Page 85 of Voice of the Ocean

Celeste froze. Her heart dropped. What had she done? Blind panic seized her. The game was up, and all it took was one foolish kiss. Celeste’s hands rubbed against her hips, and her breathing hitched.And why did she speak in the human language?But she knew why. Even her dreams lately were in the human language. And if she were to be honest, half of her thoughts were too. These humans wereinfectingher with theirhumanity. Was there anything siren left within her?

“Would you mind explaining why you can suddenlyspeak?”

Celeste considered her words carefully. “I did not want you to”—Celeste searched for the word, avoiding eye contact—“hear my accent.”

Raiden stared at her.

“You didn’t...you didn’t...” He ran a hand through his dark hair, incredulous. “I’m sorry, love, but that’s just about the worst explanation I’ve ever heard.”

“Don’t call melove,” she snapped.

“She finds her voice and somehow becomes a larger pain in my ass.”

Celeste glared at him.

“Youkissedme,” she repeated, words dripping in venom.

“I did,” he said, eyes flaring. “And I’d do it again, if you weren’t so infuriatingly?—”

The words stopped short as Celeste grabbed a fistful of his shirt and dragged his lips to hers. He smirked against her mouth, sliding his hands around her lower back to pull her closer. And Celeste was lost.

Her hands loosened on his shirt, and she slid them beneath the fabric, enjoying the feel of him beneath her fingers. The heat of him. He was always so much warmer than she was.

Raiden pulled away for just a moment to murmur, “I just want to point out, for the record, that you kissed me first. Days ago.”

Before she could reply, his mouth was trailing down her jaw, drawing a gasp from her lips. She tilted her head, giving him more of the column of her neck. His kisses were hungry. His hands daring.

A shout sounded from above.

Celeste stiffened.What if Raiden tells them I can speak? Would they ever trust me again?

Sensing a shift, Raiden pulled away, shirt delightfully rumpled and hair mussed. Celeste had to stop herself from kissing him again.

“Please don’t tell others I speak,” she said, voice husky. “I promise I?—”

“It’s not my secret to share,” he said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

But somehow his words didn’t calm her nerves. The captain appeared surprisingly unbothered by her deception, but Celeste doubted Kiyami would feel the same.What if they never forgive me?

Raiden took her chin in his hand and lifted her worried gaze to his. “Would it make you feel better if I shared something with you? A secret for a secret?”

“Yes.”

He released her and took a long sip of his wine.

“I blame my father for my mother’s death.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

Celeste blinked. It felt as though the air had left the room. But before she could say anything, Raiden continued.

“My mother and father met on the docks. He was a pirate captain of a fleet, and she was a young girl who lived by the sea. When my mother told him she was pregnant, my father left. He never wanted a family, let alone a child. When my mother’s family found out—they threw her out.” His voice hardened. “It’s not common practice in Hinarso, but there are still those who look down upon unmarried women having children. So when my mother had me, she was all alone. She named me Raiden. Her little thunderstorm.”

Celeste’s hand reached for his of its own accord. He laced his fingers within hers and squeezed in thanks.

“She struggled to keep a job. I was five when a fever broke out in our city. My mother, like many, took ill and died within two weeks.” He paused, and Celeste hadn’t noticed the tears in her eyes. “When my father was informed she’d died and left his son—well, I suppose he figured he’d bring me on and raise me to be his heir.

“I’ve never told anyone, but I’ve always believed if he’d only taken my mother with him, if he hadn’t cast her aside, she’d still be alive. He’s the reason she died alone and poor in the street.” Raiden finally met Celeste’s gaze. “So I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine.”

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