Dilys smiled down at her. He always seemed to be smiling, damn him. If she didn’t know better she’d say it was because he never took anything seriously. But she’d seen his face when his uncle had shared the list of Calbernan sailors from the missing vessels. People he knew, people under his protection—many of them—were presumed dead or sold into slavery. There’d been death in his eyes.
These pirates—whoever they were—had no idea of what they’d roused. No idea of what destruction they’d called down on their own heads when they set out to harm people under Dilys Merimydion’s protection.
“You have the power to keep me from this fight,moa kiri,” he told her. Sweet Halla, that smile of his was a weapon. Broad, dazzling white in his deeply bronzed face. “Just stake your claim. Make me yours, and I’ll sail with you back to Calberna tomorrow alongside all the otherlianasandakuas.”
For the last two days, the married Sealords and their new families had been preparing to depart for Calberna. Dilys and the rest of the unwed warriors had spent the time provisioning their ships and preparing for battle.
“You’re just saying that because you know I won’t do it. If I bound you to me five times over, you wouldn’t let your men sail into this fight without you.”
“Would I not?” His smile winked out. “Let’s put that to the test. All joking aside. If you truly want me to stay, then claim me, Gabriella. Speak my Name and make me yours.”
“Dilys...” Gods, what he did to her. When he spoke in that voice, when he looked at her that way—like she was Halla, and he was the poor soul locked outside its gates, begging to get in... “You know I won’t do that. I—I can’t.” Summer couldn’t afford to let herself be rushed into marriage. There was too much at stake. Her gifts were too dangerous, her control over them uncertain at best. One afternoon of controlling her gifts while recounting the most horrible day of her life did not constitute sufficient proof that she could risk releasing her emotions from a lifetime of fierce control.
“And I cannot let this challenge to my House go unanswered. Calberna cannot allow it.” Dilys smoothed a hand across her hair. “At least give me your blessing before I go, Gabriella, since you won’t give me your heart.”
“You have it.”
His lips curved with gentle amusement. “Ono.I don’t mean words and kind thoughts. I ask for a Siren’s blessing.”
“I don’t understand.”
Taking her hands, he dropped gracefully to one knee before her, then cupped her hands around his face. “Bless me,Sirena. Before I head into battle, grant me the gift of your good wishes and whatever affection you bear me. If I am to die, let me die with that much at least.”
The mere thought of Dilys perishing sent a jolt of panic ripping through her, followed by an instant, ferocious rejection. He couldn’t...die.Not now. Not when she... when she... The sudden swell of fierce emotion overwhelmed her. Heat suffused her. The Rose on her right wrist burned like a coal.
Dilys’s fingers clamped tight around her wrists, clutched her hands to his face. His back arched, every muscle in his body went taut, and the tendons in his neck stood out like thick cables. He started to shake. A rattling groan spilled from his mouth.
Alarmed and horrified, she yanked her hands away.
The next thing she knew, she was free and standing six feet away from him, one hand pressed to her chest, breath heaving in and out of her lungs. Dilys had fallen forward, onto his hands and knees, and he was swaying, shaking his head drunkenly.
Then he began to laugh. The weak, breathless kind of laughter that came after surviving an unexpected brush with near death.
“Goddess, woman. Either you care for me a great deal more than you are willing to admit, or youreallydon’t want me to die.” He pushed himself up and sat on his heels, staring at her with golden eyes so bright it almost hurt to look at them.
“Did I hurt you?”
His eyebrows rose. “Hurt me?Ono, moa kiri,quite the contrary. But I think now I know what it feels like to be struck by lightning.” He clambered to his feet and grabbed a nearby mooring post to steady himself. One hand still clinging to the post, he swept a low, wobbly bow. “Thank you, Gabriella. Your gift was great indeed.” He dragged in a shaky breath and grinned. “Are you sure you don’t want to claim me now?” He flung out his arms. “I am yours for the taking.” He swayed woozily and had to grab the post again.
“Sit down before you fall down,” Summer snapped.
He started laughing again and sat—or rather, collapsed—on the dock. “You are so bossy,moa leia.Has anyone ever told you that?”
Affronted, she put her hands on her hips. “They. Have. Not.”
“I like bossy women.” His eyes closed. His head lolled back. That smile stayed on his lips. “I like you, too. Very much. Come here.” He waved for her to come closer.
She stayed where she was. “I don’t want to come there. Are youdrunk?”
“Only on your love.” His lips parted in a grin. “Come here.”
“No.”
One eye peeled open. “Please.” He waved again and held out a hand.
“Oh, for Halla’s sake.” She blew out a disgusted breath and walked towards him.
As soon as she was within reach, he grabbed her hand and gave a yank. With a shriek of surprise, she toppled her off her feet and into his lap. She struggled briefly, trying to get loose and back on her feet, but his arms were suspiciously strong, making her think his collapse was just an act.
