A Pirate's Dream Read online

  This morning, when he’d professed to having a surprise, what he’d actually wished to give her was a necklace that’d once belonged to Talia—a conch shell necklace with every color of the rainbow in it and streaked with veins of gold.

  He’d thought she would enjoy having it.

  “Does she like it?”

  “I suppose.” He shrugged. “She seems engaged, offering her own stories of her mother back.”

  The skin under her eye ticked. “Brother, do you ever talk to her about, well, her?”

  “Her? I do not understand.”

  Her hair went limp. “Sircco,” she groaned. “I’ve very little experience being courted, but I am a maiden, and if there is one trait leggers and folk share in common, it is that no woman wishes to speak of other women to a man she desires.”

  “Nimue does not desire me.”

  “Brother, you are truly clueless. The pirate is enraptured by you. I see it every time you come upon her unawares. The glow that suffuses her face transforms her from something merely interesting to something radiant.”

  He blinked. Could that be what she’d done to her face? “I thought it was cosmetics.”

  “What?” She frowned, looking thoroughly confused.

  “The glow. I’ve seen it on her. I thought she’d taken to painting her face as Stygia does.”

  “Gods!” Sirenade’s hair became corkscrew tight. “Do not mention that rat-faced Stygia to me! The wench apparently slapped Cook square in the face this morning, left a bright-red mark upon her cheek for daring to serve her eggs not coddled to her liking.”

  A storm rode through her eyes, causing the waters around them to churn and bubble.

  “Calm yourself, sister,” he reprimanded, calming the waters with a touch of his hand. “You will kill us all with you temper.”

  She snorted. “You’re one to talk.”

  But already, her hair had begun to relax.

  “And I thought I told you to tell her she was no longer wanted in court.”

  “I have, but you know Stygia, and unless she does aught wrong, we cannot simply throw folk from court for no good reason, not even if they do slap a favorite cook. I’m quite certain that Cook handled that reckoning.”

  “As I hear it, she tossed Stygia across her shoulder as one tiny little pirate happened to do several weeks ago.”

  Chuckling, he could only imagine what that must have looked like. He’d have given much to see it.

  “Either way, Stygia deserves to go.”

  ‘T’would shame her, sister, and apart from being prickly, she’s not a terrible sort.”

  Her nostrils flared, but her hair hung gracefully around her shoulders.

  “You worry so much about others, Sircco. But sometimes, dear brother, it is okay to worry more for yourself than the sentiments of those who do not matter.”

  “That is legger philosophy, and one I could never hold with.”

  Her smile was soft but sad. “Talk with her. Tonight after dinner. And do not talk of Talia. Can you try?”

  She was not speaking of Stygia.

  Before he got a chance to respond, a scream full of terror split the waters.

  Chapter 9

  Peter Pan rubbed his hands together, staring at his first lieutenant with a strange gleam in his eyes, one the Lost Boy hadn’t seen in over a decade—the thrill of the hunt.

  “Hook’s laid low long enough. Blasted fellow,” Peter snarled. “We always knew she’d be forced out of hiding one of these days. Ye Gods, and there she is. Below the under, how very fortunate for us.”

  Twisting around so that he lay flat on his back as he drifted through the clouds, Peter gazed at the sky with a victorious smile.

  “Are you sure it is her? It seems unlikely that Hook would just hand his daughter over to—”

  “The brat stole from the Hag, Linus,” Peter snapped, making him jump. Linus hated when Peter was mad at him. “Hook had no choice but to release her.”

  “Yes, but are you sure we should trust her?” Linus glanced down at the azure waters rippling beneath them. “She is one of them,” he whispered, fearful any of them should hear him.

  He’d always despised the maidens of the deep. Lovely but deadly creatures, they were. He hated fish.

  Peter snorted, twirling his pocketknife around and around. “Of course we can trust her. She’s no reason to lie and every reason to do as we say. We know her secret—she would never dare tell ours.”

  “Do you think she will do it?”

  “She will do it.” Peter winked. “She will definitely do it.” Then he let out a victorious crow that was soon followed by a ripple of more crows from the Lost Boys hidden within trees below.

  Linus nibbled on his bottom lip. Peter had always been mercenary when it came to his hatred of Hook, but this level of malevolence against a woman—and fish were not women; they were merely monsters in pretty skin—sat uneasily with him. Still, Peter was his leader, and everyone knew... one should always follow their leader.

  *

  Nimue climbed the stairs to her room, envious for the first time of the fish’s tails. She was sun drained and tired. Even so, she felt wonderful.

  “Out! Out now!”

  Frowning, Nimue peered over the railing to see the kitchen doors flung open and Stygia tossed out of it.

  “As of right now, you are no longer allowed within these walls!” Cook brandished a rolling pin like a sword, pointing it at Stygia’s prostrate form.

  “Cook, I merely came to apologize. I realize that I was rude this morning, and I—”

  Notching her thick chin high, Cook glowered at the pretty maiden. Then with a harrumph, she swept back through the doors, slamming them shut with a finality that spoke volumes.

  Not wanting to get involved with whatever that’d been, Nimue hurried up the steps. She had no patience for dealing with Stygia right now, and considering the troll had been tossed onto her backside yet again, she doubted any confrontation between them could end without violence.

  What she wanted now was a warm bath to help ease the chill from her blood and to find a dress that would cause Sircco to drool on himself when she descended for dinner later in the evening.

  It was a dangerous game she played, allowing herself to get close to him, and he to her, she knew there could be no love match between them, but he filled the ache in her soul.

  He and this magical realm full of fascinating and strange creatures.

  Smiling to herself, she snickered when she recalled the cries of gleeful delight as she’d wiggled her toes for the maidens. And for the first time in weeks, she wondered what her parents would think if they could see her now. Would they be proud?

  Taking the final step, she puffed out a satisfied breath and marched straight for her room. She was covered in dirt and snail stain and had no desire for Sircco to catch her thus.

  Opening the door, she stepped inside and was finally able to relax. Amazingly, she’d gone from viewing this room as a prison, to now, as her sanctuary. Unwrapping the shawl from around her shoulders, she dropped it to the floor, kicked off her boots, shoved down her skirt, and yanked off her bodice. She stood only in scraps of fabric they called underwear.

  Since maidens had no need for panties or bras, they’d manufactured annelid silk specifically for Nimue. Thing of it was, it was hardly more than ornamentation, just a swath across her nipples and between her legs.

  Shaking her head, she unpinned her hair. She was just about to head to the bathroom when she heard a sound that pricked at her ears, if only because it was unlike anything she’d heard in the under since arriving.

  Holding absolutely still, eyes flickering around every corner of the room, she waited to hear it again. And when she did, she could hardly believe it. The unmistakable rattle of a snake’s tail rang ominously around her.

  “Dear Gods Above and Under,” she squeaked, reaching for the only weapon she could find—her boot.

  Holding it in front of her like a shield, s
he followed the sound. Above, a sound like this would be no problem—she would withdraw a pocket pistol and blast the reptile into oblivion. But there was no conceivable way there was a snake in her room.

  For one, only sea snakes lived in the under, and their tails did not rattle. And for two, unless kissed by the king or queen, no land-dwelling creatures could survive in the under. That thought eased her nerves immediately. The sound had to be something else.

  Maybe the surprise Sircco had mentioned. Had he come and tucked it into her room at some point? It wasn’t really like him to do such a thing. He’d never once stepped fin inside, but there was a first time for everything.

  But when the source of the rattle came from her bed, more specifically from beneath the annelid silk sheets, she began to sweat. There was a lump beneath her lavender sheet—a large, wiggly lump.

  “Holy Calypso,” she groaned, trying not to faint from the sudden dizzy spell that gripped her. “Snakes cannot breathe down here.”

  And as venomous as sea snakes were, they were as docile as puppies. Jian fidgeted in her hair, clearly picking up on her nervousness.

  “I am fine, little dragon.” She eyed the writhing bundle. “Though to be safe, perhaps you might want to swim back a bit, just in case I get out of control.”

  Taking her at her word, the tiny dragon pumped its tail furiously to get away, shivering beside the doorframe as it watched her with large, beady eyes.

  Wetting her lips and screwing up every ounce of courage, she reached for the sheet.

  “I am Hook’s daughter.” And with those words, she tossed the sheets aside then screamed as her worst fears became reality.

  But this was no simple rattlesnake. It had two heads, and both were raised and looking at her. Its tail was spined, and there was only one snake in existence that looked like this. She’d only ever seen it once in Wonderland. A hydra rattler, its bite was so venomous that before she could even let out a scream of pain, she would be dead.

  She was so gripped by fright that she did the only thing she could think to do. She slammed her boot down onto it. But it moved lightning quickly, so that her strike became ineffective.

  It curled in on itself before turning and coming in for a strike. She screamed even louder this time, and praise the Gods that this time, when she swung, her heel caught one of the heads, knocking it down to the ground.

  Realizing a boot was not an effective weapon against such a creature, she dropped it immediately and ran for the door, heart trapped in her throat. She was just reaching for the knob when it was tossed open, slamming into her and knocking her senseless to the ground.

  “Nimue!” Sircco thundered, dropping to her side, hands on her shoulders as he helped her to sit. “What is it? What has happened?”

  Shaking the stars loose, she rubbed at her now-aching skull and pointed at the floor by her bed. “Snake. Snake.”

  Capable of saying only the one word and waving her hand maniacally at the hissing, venomous ball of terror curled up on her floor, she watched as he glanced over then blinked several times.

  She could read his thoughts as clearly as if he’d spoken them.

  How in the hell had a land snake gotten into Seren?

  But he regained his equilibrium soon enough, and snarling, he rushed over to it and snatched the beast up by its tail. His face was a mask of fury and rage as he gripped the snake by its throat.

  “Don’t tear off its head, Sircco. It will just grow them back and more.” She winced as another bolt of pain lanced through her brain. The damn door had nearly knocked her head off.

  But he did not heed her warning. The snake wasn’t small by any means. It’s body was made of nothing but pure muscles and was as thick as his forearms. It wrapped its spiny barbs around his wrists, puncturing his flesh and drawing blood. But Sircco seemed not to notice as he ripped it apart with his bare hands, then with a growl, he shoved a bolt of water through its heads.

  The hydra, which was nearly impossible to kill, took one last quivering gulp before sliding to the ground in hundreds of bloody pieces.

  “What cannot breathe cannot live!” he growled, and when he twirled on her, thunder and lightning crackled through his eyes. The waters in her room grew heavy and hot, swirling with a dizzying rush of currents.

  “Brother!” Sirenade snapped.

  Nimue hadn’t even noticed her standing in the doorway or seen Stygia lingering behind her, blue eyes wide in her porcelain face as she gazed on at the carnage.

  “You did this!” Sircco snapped at Stygia, causing the waters to grow even choppier with his increased fury.

  But Nimue was shielded from his rage. The space where she sat remained calm and peaceful even as her room swirled, causing furniture and kelp to rise up.

  Stygia shook her head. “I did no such thing.”

  “Out! You are banned. Out, now!”

  She gasped, clutching her fingers together. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Sirenade twirled on Stygia. “If I were you, maiden, I would heed my brother’s warning, for it will only happen once. Then I shall be forced to step in, and I promise you I won’t be near as kind as he.”

  A wave rolled into Stygia, pushing her back.

  “How dare you? I will tell everyone what you’ve done! What you are doing. A legger, Sircco. She is a legger. She is nothing. Nothing!”

  His eyes were so stormy that Nimue shivered; she’d never seen him like this—like a king.

  As if realizing herself that she would not win this, Stygia glared down at Nimue. “You have not seen the end of me—I vow it.” Then, turning, she swept out of the room.

  “Sircco,” she said when he continued to tread the waters, staring at the now-empty doorway.

  Blinking, he finally turned to look at her. The storms hadn’t receded from his eyes.

  “I’m okay, Sircco.” She tried to get to her feet, but another wave of dizziness swept through her, and with a groan, she plopped back down onto her butt.

  He was by her side in an instant, helping her to stand, but the moment she did, she was suddenly very keenly aware of the fact that, apart from a few scraps of fabric, she was very, very naked.

  Sircco must have realized that in the same moment she did, because his hands suddenly tightened on her waist, and he moved into her body, his tail so smooth against her bare legs.

  She gasped.

  “Are you hurt, Nimue?” he asked in a voice no longer raging but still just as full.

  Still waters run deep...

  Words she’d heard her father say once suddenly came to mind. She’d not understood what he’d meant, but now... she thought that maybe she might. There was a passion that burned inside of Sircco, one that burned inside of her, too. And though outwardly, they remained calm, touching as they were, it was like trying to hug live wire.

  Electrifying.

  Terrifying.

  Exhilarating.

  His fingers brushed her temple. And though she winced, she never wanted him to stop. “You are bruised. I am sorry, little pirate. I heard your cry, and I—”

  Placing a finger against his lips, she shook her head. “Thank you for coming. One bite, and I would have died. But how did it get down here?”

  Nostrils flaring, his chest expanded as he said, “I do not know.”

  She quivered when his lips brushed her flesh. They’d not kissed since the first day they’d met. And that hadn’t been a kiss so much as a claiming. Moving her finger away from him slowly, she wanted to lean forward and take him as he’d taken her before, but she knew if she did, her heart would never survive the rejection.

  Fish might want to mate with leggers, but they never fell in love with them. And she feared that was exactly what was happening to her.

  Regretfully, she stepped back, slightly dizzy, but no longer fearing she would fall to the floor.

  He stared at his hands for a moment, and if it looked as though he hated the separation as much as she did, she knew it had to be wishful thinking. />
  “Thank you, Sircco.” She said it slowly, hugging her arms to her chest. “I think I need to lie down now.”

  He opened his mouth, and she sensed he wished to say something. But finally, he simply nodded and left, closing the door gently behind him.

  Nimue sat on the edge of her bed, dropped her head into her hands, and cried.

  How would she ever survive another four and a half months here?

  *

  Later that night, when she returned to her room after dinner, she found her dirk and sheath lying beside her bed. Grabbing it up, she hugged it tight to her middle then slept the sleep of the dead, one hand always resting upon it.

  Chapter 10

  Danika shook her head. Two weeks had passed since that stupid snake had been placed in Nimue’s room. Grinding her teeth, she watched as the girl moved dispassionately between kelp fronds to help her grandmother pluck at snails.

  “Still the snake?” Jericho asked, handing her a cup of warm chamomile tea.

  Taking it from him gratefully, she snapped, “Aye. And let me tell you, Jer, if I ever find out who did that, I’ll skin them alive! Blasted mermaids.”

  “So you don’t think it was Stygia.” He sat, studying the scene with a soft frown on his face.

  “No, I do think she had a hand in placing it there, but my gut tells me Peter Pan was the true architect behind it all. Only Tinker could have spelled that snake to breathe in the deep as it did.”

  “And still, Hook cannot find them? The Lost Boys, that is.” He took a slow sip of his honey-sweetened tea.

  “No. Ruddy bastards went and hied themselves off to only Goddess knows where. Trishelle vows they won’t stop looking, but I know they’ll not find them, not with Tink hiding them within a veil. And it’s no coincidence, I tell ya.” She wagged her finger beneath his nose, furious all over again. “Tinker’s handiwork, no doubt. Not just anyone can slip into Seren uninvited. That... that... witch!”

  Grinning, warmly, Jericho sat his mug of tea aside then arranged himself so that he could lay his head on her lap. “That was hard to say.”

  “Well...” She curled her fingers through his soft hair. She loved rubbing his head, always such a soothing task. “I did want to call her something much worse, but I didn’t think it proper. I am a lady now.” She sniffed, and he laughed.