Page 63 of Of Song and Darkness

For as long as I lived, no matter how short that may be, I would never forget that look in her eyes. It soothed me, beckoning me near and tempting me to dive into those honey pools.

The sea witch smiled. “How intriguing. The siren in love with Blackheart Kai, killer of sea creatures.”

The sea witch moved toward me, probing my chest with her gaze. I physically had to stop myself from jerking when she placed her cold, bony hand against my chest. Her black nails scraped against my skin as she ran her hand over my muscles, stopping when she was directly over my heart. The sea witch’s black, lifeless eyes rose, boring into mine.

Rhea tensed beside me, and I gripped her hand to keep her from moving against the sea witch.

“Can you remove it, or are you just stalling?” Rhea growled.

The sea witch removed her hand from my chest, turning to face Rhea. “I can remove it.” She stepped back. “The extraction spell may very well kill him, but if that’s what you want, then it’s yours.” The sea witch shrugged.

Rhea held out her hand. “You spare the lives of everyone aboard this ship and remove the Dark Water from Kai’s veins, and I will get you my father’s trident.”

The sea witch eyed Rhea’s hand like it was a sea serpent. “Deal.” She gripped Rhea’s hand and squeezed.

Rhea released her hand. “We have no time to waste. Change me back into a siren, and I will be on my way to Aquarius.”

“I do wonder how you ended up with legs?” the sea witch questioned.

My muscles tightened, but Rhea was quick to respond. “I’m not without my wiles, and neither is my father.”

“Hmm,” the sea witch responded, seemingly accepting of Rhea’s lie. “Very well. I will change you back, but you’re not going alone. No offense, Princess, but I don’t trust you. I’ll send one of my minions to escort you.”

That did not sit well with me, and neither did this plan. I opened my mouth to say exactly that but was interrupted as the witch turned toward the sea.

I pulled Rhea back to my side as the sea witch’s magic sizzled through the air, oozing across the water in a rippling effect. Minutes ticked by until a male siren emerged from the depths. He shook the water from his long white hair, his eyes zeroing in on Rhea. I was already plotting out his demise just from how he looked at her.

Rhea went so still that I stared at her to ensure she was still breathing. Her sun-kissed skin lost its color, paling as the blood drained from her face.

My skin heated, not from the suffocating sun but from the anger coursing through me.

“You traitorous eel,” I shrieked and bounded toward the railing, intending to leap over the side of the ship and claw Orm’s eyes out.

Kai’s thickly muscled arm banded around my waist, wrenching me backward until my back collided with his ridged chest. I thrashed in his arms, trying to reach my target.

“Rhea.” Kai’s voice held a subtle warning. It was warm and deep, pulling a hazy veil over my anger. “Who is this?”

I blinked a few times to clear the rage from my eyes. “Orm, my betrothed.”

Kai’s muscles tensed, and I couldn’t withhold the smile that brushed across my lips as he tightened his hold on me in a possessive manner. He had nothing to worry about. There was no love between Orm and me, and after Morgana had just announced that he was her minion, I certainly had no intention of marrying the betrayer of my kingdom.

“That’s right.” Morgana moved in front of me, feigned shock on her face. “He was your fiancé… Too bad he is mine now. A deal’s a deal.”

My eyes flicked to hers. “What deal?”

Morgana’s smile widened. “He offered himself to me in exchange for keeping him safe from Dark Water.”

I shook my head in disbelief. Orm’s betrayal did not surprise me. The bad thing was that there was no longer any Dark Water to protect him from, but he was still bound to their deal. He’s getting exactly what he deserved.

Orm’s glare bored holes into my skin when I glanced in his direction. His eyes ignited in anger, turning a darker shade when he saw the way Kai was holding me. Good. I wanted him to squirm like the sea leech he was.

“You’re not going anywhere with him,” Kai growled in my ear.

I turned in his arms, running my hands up his black-veined chest. “We don’t have much of a choice.”

Kai’s fingers brushed against my hips as he pulled me closer. “This whole idea is foolish.” He glanced around, lowering his voice. “I have no idea the amount of power in your father’s trident, but judging by the lust in the sea witch’s eyes, it’s dangerous.”

My breath caught in my throat as I stared into Kai’s dull blue eyes. “I will not stand by and watch you die. This is the only thing I can think of to save you.”

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