thread?”
“Yes, the thread, tying us together.”
She huffs out a laugh. “I promised myself I would never be tied to another being, my curse be damned.”
I brush the hair away from her face, then kiss her softly. “And I vowed to never fall for another. I spent years running from the possibility, and then there you were.”
“So much for one night.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “Please take it out. It’ll be fine.”
Gently, I roll her in my lap, then grip the hilt and tug. She grunts when it’s finally free. I toss the dagger aside and press my palm to her wound. Magic swirls around us, pinpricks of electricity determined to fulfill their purpose. A bubble encases our bodies, and I swallow hard.
“Well, that’s unexpected,” she murmurs. Pain flits across her face, and I gather her closer.
“Keres,” I whisper, and her gaze locks on mine. “I’ll find you in the next world.”
Confusion gathers on her face. “I’d rather stay in this one. With you.”
Darkness swirls around us, and I cling to her until I can no longer feel my limbs. Until I can no longer hear her voice calling for me. Until time ceases to exist and I give into the gods and their senseless curse.