Page 51 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

“What is she?” Nola asked Mazie once they were left alone at the table. She waited for Mazie to brush her off and not answer her nosey question. However, when the dark-eyed pirate smirked for the first time since they arrived at Westin, Nola’s shoulders relaxed.

“They are called Maukibas,” she explained.

Nola raised a brow.

“Before my father died, when I was five, he found a beautiful egg on one of our trips to the Southlands. He thought it was only a stone at first, but when it hatched, three little hatchlings came out.” She pointed to the girls dancing on the dance floor with Lincoln. “They are more human-like now.” Mazie shifted uncomfortably, her smile dulled. “Veronika and I—”

Nola smiled at the realization. “Then go dance with her, Mazie,” she said. “It’s quite obvious she’s only dancing with Lincoln to make you jealous.”

Raven looked up. “Nay. That was a long time ago,” she explained. “We didn’t end things in a friendly manner.”

Nola opened her mouth to speak but held back. That was the first time Mazie had been cordial with her. She was afraid the pirate would close up to her again, so she shifted her attention back to the crowd. But her eyes turned to glance at Mazie again.

“Go ahead, Nola,” Mazie said without looking at her. “Ask me what is pressed on your mind.”

The siren girl smiled. “Very well,” she started reluctantly, clearing her throat, “why do you hate me so much?” she asked. “—it can’t just be because I broke into your ship.”

Mazie turned and looked at Nola, but her eyes were soft.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t know you enough to hate you, Nola,” she said.

Nola scrunched up her face and pressed her lips together.

Mazie shrugged. “You remind me of someone who broke my captain’s heart, and I’m worried it will happen again, and I will have to mend those broken pieces...again.”

The siren girl nodded. “I see.” She let out a breath. “Who was she?”

Mazie stood straight. “Her name was Sybil.”

Nola’s stomach tightened. “Like the ship?”

She nodded. “Lincoln named the ship after the woman he almost married, yes. But the bitch left him the day they were to take their vows. A woman who, until very recently, still had his heart.”

The black-haired pirate paused and stood up to step closer to Nola until they were within arm’s reach.

“As much as it pleases me to finally see him happy again, I know where this will end.” Mazie bit her lip. “Nola, Lincoln was bewitched the moment he saw you at the marketplace. He acted like a buffoon because he already cared about a girl he did not know. It’s been less than two days and I see the way he looks at you. And in five days from now, all that goes away.”

Mazie looked back at the stage as Nola’s subtle grin faded. The pirate shot her a look as if she pitied her. Then slammed her mug on the table.

“Okay, I’m done talkin’,” Mazie said, marching past her, brushing against her shoulder.

Nola sat silent, sucking in a breath. Great! She thought.

Her eyes turned back to Lincoln; he was dancing. She could not deny the attraction she had for him; that was clear. But Mazie’s words were a reminder that the two could never be.

She was a siren, and he was a pirate.

Nola’s mission was never to board a ship and fall in love with the captain. She was a monster in a pirate’s eyes. And Lincoln was falling for someone he did not know.

As they danced, the handsome captain coiled his hands over Veronika’s shoulders and moved with the music. He looked hesitant to place his hand on her hip, but she gripped his wrist, directing his hand to where she wanted it to go. He looked up as a dancer jumped off the stage and moved towards Lincoln, joining the two.

The dancer paraded herself in front of Lincoln. Still, his eyes stayed on Nola’s. Startlingly, she felt a rush of jealousy climb up to her throat. But recalling her conversation with Mazie, she smiled back, waving her hand at him to continue dancing. Nola knew she had no right to feel that way.

He is the captain of a ship, and he is only taking me where I need to go,she reminded herself.

She peered at the dance floor, Mazie danced with Nichole, Ardley with Samantha, and Boots took Kitten by the waist and pulled her closer to him—running his hands down her hips. And, of course, Veronika had Lincoln’s arms wrapped around her.

The siren girl sought to convince herself her feelings were the result of the new and exciting experience, and none of them meant a thing.

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