Page 20 of Siren's Treasure

A bruising grip found her arm and dragged her away from the fish, sliding her across the splintered planks of the deck. “No, not a mermaid!” he cried. “A woman!”

Wind tore through her coppery red hair, shocking her skin. The world felt different—glancing down, she saw Scylla’s gift in the light of the fading sun—a dress of iridescent scales that barely covered her new legs. Bumps rose on her flesh at the rush of wind. She’d never known cold could bite like this.

“Hello, pretty.” The giant sailor’s gaze made her skin crawl. A whip coiled at his belt like a sleeping eel, and tattoos crawled up his neck. The unwavering way he watched her promised nothing nice.

“Ooh.” A man with hair shaved close to his head, moved for her, a gold ring glinting in one ear. His fists looked to be used as weapons. “Don’t throw her back yet, August. We’ve got ourselves a good catch here.”

“She’s mine… I found her,” the man named August snarled, hand moving to his whip.

What was this? No man owned her!

The sound of the whip cracking against the deck made her cry out. Looking to the side, she saw the crimson beast of Circe’s flag snap proudly through the wind. Her heart sank. No wonder she’d come upon such boorish manners–she was in unfriendly territory. And yet… could she jump back into the vicious sea? Anything was preferable to these men.

Before she could, a commanding shout broke through the fighting. “What is that you have there?”

“A woman, Captain. We caught her in our net.”

“Out here?” The voice turned suspicious. Boots approached, then a cry of warning: “Cover your ears!”

A man materialized in front of her like mist on the sea. Her lungs seized as she met those piercing blue eyes—the same ones that had gazed into hers just before that kiss.

Was he really here? His hands on her felt quite solid, the same ones that had wonderingly touched her hair were throwing a dirty rag across her lips.

She let out a yelp before all sound was smothered. He was tying that gag over her mouth.

“Raggon?” A more refined voice spoke from behind him. “What are you doing to that woman?”

“I promise you; that’s no woman!” His low voice, deep and resonant, sent shivers through her, just as they had on the beach when he’d asked breathlessly if she was real.

“She looks like a w—”

“Don’t be fooled!”

Raggon! His name was Raggon? His hands were all over her as he bound her wrists, tying her hands behind her. She made a sound of protest, edged with frustration when it was lost against the gag. Curse Scylla! How could she not have orchestrated this entire meeting? The trickster!

Raggon was a brute—his touch was rough, like he feared she’d use her powers against his people. He didn’t seem to mind before when he’d watched her with his heart in his eyes.

What had changed in a single day?

She groaned low in her throat, wishing desperately for her siren’s voice. Raggon dragged her to her feet with no more thought than he’d do to a struggling sea turtle. “You think you can just put on some legs and trick us all?” he hissed in her ear. His warm breath sent shivers down her spine. “How stupid do you think I am? I never forget a face… andneverone like yours!”

Was that an accusation or a compliment? He tugged her away from the leering crew. The men whispered amongst themselves, some grinning. At her first step, her legs jerked weakly beneath her, and she tripped. These alien limbs were too difficult to master.

Cursing low under his breath, Raggon reached down and tossed her into his arms, not missing a stride. The heat of his body seeped into hers, despite her best efforts to remain untouched. A few crude chuckles followed them.

“Where are you taking her?” The refined man hurried after them, sounding concerned now.

“My cabin… oh, stop looking at me like that, Morris! It’s fine! You know me better than that.”

The man let out a blustering snort. “That’s not the point! Think of…” his voice lowered, “… appearances.”

“The rules of humans don’t apply to her! She’s a siren!”

What rules! And how did he recognize her? Thessa’s mind spun, trying to grasp everything happening, but one thing was certain, the world of man was as cruel and unforgiving as her father had warned. The bonds against her wrists burned behind her back, her hands caught against the firm stomach of her unrelenting captor. His grip on her was the only thing keeping her from toppling from his arms. She had to find a way to survive long enough to save her father’s life.

“You’re not exempt!” Morris chided. “You’re more human than you should be! And you’re out of control! Listen to reason!”

“I’ve got this well in hand!” Raggon practically threw her into his cabin.

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