Page 338 of The Spider Queen
The wind blew a curl across my cheek and over my eye. Aloysius reached out, obviously wanting to tuck the hair behind my ear, but at the last moment he remembered what I’d said about his touch. His hand fell to his side.
“You’re beautiful in the dying light,” he said, his voice rich.
I looked at him. His eyes appeared liquid. I lowered my walls and reached out to touch his emotions. He was genuine. He was pure. And he wanted me.
My shield went back up and I turned to look out at the vast sea.
“I could make you forget him.”
I smiled sadly. “If I were human and he was anything other than what he is, I might believe you.”
He sighed.
“Your sister…she warned me.”
“About what?”
I bit my lip and looked at him. “Your tender heart.”
He scoffed. “She’s lying.” His tone was teasing, gentle.
“Please tell me I’m only hurting your ego,” I joked back. “I couldn’t stand it if I was actually hurting you.”
“We hardly know each other, Stella. You intrigue me. That I’ll admit. But anything deeper at this moment?” He shook his head. “That would be insanity.”
“Insanity,” I murmured.
I felt emotions for Lucifer I had no reason to feel. And they’d come on strong and fast. I was drowning in a rip tide of emotion for him.
We had something. I was sure of it.
“Come on, Stella.” Aloysius pushed away from the rail. “Let’s eat.”
I woke up because I was tossed out of bed. I hit the wood planks hard. Moaning, I rubbed my tender knee, trying to get my bearings. I hadn’t slept in days, and last night it had finally caught up to me. I’d collapsed onto the bed after a delicious meal, served by unseen hands. No doubt if I got up and headed back to the main dining cabin, I’d find a breakfast spread just as delicious as dinner the night before.
But my mind wasn’t on food. As I looked out the small window to see early rays of dawn, I realized the ship was rocking. And there was yelling coming from on deck.
I scrambled up from my spot on the floor and hastily pulled on trousers and boots. I ran from the room, my dark hair flying into my face. It had grown out considerably in the last few days. Back to the length before I’d cut it.
Salt mist sprayed my skin the moment I stepped up onto the deck. Aloysius was yelling, calling out commands to Dorian and Meghan.
“What the—”
Something slithered around my feet. My eyes widened when I took in the massive tentacle. It quickly looped around my body and held me captive. It wasn’t squeezing and I could still breathe, yet the air in my lungs leaked out in a long stretch.
“Stella!” Aloysius called, running toward me.
Another tentacle appeared over the bow of the ship and knocked him aside. Meghan rushed to her brother’s aid as Dorian darted for me, his sword raised, ready to slash the tentacle that contained me. And just like magic, arrows rained from the sky, launched from bows. The ghosts pirating the ship were coming to my assistance.
The arrows had no effect on the monster tentacle holding me. I was dragged over the railing; I hit the cold water, and the rest of the air in my lungs escaped. Still, I didn’t struggle because there was no point.
Down and down we went. My dark hair marred my vision, but the beast that held me was too large to see in its entirety. It was nothing but tentacles everywhere.
Finally, it released me, and suddenly I could expand my lungs. Breathing underwater had become second nature, despite the fact that I’d only done it once before.
As the sea monster with its fleshy pink tentacles floated out of sight down into the gloomy depths of the sea, another form swam toward me.
His face was sculpted. Wide, gray eyes over a patrician nose. A beautiful mouth, currently curved into a smile. Long, dark hair brushed his well-defined chest. He floated in front of me, his gaze on mine.
