Page 79 of Rise of the Siren Queen
The storm that had surged from my emotions—mystorm—was no longer mine to control. She had taken it, tamed it. And as the sea softened beneath her touch, something inside me softened too. I folded my arms across my chest, watching her, feeling the raw power that had once been mine slip through my fingers. She wasn’t just calming the storm—she was calmingme. The fury, the frustration—it all ebbed away, leaving me standing there, staring at her with my jaw dropped in awe.
She hadn’t just tamed the ocean.
She had tamedme.
As the waves calmed, I stood there, rooted to the deck, watchingher with an intensity I couldn’t explain. Iryen lowered her arms, her gaze distant as she stared out into the now-quiet sea. The wind still played with strands of her hair, but the violent storm had given way to a strange, eerie peace.
I stepped forward, unable to help myself.
“How do you do it?” I called over the fading wind, my voice rougher than I’d intended. She didn’t turn to face me, but I knew she heard me. “Control the storm like that. Control…me.”
She let out a breath, her shoulders rising and falling as if she carried the world on them. “I don’t control you, Adrian. The storm wasn’t mine to tame. It was yours.”
I frowned, stepping closer, the wooden deck creaking beneath my feet. “What are you talking about? You calmed the storm, my storm. I felt it.”
She turned to face me then, her emerald eyes glowing faintly in the dark, reflecting the once tumultuous sea around us. “You felt it because you’re connected to the ocean, just like I am,” she said, her voice steady yet filled with an unspoken depth.
I watched as she averted her gaze toward the roiling waters, the storm now a backdrop to the tension between us. “Now that you are discovering your abilities, you need to be more careful in your world. I’ll be staying close in case you have any problems,” she continued, her voice quiet, almost intimate. “But I won’t stay longer than necessary.”
Her words hung in the air, a bittersweet reminder of the boundaries that still existed between us. I didn’t reply. Instead, I concentrated on the navigation, a sense of dread settling in as I faced the impending end of our time together.
But as the familiar outline of Thalassa’s shoreline came into view, a spark of determination flickered within me. I couldn’t let this be the last moment we shared without trying to bridge the gap between us.
Taking a deep breath, I glanced at her, my voice steady despite the tumultuous thoughts racing through my mind. “How about dinner? I’d like to show you my favorite place in the city.”
She blinked in surprise, her eyes widening as she processed my invitation. A moment of silence stretched between us, heavy with uncertainty. Doubt crept in, shadowing the initial spark of hope. Would she see this as an opportunity to connect, or would she retreat into her guarded shell?
I could almost taste the tension coiling in the air, the unspoken fears pressing down. What if she rejected my offer? What if this was the moment that made her realize we were too different? The flicker of uncertainty was almost palpable, but I held my ground, willing to face whatever answer she gave.
“I guess I could appreciate some food,” she replied quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “The journey was… tiresome.”
A small smile tugged at my lips, relieved that she was open to the idea. “I know just the place. They serve the best seafood in Thalassa.”
Iryen’s gaze flickered toward the ocean. “I could use something familiar,” she admitted, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her tone.
* * *
Docking wasn’t difficult, and back in the city, I had everything at my disposal once more. So, I called my assistant and reserved a table at my favorite high-end restaurant. It wasn’t late, just after sunset when we docked, leaving us a couple of hours before dinner.
I turned to Iryen just as she stepped onto the deck, a small pack slung over her shoulder. I strode toward her, towering over her as I smirked. “The game has changed, Princess. You’re in my city now.”
Her breath caught, a shallow gasp escaping her lips. “Your city,” she echoed softly, a hint of challenge in her voice.
“Yes, so we have a couple of hours until dinner.” I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. “How about I show you around?” Her scent enveloped me, a tantalizing blend of salt and sweet that was utterly alluring in its uniqueness. It ignited a burning, desperate heat in my core, a heat that pulsed and fluttered, threatening to consume me.
Her eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and intrigue flickering across her features. “Are you sure that’s wise?” she asked, her voice low, teasing, yet underscored by a hint of uncertainty.
“What, princess? Afraid you might find something you actually like?” I taunted, a smirk tugging at my lips.
Her expression shifted, lips curling into a small smile as she tilted her head, considering my words. “I’m not easily surprised, Adrian,” she replied, her voice laced with playful challenge.
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure,” I said, my hand brushing against hers as take her luggage. The contact lingered just enough to send a spark racing between us, igniting the air with electricity.
She arched an eyebrow, a smile widening a fraction. “Is that so? Then I suppose I’ll have to keep my eyes wide open.”
“Trust me,” I shot back, glancing over my shoulder with a grin that felt almost predatory. “I’ll make sure of it.”
As we made our way out of the dock, I sensed her curiosity bubbling. The rhythmic sound of the waves accompanied us, and with each step, Iryen’s gaze flitted around, absorbing the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the bustling port.
