Suddenly, a member of the crew grabbed Hollyn from behind and held her arms by the elbows.
“It’s too soon to leave this party, honey.”
The center of Hollyn’s chest felt like a lightning storm, and her stomach rolled with nausea as the ship began getting tossed by the waves in earnest. Her gaze searched for Kai, but he was surrounded by too many fighters.
It was time. She had to use her ability. Kai needed her.
She opened her mouth, but as she looked around at the men who would look at her with blank stares and listen to her every word once she uttered her first note, she couldn’t do it. It was too much power for one person to hold. She didn’t want to oversee that many fates. Being responsible for one man’s death was enough. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she killed all these men, even without intention.
She just couldn’t do it.
But Kai hit the deck and stayed down on all fours. They were instantly upon him, and Hollyn watched in horror. He didn’t deserve to die either.
Without hesitation and without another thought, Hollyn sang out a clear, crisp melody that was familiar to her, but of which she didn’t know the name. Instantly, every man stopped and turned toward her, straightening stiffly, dropping to their knees. Their eyes glazed over, completely mesmerized.
Kai turned his head toward her and began to stand up. For an instant, she feared she’d hypnotized him, too. But then he mouthed the words “thank you,” and he made his way to the control panel, and the sea began to calm before their eyes.
Hollyn assumed it had been some sort of microburst of a storm that they’d sailed through, but they were on smooth waters once again. She continued singing as more crewmen ran onto the deck and slowed as soon as the song filled their ears. Every single one of them fell to their knees and stared at her with a look of wonder.
It was fucking creepy.
Only, there was one other man weaving his way through the crowd, approaching her with clear eyes. She began to back away until she bumped into the dinghy.
She sang louder, building the song to try to send an even greater energy his way, but he persisted.
The closer he got, the clearer it became. It was the captain, and he didn’t seem to be affected by the sound of her voice at all.
“You’re a...you’re a siren.”
At his statement of understanding, she stopped singing and nodded.
“I can’t believe it! You’re a siren. All my adult life, I’ve made my living on the sea, and in all that time, I’ve never met anyone else like me...until you.”
Chapter 14
THEY SAT ON THE BRIDGEof the ship together—Kai, Hollyn, the captain, and even Bertie. The crewmembers were still on the deck, staring up at the windows as Kai looked down on them. A shiver ran down his spine as he stepped back so that he wouldn’t have to see what her ability had done to them.
