Page 88 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

Lincoln buried his face in his hands as embarrassment flooded his veins.

I should have never kept such a secret from my mates,he scolded himself.

Nola was still asleep, so she would not yet learn it was his own brother who was after her. Sharing his true identity with the siren girl would be entirely different than it was to his hearties.

Mazie had called the crew to gather, and they all stood in Lincoln’s room, waiting for him to explain himself. Beads of sweat trickled down Lincoln’s neck as a nervous twitch tugged at his insides.

He looked up slowly.

“Will you stop lookin’ at me like that,” Lincoln said to his mates, who stared at him with an unblinking gaze.

Raven ran her hand over her face. “So,” she started, “let us get this sorted. You’re Prince Tristan?”

“No!” he shot back. “I mean, yes! I was. My father tried to have his men kill me and throw my body into the ocean. I miraculously survived and washed up in the Eastland Forest’s shore.”

Lincoln saw Kitten’s lips part in shock. The first time the crew docked on that land, he acted as if the Fae kingdom was as foreign to him as it was to them. It was a secret the Sybil Curse’s captain swore to keep until he gave his last breath.

“The Fae people healed me with their water,” Lincoln continued, “but after a few months, I had to leave. They could not care for a human, a young lad for that matter, nor did they want to. I boarded one of their ships and sailed with them until they found a pirate ship—Wentworth’s—and bargained with them. They promised to share some of their magical water with the crew if they took me in. Wentworth always had desired what belonged to the Fae, so he gladly accepted.”

Mazie and Kitten exchanged a look while he told his story.

Lincoln smiled. “That, and he needed an extra hand on deck. I became a pirate that very day.”

His eyes drifted from the crew as if lost in thought.

“Anythin’ at the time was better than being my father’s son.”

Lincoln omitted the notion that he always thought it was the merfolk who saved him. Or perhaps it was just a miracle he did not drown that night. Wentworth was a cruel captain, but he gave young Lincoln a second chance at life without being forced to return to his father. Wentworth was an ally to the king. However, he never exposed Lincoln’s identity and for that, he was grateful.

Boots stepped forward, his head slightly tilted low.

“Should we start callin’ you—?” he started.

“Don’t you dare call me Prince,” Lincoln said.

“You’re not!” Mazie said. She flared her nostrils as if the title Prince sent an unwelcomed, bitter taste to her mouth. “Like you said, that isn’t you anymore. You’re a fuckin’ pirate, and though you’ve lied to us, you son of a bitch, you’re still my captain.”

The door creaked behind them.

“Lincoln?”

The crew turned to Nola standing in the doorway.

The captain’s stomach lurched, but he quickly rose to his feet. Nola’s hands trembled; her eyes swollen as if she had been crying all night. However, she stood straight and managed to give them all a small smile to avoid feeling unwanted. She felt like a fool.

“Let’s go, hearties,” Mazie said, signaling for the crew to head back above deck and give the two some space.

Lincoln swallowed the nervous dryness in his throat before moving from the bed and sauntering towards her. The gleam in his green eyes settled on hers, causing her heart to flutter wildly.

“I know that wasn’t you back there,” she started, her smile fading and choking back the tears.

Those damn tears again,she cursed at herself. I must say what I came in here for and leave.

“I’m sorry for what I did as well,” she continued. “It felt like I had no control. As if my will power to shut it off was—” she rubbed her arms nervously, “—I should have never—.”

“Nola,” he sighed, watching her shoulder sag as her own shame flushed in her face. “Don’t apologize for somethin’ you had no control over.” His eyes narrowed as he searched her face. “It is I who should be apologizin’.”

Lincoln’s hand reached up, placing his palm softly against the curve of her neck. Nola nibbled at her bottom lip, trying to look away, but he lightly gripped her jaw and stepped closer. “You did what was natural for you.” The corners of his mouth turned up as he whispered the words, “Oh, beautiful siren.” His voice came out like a purr as he caressed her neck. The burning shame of his own confession sent a blush flowing down his face.

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