Page 33 of Siren's Treasure

Tobias nodded, not putting up any resistance, which worried Raggon more.

“Beware the witch! Beware the witch!” Sterling erupted in a series of shrill cries, its beady eyes glittering with warning. “Doom follows!”

Creepy bird! It had gained some strange intelligence after their brush with Circe. Raggon couldn’t help noticing that the bird’s feathers were darkening like his brother’s neck. What strange development was this? His brother was losing his humanity while the bird drew from it?

Tobias left for the hatch that led below deck to the first mate’s quarters, a cramped space barely large enough for a bunk and sea chest, but still a luxury compared to the crew’s hammocks. His steps were uneven, one foot dragging slightly across the weathered planks. Morris went with him, talking low and gesturing to the Typhon’s Kiss.

Feeling uneasy, Raggon went back to binding Thessa’s wrist, wrapping the clean linen with precise movements born of years at sea. Now she avoided his eyes. Her gaze was fixed on some distant point beyond the ship’s rail until it wasn’t—and it was on him with the fire of a thousand stars burning through the blackest of nights.

“I’m not yours,” she whispered.

He’d said that, hadn’t he? He clenched his teeth firmly to keep anything else foolish from getting out. Claiming her was just for the crew’s benefit, wasn’t it? He wasn’t so sure anymore. The troubles from the past day had made a mess of his brain. Deciding how best to explain, he cleared his throat. “What I said was for your protection.” Even he heard the lack of conviction in his voice.

She blinked quickly, dark lashes fluttering against cheeks still flushed from the threat of him. “How—how do you stab someone through like that?”

Was she so appalled by him? The chuckle that rumbled through his chest held no humor. “Oh? Now you want me to teach you my ways?” Clearly, that wasn’t what she was asking, but he couldn’t resist turning this around on her anyway. His fingers lingered a moment too long on the inside of her wrist, where he could feel her pulse racing like a caged bird.

She turned silent and then breathed out a sigh that carried a remnant of her song from the beach. “Yes, show me how.”

His shoulders stiffened.No!His whole soul revolted against her becoming someone like him. Killing was a necessity on thesewaters. He’d had to harden himself against it, but the fact was, he never enjoyed ending a life.

He concentrated on her soft skin instead, skin that glowed with an inner light that didn’t belong in this harsh world. He’d never defile what she was for all the riches of Sylphoria… but what if he wasn’t there to help her when the next August came around?

The air caught in his lungs. This world was crawling with villains—more leers, more nets. He banished the thought of her in danger and finished the binding on her wrist with a firm tug. “Let’s teach you how to walk first.”

And then he’d teach her how to finish off those detestable maggots.

The innocence of her grateful smile made him instantly sorry, and he had to harden himself against that too.Nothing can be pure in this world.

“You’ll be a true human after I’m through with you,” he muttered.

Boots thudded across the worn ship’s planks, the sound as familiar to Raggon as his own heartbeat. He glanced up at the Duke’s approach, feeling instantly relieved at the break in conversation. The man looked as worn as Raggon felt, the fine lines around his eyes deeper than they’d been that morning. His mentor’s eyes ran over his mermaid.

Wait?Hismermaid? Raggon had just gotten done reassuring Thessa that was a mere formality… and still he couldn’t think of her any other way.

“Is this the best you could do for her attire?” Morris asked, eyeing the oversized shirt and breeches with obvious distaste.

“You’ve got better ideas?”

“Certainly.” Morris allowed his amusement to show through with a chuckle that softened his aristocratic features. “Come, girl. If we need, we can raid the cabin boy’s effects.” His eyesnarrowed on Raggon. “There’s nothing wrong with putting her in breeches that fit.” Morris held his hand out to Thessa, the gesture courtly, despite their surroundings.

Her lips parted in what could only be distrust, and she leaned closer to Raggon. His heart stilled in confusion and something else he couldn’t explain. But… but wasn’t she afraid of him?

And then that same heart flipped over itself when that gorgeous flame of hair rubbed up against his neck and she clasped his arm. A smile flew to his lips. “It’s all right, Thessa, you can trust this one—like I said, Morris is a good man. You won’t get a better one!”An annoying one, but good through and through.

Thessa took a deep breath that seemed to strengthen her before she accepted the Duke’s hand, though she wobbled as soon as she tried to stand. Immediately, Raggon steadied her, his palm spanning the curve of her waist. The contact sent heat racing up his arm like wildfire. He tried to cover that up with more teasing: “Try to avoid those heels in your magic stash, Morris. We can’t give her more reasons to fall all over me.”

One aristocratic eyebrow rose in silent reprimand. Raggon immediately shut up, doing his best to assist Thessa’s faltering steps, though she glared him back. “I donotfall all over you!”

“I didn’t mean it that way!”

Morris brushed him away, his movements impatient. “I’ve got this, Your Majesty. Attend to… what we discussed earlier.Someonemight not keep her distance for long.”

Yes, yes, Circe was on the rampage. Nothing new about that… or Thessa’s irritation, even though he tried to smooth it over. “Hey, I like when you fall all over me!”

Morris groaned. “Move back, Sire!”

With difficulty, Raggon kept back an impatient growl at the Duke’s interference. Then, almost laughed at himself. What was he doing? He’d spent far too much time making a fool of himselfover this woman, he’d just… never been so drawn to anyone like this.

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