Page 85 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

The Sybil Curse’s crew looked at her; they remained leerier of the siren than their captain had been. Nola knew her eyes beamed fire, her skin felt rough and coarse, but she relaxed with each step Lincoln took back.

“Captain, I think you need to listen to her,” Mazie said calmly from behind, trying to diffuse the hostile moment.

Seconds before, Nola wanted to attack him, kill him and the crew. But Kitten and Mazie standing up for her made her realize they cared about her too. Nola locked eyes with Lincoln and saw genuine fear and remorse. She finally realized what was happening.

His shoulders sagged. “Nola, I—”

The siren girl held up both her hands. “Don’t, Lincoln. Just leave me alone.”

Lincoln lowered his head, staring at the deck to avoid her eyes as shame burned at his cheeks. He had pushed her too far, and he knew it. It was not her fault; it was in her blood—her true nature.

“Lincoln, what the ’ell were ye doin’ to ’er?” Kitten grunted as she approached behind Mazie. She turned to the still enraged siren.“Easy, Nola, take a deep breath, will ye?”

The siren glanced at Golden-Eye, and then back to Lincoln, feeling her anger finally subside.

Nola quickly became aware of her equally irrational reaction. He was drunk and upset, and she had let him get inside her head. She was not afraid of Lincoln; she was angry. Her blood pulsed, but she had to focus on becoming calm.

Ardley, Boots, and Hill had their hands hovering over their weapons. Nola could see the fear in their eyes. However, Mazie had a light smile pulling at her lips, and amusement glinted in her midnight-black eyes.

“I’m fine, Kitten,” Nola assured. “I just need your captain to back away for a minute.”

Boots stepped forward. “Captain, you best sleep off whatever is goin’ through your head, mate,” Boots said, “what were you thinkin’?”

Lincoln’s face flamed with remorse. “Nola, I didn’t—” he said, breathing heavily through his nose, keeping his eyes locked in on hers.

“I’ve never meant to hurt you, Lincoln, but if you ever come at me like that again, I can promise you, I will defend myself.” She looked away. “I was raised by humans, but since I left Baylin, I don’t even recognize myself. I don’t know how to control it.”

Nola stepped closer to the captain, but Hill moved between them, pointing his pistol at her head as a warning. She stopped and stepped back.

“That blood you saw in the tavern,” Nola continued, “do you want to know who it belonged to? I took a knife and plunged it into a guard’s throat because he cornered me like that. So, do not test my limits and threaten me.”

Lincoln’s face twisted as he nodded. “I know. I don’t know what came over me.”

“Boots, it’s okay,” Nola said as Boots tried to grip the captain’s arm to pull him away. “It’s me I’m more concerned about. I’ll see myself below deck.”

Hill lowered the pistol as Nola walked between him and Ardley, leaving the crew behind.

Lincoln opened his mouth to speak but immediately shut it. Nola clearly blamed herself, but it was he who had provoked her and pinned her into a corner—physically and emotionally.

As she descended the stairs, the captain ran his hand through his hair restlessly. His eyes displayed a sort of grief and deep guilt.

Way to go, you idiot!Lincoln thought before turning on his heel and staggering back to his quarters.

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