Chapter Nine
KERES
Slipping out of Loch’s arms two days in a row seems disrespectful.
I’m sure he’s expecting to find me in his bed when he wakes.
Where else am I going to go? He might tear his ship apart searching for me.
I dive off the side and stay underneath as long as possible.
It takes longer than usual for my breathing to adjust. I swim as far as I can with these useless human legs.
Just when I think I’ll have to float my way to the hidden alcove, scales ripple down my skin and my legs fuse together.
I shouldn’t need more sleep, yet still I doze until the sun sits low in the sky.
I expect to have to sneak back onto his ship or wait for something to happen.
Instead, I track a dinghy floating toward the beach to my left.
I slip into the water before it gets too close.
I grin, then wash it away. Loch’s muscles bulge as he rows toward the shore.
His head whips back and forth, probably searching for me.
I could let him go, wait for the sun to set, then saunter out of the waves completely naked. Or I could have a little fun.
Diving deep, I make my way toward him. When I reach the boat, I knock on the bottom and the oars stop. I swim to the side, then pop my head up when he’s looking the other way.
“Long way from your ship, Captain.”
The dinghy rocks dangerously as he flops around, losing one of the oars in the process. I rest my arms on the edge, trying to keep him from capsizing. His mouth drops open, and he glances around again like the answer to his unspoken questions will magically appear.
“You’re… What are you… How?”
“Not entirely sure what you’re asking, but I saw you alone so I swam over. Unless you were hunting for seashells instead of me.” I tilt my head, waiting for a response.
He runs his hands through his blue-black hair, then leans over to stare into the water. “That’s a...well, that explains the strange tattoos.”
“Not tattoos. Not like yours, anyway. More like echoes of what I should be.” I hold up a hand. “Don’t ask. I won’t tell you.”
Despite my blase attitude, nerves bubble in my gut.
I shouldn’t have done this. He doesn’t need to know what I am or that I’ve been cursed to walk on two legs at night.
I don’t know why I’m even here. Some mystical force draws me to him.
Eventually he’ll either turn on me or he’ll die.
Pain stabs at my heart, and I close my eyes, letting the soft waves wash it away.
“Seems I’m not the only one keeping secrets,” he murmurs, but I doubt he meant for me to hear.
“Why were you looking for me?”
He shrugs, then huffs. “You keep sneaking out while I’m sleeping.”
“We did say one night. Not one night and some of the morning, perhaps a little of the day.” I smirk and wiggle my eyebrows. He doesn’t return my smile.
“I need to know more about the mutiny.” He glances around. “Is there somewhere we can go? I’m sure my crew is staring at me wondering why I’m sitting in the middle of the bay not moving.”
“You should have brought some fishing nets.”
“Caught you without one, didn’t I?” The corner of his lip twitches, some of his swagger coming back. Usually, I’d take offense. It doesn’t feel like a threat coming from him.
Sighing, I slip into the water and swim to the front of the boat. “Throw the rope down, then pretend you’re rowing.”
He does as I ask and I wrap it around my arm.
The dinghy isn’t heavy, even with him inside, and I tug it along toward the alcove.
It’s not deep, but it’s enough to hide his boat and still have a place for him to sit on the flat rock.
With anyone else, I’d be worried about being in such an enclosed space with only one exit.
My powers to disintegrate his soul only work at night.
With Loch, though, I didn’t even think twice.
“The gods are up to something,” I whisper as I haul him through the fissure in the cliff.
“What was that?” he calls, his voice echoing off the rocks.
“Nothing.”
I secure the rope around a stone, then dip deeper into the water. I’m sure he’s figured out what I am. Seeing the evidence splayed out in front of him instead of through the rippling water is different. He climbs out of the boat and spins slowly, surveying my temporary refuge.
He plants his fists on his hips and stares at me. “You going to get out or am I going in to get you?”
“Do you have any weapons?” I don’t actually think he’d stab me, but people do unpredictable things when they’re afraid.
“Of course I do.” His jaw tics, which doesn’t help. “I’m not going to hurt you, Keres.” His face softens. “Promise.”
“Don’t laugh, either,” I mutter, then shoo him away from the edge. He steps back slowly until his back hits the rock face. I contemplate asking him to turn around, but I fear that would be too much.
Getting onto land with a tail isn’t the easiest thing to do.
Half the time I look like a beached whale, and I always feel like an awkward snake slithering around.
To his credit, his face doesn’t change except for a slight widening of his eyes.
I settle my tail in front of me and hunch over.
His mouth parts and I swear there’s awe in his eyes. Wishful thinking.
His body sways toward me. “Does it hurt?”
“What? No. Why would it hurt?”
He shakes his head, then crouches as he stares at my lower half. “Do your scales get caught on anything?”
“No, they’re not...they...” I press my lips together. “Just feel them.”
He lifts an eyebrow and I sit back on my palms. When his finger brushes along one, a shiver rolls through me.
I’ll blame it on the cold. The sun hasn’t crested over the cliffs hanging high above us.
He murmurs under his breath, too quietly for me to hear.
He scoots closer and I tip my head back while he continues exploring.
When his hand brushes over my bare stomach, I jolt.
His gaze travels to my chest and his fingers follow. The scales there aren’t as thick and his touch burns its way through my body. He probably doesn’t understand what he’s doing to me. He swallows hard, then glances up.
“You’re—”
“Don’t. We’re not talking about it.”
He purses his lips. “Mesmerizing.”