Chapter 49 Serena
SERENA
I’m pulled from a thick, groggy sleep by a clash of boisterous voices singing shanties from above deck. My muscles feel wrung out as I stretch through my fingertips, pushing back the thin blanket and scanning the empty cabin.
The last of the sun slips away as I pad onto the deck to find my friends lodged smack dab in the middle of a private revelry. Clanking pewter mugs, burly bodies joined at the shoulders swaying back and forth, happy shouts ringing through the open air.
My eyes find Zadyn almost immediately on one of the small upper-decks. He turns as if sensing my presence, leaping over the low rail to cut through the raucous sailors.
“You’re awake.” He breaks into a wide smile as he reaches me, brushing the damp hair off my neck. It’s a casual move, but my skin warms when his fingers graze my collarbone. “How do you feel?”
“Like I just vomited up a fuck-ton of poison,” I admit on a laugh.
“Sit.” He pats the top of a wooden barrel. “I’ll get you some water.”
Zadyn returns a moment later with a waterskin. I catch his hand in mine. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asks, brows knitting together.
“For saving my ass earlier. And for taking care of me.” He reaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear, waking the butterflies in my stomach.
“I always will,” he promises. “It’s my job.”
His statement leaves me with a twinge of disappointment, though I’m not really sure why. I push it out of my mind as I drink, directing my attention to the drunken karaoke unfolding before me.
“What’s going on here?”
“While you were braving Skull Valley, the crew was on a job. Raided the home of some wealthy merchant and brought back ten barrels of gold. Hence, the celebration.”
I glance around at the pirates—their golden-brown chests and tattooed arms on display in their skin-tight vests—noticing the multitude of gold jewelry dripping from their necks, wrists, and ears. I even spot one in a tiara, rolling a set of dice and pumping his fist in the air.
Toward the edge of the fray, the Pirate King lounges on a throne of stacked trunks, her inked fingers toying with the compass. Her stare is fixed on the antique brass, but it’s clear her mind is far away.
Bronyn claps his tattooed hands, and one of the pirates hops off a crate, passing him an instrument that resembles a guitar with six strings and a hollowed body.
“Who’s next?” he booms in his thick accent.
“I’ve a song to sing.” Kai stands, dusting off his jacket as he makes his way down to the quarterdeck. “It’s very old and very sad. One of my favorites. A love song.”
He steals a look at the Pirate King lazing on her throne, pointer finger pressed to her forehead, giving him full-on deadpan.
Kai turns to whisper something to Zadyn, who takes the guitar from Bronyn and slides onto the empty crate.
He plays guitar too?
Great. Just what my ovaries need.
Zadyn starts to pick at the strings, but when Kai opens his mouth, mine hits the deck.
His voice is otherworldly. He sings proudly, his tone rich and husky and full of passion. Mar and I exchange a look of astonishment. The song is sad and sweet—a story about a maiden whose love abandoned her, so she cut out her heart and cast it into the sea after him.
Bleak, but you know, kind of sweet.
The Pirate King inspects her nails as Kai pours his heart out, his sights set on her and her alone. But she can’t ignore it when he kneels before her, and on the final note of the song, takes her hand and kisses it.
I don’t know how anyone could remain indifferent to being serenaded like that. Voices like his are typically rewarded with fainting spells and flying bras.
But the Pirate King rips her hand away and plants her feet on the ground. “Bravo, little prince. At least that smug mouth is good for something besides talking people to death.”
He takes this as a compliment, his lips parting into a blinding smile. “Give me a chance, and I’ll show you just how good this mouth can be.”
She slowly reaches out a hand, then leverages his head to push out of her seat. I can’t contain my laughter as she stalks away.
It’s hilarious. The more Kai tries, the more she loathes him. And the more she loathes him, the harder he tries.
Kai is not used to being told no by the opposite sex. The only one who’s likely resisted his charm is me. But I suspect that’s because despite his harmless flirtations, Kai and I care for each other in a different way. It’s never been like that between us.
I turn back to find Zadyn still leaned over the guitar, his fingers moving deftly over the strings, drawing out beautiful music.
God, he looks gorgeous. Slightly disheveled, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, hair falling over his eyes, and nose pink from our days of sailing. As if all that weren’t enough to have me drooling, he has to whip out a secret musical talent? It’s like a double Cupid shot right to the ass.
We lock eyes as he starts to play a familiar riff. I tilt my head.*
No.
Yes, he flashes me a grin, and then starts singing. Terribly.
“I was cheated by you, and I think you know when…”
He stumbles through the first verse, laughing through every word as I clutch my gaping mouth, dually endeared and impressed by his commitment.
Don’t leave me hanging, he begs halfway through the chorus.
Fuck it.
I jump out of my seat and shout back, “Yes, I’ve been brokenhearted, blue since the day we parted. Why, why did I ever let you go!”
He joins in again, “Mamma Mia, now I really kno-ow, my, my, I could never let you go!”
The deck bursts into wild applause. His smile warms my entire body, starting at my toes and traveling upward. It’s contagious, that smile. I don’t recall moving my feet, but suddenly I’m standing right in front of him.
“You remembered.”
He scoffs. “Of course I did. Spring Break. Panama City.”
“Never forget.”
“RIP Annie.” He kisses his hand and lifts it toward the sky.
“I miss her,” I admit, barely above a whisper.
“She’s right here.” He rubs the spot over his heart. I clear my throat, pushing away the melancholy thought.
“How come you never told me you played guitar?”
He shrugs. “It never came up.”
“Color me impressed.”
He reaches up to scratch the stubble on his jaw. “Well, I learned that one for you.”
Warmth flares in my chest. “You did?”
Before he can answer, someone bumps into me, sloshing ale down the front of my top.
“Apologies, lady—” the pirate stops short, gaping at me. “Oye. It’s you.”
“Me?” I point to myself, glancing between him and Zadyn as if he’s going to have some explanation.
“Yes, you. Chair girl!”
“I’m sorry—what?”
“The tavern in Iaspus—you broke a chair over my back. You were there too.” He jabs a finger at Zadyn. “All of you.”
He turns around, lifts up his shirt, and points over his shoulder to the faint scar between the faded black ink. “Never healed proper. Wood splinter I waited too long to get out.”
“Oh, uh, sorry about that.”
“No need. Pirates wear scars like badges of honor. Maps and tales of survival. That arm of yours is really something.” He pinches my bicep, his pierced mouth curving into a lazy smirk. Zadyn takes a step closer to me.
“You didn’t seem all too impressed that night as you were trying to kill us,” I shoot back, crossing my arms over my soaked shirt.
“Ahh, if we had wanted you dead, you’d already be six feet under. Brawling is—uh—how we show affection. Ask your prince friend. He’ll tell you. Name’s Coyle.”
“Serena.”
“Charmed.” Coyle steals my hand from beneath my arm and kisses it. My gaze shifts to Zadyn, who looks about ready to snap this dude in half.
“This is Zadyn.” I lay a cautionary hand on his shoulder.
Down boy. He’s just being friendly.
A little too friendly.
I roll my eyes. Coyle nods to Zadyn, then turns to snatch his friend from another conversation.
“Oye. Look who I found.”
His friend’s pale green eyes pop when they land on me. “Chair girl!”
Before I can react, he’s swept me up into his tawny arms and pulled me into a lively, wild dance. Another sailor tugs Mar out of her seat and whisks her across the boards.
Then the entire ship is dancing, twining arms and switching partners in time to the music. One second I’m spinning, and the next, Zadyn grabs me around the waist and pulls me to a dizzying stop. My laughter fades, and in the middle of the ship, he’s suddenly the only one I see.
He hasn’t tried to make a move since that night at the inn, even though we’ve been sharing a bed since we got on board. And we still haven’t spoken about that kiss. Or how he told me he wanted to get to know every square inch of my body.
Swoon.
“Chair girl.” He teases a smile. “Has a nice ring to it.”
“Are you kidding? It’s legendary.”
Through the crowd, I notice the Pirate King slipping off toward her cabin. A little twinge of guilt nips at me. I place a hand on Zadyn’s arm.
“Hey, I’ll be right back,” I tell him.
Weaving between bodies, I overhear someone slur, “Don’t get me wrong—you cross a pirate, you die. BUT if you cross a pirate and manage to live, you’ve made yourself a friend for life.”
I turn to see Bronyn tuck Kai beneath his hulking bicep and give him a hearty shake. More pirates join in, reaching out to ruffle his hair. Kai’s transgressions seem to be forgiven as they clap him on the back and commend him for being the only one on board capable of carrying a tune.
I smile to myself, stopping outside the Pirate King’s door. Sniffles sound from inside. I give a tentative knock. The sniffling immediately stops.
“What is it, Bronyn?” the cold voice snaps.
“It’s not Bronyn, it’s Serena.”
Silence.
“Can I come in?”
“No.”
Rolling my eyes, I twist the handle and step inside.
“I said—”
“I know what you said.”
Her eyes are glassy and red around the rims. So is the tip of her button nose. She glares at me from behind her desk.
“What do you want, witch?”
“I came to check on you.”
“And why in gods’ names would you do that?”
“Because,” I sigh, slinking further into the room. “That was your father. In the cave.”
She steels herself. “And?”
“I can’t imagine having to do that. To see that.”
Her icy gaze falls to the jug of clear liquor sitting on her desk. She pours some into a crystal glass and tosses it back.
“I’ve done worse. And I’ll do more before my time here is up.”
I help myself to the empty seat across from her. “I lost my father too.”
Her smart blue eyes land on mine. “Do you think that makes us the same? That we’re now bonded by the sisterhood of dead fathers? Shall we braid each other’s hair and exchange dark secrets?”
I prop my chin on my hand. “You really are a bitch, aren’t you?”
She snorts a laugh, twirling the empty glass in her hand. “Suppose I am.”
“You’re not made of steel. You don’t have to pretend you are. Feeling doesn’t diminish your strength.”
“Doesn’t it though?” She gives me a sober look, then twists around to grab a second glass from the bar cart. I watch as she fills both and slides one across the desk to me.
“Here.” I eye the drink, then her. “Don’t worry, I used up all my poison earlier.”
I accept the glass, lifting it into the air. “Cheers. You fucking owe me.”
“Fine, Blackblood. I owe you.”
Our glasses clink.
“Look.” I plop my forearm on the desk. Two pink crescent moons peer back at us. “Twin scars. It’s kind of badass.”
A reluctant smile spreads on her lips. Shaking her head, she kicks her feet up on her desk and reclines back in her chair.
“Yes. I suppose it kind of is.”
* Cue: Mamma Mia by ABBA