Page 121 of Vengeance of the Pirate Queen

“No. Let’s return them home.”

“And then we can search for the sirens.”

“Yes,” I agree. Turns out acting is a lot easier when you’re lifeless.

“Good. Now why don’t we put all the prisoners belowdecks for now? I think it’s time you and I had some real privacy.”

I don’t say anything in response. I can’t. I’m concentrating too hard.

“Sorinda?” he asks.

Still nothing.

“What are you doing? Let go of them. I need to put the prisoners below.”

Instead, the undead do not move, for I am giving them one order while Threydan is giving them another. They can do nothing more than hold absolutely still until one of us wins.

I turn to Threydan, King of the Undersea, terror of these lands for a thousand years.

“What am I doing?” I repeat his words back to him. “I thought you said you knew me. You should know exactly what I’m doing.”

Were I still human, sweat would dot my brow from the struggle Threydan and I are pursuing. It feels like an arm wrestle, but with the mind. Each of us trying to get the better of the other one.

Threydan clenches his teeth from the strain of it. “You’re adjusting. Give yourself a moment to acclimate to immortality. Let me handle things right now.”

“Do you know what happens to men who try to tell me what to do?” I ask him.

Threydan raises my rapier, which he still holds from stabbing Kearan. He advances toward me. “Let them go!” he bellows. “I’d hate to restrain you, but I will if I must, dearest.”

“Sorinda!” A tiny shout rings from above, and I look up at the crow’s nest just in time to see little Roslyn drop my old rapier, the one I gifted to her. It lands point first into the wood not far from me.

I dart for it, and Threydan races after me, hot on my heels. My fingers clench around the hilt, and I pull the blade from the deck in one smooth motion. Threydan halts at the end of my sword point.

“This is ridiculous,” he says. “What are you hoping to accomplish?”

It’s a fair question. I have no idea where this is about to lead. I just know I have to act now. While I still have a little bit of myself left in me.

“I was told to rescue this crew. That includes saving it from the likes of you.”

“Told to? You don’t have to take orders from mortals! You are a god compared to them now.”

“I’m sick of hearing your voice.”

I take a stab at him.

He smacks my sword away with his own, the movement clunky, as though he were a bit out of practice, which I’m sure he is.

I attack a second time. He blocks it quicker this time. Smoother.

Then, as I prepare to attack a third time, he narrows his gaze at me and doesn’t even bother to parry. My blade slides into his flesh. Threydan stares at me; I stare at him. He takes a step backward, drawing himself off the sword length. His skin slides back together, and the blood clears.

“Again, what are you hoping to accomplish?” he asks. “I can’t be killed, and neither can you.”

“Then I suppose we’ll find out who tires first.”

Threydan leaps backward as I slash at him, and now he’s smiling. “If you wanted to see what your new body could do, all you had to do was ask.”

He thrusts forward with his own strike, and I divert the attack before scratching at his shoulder. A line of red appears for only seconds before the body heals itself once again. Threydan holds himself up higher.

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