Page 70 of Cursed By a Siren's Kiss

It was true. I’d given up my siren gifts, but I was still the daughter of Poseidon. Having a godly father meant I still had immense power within my veins. I just hadn’t figured out how to wield them yet. Every time they’d flared to life before had been because of dire circumstances of life and death.

Even with his doubts, we were already sailing toward Scylla’s island, keeping closer to her territory in hopes of avoiding Charybdis. Kipp had told me once that I wore my emotions clearly on my face, and as the days had passed, I hoped I’d gotten better at concealing how I felt. Because I was afraid as we approached Scylla, the cursed monster who had once been our enemy. I empathized with her plight. A misunderstood creature. The jealousy of the gods knew no bounds, and it was time for Kipp and I to defy those powers, to right those wrongs, again.

No, I probably couldn’t defeat a monster, or hold back a 100-foot-tall wave sent by Poseidon. But I wasn’t without power. I was still a goddess. I just no longer held the power of the sirens.I didn’t have the power coursing through my veins that could compete against the big three anymore.

I flicked my hair over my shoulder to keep it from blowing into my face. “Besides… Scylla won’t hurt me.”

He laughed, but he didn’t feel amused. His knuckles tightened their hold around the railing at our side as he turned, feeling the salty mist at the front of his ship. “I highly doubt that,” he argued, “She tried to kill us last time.”

I flicked a glance over my shoulder, to where Glaucus stood next to Patton at the helm, staring ahead with hope in his eyes. The crew hadn’t even bristled at having another god aboard, not after the revelation that Kipp had always been one himself. With a smile, I replied, “This will be different. We are bringing her a present.”

Kipp followed my gaze. “You really think it will work?”

I nodded, my fingers brushing against the scar lining his neck. “I have faith in love.”

Already, the island formed in the distance, and Kipp placed a soft kiss to my cheek before he left me at the bow of the ship to make arrangements for our trip to shore. I’d made a promise to Scylla, and it had led to everything we had wanted. Kipp’s curse broken. The sirens’ curse. And it had led me to a love for which I hadn’t even known I’d been looking. I owed her this.

Footsteps came to a stop just behind me. I didn’t bother looking; I knew who stood at my shoulder.

“I’m afraid to admit that I’m scared.”

I stepped aside, giving him the space that he needed so that he could stand beside me. His gaze held a mixture of fear, worry, and hope behind every blink as he stared ahead toward the approaching island.

“Why?” I asked him.

His shoulders weighed down as if he held all of these worries and doubts upon them. “Because all those years trapped on thatisland, I thought surely that she must have moved on. I didn’t know…” he said, his fingers rubbing at the nape of his neck as if he could release the weight there.

“You didn’t know that Scylla had been cursed by Circe? That she has been a monster for centuries?” I asked, watching his face as the truth hit me.

He shook his head.

My gaze lingered on his weather-worn features, taking in the tanned complexion and rough hands that bore witness to his time stranded on the island. He didn’t know what lay ahead for him. He knew his love had been turned into a monster from the words that I’d spoken, but he wouldn’t truly know until he saw her.

“How many days did you spend on that island?” I asked, curiosity consuming me as I watched the longing looks that he sent out to the sea.

He sighed. “I’m not sure. I lost count after a year. It felt like an eternity.” A shudder ran through him. “After a while, I gave up hope of ever making it off Circe’s island, out of her grip.”

My hand clasped around his shoulder. “It’s not your fault,” I reassured him. “We are all victims to those who seek to control us. Right now, Scylla needs you and that is all that matters.” I turned to look at the island in the distance, the mist from the waves breaking against the boat coating my face.

“I think I’m ready,” he finally said, the weight slightly less on his shoulders as he straightened. “Thank you for helping me through this.” He smiled at me, determination shining in his eyes as they met mine.

“You remind me so much of her,” he continued, causing my brow to furrow. “Your mother… before she married Poseidon. She was fierce and beautiful. She loved the ocean and her people.”

A pang of sadness clenched at my heart as he mentioned my mother. The memories he still had of the woman I had lost so long ago that I could barely remember her myself. Now, her soul was somewhere in the Underworld.

“I don’t remember her like that.” I sighed, blinking back emotion. “She was always focused on her duty, reminding me that it would one day be my duty to the siren kingdom…”

The last memory, the only one I wanted to forget, played within my mind as I stared into the ocean.

“You despise me!” I spat at her, yanking my hand from hers as she urged us to return to the palace immediately. My anger blinded me to the fear in her voice, the fear etched into the expression on her face. I didn’t care.

“Talia, no one hates you. Least of all me,” she pleaded, desperation laced in her tone.

“You don’t even know me,” I shot back, throwing my arms up in a flurry of bubbles as I glared at her. “You only talk about duty.”

Disappointment flashed behind her gold-rimmed gaze. “I know I’m sometimes hard on you, but I have to prepare you for what’s to come. I fear I won’t always be there to protect you…” she let her words trail off, her gaze lingering on me with a sense of love and sadness. “In case something happens to me, you must be ready to take the throne and lead our people. They will need you.”

I scoffed at her fears, at her worries. But then I saw her face change. Saw the fear widen her stare as she looked over my shoulder. Felt her fingers as they wrapped around my wrist and yanked me toward her.

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