Nixie chuckles, her eyes twinkling with understanding. "Indeed it does not. But take heart, for the cards have more to reveal."
Rhyland
12
Ileanback, nursing my drink. A smirk tugs at my lips as I replay the scene from earlier—Dani verbally bitch-slapping Izabelle, putting that jealous bitch in her place. Fuck, it was hot as hell watching my girl assert herself like that, all fiery confidence and take-no-shit attitude.
Not that I'm surprised. Dani throws off sex appeal like it's breathing. She's got curves that could make a grown man weep and a confidence that's sexy as sin. But it's not just her body that gets me going—it's her mind that floors me. The way she picked up on poker like it was nothing, wiping the deck with seasoned players despite never having played before. That analytical brain of hers, always working, always cracking shit and solving puzzles... It's sexy as hell.
The memory of her jealousy still echoes in my mind. Seeing her all fired up over that redheaded barmaid was a thing of beauty. It's a sign that our bond is growing stronger—she's feeling it with every fiber of her being.
I had no problem reassuring her, no hesitation in reminding her that she's the only one I see, the only one I crave. She's all I want, all I can think about. Every fiber of my being is attuned to her; every beat of my heart is in sync with hers.
Dani's not usually the jealous type. She's too confident, too self-assured to let something like that get under her skin. But this bond between us, this unbreakable tie that binds our souls together... it's going to intensify everything she feels, everything she is.
She will be even more possessive and fiercely protective of what's hers. And fuck, if that doesn't just light a fire in my veins.
My fierce, fearless Angel claimed me, body and soul. And I've claimed her right back. We belong to each other, now and forever. And anyone who tries to comebetween us... Well, let's just say they'll learn the hard way what happens when you fuck with a man's mate.
Erik grunts from his seat to my left. "I'm curious, brother... what of this Siren's Lyre? Aren't Merfolk Sirens?"
Erik never stops analyzing and looking for angles others might miss. He's got a tactical mind that won't quit, always working to identify potential threats and figure out how to neutralize them.
It's like he's got a supercomputer in his head, constantly processing data and spitting out strategies. He sees patterns and connections that the rest of us couldn't hope to grasp, and he uses that knowledge to stay one step ahead of the game.
I pause, considering the question. The book didn't describe the Merfolk that way but mentioned Sirens. Curiosity piqued, I turn to Captain Gideon, who's busy laughing and bantering with his crew.
"Gideon," I call out, waiting for him to look up from his rum. "What of Sirens? Do they exist?"
The captain takes a swig, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Aye, they do, lad. The Merfolk have been at odds with 'em for centuries—the Sirens, also known as Water Nymphs."
Well, fuck me sideways. Water Nymphs? This just keeps getting better. I raise an eyebrow, leaning forward. "So what's the story there?"
Gideon chuckles, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Ye ever heard tales of sailors being lured to their doom by a pretty face and a sweet song? That be the Sirens' doing, mate."
He takes another gulp of rum, savoring the burn. "Ye see, these Water Nymphs, they be sexual creatures, blessed by Poseidon himself with the power to trap men's minds and hearts. They sing, and the poor bastards are powerless to resist, followin' blindly to their watery graves, grinnin' like fools the whole way."
I feel a shiver run down my spine at his words. Mind control and sex appeal? Sounds like a damn dangerous combination.
The captain leans back, his expression turning sly. "Legend has it that a single kiss from a Siren can make ye forget yer own name, make ye willing to do anything, be anything they desire. They'll lure ye into the water with promises of pleasure beyond yer wildest dreams... and once they have ye, well. Let's just say there ain't no coming back from that, lad."
I whistle lowly, my mind reeling with the implications. "So what, they're like some kind of sex demons?"
Gideon laughs, loud and booming. "Aye, in a manner of speaking. But make no mistake, mate—they're dangerous. Many a sailor has met his end in the arms of a Siren, too lost in lust to realize he's drowning."
He shakes his head, a hint of warning in his eyes. "The Merfolk, they see the Sirens as a threat, a blight on their kind. They've been trying to wipe 'em out for generations to protect the innocent from falling prey to their wiles. But the Sirens, they're a wily bunch. Always seem to find a way to survive, to keep on seducing poor bastards to their doom."
I sit back, my mind reeling. Fucking hell. As if this quest wasn't complicated enough already, now we've got to worry about supernatural seductresses trying to sex us to death?
"So what do we do?" I ask, looking between Erik and Gideon. "How do we fight something like that?"
The Captain shrugs, his expression grim. "Ye don't, lad. Best ye can hope for is to avoid 'em altogether. Stick to the shallows, steer clear of their huntin' grounds."
I glance at Erik, seeing my concern mirrored in his steely gaze. We're going to have to be on our guard every fucking second if we want to make it out of this realm with our souls intact.
But then again, I think with a smirk, if anyone can resist the wiles of a Siren, it's me. After all, I've already got the most desirable woman in the world warming my dick. What's a water nymph compared to my Angel?
I shift in my seat, my pants suddenly feeling too tight.
