Page 8 of Astrid at Sea

“You never have to worry about me, my siren,” Viktor murmured. He threw an arm over my shoulder, pulled me into his side and bowed his head to press his lips to my forehead. “I never want you to have to worry about me. I only want youto have happy thoughts when you think of me, so I’ll take your advice the next time we set sail for a long mission. I’m sure everyone’s families would appreciate it.”

“I’ll always worry about you, Viktor. That’s part of the job description as your wife,” I told him, playfully nudging his shoulder with mine in hopes of lightening the mood.

“Well, then. If you must,” he chuckled, pressing another kiss to my temple. “How was your day? I feel like I haven’t seen you all day today.”

“It was good,” I lied smoothly, a little embarrassed to tell him everything the women of Isle had told me today. It wasn’t often that I kept things from Viktor, mostly because I felt comfortable enough to tell him everything and anything, though I couldn’t deny that the notion of him falling onto me like an animal in heat for sex made me more than a little nervous. But not because I was scared. The nerves weren’t bad or unwelcome, just a little…foreign.

All the women made it sound like it was a chore, boring, and something they just needed to deal with. They either tolerated it, initiated it because they wanted a child, or felt distant from their husband.

Was that how sex was supposed to be?

What was the point of going all the way then when oral was so pleasurable?

Viktor narrowed his eyes at me in suspicion. “Why do I feel like you’re hiding something from me, my siren?”

“It’s nothing important,” I denied, sipping at some water in hopes that it would cool down the warm flush that coloured my cheeks. “I just remembered some things from lunch earlier with the ladies.”

“What kind of things?”

“It’s not important,” I tried to deny, but I could tell that he wasn’t convinced. “Maybe I’ll tell you about it later, butit’s nothing to be worried about. If anything, it’s a little embarrassing.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about with me,” he assured me. “But as long as it’s nothing to be worried about, then you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“Thank you,” I exhaled and turned my head to graze my lips against his cheek. Before I could ask about his day, we were interrupted by a familiar voice from behind us.

“Just the person that I was looking for!”

Glancing over my shoulder, I was surprised to find Ivana standing behind me with a large grin and a tall glass of something murky topped off with a yellow slice of lemon. She thrust the glass forward, all but forcing it into my hands.

I turned to greet her. “Will you be joining us at the feast today, Ivana?”

“No.” The Chiefess shook her head, her grin only growing bigger. “I’m not feeling well again this evening, so I’ll be heading back to my hut to rest, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of letting you leave without saying goodbye, Astrid. As a parting present, I brought you my favourite drink. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.”

I graciously returned her smile. “That’s sweet of you, but you shouldn’t have gone out of your way like that.”

“Nonsense,” Ivana laughed. “This is only one of my duties as the Chiefess of Isle. Plus, I enjoyed your company at lunch today. I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon, but perhaps you can visit with Viktor once you’re back from your mission?”

“Sure.” I nodded without any intention of following through with her request. I had spent more than enough time on Isle to know that this wasn’t my sort of place, and I didn’t wish to spend any more time here than what was necessary.

When Viktor subtly snickered beside me, I knew he saw through the whole act.

“It was great meeting you, Astrid,” Ivana grinned widely at me and pulled me in for a quick hug before she pulled away, already back on her feet. “I must go now as I’m still not feeling well, but I hope you enjoy the feast and safe sailing!”

“Thank you,” I murmured after her, but she was already too far gone to hear me.

“Well, that’s a first,” Viktor murmured, the both of us watching Ivana’s back as she walked away from us and the rest of the island people enjoying all that the feast had to offer. “I’ve never met the Chiefess of Isle before. I’ve never even seen her before now.”

“Trust me, you’re not missing out on much,” I snorted, raising the glass to my lips. Immediately, my nose scrunched from its pungent smell, but I forced myself to take a sip. Ivana had seemed really keen on it. Hopefully, it wouldn’t taste nearly half as bad as it smelt.

My nose scrunched again at its bitter initial taste, but the aftertaste wasn’t horrible. After another tentative sip, it felt like the unusual drink was growing on me. It was only when I had drunk more than half that I started to feel strange.

The world was spinning on its axis, and everything was moving around me.

“I don’t feel so good, pirate,” I whispered, somehow able to put down the glass without dropping it. “I think it might be something I ate.”

Viktor frowned. “Or drank,” he murmured, reaching for the glass, holding it up to his nose for a smell. His nose scrunched in distaste the same way mine had. “You, my siren,” Viktor laughed and took a tentative sip of the drink, wincing at the strong, bitter taste. “Are drunk.”

I turned to question him; my lips parted in shock.

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