Page 167 of Gods of the Sea

“Esmeralda? What are you…?”

“I thought about you every day since I returned,” I confessed. “Every time I looked at the swords on my father’s bedroom wall, I couldn’t help but think of the naval gentleman who always made me feel at home, even when I thought I’d never find home again.”

His lips pulled back in a half smile, but he shook it away. “I hurt you, Esmeralda.”

I pulled him back into my embrace. “And now? Do you still want revenge against me?”

His hands came up to my arms as if he were going to break free, but his touch was light against my skin.

“Of course not,” he replied. “Not when I—”

He stopped. I nudged him.

“What is it?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Tell me?”

I lifted my voice, smiling when he met my eyes. We both knew that my charmspeak had no effect now.

One of his hands came from my arm to my face, and he gently rubbed my cheek with his thumb.

“I’m in love with you,” he said. “I’m completely obsessed.”

I smiled in return. “What a coincidence. I love you too.”

A smile burst onto his lips, and he pulled me close into an embrace. He leaned down and nuzzled the skin behind my ear, sighing in confusion.

“But why?” he whispered. “After all that I’ve done?”

I leaned my head against his shoulder. “You act as if my hands are clean. I murdered the Guardians in cold blood as a siren. How can I judge you so harshly for sins when I have so many of my own?”

He leaned back, realizing. “Your curse. I had forgotten.” His eyes were frantic and wide. “Esmeralda, if you don’t become a full siren, then—”

“Then I finish this life and live another. But if I become a siren, it would be quite difficult for us to be together.”

His fingers came to my hair, brushing it away from my neck and shoulder.

“As deeply as I feel for you, I don’t want to be the reason you are cursed forever,” he said. “If you want your wings—”

“I don’t,” I said firmly. “Not in this life. In this life, I want my family. I want my father, my future children, and you. If I live a thousand more lives with a thousand more families, it won’t be so bad. There are worse punishments.”

I embraced him tighter.

“Did you just imply that you want to have children with me?” he asked with an airy chuckle.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I pulled back. “That wasn’t…I mean…”

He leaned back to look into my eyes, a new mischievous glint in them. I looked away, not knowing what to say. He chuckled once again before gently directing my chin back to face him.

“A family with you,” he whispered, “would be the best future I can possibly imagine.”

The embarrassment ebbed from my body and I relaxed, getting lost in his sweet and dark eyes. He glanced at my lips, before parting his own.

“Can I kiss you?” he whispered.

I leaned forward. “Every day until the day I leave this body.”

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