Page 12 of Sea and Sky
“Why?” Kyler had to hold back panic.
Prince Gavin’s lips formed a thin line, but it tipped more to a lopsided smile than irritation. “You question a prince of the realm?”
“You’ve seen I don’t wear the brand.”
The prince softly tapped his fingers on the table before holding out a hand. “Some pirates are clever and use spells to hide the mark.”
Kyler forgot to look away from those mesmerizing eyes. When he dropped his glance to the prince’s mouth, he found him smiling. Just slightly, but it was there.
With a swallow, Kyler displayed both hands, palms up, on the table. The prince first dragged a thick finger across Kyler’s left palm. Drawing some design on it. Whatever it was didn’t break the spell that made Kyler’s hand look whole. He’d been missing part of his pinky and ring finger for years. Punishment. Like all the other scars over his body.
Kyler didn’t want Gavin to stop touching him. The heat from the prince wasn’t stifling like the sun, but delicious, tingling through him. When the prince pulled away to give the same treatment to the right, Kyler stiffened. Pain shot through his arm. Captain Vex’s spell fought to stay hidden. It pulled energy from Kyler but he didn’t allow his face to show the agony. Finally, the prince stopped toying with Kyler’s hands and he let out a sigh of relief.
Prince Gavin leaned back, easing into a relaxed position. His long legs knocked into Kyler when he adjusted them under the table. He took his time moving them out of Kyler’s leg space. Neither acknowledged the touch.
“How do you know what the red sail pirate does if you’re not a pirate?”
Kyler contemplated telling the truth. That he was a captive of pirates, so he knew a fair amount of crews. But then he’d have to explain why he wasn’t with said pirates at the moment. Probably wouldn’t believe he was bound yet had roaming privileges. Merfolk couldn’t be cooped up without making them deathly sick. At every port Kyler could roam as he pleased, but whenever it was time to leave again, he was confined to the ship with everyone else. If he attempted to abandon Captain Vex, the binding spell would sear his body with unimaginable pain. He’d rather lose more fingers.
“My uncle is a merchant, his ship’s the Golden Goose. We have run-ins with pirates every once in a while.”
The barmaid finally arrived with their wine. Kyler tried and failed to stifle a moan, because this wine was better than the last. Prince Gavin watched him over his own cup.
“I haven’t heard of the Golden Goose. Nor have I ever experienced someone have an orgasm drinking wine.”
Choking on said wine, Kyler’s cheeks blazed like the fire of a thousand suns. “I did not just—just…” He would not acknowledge what the prince had said. Wiping his hands down his shirt, he found his composure. “We don’t usually sail in Lane. We stick to Avondra and Lefania.” It was truth enough. They only made it to Lane about twice a year.
Another smile tugged at Prince Gavin’s lips. “What else might you know about mer?”
Kyler took another drink, keeping his eyes to the wall and not at the prince still watching him. When he set his cup down, he shrugged. “Just what I’ve said. I can ask my uncle if he knows more.” Of course, it was a lie. He had no uncle, and Captain Vex wasn’t about to spill the secrets he held over Kyler. Secrets even Kyler didn’t know about himself.
“Please do.” The prince snapped his fingers, and the imposing giant of a dragon shifter walked over.
Upon joining them, the guard’s head tipped as if trying to remember something. His eyes narrowed on Kyler, but quickly softened. Kyler had only known one other dragon so big, Captain Vex. The eyes of this dragon reminded him nothing of the captain, cheerful brown eyes instead of intense orange. He was handsome, though Kyler much preferred the prince.
“Damon, pay him ten silver coins.”
Damon dug in the pouch around his waist, then handed Kyler the shiny coins before turning to watch the crowd again.
“Your name?” Prince Gavin asked.
Kyler stared at the coin. “Thank you,” he whispered. Recovering, he added, “You could ask merchants what they know.”
“That’s an excellent point, and where we started. Speaking of, I heard several interesting stories about a boy. Long blond hair. Green eyes, I think? Or was it blue?” He leaned over the table and tipped Kyler’s chin to look at his eyes better. “He’s merfolk, apparently. I’d like to meet him.”
Kyler had to force himself from squirming under the examination. The calloused finger on his skin sent his senses into overdrive. His haze of desire poured from him as if it were a waterfall. He would leap off a cliff if it would get him from under that silver gaze.
Prince Gavin released him, and Kyler took a deep breath. The prince lowered his voice to say, “But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? You’re not in Lane often enough.”
“Everyone that works on the docks has heard the stories.” They had started well before Kyler had begun his shenanigans several years ago. The old stories of merfolk gave him the idea of pillaging ships in the first place.
“One of our navy captains said the mer stabbed him. But left immortal jellyfish essence to heal him. Strange, don’t you think?”
“Very. Did this captain say why the mer stabbed him? Maybe he was trying to capture him and the mer didn’t want that.”
Prince Gavin shrugged. “I’ve often thought about stabbing Farol myself. He probably deserved it. He’s usually an ass.”
Kyler snorted. Indeed, he was.
