Page 91 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

“Aye,” Lincoln said with a smile, describing the memory. “The crew was passed out from her siren song while Sybil frantically blew air into my lungs while still contemplatin’ on whether she should be helpin’ me at all—.”

The handsome captain paused for a second or two as he caressed Nola’s fingers. Then he continued.

“I looked back to the stunningly beautiful, blue-eyed temptress who rested her gaze on me.” His smile faded. “We had stared at each other for what felt like hours. At that moment, I thought it was love at first sight. Lookin’ back now, I wonder if it was. After one year together, she vanished. I fell into deep despair. It felt like a curse—desperately strugglin’ to pull myself up.”

“The Sybil Curse,” Nola said flatly, “What a fitting name.”

He smirked. “Quite fittin’.”

Lincoln’s eyes looked downcast, lost in the memory. He swore to himself he would never bring his first love up again to anyone, because a part of him died that day. Nola, the beautiful siren sitting on his bed, looking at him with her amber eyes, reminded him that not all had been lost.

He could love again.

Nola rested her fingers over his hand but did not squeeze. “I’m sorry about Sybil,” she said, “and I’m sorry you never found that treasure.”

He chuckled. “Oh, the stories of that island would give you nightmares, my love.”

A look of curiosity crossed over her face. “Oh, do tell.”

“There are deadly creatures who reside there,” he started, watching her lips part. “And Wentworth knew it before we arrived. His idea of bein’ a pirate was bent on war and unprovoked violence. Wealth was all he cared about. Not me, nor the crew.” He turned until he faced her. “My former captain was the kind of pirate who sullied the reputation pirates once had. He was a traitor, even to his own kind. I hoped to never become that, but I have become somehow lost.” He inched closer, placing his hand over her cheek. “However, that hope came back when I found you.”

Oh, that touch again,she hummed in her mind.

“I feel the same way,” she said. “When Matthias started killing spies, my adoptive father found me floating in the sea and took me to Baylin. I was raised by incredible parents but at the same time, I had to hide the fact that I was not human. As much as I understood and feared that life, you cannot help but embrace it when you feel the magic inside you. I craved it.”

“Nola,” he hummed, “You do not have to hide. Not anymore.” Emerald flecks shone in the depths of his eyes.

“Lincoln.” Her soft murmur was drowned by the sound of loud bellows above deck.

Slowly, the crew’s shouts and laughter died away. Silence fell, broken only by the creak of the ship and the lapping of the water. Lincoln’s breath rasped in his chest. Nola fought the urge to lean into him, to feel the length of his body against hers.

The siren girl wanted to say more; she wanted to tell him the truth. She was falling in love with him and that she would love him even in his darkest hours. But that intense need to confess that love to the man before her was quickly smothered by the weight of self-doubt, and she did not know how to rid herself of it. So, she said nothing.

Nola peeped at the porthole, breaking the locked gaze they had on each other. Pink wisps were breaking through the midnight blue of the skyline.

“It is nearly daybreak.” She sighed, pulling up a cocky smile to mask the little quivers in her voice.

Nola straightened up onto her feet, sensing a shake in her knees, one that had become all too familiar around him lately.

“Should we join the crew for breakfast?” she asked, about to spin away, when five taut fingers wrapped around her wrist.

“Nay,” he said. His husky voice was low and urgent.

She glanced down at his hand. It had a sense of possessiveness around it. Expectedly, the rippling in her belly fluttered higher. “Lincoln, I—”

“Stay here, with me.” It was not a request. He brushed his rough fingertips over her wrist. Slowly, the distance between them narrowed. He was reeling her towards him, eyeing her as if she were the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. And she let him, without struggle, until he had her imprisoned in his hold.

Her breath hitched.

I don’t think we’ll be joining the crew this morning.

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