Page 37 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

At least a bullet would be quicker—and less painful, she thought, than the heavy waves crashing against the ship.

Her muscles quivered when she looked into his eyes. His beauty had blinded her. The captain was a monster and nothing like the man she thought she met at the tavern.

“Please don’t do this!” she begged, squeezing her eyes shut. Tears ran down her pallid cheeks before she continued. “I need your help, Lincoln,” she urged, watching his eyes evade from hers when she had said his name.

The Sybil Curse’s captain did not move; his nostrils flared with each breath he took. After a few silent seconds, she looked past him, eyeing the faintest hint of the sun rising from the east. It was the only haven she had at that moment. If she dropped into the sea, her legs would change—but what if they did not. The water would consume her, and she would sink to the bottom of the sea. With twenty years of steering clear of the water, she did not know how to swim.

Nola closed her eyes, knowing every breath she took could be her last. After a moment, she opened her eyes again, looking back at the captain.

“I have nowhere to go,” she said, her voice soft, defeated. “Please, Lincoln. I—I need your help,” she stammered, embarrassed at how her voice sounded. She could feel all eyes on the deck fixated on her.

The captain pulled his brows together. His head tilted to the side, still pointing the pistol at her.

“Help?” His cold voice caused her heart to thud beneath her chest. “In what world would a pirate help the very person who stole from them?” He gestured with his head towards the west. “Were those bells for you earlier? Did you steal that jewel from the king? Because if you had, you are walkin’ off that plank because I want no part in King Matthias’s feuds. We don’t need the royal guard on board my ship. And you—” he said, inching the pistol closer where the barrel brushed against her skin, “—are goin’ to get us killed.”

“The Eastland Forest,” she said quickly, her voice cracking. “I just need safe passage to the Eastland Forest.”

The captain’s lips drew back in a snarl, not speaking for a long, torturous moment as if he had been contemplating if he believed her.

“Humans aren’t allowed in the Eastland Forest. You’ve wasted our time.” He sized her up, then lowered the pistol down to her chest and cocked his head. “What do you want with the Fae people, anyway?”

Nola was sure he would continue to press for answers. She owed him the truth. That was not her ship, after all. She was on their territory and was most certainly putting their lives in danger by being there—at least once the king or his son realized she had fled on their ship.

“Zemira isn’t the same place it used to be,” she answered.

“No shit!” A small chuckle left his lips. “What does that have to do with visitin’ the Fae? They won’t welcome a human. You are aware of that, eh?”

“I don’t care,” she said confidently. “I have no other choice. I’m going to the Eastland Forest, and you are going to take me there.”

She looked over as a snort came from Mazie, who looked up and met Nola’s eyes. Her eyes told a different story—that of a captain who would never hurt a lady.

Nola somehow managed to suppress her fear from coming to her eyes. She tried standing tall, not to show Captain Lincoln how truly terrified she was of him. She worked so desperately to appear brave.

“I’m just a poor village girl who is tired of the king destroying everything we love,” she said, “and I need the Fae’s help to stop him.”

Amusement flashed in Lincoln’s eyes. He cocked his head, withdrawing his pistol and slowly lowering his hand to his side. Her rapid heartbeat slowed a bit. Nola dropped her shoulders, finally able to relax the tension that was building up in her neck.

Lincoln reached out his hand for her to take. She hesitated, unsure if what she said was enough, but she grabbed his hand anyway and followed him off the plank.

The captain pressed his lips together as if he were considering her words.

“I’ll tell you what—” he lowered her back down to the deck, “—I’ll take you to the Fae, but while you’re on my ship, you are to be my prisoner. You will do everythin’ I tell you to do, or you’ll become shark bait!” He bit his lip.

As ruthless as his threat was, a thrill bounced in the pit of her stomach.

He stepped closer to her. “There must be retribution for your crime,” he added.

Her excitement dissipated.

“My crime?” she said, giving him a slight scowl. “What crime have I committed?”

He chuckled, throwing his head back and flashed her his perfectly straight teeth. A dimple creased on his right cheek, hiding the tiny scar.

If he wasn’t such a pompous bastard,she thought, I’d be attracted to him.

“You stole my pistol,” he fumed. His tone matched the grimace on his pretty face. “I’ve had it since I was twelve years old.” His smile faded as he fidgeted with the one on his hand. “This one doesn’t have much sentimental value.”

He was so close to her now she felt his warm breath caress her cheeks.

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