I narrowed my eyes on him. If he knew I was hiding here, he could have saved me from stewing in the soupy water during that time by just letting me know. “You’re an arse,” I muttered.“An arse?” He laughed. “For leaning against a wall?”“You know why,” I grunted, walking past him towards the docks so I could take a dive in the briny ocean to rid myself of other people’s filth. “I’m sorry. Did you want me to let you know you were swimming in your least favorite bath water to avoid me in vain?”“You dogs and your freaky noses. You could smell me, so I’m sure you could smell the sweat and muck I was bathing in as well,” I snapped.“Oh, I could. I imagined re-washing you the entire time I was waiting for you to call it quits.”“Like I said, you’re an arse,” I snapped.His deep chuckle flamed my irritation, at him and myself for reacting to it. My body begins to relax and tense up again in certain muscles, all reacting to his throaty laughter. “Ah, your scent suddenly got so much sweete
Elelira POV “Lira,” a deep, rough voice whispers into my ear, making the tiny hairs on my neck stick straight up as sparks move under my skin. “It’s time to get up.” I groan, rubbing my face against his chest, trying to cling to sleep. I have never slept better than I have in the past few weeks with Lachlan by my side. It’s become the norm for him to coax me awake like this every morning, because all I want to do is stay in bed and let the soothing comfort he brings me give my body the rest that it hadn’t had in so long. “You’re going to miss training,” Lachlan urges me, amusement thick in his voice. “So,” I mutter. I roll away from him with a groan when he laughs. “You pouted for the entire day the last time I didn’t get you up for training.” I felt his arm snake around my waist. I melt against him, the sparks soothing my disgruntled attitude. “I love seeing you pout. If you really want to sleep in, I’ll let you sleep.” I groaned, pushing the blanket down my body. “Fine.” D
My father has several of his knights with him, waiting in the water for me. A huge smile erupts on my face seeing his green eyes glimmering with affection as I draw near. “My daughter,” he calls, using his magic to raise himself in a pillar of water from the end of the dock so he can be level with me, even in siren form. “You look as lovely today as ever.”I giggle, knowing that isn’t true. Only he and Lachlan would think I looked lovely with dirt caked in my hair and crevices from sparring. “Many tell me I look just like you,” I reminded him, turning the praise around on him. “I think you would look far lovelier with a beard,” Cherum snorts.My father laughs, but I just roll my eyes. I waved at Cedric, who was also in the water, talking to a woman I have been introduced to several times now. Lillian, I believe her name is. She is one of the higher ranked knights. “We are on our way to the western shores to see if we can discover the happenings of Wayne’s pack, as of late, but I
Jack POV“I told you not to ask,” my beast hisses at me, worried about the fragile peace I already have between myself and this pack. He did tell me to drop it, but I had to get it out. I had to try one last time, or I would regret it.At least I thought I would. I feel a different kind of regret now, though I don't know how to interpret it. I don't think I'm ready to. What I'm ready for is a drink. I need to wet my lips desperately now.I reassured Ela that I was still more than willing to take on the task of going to defeat her uncle. I want him dead too much to let my wounded ego deter that. It’s personal for both Ela and myself, just like it is for most of my crew. All our lives would be different if not for that bastard Wayne. I would be every bit an alpha on land as I am at sea if it weren’t for him, with my mate by my side, not having to face the constant torture of guilt and shame, and the ache of loss. Wandering back towards the beach, alone, since Ela left me in that barra
Elelira POVMy heart froze for a moment, thinking that Lachlan may not be as ready for this as I was. The fear I had of him not being ready when I thought I was manifested fully, and I started to have doubts about myself again. His silent and stunned expression was hard to interpret, but then his animated excitement was all I needed to know I made the right choice in telling him. At least I hope I did. The fright I felt thinking he was about to reject my proposal triggered negative thoughts to start swirling in my head.“I love you, Lira. Goddess, I love you more than I could ever express to you. You just made me the happiest man there ever was.” Lachlan's face was evidence enough that his words were true. I know he loves me. I love him too.“GET A ROOM!” Nilo yells out jokingly, making me aware again that there were dozens of others watching our intimate exchange all around us. My face got so incredibly hot all of a sudden, and I wanted to bury it in his chest to hide my embarrassm
Beretta POVDamn pirate bastard. The fool didn’t even have the sense to follow after me.Pathetic. All around pathetic. I was going to return to the ship, but I'm not in the mood to see anyone familiar at the moment. I feel anger and shame and I know in my current state that I would snap little Joe in half if he started following me around asking where the captain ran off to. I'm not up for covering for Jack as he hides somewhere pickling his liver in his own bout of self-pity.The man picked himself up by his bootstraps and built the greatest pirate fleet the seas have ever seen while recovering from his own grief. Pity is something I can not feel for that man. Yes, what his pack and mate went through was tragic and unbelievably horrid, but we all have stories such as his. He wouldn't allow any of us to drown ourselves in pity. I don't see why I should allow him to do it. I'm not going to enable his behavior. Not at the moment.The bastard told me I was crossing the damned line. Scr
Elelira POV I rushed through the courtyard on my way to the dwelling of Yasmin and Percy. I just saw Percy in the dining hall, but he said he left Yasmin to sleep in this morning with a smug smirk on his face. A very proud, smug look. I even know what that means. That’s exactly why I need to speak with her now. Once Lachlan left to plan whatever it is he is arranging for tonight, my nerves got the better of me. I have no idea what I’m doing or what to truly expect from a consensual night with a man. My past life was nothing but traumatic experiences. I have nothing to reference. Lachlan and I almost crossed that line before I ran away in this life, but that was ruined by the arrival of the men who tortured me unto my death. I don’t want those memories or experiences to get the better of me tonight. Lachlan wants tonight to be perfect. I do too. I want this to completely override everything. I need Yasmin’s help or I will implode from anxiety. I wish Lachlan had just rushed me
“You look so alluring, Ela,” Yasmin gushes, making me spin around in a circle in front of her mirror for the hundredth time. “I knew it would look perfect on you. It never looked right on me.”“That’s because you have a fatter ass,” Cedric teased, lying across her bed with his head upside down. Yasmin smacks him with a pillow, making him grunt and laugh. I feel so uncomfortable. Yasmin forced me to bathe completely, even calling maids over to wash my hair and polish every inch of my body before lathering me in this sweet smelling body oil. My hair was dried to perfection, falling in soft waves down my back when they were through. My skin felt raw when they finished scrubbing me, but now it felt fresh and powdery soft since the oil had absorbed into my body. After that was complete, and she was completely satisfied with my appearance while I was still in the nude, she dug out a slinky outfit from her brothel days. It’s more modest than some of the others I have seen in her closet, bu