Jack POV She looks stunning standing at the wheel, barking orders and commanding the ship just ahead of mine. I stand mesmerized by the beauty and power surrounding her. “Slow her down, Lucky,” I told my first mate, talking about this ship. I don’t want to trigger my fierce Ela by having her wear a damned corset. She would be too proud to not live up to the bet, but I know she won’t like it. If seeing me in the rib-crushing torture device the ladies fancy that makes their tits touch their chin makes her happy, I’ll gladly wear the blasted thing. I would rather look ridiculous than make her uncomfortable. “She ain’t goin’ be too happy findin’ out your let ‘er win, Cap’n.” Lucky shakes his head at me with a knowing smirk. “You’d best keep your mouth shut then,” I told him. I would have gladly left her in the dust if she hadn’t added that last bit to the challenge. I would never intentionally cause her distress by making her do such a thing, even if it was her idea. Remembering her
Elelira POVThe noise from the bar is drifting out the swinging doors, the piano coming alive now that old man Harry has had a few too many. I enjoy the nights with the crew and the easy banter from being around everyone in high spirits from a successful raid, but the more I drank, the more nostalgic the scene became for me. It reminded me of Yasmin, Lady Vera, the madam who runs the brothel in Hidden Cove, and so many of my friends who I miss dearly. When Captain Jack in his borrowed corset, which was practically ripping at the seams, offered me coffee laced with rum, it reminded me so much of Cherum that I had to fight to not show my inner emotions. Even Val started to miss our red-bearded protector.As Beretta started in about her ex-mate and the shit he put her through with his continual cheating, I had to escape for a bit. It hit home for me, and Val had to retreat in my mind to not let her sorrow overtake her.Now, she's curled in a ball, trying to rest after the day's events
I didn’t give Jack many details about Lachlan or my time in Hidden Cove, just that I ran away when my uncle’s men showed up. I know Jack doesn’t entirely buy my story, but I’m not about to explain having lived twice. I don’t even fully understand it. For the first time, though, I feel like I have a purpose for living twice. It’s not to be happy. That is a hope I will likely not have again. How can I hope for happiness for myself when it has failed me both times?No, I have a new desire and purpose in life. It is to stop my uncle and his men from destroying more than they have. I know the future, or at least enough of it to help me figure out the events my uncle will be conspiring in. I know what he is planning with the Northern Clans, now, and why Hidden Cove was attacked the way it was. I just need to figure out what it is he ultimately planning on doing. To find that out, I need to go back,It is almost time for the Northern Clans to try and attack Hidden Cove again. I wanted to di
Cedric POV The waves crashing against the rocky shore and their steady rhythm usually help to ease my anxieties. There is something about the constancy of waves and their never ending dependability that brings me comfort. Tonight, that sound and the salty sea air wafting around me do little to help rid me of the guilt I have taken as a constant companion the last several months. Looking out towards the sea and the setting sun, all I can think about is Ela, my soft-hearted princess, who last I had seen, was so lost and weak from the constant turmoil of her life. I should have stayed with her and fully explained what her father had done. Maybe if I had, she would not have run away thinking the worst of us all. Her father… King Brennus blames himself and not at all me, which makes this hurt even more, and it makes the guilt weigh even heavier on me. He was on his way that evening, after preparing the other knights for a potential war with Alpha Wayne if my suspicions were correct,
“I’m serious, Cedric. It’s time for you to stop blaming yourself. No one else does. My alpha blames your king and the whore, and your king blames himself. No one is blaming you. She wouldn't want you to suffer like this.” I scoffed, doubting that. “I didn’t have to be the one to try and reveal everything to her. I should have….I should have trusted your alpha more. He should have been there with me. Everything would have been fine then.” “I doubt it would have been fine,” Meldec muttered. “Not fine, but she would have blamed me or her father more than him. He wouldn’t have been in his office either for that awful woman to try to ensnare him. Ela would be here with us now, not out there somewhere, heaven knows where, defenseless and all alone.” Meldec makes a face, furrowing his brows. “You know, I don’t think the Luna is as defenseless as you all assumed she was.” “What do you mean?” Of course she is. She is so small and kind. She had to have multiple guards with her at all time
Elelira POV Looking around at all the familiar faces, I don’t know if I’m relieved or disappointed that he isn’t there. I was so nervous as we sailed in. Truth be told, I’ve been nervous and worried for days now. I have barely slept the past few days. Beretta gave me some special tea she used to drink to help her pass out when she was suffering because of her ex-mate, but even that rarely helped. I would pass out quickly, but then have lucid dreams of the last moments I was in this pack and the horror I felt seeing my mate with that horrid woman. Is that where he is at now? With that woman? “We should have skinned her alive before we left,” Val grumbled in my head, resting on the surface, ready to spring forward to defend me against anyone who tries to hurt me. “It’s never too late.” “We don’t even know if they have been together since we left. We haven’t felt the pains,” I reminded her. “We won’t feel them unless he touches her. He could just be touching himself for now and wa
I did’t know what to say or do when I saw Lachlan panting breathlessly at the start of the dock, his chest heaving like he pushed himself to the limit to get there as fast as he could.His face is more aged, worn with stress. His eyes are wide in disbelief, and I can see Killian shining in them, making Val lose some of her malice with a soft, almost inaudible whimper inside my head. “Lira,” he whispered hoarsely, moving to walk quickly towards me. I stood frozen, not sure what to do. Everyone moves to give him a clear path, but before he can reach me, just as he steps past Cedric, Jack moves to tuck my body behind his. “That’s far enough, Alpha,” Jack warns Lachlan, his aura pushing out of him, stronger than I ever felt it before in defense of me. A menacing growl leaves Lachlan. “Move.”“Not a chance. Though, I’m sure my Ela could handle herself, I don’t like the crazed look about you.”“My Ela?!” Lachlan snarls. “She’s not your anything. She’s my wife.”Jack hums deeply in his c
“The contract Lachlan had to sign with your father to bring you back to life, my princess. We were all forbidden from telling you anything. It was a blood contract. He couldn’t tell you even if he wanted to, which I’m sure he did. Actually,” Cedric took another step forward, “I know he did.”I looked at Lachlan, Val stirring in my mind, desperate to know if that was true. “You made a blood contract with the Siren King? You?” He never would have made himself vulnerable to the leader of a different race before. Why would he do such a thing with my father? “Why?” I simply asked, wanting to understand. He had never trusted other races before. Is that why he was so open to sirens in this life? Because he had to be?His eyes are imploring me; for what, I do not know. He looks so desperate, so forlorn, that I feel my eyes softening in response. The stupid mate bond has my body reacting to him, even though I don't want to. It's like I can feel Killian searching for us somehow. How he has the