Page 50 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

“Come now, join the festivities. Mazie, everyone will be thrilled to see you,” Kala said.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Raven said bitterly, turning away from her mother again.

“Don’t be melodramatic. You know the triplets are a little lost without their best friend.” She sneered at her daughter. “You owe them an apology, you know? You took off without so much as a goodbye!”

Raven’s hands went into fists. “I don’t owe them shit!”

Lincoln chuckled. “I’d love to meet your friends and family, Mazie,” Lincoln said, placing a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her in the only way he knew how. “We were so busy the last time we were here fixin’ up the ship that I didn’t get a chance to meet everyone.”

“You aren’t missin’ much,” Mazie belittled. But drew in a deep breath before saying, “Gah, where are those ridiculous creatures?”

As the crew stepped out onto a field, they could see that multiple tents, vendor stands, and tables full of food encircled a large stage at the center. Everything covered with white and red lights made it look more like a carnival than a peaceful town.

Maybe this is what life is like when people are happy,Nola thought as a few dancers moved past them to the beat of the tambourines.

The crew walked to a couple tables next to a tent that looked like a bar and joined Harry, who delicately arranged a feast for the visitors. Ardley, Boots, and Kitten sat together on one side and grabbed a plate. Hill managed to balance himself as he joined them to eat. With only a couple of seats left, Lincoln pulled one out and nodded at Nola to sit on it as he followed Mazie to the bar. Kala sat next to her?—somewhat fascinated by the Sybil Curse’s new crew member.

“Ever been to a harvest festival?” Kala asked Nola. “We do them in almost every city we visit.”

She shook her head. “I never have. Zemira doesn’t celebrate like this.”

“You’re from Zemira?” Kala asked, seemingly surprised.

“Yes, in a small village north of the palace. I have lived there my entire life,” she explained. “My mother grew up in a city several hours north from Baylin. After meeting my father, he built her a cottage with his bare hands. We lived in that home ever since.”

Kala smirked. “Well, that is quite interesting.”

Lincoln, who sat at the bar, unable to get the tender’s attention to order a drink, overheard Kala questioning Nola and gave her an odd look. Kala stood and came up behind three women. The ladies immediately turned around to see where she was heading. They were tall, slender, and once they were facing him, he noticed, incredibly beautiful.

The one on the left had short blonde hair with hints of rose-toned strands; her dress, with a cleavage falling all the way down to her belly button, and a gorgeous yet intimidating gaze. The one standing in the middle wore her long brown hair straight down to her hips, where it met the beads on her colorful skirt. The mascara on her long eyelashes made her turquoise eyes look ravishing. They giggled as the third girl with tight curls that reached the middle of her back, wearing a long dress and bare feet, said something in a low voice.

“Mazie! It can’t be!” the curly brown-haired girl shouted.

“Veronika,” Mazie said flatly as the girl leapt into her arms, giving her a tight squeeze.

Veronika turned to Lincoln and licked her lips flirtatiously, with her arm still dangling over Mazie’s shoulder.

Mazie rolled her eyes. “Oh, bloody hell,” she cried, brushing Veronika’s arm off her shoulder. Mazie gestured to the other girls, saying, “This is Samantha, Nichole, and—”

“Veronika,” the gorgeous woman finished for Mazie, her eyes still transfixed on Lincoln. “Care to dance, pirate?” She held out her hand. “This is a night of celebration, and you all look bored out of your wits,” she babbled on. “No one sits around and mopes during a harvest festival!”

Samantha stepped forward. “I’ve been fermenting our own brew if you’d like to try some,” she said, swaying where she stood. “It’s delightful.”

Nola, noticing the trio’s encroachment on Lincoln, sauntered towards the bar, a little jealousy shining in her color-changing eyes. “Homemade brew, you say. Sounds intriguing.”

Samantha greeted the siren girl as she snickered, turning to Nichole. “Go grab a mug for the pretty girl.”

Nola smiled. “Thank you, I’d love to try some.”

Lincoln grinned at Nola and gestured to the dance floor. As she stepped forward to go with him, Veronika stepped between them, taking Lincoln’s wrist, and in a split second, she yanked him towards the hay dance floor. A small smile reached her lips. The look on the captain’s face as the music played, and while he moved to the beat, had made her happy.

He caught her eye and shrugged, but all she did was wave her hand in the air, showing Lincoln she did not mind. Kitten pulled at Boots’s shirt to drag him after them, and Hill and Ardley followed behind to the dance floor.

Nichole giggled to herself. “Oh, tonight is going to be fun!” she said with enthusiasm in her voice. She curtsied to Nola and swung around, chasing after them. Right then, the siren noticed, dangling from behind the beautiful girl, was a long, thick, black tail.

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