Page 79 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

Nola massaged her knees as she stared down to where her skin had begun to join between her legs. She closed her eyes, and the uncomfortable memory flashed before her—it burned, even though she was submerged in frigid water.

It was an odd feeling, the tug from her tail, willing her legs to blend into one.

Strange, yet invigorating,she thought. It was as if her mind and body had both revitalized. A new life that should have always been a part of her.

The siren had not expected Lincoln to risk his life for her, but he had. She could only think about his strong hands yanking at her shirt, pulling her out of the sea that was meant to swallow her.

She leaned back against a small barrel at the ship’s stern and folded her arms across her chest. She kept her eyes glued to the captain’s cabin door, where he and the mysterious siren were having an in-depth conversation.

I would’ve drowned before I transitioned. I am thankful Lincoln got to me in time,Nola told herself.

The crew and its captain were alive and away from that dreadful place, but the woman’s presence meant they were not out of danger. Only eight hours earlier, Lincoln had peered into Nola’s eyes and promised her she was safe with him.

Perhaps I misread those feelings,she thought. Lincoln seemed different ever since that siren came aboard the ship and went into his quarters with him.

It did, however, answer two questions that had been occupying her mind.

The first, the woman in there with Lincoln proved he did not fear a siren. It made Nola wonder how wrong her father’s stories were—that pirates and sirens were sworn enemies.

Secondly—. Nola shook the thought from her mind. She suspected he knew about her tail.

He must’ve seen it change, and now he knows I am a creature of the sea.Nola’s mind tried to give itself an explanation.

Boisterous laughter came from below deck across the ship. Nola strolled down the main corridor towards the stairs to the kitchen and inhaled the scent of fish and fresh herbs. She would be more useful helping Kitten cook supper than moping on the damp wooden deck. She needed to stop obsessing over the siren woman holding the captain’s attention for nearly a day.

Nola stood and took one step before she heard Mazie call her name from across the deck. The siren looked over at the dark-eyed pirate, who threw a sword at her feet while holding another.

Nola glanced down at the blade and slowly raised a brow.

“You look as if you need some excitement,” Mazie said.

Nola shrugged. “I guess I need something to do.”

Mazie smirked. “Somethin’ other than thinkin’ about the captain, I presume?” she asked.

Nola laughed lazily. “You presume wrong. I barely know him, so what do I care?”

Of course, the lie did not come off naturally. Nola sounded more defensive and annoyed than truthful, and she was quite aware the eyes that looked back at her were not fooled.

Nola cared greatly for Lincoln, more than she was willing to admit. But she felt guilty for wanting a man who did not want her back. One moment, he would lightly touch her lips with the tips of his fingers, getting lost in her eyes, and the next, evaded her like she was a piece of rotting liver.

“How about you quit mopin’ around the ship, then.” Mazie took a step closer until their noses almost touched. “You can dress, walk and talk like a pirate, but you will fool no one if you can’t fight like one.” A smile curved at the edge of her lips. “Let us practice what skills you have when you must battle with your hands,” she said.

The black-haired pirate dropped her sword and brought her fists up near her face.

Nola huffed. “You want to fist fight me?”

The pirate shrugged her shoulders. “I saw you take out a handful of those little gnomes like you were born to fight, but you lack confidence in your skill, so you’ll need to practice.” Mazie cracked her knuckles like she was ready to strike at her right then and there. “You almost got yourself, and our captain killed when you allowed somethin’ the size of a rat to knock you off the ship,” the pirate fumed, then stepped back, her closed fists out front.

“How about we try the swords first? I might need a tad warming up,” Nola asked.

Her father taught her how to use weapons, but not how to fist fight. From time to time, he did bring her with him to see illegal combats outside their village. He had once been a skilled fighter until Val asked him to give it up and start a life with her.

The siren girl reached down and picked up the sword at her feet. She felt the weight in her palm and instantly swung it towards Mazie. Raven dodged it and leapt for her own sword, gripping the hilt, and pointing it up to Nola’s throat. She froze.

Mazie cocked her head and grinned. “Impressive,” she said. “But you hesitated.”

Nola smirked. Having any kind of weapon in her hand gave her a sense of security. However, a bow and arrow would have been a much better fit.

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