I couldtotallyrun with that and milk the humor for all it's worth, but she's asked me to dial it back, so I clamp my mouth shut and just drink her in with my eyes.Being this close to her, soaking in her angelic presence? Yeah, that's enough for me right now. Hell, it’s more than I deserve.
As we stand here, the sea breeze whipping around us and the sun setting on the horizon, I can't help but thank the fucking universe for this woman—I've finally found something worth holding onto. Something genuine and fucking beautiful.
Even if it means being vulnerable and honest and all that terrifying shit. Because for Seraphina, I'd face down an army of demons with nothing but a spork and a smile.
She's worth it. And damn it all to hell, so am I.
Danica
41
Aftertwo days of playing pirate on the high seas, we finally made it to Serraphatic Cove. We drop anchor about a mile off the coast. The view from the ship is like something straight out of a travel brochure. Mountains that could give the Rockies a run for their money, waterfalls that would make Niagara look like a leaky faucet, and water so blue that it looks like someone melted down sapphires and poured them into the ocean.
Gideon's ship is looking pretty damn spiffy. It's like it just rolled out of the pirate shipyard, all shiny and new after the crew put in some serious elbow grease. You'd never guess it was the same vessel that nearly got turned into driftwood not too long ago.
Speaking of driftwood, I ran into Izabelle on our little nautical adventure, the backstabbing sea harlot herself. When she saw me, she scurried behind Gideon like a cockroach. It would've been funny if I wasn't so pissed off.
Rhyland gave me the lowdown on her little betrayal, how she threw me to the sharks (literally) and left me to deal with Bloodbane's crazy ass all on my own. And while I may not be able to give her the ass-kicking she so richly deserves right now, you better believe her time is coming.
Karma's a bitch, and so am I.
My eye snags on a distant island off in the distance, cornering Serraphatic Cove, and before I know it, I'm playing twenty questions with Gideon.
"Aye, that be Selkie Shores," Gideon informs me, sounding like he's about to launch into a pirate's version of a nature documentary. "The Selkies keep to themselves, and you rarely see 'em at all."
Selkies? Sounds like a brand of designer dog food. "Selkies?" I repeat, hoping for more info. I vaguely remember reading about them in the Book of Aquaria, butapparently, my brain decided to file that information under "Useless Trivia" instead of "Important Magical Creatures."
"Half man, half seal, from what we've gathered," Gideon explains, describing some bizarre genetic experiment gone wrong. "They like to stir up trouble, and we call 'em the dogs of the sea."
Now, I'm even more confused. "Why?" I ask, wondering both about the dog comparison and their reclusive nature.
"They're playful, like dogs," Gideon says with a shrug as if that explains everything. "And the Queen has forced 'em to stay on their island, or else they'll be hunted for sport and killed on sight."
Well, that escalated quickly. I mean, talk about an overreaction. What did these seal people do, pee in Cordelia's royal swimming pool?
I squint at the distant island, trying to catch a glimpse of these mythical creatures. But unless they're waving giant "Hello, we're Selkies!" signs, I'm not seeing squat.
This whole situation is fishier than a tuna cannery. Why are they exiled? What could these adorable seal people possibly do that's so terrible? In our world, seals are water puppies. Here, they're treated like the plague with flippers.
Since I was the designated blood donor for this trip—Seraphina wasn't quite ready to share her angelic juice yet, which is understandable. Lucian, who typically jumps at the chance for his dose, whined like a toddler and insisted he should only drink from his mate now. Rhyland, ever the supportive brother, agreed, but I had to step in and tell him to quit bitching. We are on a tight schedule and need to get a move on. After some grumbling and eye-rolling, Lucian finally caved and took his dose.
Of course, because nothing can ever be easy, I had to do it the old-fashioned way, with a knife, some glasses, and Rhyland playing nurse. It was like a fucked-up version of a tea party, only with more blood and less crumpets.
Erik, my favorite silver fox, managed to snag my daggers from the tavern on that fateful night of my impromptu pirate adventure. He's been keeping them safe like some weapon-hoarding dragon.
He hands them over with a hint of a smile. "I am of the opinion that these are rightfully yours, Little Huntress."
I can't help but throw my arms around him in a bear hug. Erik might act all stoic and broody, but deep down, he's just a big softie. Moments like these remind me why he's the badass big brother I never knew I needed. Who else would think torescue my weapons while I'm off getting kidnapped by pirates? That's some next-level thoughtfulness right there.
Erik, Seraphina, and Lucian have decided to stay on the ship and wait for us to return—no need to bring everyone on this treasure hunt.
Rhyland and I pile into the dinghy, the small boat creaking ominously under our combined weight.
As we row towards shore, the island seems to come alive. Birds I'd never seen before swoop overhead, their calls a strange mix of melodic and haunting. The air grows thick with the scent of exotic flowers and salt spray, making my head spin.
When my feet touch the sand, a jolt goes through me, like I've stepped on a live wire. The beach is unlike anything I've ever seen—sand so white it is almost blinding, dotted with seashells in colors I didn't even know existed in nature. Palm trees sway in a breeze I can't feel, their leaves whispering secrets in a language I can't understand but somehow feel I should know.
I turn to share my awe, only to find Rhyland frozen in place, his expression a mix of wonder and wariness. My unflappable Viking vampire looks like he's seen a ghost—or maybe something even more unsettling.
