With the horses loaded in the holding area, and Tifapine secured below with them, Layala hopped onto the main deck. Captain Fella didn’t lie when she said she captained the biggest ship in town. It was at least seventy-five feet long and held the horses and their group easily.
A human woman tugged ropes loose from the dock and tossed them onto the ship where another waited to collect. Was this an all-woman crew? She’d seen six so far and not a single male apart from her own people. “All aboard!” Captain Fella shouted from behind a huge round steering wheel.
Layala leaned toward Thane. “Can we seriously trust this woman?”
“According to the sailors I spoke with a few minutes ago, she’s good, unhinged but good. None of them will go to the island and they said we’re insane for even asking. She’s our ride, like it or not.”
The ship rocked and bobbed as it moved away from the dock. A woman with black skin and gold circlet jewelry on her wrists and adorned around her neck, pulled on a rope and big white sails fell open with a pop, catching the wind.
Seagulls called and circled above. With the rumors of how dangerous this small voyage could be, Layala’s stomach was upset. She didn’t know if it was just nerves or the rocking motions. Maker above, she hoped she wasn’t the type to get seasick. It was the wind over this massive lake that created waves similar to a sea. The last thing she wanted to worry about was if she would be puking her guts up while trying to fight off potential dangers. What was out there anyway? No one said exactly what they might face. They actively avoided speaking about what lived in the water as if the gossip itself might draw them bad luck.
Layala rested her elbows on the wood railing, looking down at the splashing, white foamy water. Sprays of it moistened her skin and curled the fly-away pieces of hair around her face. The briny, algae scent was present but not overwhelming—if anything the air smelled fresh.
She glanced back at the others, gathered near the center of the ship. Some of them sat on barrels or crates in casual conversation. Leif held his arms wide in the telling of some dramatic tale. His wild orangish hair with braids and knots seriously needed combing. Layala even spotted a couple small sticks… and is that a caterpillar or a fuzzy leaf? “My nana used to tell stories about beautiful women who would lure and enchant naughty boys into the water with their songs,” Leif said. “Claimed she’d toss me to them if I acted a fool.” He gave Fennan a light shove. “Fennan will be the first one they grab.”
Thane was leaned up against one of the masts, arms crossed, and let out a deep-bellied laugh. A shiver tingled along her spine just hearing that sound, his laughter. Maker, he had no idea how beautiful he was.
“Hey,” Fennan chuckled. “I’m a good boy. Never touched a tit in my life. Don’t like to drink either.”
Layala rolled her eyes. From what she’d heard Fennan was quite the lady tamer.
Aunt Evalyn appeared next to her. She looked even less enthused about the topic of the boys’ conversation. “I worry for you.” Her voice was low, purposefully so the others wouldn’t hear.
“And I, for you. It’s dangerous for you to be with us, being hunted.”
“I feel you’ve already been caught in a trap, Laya, and you don’t even know it.” She tugged at the end of her sleeve. “It would be the perfect chess move, gaining your trust, your love, and then asking you to do the forbidden.”
“You don’t know him.” There wasn’t a shred of doubt in her mind.
“He’s charming, quite attractive, and has the charisma of one who’s played the game at court for a long time. I don’t blame you for not seeing it.”
Layala ground her teeth. The time she spent doubting and distrusting him had long passed. He showed her nothing but loyalty and almost died for her. “He’s been the most adamant against me bringing back the Black Mage, even more than I am myself. It will take time for you to see his true colors and not be blinded by hatred, trust me.”
“You need time away from him to get your head clear. You need to come home even if just to think. See your friends.”
“Look, I’ve been down this road. I attempted to kill him, and escape. It wasn’t as if I saw him and instantly fell in love. You need to trust me.”
“Layala,” her voice took on that motherly sternness. “I’ve watched hurt, sorrowful girls like you fall for charm and good looks. My instincts tell me he is not as terrible as his father, but there is something there, in the way he moves, his predatory gaze. He watches you with unnerving closeness. And you, if you’re not near him, I see the panic in your eyes. It’s not healthy. Thane is dangerous and not the one for you.”
“Because he’s afraid something will happen to me and so what if I worry when he’s not near me. I’m scared to death of losing him. I almost lost him once.”
Aunt Evalyn went quiet. They both watched the blue-black water cutting against the ship for a while. “That’s what scares me the most. When Novak died—it broke my heart to see you go through that. I thought I might lose you. You weren’t yourself ever again.”
Layala brushed her fingers over her hair. Aunt Evalyn didn’t know how Novak died. And the truth was, with Novak, it was guilt that nearly did her in, thinking she was responsible for his death. But if Thane died, her suffering wouldn’t compare, for their love was as endless as the stars. “Novak died because of the mate spell between Thane and me. He and I slept together, and it killed him because he wasn’t my mate. For a long time, I harbored guilt about that. I thought it was my magic, that I had killed Novak. I didn’t know there was a loyalty clause in the mate spell.”
Aunt Evalyn’s eyes widened. She remained quiet for what felt like too long, rubbing her hands over the slick wood railing. “So again, Tenebris killed someone you loved. He’s the reason you were mate bonded to Thane to begin with.”
“Yes,” Layala said.
“I am sorry you placed that burden on yourself. I wish you would have told me sooner so I could have at least bore it with you.”
“I was afraid everyone would think I was an abomination—even you. Everyone adored Novak.”
She pursed her lips. “Layala, you carry too much.” She glanced at Thane. “If you love Thane, then I will trust you. I will give him a chance.”
Layala smiled and pulled Aunt Evalyn into a hug. It meant more to Layala than Aunt Evalyn even knew. “Thank you. I want to tell you all about him, and everything that has happened since he came for me.” Layala looked down at the other side of the ship. The crew’s demeanor was focused, wary, even a little fearful. Whatever was in the water that her friends joked about was no laughing matter to them. “But I’m afraid we’ll have to talk more about that later.”
With her hand gliding along the ship’s slick railing, she made her way over to one of the crew. Silver-flecked gray eyes, so bright against her black skin, inspected Layala before she said, “Something I can help you with?” She reached up and touched one of her two thick, braids, dragging her hand over the length to the ends at her waist.
“What’s in the water that has you all so nervous?”
She took a deep breath. “They’ve been called many things—temptress, evil, water nymphs—but we call them sirens.”
She’d never heard the name. “And what are they exactly?” Surely Leif’s story couldn’t be true? Water women who called males with songs?
“Unfortunately, I’m sure you’ll see for yourself soon enough. Your men folk should be a lot more nervous than they are.”
The island was in close proximity now. It must be only a mile in length, but it was covered in trees and foliage, darkening the view of anything that might be inside.
“Get ready,” the woman said and hurried over to a six-foot-long chest. The click and grinding of other trunks opening all over the deck put Layala even more on edge. She gripped the railing for balance as the ship dipped sharply to one side. The crew didn’t seem to notice the movement and tossed out ropes, clunking loudly to the deck. What were those for? To capture these sirens?
Captain Fella smiled down at them. “Time to tie up, boys. We’re getting close.”
Thane turned and found Layala, pinning her with a concerned stare from across the ship. Fennan chuckled when one of the women handed him a long thick rope.
“Around the metal loops on the floorboards,” she said. “Quickly.”
Thane hurried up the steps to the Captain and Layala dashed after him. “Tie up?” Thane demanded.
“Yes, darling,” Captain Fella winked, gripping the wheel. “The sirens will take ya if you don’t. It’s the males they want. And their songs will call even the most resistant male to the depths of the lake. I’ve seen it many times. Men and elves who think they won’t fall victim and splish splash.” She waved. “Bye-bye.”
“Is this a joke?” Thane asked.
A gust of wind blew Layala’s hair wildly, and Fella put a hand on top of her hat. “You think all those men at the dock are simply cowards? I joke about many things but not this. It’s why I run an all-woman crew. We’re not subservient to the sirens. We hear them but it’s nothing more than a lovely tune. Sometimes we gotta fight the nasty wenches off but the island holds precious plants we sell for a fortune and we’re the only ones willing to go. Now strap down, handsome, or you won’t live to hump your girl again.”
Layala gripped Thane’s forearm. He would without a doubt be able to break the rope, especially with his magic, and she had a sick feeling the only reason the chains held him in Calladira was because he’d been weakened by poison. How could they keep Thane restrained? “We need chains. Strong ones.”
Thane leaned over the side of the railing. “All male Ravens, tie yourselves down. Piper, Evalyn, make sure none can get loose, or they’ll die.”
“You can’t be serious,” Fennan said, tossing the rope across his shoulder.
Piper and Aunt Evalyn both looked at each other then ran to pick up ropes off the deck. Not waiting for anyone, Leif dashed across the ship’s wood planks and grabbed a rope himself. “Guess Nana didn’t lie, and I’m no saint.”
“Whatcha need chains for?” Fella narrowed her eyes. “These ropes will hold anyone.”
“I need chains.” Layala pointed at Thane’s back. “For him.” She hoped that would even be enough.
Fella lifted a shoulder, but interest flashed across her face. “I don’t have any, lassy. The ropes will have to suffice. There’s some in the chest over there.” She tilted her head to the left where a huge reddish-brown chest with gold buckles and trim waited. “We have about ten minutes before we’ll hear the sirens’ songs.” She then shouted down to the main deck. “Prepare to be boarded!”
Layala shoved up the lid to the chest. “These sirens come on the ship?”
“With this many males?” Fella said with a crazed grin. “Certainly! They’ll be in a frenzy. They exist to hunt and kill men. Don’t know why. I hope you know how to fight with those daggers on your waist.”
Layala jerked a long thick rope out of the trunk. “You’ve seen this?”
“They did it to my own father.” Her grin turned almost sadistic. “A right nasty bitch took him down when I was fifteen. She gave me this when I tried to save him.” Fella jerked up her sleeve to four long red rakes across the otherwise porcelain skin on her forearm. “I take joy in killing as many of the soul-sucking wenches as I can and today shall be glorious.” She jerked her sword from her hip and raised it into the air. “To battle, ladies!”
“Hooza!” they shouted back in unison.
Maker above, this woman was unhinged. Thane’s worried eyes searched Layala’s face as he held out his wrists to her. “It will be alright. These will hold me. You know how to tie a good, strong knot?”
“I do.” That was part of her training back in Briar Hollow. She’d never had use of the skill until now.
“Tie him to the mast or he’ll scoot to the edge,” Fella said over her shoulder, turning the helm slightly to the right.
How could this be happening? A song, a voice of some creature would take Thane from her? Steal her Ravens? With hurried steps, they rushed to the upper deck mast. Thane pressed his back against it and wrapped his arms behind him around the pole. Breathing heavy, Layala tied his wrists, then wrapped the rope around his torso, down his legs and around his ankles and knotted it good and tight. She tugged on it several times, walking around him in a circle to make sure he couldn’t slip the rope. “Alright, you should be secure.”
“Did all of you women lose someone to the sirens?” Thane asked.
“Everyone but Keera,” Fella said, hooking a loop around one of the helm’s handles to steady it. “She just enjoys the fight and the spoils the island offers.”
“Laya,” Thane said gently but there was an edge to his tone. “Go make sure the rest of the Ravens are secure, please.”
Her heart thundered like the dark storm cloud that brewed in the distance. A quiet boom of thunder and a streak of lightning stretched across the sky. This couldn’t be a good sign. “I’m not leaving you. If you break through those ropes…” Would she even be capable of stopping him? His physical strength outmatched hers by a large margin.
One of the women from the lower deck shouted, “Siren spotted!”
Layala swallowed hard. What would the siren look like? Black eyes, scaly skin, jagged teeth like the pale ones? Talons like the dragon? Part of her didn’t even want to see what they looked like. Her heart thrummed harder when Fella let out what could only be a war cry. “Come on, you nasty wenches!” Water sprayed in a great white arch over the bow of the ship.
Layala stepped back and bumped into Thane. “Laya, you’re equipped to handle any enemy. Your training will kick in no matter what you see.”
She slowly nodded. Of course, he was right. With a deep breath, she scanned the deck’s edge, waiting for something to pop up. Another boom of thunder and the howl of wind brought goosebumps to her flesh.
“Sirens!” another woman below bellowed. This time Layala dashed to the edge and peered down at the blue-black water. A ghostly, fin-tailed creature, she guessed to be eight feet long, zipped by and disappeared under the shadows of the ship. In the silence of waiting for an attack, her nausea intensified. She gripped the railing until her knuckles turned white.
It started with a single hauntingly beautiful voice. Like the whisperings of the wind in green, lush mountains. The sound of it brought a shiver down her spine. Then another voice joined in, and another, in different octaves and tones but so in sync they could have been one.
“They’re here,” Fella said, quieter now, almost reverent.
Layala backed from the edge and pulled out her new sword, Lightbringer, the one her father crafted. It almost seemed to hum with power in her grip. She turned to tell Thane what she saw but his eyes were unfocused and staring, his expression slack and lost—transfixed. “Thane?” she whispered.
Nothing about his demeanor changed or even registered her at all. A thump, thump, thump sound drew Layala forward to the railing. She peered down over the main deck. The other’s hands were tied behind their backs attached to metal hooks on the deck near the center. Gunner jerked and kicked wildly. It was terrifying to watch him fight so fiercely against his bonds. Maker above, was he going to break free? Layala noticed Fennan’s hands moving slowly, twisting and tugging, trying to work them loose, rather than outright fighting them. Piper knelt beside Fennan, gripping his shoulders but he stared past her like she wasn’t even there.
Down below, Aunt Evalyn held onto the stair railing with one hand and a short sword in the other.
“Come up here,” Layala said.
Aunt Evalyn shook her head at Layala. “Your Ravens might need me to defend them down here. Catch this.” She tossed a black barb covered in a shiny oil substance.
Layala caught it and her brow furrowed. “It’s katagas serum.” She knew it from the smell.
“If Thane is capable of what I think he is, you’ll need it.”
Layala didn’t have time to wonder why Aunt Evalyn had this and ran to Thane. “Sorry,” she murmured, jabbing the point of it through Thane’s shirt and into his arm.
He was too dazed to even notice.
It wasn’t but a moment later Leif yelled, “I need her!” Confused, Layala ran back to peer down at the lower deck. “Cut me loose!” Leif begged, wiggling his body on the ground. “I need to go to her.”
“Yes, set us free!” Siegfried shouted in a booming voice so unlike him.
“They need us.”
“She begs for me.”
“We have to help!” Fennan roared.
“Don’t listen to them,” one of the women snarled at Piper and Aunt Evalyn. “It’s a trick of the siren.”
“Obviously!” Piper snapped back.
The sirens’ lovely voices grew louder, drowning out the sounds of the water crashing against the boat and the rushing of the breeze, covering up the pleas from the males below. Layala nervously peeked at Thane again. She let out a long thankful breath, finding he wasn’t fighting to break loose. In fact, he almost looked like he was on the verge of falling asleep. Maybe he was strong enough to fight the temptresses’ call. Some of the knots in her gut loosened. He was the only one she was truly worried about breaking loose.
“On your left!” Fella bellowed.
Layala whipped around, a pale hand with pointed white nails slid over the ship’s railing. A moment later a head of bright pink hair and a face as lovely as the sea itself, rose over the ship’s edge. Her eyes were such a light blue they almost looked white. Layala had expected a beast, something grotesque akin to a pale one but this creature was one of the loveliest beings she’d ever seen. She pulled herself up until her aquamarine-scaled breasts appeared. From her chest down she was covered in shimmering fish scales, and her large whimsical fin waved in the air behind her.
With her sights set on Thane, she curled a finger. “Come to me, my love.” Her voice took on several octaves with whistle tones as well as a dark, lower register.
The allure the beautiful creature had shattered. She wanted the elf Layala loved—she wouldn’t have him.
Thane twitched and thrust his hips, trying to loosen the ropes. No! Layala rushed forward, swinging her sword at the siren with a whoosh. The female ducked below the railing and hissed. Layala hacked down, splintering the wood, and chopping the siren’s clinging fingers off. The siren wailed in such a high pitch, Layala wanted to slap her hands to her ears. She watched as the siren dropped into the water with a loud splash.
“Die, you cock-sucking wench!” Fella cried and swung her curved sword across a siren’s neck, severing it completely. A green-haired head flopped onto the deck with aquamarine lips held open wide in an endless scream, and the body disappeared over the side of the ship. Disgusting.
A loud crack that sounded an awful lot like wood breaking sent a tendril of fear shooting through her veins. Chest heaving up and down with wild breaths, she looked back to Thane jolting and wrenching against the ropes, and a very clear split ran up the mast almost to the top. Holy Maker above, the ropes held but the ship itself wouldn’t.
“He’s going to break my ship! Stop him!” Fella screeched and turned to another onboarding siren, creeping over the edge. “What the hell is he? No elf I’ve ever seen is that strong.”
Layala shoved her sword into its scabbard and pressed her hands to Thane’s chest. “Thane, it’s me. It’s Layala.” He grunted in his struggle and his hard-set jaw didn’t waver. “Those voices are sirens. Remember? They want to kill you. They want to take you from me.” Another snap of splintering wood and she gripped his face, pulling his head down to look eye to eye. Though he stared at her, his bright green eyes had what appeared to be a white cloud over them. Could he even see her? He didn’t focus on her; it was as if he was lost in a dream. “Stop fighting to get free. You must resist them! Please!”
With a flash of red hair, a black hat, and a thunk, the ropes loosened and fell to the ship deck. Layala gasped at Fella attempting to pull her sword loose from the wood mast; she’d cut Thane loose. Layala pressed her hands into Thane’s chest harder; there was nothing to hold him back now but her. “What did you do?” Layala cried.
“If he destroys this ship, we’ll all go down.” Fella frowned, jerking her sword free. “I’m sorry.”
Thane marched forward and his strong body slammed into Layala, nearly knocking her to the hard planks. She gritted her teeth and shoved him in the chest, driving her legs until they screamed, and her boots slid on the slick surface. He was like pushing against a mountain that wouldn’t yield. “STOP!”
He kept going, shoving by her.
She gripped his shirt, jerking it so hard it tore the sleeve off, but his determination to get to the edge where another siren waited, smiling, curling her finger at him, was relentless.
Not seeing another choice, Layala jumped onto his back, sliding her arm under his chin and squeezed. Come on, go to sleep, go to sleep! Thank the Maker he didn’t fight her. It was as if he didn’t even know she existed and that might have been their only blessing in this moment. Even without his magic, Layala didn’t believe she could beat him in a real fight and if he wanted to kill her to get to the sirens…
Shit shit shit. It’s not working! With how hard she squeezed around his throat, he should be going down. Wrapping her legs tighter around him, she pulled her sword and knocked him upside the head. His skin split, and blood oozed down his face, but he didn’t lose consciousness, didn’t falter in his step. They were mere feet from the water, from the poisonous but beautiful creature beckoning him forward. Layala swung her leg out, and nailed the siren in the chin, sending her flying off. There was no way she was going to lose him now.
Magic whispered down her arms and a thick black vine appeared, first wrapping around Thane’s knees and thighs then it snaked its way up his body to wrap and pin his arms to his sides. Layala adjusted her position to avoid being trapped herself but held on. The vines traveled down around his ankles, and he stumbled forward toward the opening in the ship that would take him straight into the water. Layala shoved her foot against the ship’s railing and with one big jerk of her body, the momentum carried them both back. She braced herself for the impact and grunted when she slammed into the deck, stealing the breath from her lungs, and the full weight of him crushed her into it. A sharp pitch sent them both sliding toward the center until they hit the mast again.
As Thane bucked and squirmed, she wiggled free, got to her feet and shoved her boot onto his chest. The ship tilted, sending her off balance. Her arms circled around wildly trying to catch herself, and she stumbled into the railing where the sharp edge of it bit into her lower back.
A hiss from the water creature, then a quick jerk of her ponytail dragged Layala into a backbend, exposing her neck and chest. Sleek lavender hair and a razor-nailed hand poised above her. “Die!” the siren wailed.
Throwing her arms up, vines shot from her palms and punched straight through the siren’s neck and chest. Cold blood splattered across Layala’s face, into her eyes, and the metallic taste filled her mouth. “Ugh!” Layala spit in disgust. The vines lifted the siren’s wiggling body into the air until it swung her down into the depths of the lake and the vines went with her.
When she turned back, Fella stared, jaw dropped. “Alright, now I really need to know who you people are.” The cries for freedom and the chaos of fighting from the lower deck made it difficult to hear but Layala understood.
“That is Thane Athayel, High King of the Elves of Palenor and I am his mate and future queen! Now help me keep him alive!”
Fella’s eyes widened further. Her sword clattered to the deck, and she dove. Thane rolled toward the edge where, yet another siren held on, until Fella landed on top of him. He bucked and grunted, kicking his bound legs into the air. Layala jumped on his lower half, hoping their combined weight could keep him down.
“Let me out of these! I love her! I must go to her! My Layala is down there!” he roared, throwing them both off. The vines began to bow and snap. Holy shit, the sirens created hallucinations.
Trying to rise to her feet, Layala slipped on the wet deck, crashing to her hands and knees. Fella was used to the dipping of the ship, the dampness of its deck and scrambled up, and drew out her sword. Two sirens crawled toward them, teeth bared, long fingers digging into the wood.
“Give me him!” the purple-haired siren hissed. “He’s mine.”
Layala grabbed Lightbringer and rammed the tip of it straight into the siren’s mouth. “No, he’s mine.” She kicked her free of the sword, and Fella smiled at her.
“You’re badder than you look. But I got the other siren. You get him!” Fella bellowed then slashed her blade wildly through the air.
Layala dropped down onto Thane’s chest, straddling him with her thighs then slapped him hard across the face. “I’m right here! Your Layala is right here!”
“Layala! I’m coming!” he shouted toward the water’s edge.
It was like he couldn’t even see her, as if she’d gone invisible to him. She gripped his hair, jerking him to look at her face inches from his. “It’s me, you stupid prick.”
His jaw tensed and he blinked several times, slowly shaking his head as if trying to clear away a fog. “Layala?”
All it took was calling him a prick huh? “Yes. I’m here.”
“We’re getting closer to the island,” Fella said, slashing at the siren who hacked back with wicked claws. “The power of their call is fading but not gone yet. Not until we are close to shore.”
“Layala, we need help!” Piper sounded hysterical. “They’ve got him! Help!”
Layala looked to Fella. “I can’t go. You must.”
“If I leave you, we might lose him. He’s the High King of the elves. He’s more important than them, right?” Her blade sliced through the siren’s forearm and the creature wailed, and dark-green blood sprayed across the deck.
“My arm! My arm!” she screeched and charged Fella, blue tailfin slapping against the deck, and face twisted in rage. The lake creature whirled around, sweeping out her fin and knocked Fella’s legs from under her. Her clawed hand swung down at Fella’s head. She brought her blade up just in time to slice off the arm and then kicked the siren hard enough to send her sliding across the deck and into the water.
Thane began struggling again. Whatever breakthrough Layala had with him was gone. More screams from below made Layala’s heart ache. They needed her.
Fella spit, and swung her sword over her head and moved toward the ship’s edge again to take on another siren climbing over the rail. “Sometimes hard decisions must be made, lass.”
Wilder than ever Thane bucked and kicked. Layala forcefully pressed her palms against the vines wrapped around Thane’s chest, making sure to keep him in place, but even her magic’s hold began to strain, and the restraints snapped one by one. She conjured more to wrap around him, more to keep him bound.
“Layala!” Aunt Evalyn shouted. “There are too many! Help us!”
Her chin trembled and her heart ached for abandoning them but… Hard decisions. “I can’t leave Thane!” Her voice broke on his name. Maker above, what if it was Fennan? Could she forgive herself?
Piper screamed and the agony of it tore a piece of Layala. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, as her vision blurred from tears. Thane fought and roared and grunted. Her vines kept snapping and she kept creating them. She sobbed as Piper and Aunt Evalyn shouted for help and there was nothing she could do.
As quickly as it came, the sirens’ song stopped, and Thane quit struggling. That far-off cloudy look in his eyes disappeared, and he focused on her poised over him. He looked down at the thick layers of vines wrapped around his body, then his eyes searched her face. “What happened? The last thing I remember is you tying me to the mast.”
Layala swiped her hands across her wet cheeks. The better question was, who was now gone forever?
