Page 26 of A Captain So Callous and Cruel

“Line them up,” Captain Erickson barks, and the men do as they’re told, positioning their prisoners in a straight line.

Moments later, two more men join them in the line-up.

Exhaling a breath, I turn back to the captain, expecting him to give more instruction to his men. His gaze is already on me, so I give a weak smile, as fake as it feels to do.

There is nothing happy about this moment.

Innocent men are awaiting their fates in Captain Erickson’s hands.

Kai is nowhere to be found.

The captain has made me his prey.

And the shift is looming, and while it should be exciting, it suddenly feels very bittersweet.

“Aye, got one mo’, Captain!” someone yells from a distance. Heavy footsteps follow, and the crowd parts, exposing another man in shackles being led by the one who shouted.

Gasping, my hand flies to my mouth. My eyes widen as they drag over Kai’s body—beaten and bloody.

He must have resisted. Put up a fight to protect himself, but somehow, he was overpowered.

Kai must have heard my gasp because his eyes look up at me from where his head hangs, connecting with mine. The moment they do, he straightens, and his face morphs from anger to fear, and dare I say confusion.

Distracted by my presence, Kai falls to his knees on the deck as the man leading him pushes him to join the line. Fury burns within me, the powerful emotion mixing with my magic that is swirling inside as it waits to reignite. I have to clench my teeth to keep from acting out. Kai must see it, because so subtly, I see his head shake.

“Are we awaiting any more men?” Captain Erickson growls at Grimy and Kalis.

Grimy purses his lips, while Kalis takes a look at the line of prisoners in front of him.

“This should be the lot of them, Captain.”

“Very well.” Stepping forward, his hands join behind his back and he takes slow, calculated steps as he walks past the five men, moving up and down the line, assessing them each carefully. “One of you has killed a man on my ship. An action that was not assigned to you, and because of this, the perpetrator will walk the plank.”

Not a single prisoner dares to speak or protest. Slowly, Erickson turns to look at me, then turns his attention to Kalis.

“WHORE!” Kalis shouts to the woman still huddled by the large barrel nearby. “Address your captain.”

Scurrying forward, she curtsies low in front of Captain Erickson, averting her glazed eyes as she hangs her head low in respect. “Captain, thank you for allowing me to?—”

“Which of these men did you see carrying the body, whore?”

Straightening, her eyes rake over each man while we all wait with bated breath.

I feel like I can’t breathe.

The shift must be close—with every passing second I feel my magic grow, and the need to be in the water calls to me.

From my peripheral, I can also see the men on deck feel the effects of my magic—of my siren song. The way they look at me and the other woman is different from how they were looking at us prior. A few even reach down to adjust themselves behind their trousers.

Looking at Kai, I can see the effects of the shift settled on his features as well. His skin is smoothe, the coloring in his irises more vibrant.

Walking the plank would not be the worst fate he could meet tonight, but I fear the weight of the heavy chains on his hands would hinder his shift. What if he can’t break free? What if the shift happens too soon, and he drowns before his tail appears?

Stalling is my only option. I must draw out the selection until I can be certain the shift is imminent.

“Out there, you keep that wicked tongue to yourself. Or else I’d have to punish you in front of my men.”

The Captain’s words cause me to hesitate as I think of a way to buy more time, but unfortunately the seconds cost me.

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