Sea and Sky

Chapter 1

KYLER

The blindfold is a nice touch.

Thunder claps in the distance as the ship rocks and sways in the choppy water. I’m so used to the ocean’s swift mood changes that I hardly notice. In fact, the movement and accompanying groan of wood are comforting.

My current irritation is directed at whoever knotted the damned blindfold, because they’ve caught my long hair in it. The itchy, rough cloth hangs over my nose. With every breath, it wiggles, tickling my top lip.

I sit against a wall, legs bound from knees to ankles, arms behind my back.

I shimmy, trying to loosen the rope. The knots barely budge.

With each twist, the rope burns against my wrists and forearms. Luckily, I’m flexible; otherwise, the harsh angle of the binding could pop a shoulder out of its socket.

I’ve gotten out of worse, but right now, I can’t think of any.

There’s the fact that I’ve gotten myself captured on purpose, so I can’t complain.

Despite the impending storm and being tied up, all I can think about is how close I am to buying my freedom.

Captain Vex has agreed that if I get him a thousand silver coins by the end of summer, I’ll be free.

I don’t know what caused the change of heart in the vicious pirate, but I’ll rise to the challenge. I have to.

Even though I’m technically a pirate’s captive, I’ve been given certain liberties.

Captain Vex found out that merfolk get sick when kept from the ocean for too long.

He no longer keeps me on a tight leash. For the last twenty years, the binding spell embedded in my right palm has done well enough to make me do Captain Vex’s bidding.

I don’t know how long I’ve worked on the coarse material keeping my limbs confined. I wish for a drop of seawater. It wouldn’t take much to shift my hands to the webbed and clawed weapons they are in my mer form. Finally, the left side loosens, and I pull free.

Lifting the blindfold—yanking out strands of my golden blond hair as I do—I find myself in the captain’s quarters of the ship.

Exactly where I want to be. It always has the best treasure and smells better than below deck.

Without the blindfold obscuring my ability to smell, I catch a hint of lilac and rose alongside the fresh scent of the ocean.

More pleasant than other ships I’ve been on, including Captain Vex’s.

I get to work freeing my bottom half. The task goes quicker now that I can see. The knots are easy to pick open. When I think of how someone bound my bare legs, my cheeks warm. I’m not a prude, but I like having a choice in the matter of who sees what.

Bouncing to my feet, I roll my shoulders and shake out my hands, anything to bring feeling back to my numb limbs.

My eyes dart around the dark cabin, looking for anything to grab.

Each flash of lightning through the enormous windows at the stern gives me a moment of light.

A crystal chandelier jangles from the ceiling.

Silk drapes with glittering jewels wave over the boxy bed bolted to the wall.

Gold frames containing obscene paintings of naked women tilt on the walls. I roll my eyes.

Pirates. All the same.

When they took me, the sky was clear, but now the sea is choppy from an oncoming storm. I cling to whatever stable surface I can grab. My goal is the ornate captain’s desk on the opposite side of the room. It could have a treasure map or a purse of gold.

Another bolt of lightning. My stomach drops. Someone is at the desk. The man claps, and flame jumps to life in the oil lamps around the cabin at once.

“Caught ya, boy, though I’m disappointed.

Thought you’d be scaley all over.” The man wears a sly grin and props his booted feet on the desk.

His horns go back from his temple before looping around his ears, allowing him to wear a captain’s hat, unlike most dragon shifters whose horns rarely allow for hat wearing.

The uniform he wears is black and blue wool, which would be hot in the summer heat, but the cabin is comfortably cool. Probably magic.

Showtime.

I straighten my shoulders and gather my golden hair over my shoulder.

Dabbing my tongue to my lips, I run a hand down the front of my oversized hand-me-down shirt that drags past my knees.

Barefoot, pants-less, tall, and slender, I do not appear formidable, and I know it.

“Why would you think I’d be scaley all over? ”

The man at the desk cocks his brow. Taking his time, he draws a knife from his belt and picks under his dirty nails. “You’re one of them elusive merfolk. Ain’t no one seen one of you in decades.” He points the knife at me and waves it along my body.

I cross my arms over my chest, trying not to fist my hands. “I don’t know where you came up with that story. I’m just a man that got swept away. Thank you for the rescue.” I turn toward the door.

But the dragon springs from his chair. He gets to the door first, slamming his hand against the thick wood before I can reach for the latch.

My heart pounds. The man is my type, in that thick, muscled dragon shifter way. It’s time to use my skills of seduction.

Dropping my head, I lift my eyes demurely, looking at the captain from beneath my long lashes. “What’s your name?” Taking a step closer, I walk my fingers up his chest, but the man catches my hand.

“Captain Farol.” The man barks out a laugh. “But you’re trapped, boy.”

I roll my eyes. Why does everyone have to call me boy? I’m at least… twenty-four springs old. Give or take a few. I’m not entirely sure, to be honest.

The ship lurches, and I stumble back, catching myself on the bed. The obscene paintings are now tasteful images of naval ships.

Fucking barnacles.

The ship is under an illusion. It isn’t pirate; it’s military. My heart pounds faster.

This is bad. Very bad. Terrible.

“His Majesty’s been looking for a mer, and I’m the one that found you.

” The ridiculous pirate accent Captain Farol had used before is gone.

“I’d hoped it’d be me. Merchants and pirates talk, you know, big gossips once you get them drunk.

None too happy about your little damsel in distress trick.

All surprised when you stole their best stuff, then left.

The best part of the tales was when you hit the water, your backend turned into a fish. ”

I snort, hoping to throw Captain Farol off. “You have the wrong man. I’m no mer.”

Captain Farol stalks closer, his dark eyes intense. Heat comes off him. I try to back up farther, but the bed has me stuck.

“But you are.” Captain Farol yanks me by the hair, lifting me to my toes.

Then he lifts the edge of my shirt to reveal my hip and the patch of blue scale that shimmers there in my human form.

It showed up a little over a month ago, just the size of my thumbnail, but now it’s as big as my hand.

I’m sure Captain Vex is forcing my mer to consume me, and I need to get away from whatever influence it is that causes the scale to stay in my human skin.

I am mer. Part of two worlds, not one. As much as I crave my beloved ocean’s embrace at all times, I am also human, and the thought of not being able to go to land as I please makes my bones ache.

“Skin condition is all that is.” I bat the hand away, but Farol holds me, keeping me on tiptoes.

“Not very convincing, are you?” Dropping the shirt, Captain Farol breathes me in. He draws his tongue across my cheek, tasting me.

A shiver of disgust tumbles down my spine.

“You don’t taste human. Too sweet.”

“That’s surprising. Wouldn’t merfolk taste salty?” I can’t help the snarky question. I try to shrug as nonchalantly as possible, but I’m still caught in the man’s grasp. “On account of swimming in the ocean, of course.”

Captain Farol barks out another laugh, sending more shivers down my spine, heating my skin.

Farol releases my hair, letting me stand properly.

At the same time, the entire ship heaves to the side, throwing us both off our feet.

In the confusion, I scramble toward the huge window in the back of the cabin.

But the man grabs my leg, tripping me. Kicking, I catch Captain Farol’s stubbled jaw, which only makes him smile. A slimy, slick smirk.

The man yanks my ankle hard, dragging me along. I desperately dig my fingers into the wooden slats of the floor. My finger pads bleed into the grains, nails chip and break. Flipped over, I kick again, but Captain Farol’s grip holds me in place. With one hand, he clamps my wrists to his stomach.

“His Majesty will be happy to have you. He has plans for you.” Holding my wrists in one hand, Captain Farol pushes to his feet, then yanks me to his.

“What? To gawk at me in a tank?” I struggle against him and search for anything I can use as a weapon. I find it on his belt—a dagger.

Captain Farol huffs. “Perhaps. Who am I to judge what my king needs a mer for? But that’d be such a waste, don’t you think?”

In answer, I knee him in the groin, but he doesn’t budge, just stares down at me with that smirk.

Captain Farol licks his lips. “It’s too bad I can’t have my fun first. His Majesty said if I broke you, I wouldn’t get anything.” He pats his hip. That’s when I see the whip.

That changes things. My back twinges where I’ve been whipped before. It’s been years, but I can’t forget the crack of leather or the bite against my skin.

I renew my efforts to get away, struggling as hard as possible, biting, kicking—anything to get Captain Farol to loosen his grip.

The ship shifts again. We both keep our footing, but the man releases my wrists to keep from toppling over.

Faster than he can see, I grab the knife from his belt. Just as fast, I stab through Captain Farol’s soft belly until I feel the wool of the uniform on my knuckles.

“You will not steal me away from my freedom. Not for a king. Not anyone.” I push back the snarl bubbling up my throat.