Page 26 of Siren's Treasure

Grunting out, with one hand still over his ear, he caught at her ankle with the other and tugged her closer. His touch was insistent, prevailing, sending unwanted shivers over her flesh.

She kicked. “I’ll use my siren powers against you! Don’t think I won’t!”

His blue eyes turned amused, the panic draining from him as he watched her closely. The fog of whatever had affected him seemed to lift slightly, replaced by sharp realization. “You scream like a girl.”

She glared.

He’d guessed the horrible truth, and now his fingers slid down her ankle to her bare feet, leaving trails of heat in their wake; he looked deep in thought, though none of the careful restraint he’d shown a few hours earlier remained. “That’s how you got your legs. You made a deal with the Sea Witch for the power in your—your voice? Why?”

Now that she no longer had that horrible rag over mouth, she could finally sass back. “Well, of course, it was love at first sight. I was helpless against your charm and hoped I’d find myself a pirate to wed.”

“Prince…” he corrected, voice dropping to a dangerous purr, “easy mistake, of course.”

She froze. A prince had been Undine’s undoing.

“So, what’s next?” he asked, his eyes were growing increasingly alert. “You marry me and get your siren voice back?” He was aware of the legends, was he? “Or is the curse broken with a kiss?” Oh no, he was reeling her in closer. Thessa couldn’t catch her breath in these strange new lungs, especially under the intensity of his gaze, the way he watched her reminded her of the last time he’d kissed her. She flinched at the unwanted flutter through her stomach.

His jaw tightened, and he snapped back, giving her poor lungs a break. “I’m not going to hurt you, Clam,” his voice had a protective edge.

“Thessa. My name’s Thessa.”

His eyes flicked to hers, and he leaned back, pressing his big palms against the rug. “Okay… Thessa. Cut line, why are you here?”

She tried to find a plausible excuse and just shrugged. “You were the nearest ship out.”

“And I don’t believe you.”

Why should she care? He was Circe’s minion. Her lips firmed. He might as well gag her again for how much she’d talk.

“Your father’s dying,” he said.

She winced. How did he know about that? But she wouldn’t give anything else away. He’d carry all information back to Circe.

“It makes sense—” he said. “The great ruler of the waters wouldn’t just let someone like me be alone with his daughter.”

But she was human now, sullied from her association with the Sea Witch. She was no longer worthy of being called Poseidon’s daughter. She kept her mouth shut.

“Let’s make a pact,” he said.

“I don’t trust you.”

“And I don’t trust you, or anyone, for that matter… but that didn’t stop either of us from making deals earlier with horrible witches for legs… and for—for other things.” He took a deep breath, seeming to steady himself. “I want Undine’s Blade to cut a magical enchantment from my brother’s neck. And you’re the only one I know who can touch it. You get the weapon for me, and we can part ways. That’s all I want.”

He’d pass up taking home a treasure of such unbelievable power? Not likely. He was a dirty pirate—no, a dirty prince.

“So, let’s make a pact of our own,” he said. “What do I have that you want? I’ll give you an offer you can’t refuse.”

She took a deep breath and decided to play his game. “Safe passage out of here.” And the Undine Blade so she could drive it into the heart of her people’s enemy, but that sort of double-crossing was for later.

“That’s it? A ride?” Skepticism glittered in his eyes.

She’d have to do better than that to put him at ease. “You say you’re a prince?”

He nodded.

“I’ll take a plot of land in your kingdom.”

“You? Want land?” He laughed, the sound rich and warm despite his obvious cynicism. “We’ll see what you really want when we find that blade.”

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