Page 2 of The Lost Fae
"I can see why the two of you are together." Johanna sneers with a chuckle. "Prettiest ass I've ever seen."
I sway as she jostles me with the tip of her elbow. Pressing my lips together, I try to hide a small smile. I mean, she does have a point.
The pirate likes your backside, Lincoln.
I'm not surprised.He reaches the top of the deck, pulling himself over the edge of the railing. His form slips completely out of sight.I have yet to see another man. I'm surprised they aren't all drooling at my feet.
That's an awfully arrogant thing of you to say.
Johanna allows a few more members of the crew up the ladder before me. They scurry up it quickly and without a sound. Making it the three women and my Lincoln on the deck.
Mine.
The single word, an angry claim. Fire forages through my veins. The word repeats again and again.Mine. Mine. Mine.Air travels constricted through my throat and into my burning lungs. My muscles beg for movement. My mind pleases itself with the idea of rushing up this ladder and tossing every woman right off this ship and sailing away where no one else can touch him.
Briar.Lincoln's voice is firm.
I blink and Johanna's axe is poking my back in demand.
"I said, move!" she growls.
Now is not the time.Lincoln starts.
The time for what?
Every single one of the pirate’s heartbeats sounds loudly in my ears. It takes everything in me to focus on gripping the rope and pulling my body up. Even pinpointing Lincoln's voice in the rattle of my mind is a fight.
I heave myself up another step. Their heart rhythms beating with a fragility I used to know all too well. How easily could I plunge my hand into their chests and rip out their dainty little organs? How simple would it be to end this entire crew?
We need them. They're our only clue to figuring out where exactly we are and how to escape. Play nice. Claiming me now will only make this harder on you.
Claiming? My questioning thoughts draw out a long sigh from Lincoln. Wood, smoothed by years of use, holds me up as I flatten my palms against the final obstacle. I lift myself over the edge. My eyes are drawn to the Captain who leans on her sword, and taps her foot. The crew who had gotten aboard before me disperses to different areas of the ship already busy with their own work. Still my attention bounces between them watching for any signs that they're watching Lincoln. Because they are. They're watching both of us.
Lincoln reaches for me, steadying me at the waist while Johanna leaps onto the deck. Her boots smack against the old boards with a thunderous stomp.
You're shifting your mind to the primal need of finding a mate. You're claiming me. Which will only make this much messier than it needs to be.
I clasp my hands before me trying to hold them together so I don't reach out and pluck the axe from Johanna's hands. A satisfying image of watching her head roll down the ship flashes briefly through my mind.
I.... I do not think that you adequately prepared me for my Fae half. I thought Fae sparked. Is this what happened to you when you said you were taking claim of me? Why you were so serious about Kai not touching me?
Apart from the fact that he ended up being a traitorous bastard, in short yes. Fae do spark. Sparking is like meeting.... ah... human terms...your soul mate. Another Fae made just perfectly for you.You can't choose to spark. It develops on its own.Claiming is chosen. Claiming is a mental change that you can make on your own. And you need to stop doing it right now.
He squeezes my waist gently. Johanna points to a large cabin built onto the deck. Green gems glow in the windows. The Captain moves, sheathing her sword, as she lets herself in and leaves the door open behind her for us to presumably enter.
I can't. I can't stop it. I don't even know how I started it.
Just... control yourself. I can smell the pheromones you are putting out and it'll be the death of us both.
My steps go deadly silent, much as I'd seen Violet do so many times before. My half Fae body now capable of a stealth I'd never known before. And so easily, too.
The cabin door closes as we pass through it, leaving us in a small room. A desk littered with papers and golden paperweights sits in the corner. A round table, etched to look like a compass, is opposite the messy desk. The green gems in the windows glow from the sunlight that filters into the room and throws the light against the rest of the walls.
Johanna points her weapon to the seats. This isn't the Shadow Court, nor is it the Iron Court. We aren't royalty to these people and no one rushes forward to pull our seats back for us. I allow the chair to squeal over the flooring as I watch the Captain and her first mate with acute awareness. The Captain remains unaware, or at least uncaring, of my glare as she begins pouring a clear liquid from a tall, skinny, decanter into three small glasses. Johanna though, she shuffles under my gaze. Her eyes hardening into two slits narrowed only on me.
I drop myself into the seat, my hand grasping Lincoln's thigh. He stiffens, but makes no move to remove my grip.
"Now that we have some shade of privacy," the captain purrs, holding the three cups carefully balanced against each other, "I think it's time we get to know each other better."
