“King Vaxarion of Morilren sends his regards,” the Sea Dragon said. “He will also send a carriage for you tonight at sixo'clock precisely, if you are amenable to spending the evening with him.”
“I . . . he . . .” I cleared my throat. “Yes, I'm amenable.”
“Very good. It will behereat six.” He pointed at the road. “Your name?”
“I'm, uh, Zixin, Sir.”
“Zixin, you are one lucky Neraky,” the Sea Dragon said with a smirk. Then he turned and hurried to the royal carriage.
I watched him nod at someone just before he jumped on the back ledge, and then the carriage pulled away. I thought I saw movement inside, the flash of teeth from a smile, but I could have been imagining it.
As soon as I turned around, the crew started cat-calling, blowing kisses, and thrusting their hips at me. I grinned and strutted back onto the Lu-Ken.
“Fuck off, all of you,” I said with my grin locked in place. “I'm having fresh Sea Dragon for dinner.”
“RoyalSea Dragon!” Wei whooped. “Well done, Zix!”
“He hasn't done anything well yet,” Joo said. “Don't blow it, Zix.”
“Yeah, don't blow it, butblowhim,” Feng added, then motioned with his hand before his mouth as if he were sucking a shaft. “Blow him good.”
I chuckled and went back to my spot on the railing. The crew continued to tease me, but my thoughts were already on the coming night. I was going to tease and please that Sea Dragon until his purple eyes rolled back in his head. And then I wasgoing to do it all over again. All night. He'd be swimming home with a smile, and if it went really well, I might even tell the crew about it. In great detail.
Chapter Two
I checked my reflection again. For like, the sixth time. Or sixtieth. I had showered—cleaned better than usual if you catch my wave—and shaved. Down there. Neraky don't have a lot of body hair, so I didn't have to worry about shaving my limbs or my chest, just my bits—all around the mainmast and the full nets below. They were silky smooth and ready for royalty. I smelled pretty good too and had on my best garments—all of them stolen. The pants and hip scarf were taken off a Zaruian vessel and were made of the finest silk in deep cerulean. My tunic was cotton, but nearly as thin as the silk, stolen from the cargo hold of a ship out of Racul. My vest was leather from Kasitan—black, supple, and with a braided trim. I'd taken that off the First Mate of a Levahan ship. I had a gold earring in my left ear—just a small hoop, but it was from my first take and always brought me luck. I had found it in the Captain's cabin after the place had been ransacked by the rest of the crew. Your first take meant you were the last to pick your prize. Even my boots, made of waterproofed leather, were stolen. They were my newest pair, and I thought they made me look dashing. The black leather came up to my knees, where they folded into a short flap.
Usually, I'd have knives hidden in several locations, but I didn't think the Sea King's guards would appreciate that. I did keep one in my boot because—pirate. It was the only thing on me that I hadn't stolen. I preferred Rasokai steel. They made thebest blades up there, using a technique in which they folded the metal hundreds of times. Fucking hundreds. And those blades were hard to come by. I only had a couple that I'd been lucky enough to steal. The dagger, however, I'd paid for, and it was worth it.
I smoothed a hand over my hair. I'd left it down to cover my tattoos but was having second thoughts. Would King Vaxarion prefer it up, out of the way, so he could watch me suck his cock? I shuddered as the image of doing that very deed came to me. It was ten minutes to six. Soon, I'd be on my way to him. I had to decide. Up or down?
“Fuck,” I growled and tied a leather cord around my hip sash. “If he wants it up, I can put it up.”
I looked at my coin pouch but didn't think I'd need it. Still, I didn't like the idea of getting stranded somewhere with no money to pay for a carriage. I grabbed the pouch and tied it onto my sash as well. Then I straightened my shoulders and stepped out of my room. As one of the higher-ranking sailors on the Lu-Ken, I had a cabin beneath the Captain's, just a door down from the First Mate's. The corridor outside took me to a short set of steps going up to the main deck.
Things were strangely quiet up there. The day crew was off duty and were probably in the city, looking for ways to spend the fresh coins in their pouches—distributed by Captain Teng that afternoon. But the night crew never let duty sway them from having a good time. The Captain didn't mind them carousing a bit, as long as they didn't get drunk (a few tankards were all right) and did their jobs. But I didn't hear a peep from them, even as I approached the stairs. I started to get worried and my steps quickened.
I burst out on the deck with my dagger in hand.
With my appearance, music started to play, men cheered, and someone popped the cork on a bottle. The whole crew was there, even the day bunch, and they were shouting my name.
“What the fuck is this?” I asked, dagger lowering.
I didn't raise my voice. It's not something I do unless absolutely necessary, so only the Captain heard me.
“We're celebrating your big catch!” Captain Teng, who was like a father to me, smacked my back. “A fucking Sea King! Well done, Zix.”
“I haven't done him yet,” I muttered and bent to replace my dagger.
“Oh, but we've seen your lovers line the docks, waiting for you,” Ry, the First Mate said. “You'll do just fine.”
I shook my head and pushed through the crowd of pirates intent on smacking my back, shoulders, and ass while offering me advice. Sexual advice. I loved them, but at the moment, I was on the verge of stabbing them all in their salty balls.
Luckily, the carriage hadn't arrived yet. I reached the gangplank to find that the dock was clear. With a wave at the crew, I left the ship, my footsteps hollow on the wood. I knew they were all watching me as I went to stand by the street and wait for the carriage. I didn't look back, but when a carriage rolled up, they all cheered so loud that the driver had to ask me twice.
“You Zixin?”
“Yeah, that's me,” I said and opened the door. I had to wave one last time, or they'd be upset.
