Daughter of the Siren Queen

“Then do your worst now, lass.”

“Having second thoughts?” Riden leans on his forearms at the railing, letting his skin touch mine.

“No. I am exactly where I want to be. I only wish I could have all the years back I missed with my mother.”

“You could have them now,” he says gently. “You could live your life among the sirens and leave this all behind you.”

I smile and turn to him. “You and my mother are both missing one important thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I love being a pirate, and there’s nothing I want to be more.”

He relaxes considerably. “Thank the stars. I was trying so hard to be supportive and forget what I want most.”

“And what’s that?”

Those beautiful brown eyes glint. “You.”

“You happened to be right one time,” Kearan says. “That does not make the rest of your superstitions real.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because—” Kearan cuts himself off. “How am I having this conversation? Enwen, go blather to someone who wants to listen.”

“You like listening to me.”

“I really don’t.”

“Niridia Zasperon, I’d really rather not spend the night in the brig. It puts me in a mood the next day.”

She steps away from the netting and looks at me. “Only the next day, Captain?”

“Very amusing.”

“Trouble?” asks a voice.

A masculine voice.

Riden’s voice.

“Nothing new,” I say. “The pirate king wants his siren back.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“I didn’t deign to respond.”

“That ought to cheer him up.”

“You can’t be serious. Kearan has the emotional depth of a clam.”

“Well, a man can try, can’t he?

I look up from our clasped hands, and my eyes land on the stubble along his jaw. I wonder what it would feel like rubbing against my chin and cheeks as he kissed me.

I blink repeatedly. What the—Was I just staring at his mouth? Did he notice?

I look up. Riden’s eyes capture my own, glinting with mischief. He is the first to speak. “This is sure to be an exciting voyage. The two of us stuck together on one ship.” His thumb draws circles on the back of my hand, and my breathing hitches. It appears my lungs, too, have forgotten how to function properly.

“Anything else?” he asks.

“I need to see you in my quarters for the rest.”

“Aye-aye.”

“I’ll sail with you anywhere. I don’t care where we go or what we do as long as I’m with you.”

“Could be dangerous.”

“You’ll protect me.”

He leans in and kisses me. So slowly it’s maddening.

When he pulls back, I say, “I run a tight ship, sailor. I expect the rules to be followed.”

“What rules would those be?”

“All men are required to keep a couple days’ worth of stubble on their chins. Makes them look more fearsome. Better pirates, you see.”

He grins so widely, I can feel my heart melt. “I had no idea you liked it so much.” He brings his lips to my ear. “You needn’t make a rule and trouble the other men. I’ll do it if you ask nicely.”

“Having second thoughts?” Riden leans on his forearms at the railing, letting his skin touch mine.

“No. I am exactly where I want to be. I only wish I could have all the years back I missed with my mother.”

“You could have them now,” he says gently. “You could live your life among the sirens and leave this all behind you.”

I smile and turn to him. “You and my mother are both missing one important thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I love being a pirate, and there’s nothing I want to be more.”

He relaxes considerably. “Thank the stars. I was trying so hard to be supportive and forget what I want most.”

“And what’s that?”

Those beautiful brown eyes glint. “You.”