Page 26 of Cursed By a Siren's Kiss

“Not by Poseidon, please,” she whispered, her voice quiet as the tension in the room thickened.

I rubbed the blood between my thumb and finger. “I amend my oath. Not by Poseidon, but by the siren queen herself.”

I watched her, awaiting her reaction. A slight wince before she schooled her features into an indifference, but I’d seen enough. I didn’t know how long she’d been on land before I’d found her, but her reactions, her expressions and emotions, left me suspecting that she’d been on land long enough for her humanity to have infected her. It would make what I needed to do easier.

“Fine,” she muttered. “My name is Talia, but you can call me Lia in front of…” She gave a wave of her hand. “…your people.”

She stood then, letting the blanket fall from her shoulders as she watched me. Her fingers lazily traveled down the center of her chest, down her stomach, around her hips. I swallowed, forcing my eyes to remain locked to hers and not the pink rosebud nipples poking through the damp fabric.

“Now,” she said, her voice husky and lust filled. Her eyes glittering with her seductive intent. “If you don’t mind, I’d like some proper clothing if I’m going to remain in this form.”

I stood from the chair and turned my back to her. She didn’t need to see the effect she was having over me. It seemed two were playing this game. I smirked as I crossed the room and pulled out some of my own clothing. I passed it to her.

“It is a pleasure to officially meet you, Talia,” I said as she took the clothing. “For now, it will be better than… what you’re currently wearing. I will find something more fitting shortly. Ihave some smaller crew members aboard. We will ask them to offer something up until we dock elsewhere.”

“Thank you,” she said, turning her back to me as she pulled the damp chemise over her shoulders, baring the smooth skin of her back to me before she dressed herself in my clothing, which hung loosely over her smaller form.

When she turned back around, her fingers working a knot into the fabric of my wispy shirt so it hugged her curves, I asked her, “Now, would you happen to know where we could find the sea witch, Circe?”

The light fell from her face then. “No one knows where Circe is. Not even the gods.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Please tell me that is not the witch you are looking for.”

The playful mood of the cabin evaporated instantly. My smirk fell and I pressed my lips into a tight line as I nodded.

“What is it that you think you need me to do other than find this witch?” she asked, peering forlornly out the window to the sea that probably seemed farther from her than it appeared. Worry etched lines into her brow and along her eyes.

“You really should watch your expressions. They show everything you’re feeling when you’re in this form,” I replied instead.

She tilted her chin as she scoffed. “Not possible. I managed to fool Marcus for weeks to the point where he declared his love for me.”

With a laugh, I answered, “Yeah, well, I am not him, nor am I a fool.”

“You’re right,” she deadpanned, a cocky glint behind her eye. “You’re nothing like him. You are dumber and crueler.”

I covered my heart with my hand as if I had been maimed. “You wound me with your words, Talia, but…” I smiled. “I am thankful not to be like him. I am alive and he, well…” I looked her up and down again. “…he is not.”

She almost looked guilty as her fingers fiddled with the hem of my gifted shirt. She wore an elegant looking ruby around her narrow index finger, but she didn’t seem to pay it any mind. “It’s the only way to gain our powers.” She tore her attention from the sea passing by our window, pinning me with a glare. “Now answer my question. What is it that you need me to do other than find this witch?”

I busied my hands by retying my hair as I spoke. “I sought Circe a few… years back for something and she?—”

“She cursed you,” Talia cut me off with a smirk. “She’s always been known for not giving people exactly what they want. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.”

“I learned that the hard way.”

“So, what exactly did she do to you? Is that darkness behind your eyes her doing?”

“Yes, I think so.” I crossed the room to stand next to her, both of us peering out the broken panes to the sea beyond. The sun tucked beneath the horizon, painting the skies and seas in oranges and purples that melded together breathtakingly. I searched the distance to see if I could spot Apollo’s chariot, known for riding to meet the dusk. I searched for the sight every evening, yet I’d never caught sight of it yet.

“If you’re looking for Apollo, he is far too lazy to ride anything this late in the day.” Her lips quirked as her gaze flicked from my eyes to the sea again.

“You know Apollo?” I asked, clasping my hands behind my back.

“I know of him.” She shrugged. She held her hand in front of me, her claws poking from her fingertips for a moment before she retracted them. “But you are stalling. I need you to tell me everything if you have any hope of getting my help.”

“Did you just consider killing me only to realize you’d be killing yourself?” I lifted a brow in question.

“No,” she glowered. “Maybe.” She shrugged again, her lips twitching with amusement. “So,” she said, getting back on topic, “you’re the captain of this ship, cursed by Circe to what… become evil?”

“Sort of, but it’s more complicated than that,” I admitted, rocking back on my heels as she blinked at me.

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