Page 130 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

The moment his threat left his lips, he regretted it. He averted his eyes from hers, looking away for only a moment before turning back. “I find no pleasure in harmin’ a lady, Lyla,” Lincoln said, “but you are my enemy until you cooperate and tell me the truth. You have given me no choice.”

Lyla’s glimmering, light lavender hair fell over her fair-colored skin, hiding her eyes. Behind her undeniable beauty, she was just like the other fairies who hid their true selves. They may have saved him once as a child, but a lot had changed since he left that place.

Her wings flew out to her sides. They were as lucent as the most delicate veil. Lyla’s energy, when frightened, was unlike anything the Sybil Curse’s captain had witnessed. The vibration of her wings fluttering so wildly, it shook his very core.

Lincoln slammed his hand against the tree; pieces of bark fell over her shoulder and stung the skin of his knuckles.

“The…the tree forces the truth out of you,” she said quickly, tears of fear glistened in her eyes.

Lincoln’s gaze quickly turned to the sea as bellowing cries echoed in his ears.He could not even process what Lyla had just told him.

“What the bloody hell is that?” He had heard what she said, but a dark, harrowing sensation that whatever the noise was in the distance warned him it was a greater threat.

The crew turned their heads in the direction of the sea.

The fairy looked back to Lincoln. “A ship is approaching,” the terrified fairy said.

Lincoln released his hold on Lyla. She immediately reached up to the skin around her throat as she gasped for air.

She nodded to the protectors to stand down as the pirates ran towards the shore.

Once they reached the water, Lincoln’s eyes narrowed in on the ship docked one hundred feet from the Eastland Forest’s coast. It was his father’s ship, but it was not the king on the rower. It was Prince Elijah.

“Bloody, fuckin’ hell!” Captain Lincoln cursed, pulling out his sword.

He was not ready to confront and fight his brother so soon, especially in a moment where his mind dreaded the fate of the woman he loved. She was still in the hands of a queen who had deceived them.

Lincoln’s eyes locked in on his brother’s.

How did he find us?He wondered.

The kingdom guards stood on the vessel’s deck, with their weapons ready. Elijah approached the shore on a small rower, unarmed. Lincoln knew his brother held dark magic at the tips of his fingers—weapons were not necessary. Captain Lincoln looked over his shoulder at the crew.

“Stand back and wait for my signal,” he said. “My brother is dangerous, and he will not hesitate to kill each one of us.”

“Captain Lincoln, is it?” Elijah said as he climbed out of the tiny boat, “I’ve heard about you.”

“Have you now?” Lincoln replied, taking one step back. His knuckles cracked around the hilt of his sword.

“Not all good, but they say you’re a marvelous fighter,” Elijah said. “It’s a shame you’ve chosen such a pathetic profession. You’d be of great use to me.”

Lincoln’s eye gave off a twitch. “I’ll take piracy over a corrupt kingdom any day, Elijah.”

“Prince Elijah.”

Lincoln bit his tongue, fighting the urge to tell his brother the truth. He had to, but he was unsure how the prince would react or even if he would believe him.

Elijah moved forward.

Lincoln raised his sword. “You can stop right there.”

The prince held up his hands. “I have no weapons, pirate. I am only here for the siren. That is all.” Another foot moved forward. “Hand her over, and you may all head back to wherever you came from, safely.”

Lincoln raised a brow. “What do you want with her?” he asked.

“My father sent me to retrieve the criminal who boarded your ship,” the prince said. “She released two of the prisoners held in my father’s dungeon. Now, she must pay for her crimes.”

The captain huffed. “Well, isn’t that a load of crock,” he said. “What do you want with the ruby, Elijah?”

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