Chapter 26

26. A Violent Storm YILEYNA My attention snapped to the door, to see Ailema standing there, holding a basket in her hands.

“Oh, I do apologise for interfering, I just needed to grab some potatoes...” She smiled as she walked down the steps, her eyes flickering from me to the blood on Theon’s lips.

I dared to look at him, just in time to see him brush his thumb along his lip, wiping away most of the blood. His cold amber eyes flickered to me, in the orange glow of the lantern they seemed to burn like embers, making my stomach flutter with nerves. His tongue ran along his bloody lip.

This conversation wasn’t over...

I knew that.

“Ah young commander, could you help me with this?” Ailema asked, as she tried dragging a large sack of potatoes.

Oh, she could drag it, I knew she was giving me the chance to leave and I was going to take it. He didn’t reply, walking over to her, his gaze flickered to me. I raised an eyebrow, wiping the blood from my lip and keeping my gaze locked with his as I licked my thumb slowly.

His eyes flashed gold, I smirked smugly as I spun around and headed for the exit. I was halfway up the steps when I was yanked back, a scream left my lips as my back hit his hard chest. One hand cupped my neck, tilting my head back.

“This isn’t over.” He whispered in my ear, his other hand running down my stomach, making my core knot as a ripple of pleasure thrummed through me, making me shiver. Just when I thought he’d let me go, he ripped the necklaces from my neck, making my heart thud, the stinging pain where they had cut into my skin making me gasp. “I told you, the only thing that should be around this neck is my hand.”

He let go of me and turned away, leaving me frozen for a moment.

Didn’t he care that Ailema was right there? Or was he so confident she wouldn’t say anything? After all, he was the one who didn’t want anyone to know about us.

Not replying or daring to look at the woman, I rushed up the stairs trying to clear my head and didn’t even notice that someone was in front of me until I hit a rock-solid wall and tumbled backwards.

“Got you.” Raiden’s voice came as he grabbed my waist, stopping me from falling and steadying me on my feet. “Thanks.” I said with a smile, smoothing my hair and jacket. “The princess said you went looking for me.” He asked concerned. I smiled sneakily at him.

“You already know why I said that.”

He sighed and nodded.

“Yes, I do. Clearly I don’t understand the entire reasons, but be careful.” He advised with a small smirk “I will.”

Charlene. She had said something similar, but I knew what I was doing.

I felt satisfied having punched him, but even then, the way he kissed me... It was different, it made me feel light-hearted at just the thought. It was almost as if it had been fuelled with emotions. But it was probably my wishful thinking that it was meant to be a kiss of apology.

Stupid Theon, he had a mouth and a tongue, surely he could have used it to say the damn word instead of using it so seductively... Argh, he was an ass, one that knew how to kiss, I returned to the deck only to find that the sky was dark and rain had begun to fall.

How had the weather changed so dangerously fast. Wasn’t it meant to be clear for at least several more hours?

“Stay inside!” Someone shouted to me as another struggled with the mast. I glanced out at the water, the waves were getting bigger, and the ship was moving a lot more violently.

“Where is Charlene?!” I asked just as a blast of wind made me raise my arms, shielding my face.

“In her cabin, being watched over.” Nate called back. I should go to her... Raiden brushed past, winking at me before jerking his head downwards. “Go stay with the princess.” I nodded, about to turn when I froze, a soothing whisper reached my ear and I spun around, hurrying back up the few steps stepping out into the open, scanning the deck and the sea beyond it.

My heart was thundering as I realised that I had felt something similar before that siren had attacked Charlene and I. Were we already in the Lifeless Abyss? Surely there wasn’t meant to be sirens out this way?

I edged closer to the edge of the ship, looking at the roaring waves. The sounds of the crew shouting, and Sam, one of the crew mates, was standing at the edge, a silvery glow around him piquing my curiosity. Was he a hybrid? It seemed so. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but the glow took on the form of silvery wisps that now ran across the ship, creating a weblike layer across the entire ship. I heard footsteps behind me, and a hand closed around my arm, pulling me back. “What are you doing out here?

Go stay with the princess.” Theon growled, his voice sounded animalistic.

I had never heard him like this, and to my surprise, I could see his canines in his mouth.

“I was just...”

“It’s dangerous.” He barked, pulling me towards the steps.

“Theon, listen to me! I think there are sirens are out there.”

“There are no sirens here, we are still a way from The Lifeless Abyss, if there was, we would have picked it up!” Flynn’s voice came. Damn werewolf hearing, I think I was the deafest one on this trip!

“Take your pretty lady to safety, commander!” He added with a wink, and I knew if it was any other time I would have blushed, but I had more important things on my mind.

I know I sounded crazy, I mean surely the crew would know if there were sirens approaching.

“Yileyna, can you for once just listen?” Theon growled roughly.

I glared at him.

“Why should I? Leave me be! You wanted me dead, remember? One less burden?”

He closed his eyes, clenching his jaw. “I am not doing this with you now.” He hissed, and just then a strong pair of arms wrapped around my waist.

“Hey!” I shouted, glaring up at dumb Bruce. “Let go of me! Your job is to guard the princess, not me!”

“Orders are orders.” He grunted.

“It’s dangerous out there!” I don’t know how I knew, but my instincts were screaming at me. “Exactly, hence why it’s no place for an unshifted wolf.” He thundered. Goddess, what am I doing?! Nothing made me feel like this when there was an attack on the city... So why now were these instincts of mine screaming at me?

“Bruce, listen to me! They are in danger!” “Calm down, Yileyna. What will you do by going up there? You will only get in the way.”

He asked, making me freeze. He was right... What was I going to do?

“Listen to me pup, you are only going to make matters worse, let them handle this.” I didn’t argue further, he was right, what would I be able to do... He placed me on my feet, a hand on the small of my back as he led me down towards Charlene’s room.

The same pull to turn around and go to the water seemed to wash over me and I stopped moving. The faint whisper of an enchanting song reached my ears, making my heart pound.

A siren.

“I’ll go to my room...” I murmured, turning to look at Bruce. To my surprise, his eyes looked glazed and he was dragging his feet.

“Bruce?” No reply. I stepped away from him, but he didn’t react. Werewolf hearing, could he hear the siren’s song!?

Turning, I ran back the way I came and up to the deck. The moment I was out in the open, I was hit with a shocking downpour of rain. The waves were higher than the ship, crashing onto the deck ruthlessly. Thunder roared in the sky and lightning flashed dazzlingly.

I could see Barbara fiddling with a thick rope. Cleo was shouting something at the captain who seemed to be unmoving at the helm. The wheel spinning wildly out of control. Sam was leaning over the edge of the ship, to my horror I realised apart from the two women everyone seemed frozen.

Where were Theon and Raiden?! I ran out onto the deck, rushing to Sam first and yanking him back from the edge.

“Take the wheel!” I heard Theon shout. “Aiy!” Cleo yelled, running across the deck just for another huge wave to hit her, knocking her back.

I couldn’t see him, but if he needed someone to control the ship at least I could try to do that, how hard could it be? Quickly tying Sam’s ankle to some rope so he didn’t end up being flung into the sea, I rushed through the crashing waves and the violent jolts of the ship.

A soothing whisper reached my ear and I frowned.

Don’t focus on it. Don’t focus on it. Get to the helm! I gasped as I was knocked backwards. My head hit the ground as another strong wave of water filled my lungs and I choked. Coughing, I rolled over, tumbling to my feet clumsily and pulling off my jacket that was now weighing me down.

Goddess! What was going on? Where was the siren?

I was almost to the captain when the same eerie beautiful song made me stop. It was powerful, ethereal, and I felt my eyelids becoming heavy.

Sirens. I had been right... They’re here...

No. I am Yileyna De’Lacor, and there was no way on Kaeladia that a siren’s song was going to get the better of me!

I clenched my fists, letting my nails dig into my palms, the pain keeping my mind clear.

“Yileyna!” I heard Theon’s shout. I didn’t look back, barely able to keep my balance as I finally managed to get to the captain, pushing him out of the way and grabbing the spinning wheel. Fuck I didn’t think this out, it was far too powerful. I braced my feet, trying to steady it. I wasn’t enough, my arms screamed as I held on with all my might. I gritted my teeth, feeling the ship steady a little. Another huge wave crashed onto the deck.

“Yileyna, turn portside!” Cleo shouted, her voice sounding a little dreamy.

“Ok!” I shouted back, my heart thumping as I shifted, using all my weight to turn the wheel.

Never had I imagined it to be so hard.

The siren’s song was getting louder. The captain tried to move towards the edge and I stuck my leg out, tripping him up. Trying to slow him down a little before he jumped to his death.

“Dear mother Selene...” Cleo gasped.

I made the mistake to turn to see what was going on, only to see a siren, there amongst the waves. My heart pounded as I stared at her. She was beautiful, from her flawless skin that seemed to glitter, her long blonde hair swirling around her, her tail was a stark contrast to her light hair and skin, shimmering a deep red and black.

Her eyes snapped towards me, and I looked into her glowing red ones, our gaze locking. Her eyes, which had moments ago been cold, seemed to fill with an emotion I couldn’t make out. Then in a flash, a huge wave hit the shore and she was before me.

“Yileyna!”

Theon...

I heard a murderous growl, but it felt far away. Had I been manipulated? All sound but the haunting tune of the siren’s song lingered in my mind, but I was still aware. Still gripping the wheel with all my might.

The siren’s long hand reached out to me, and she tilted her beautiful head to the side cupping my jaw. Her touch was icy. A flicker of curiosity flitted through her eyes, as if searching my face for something. 1 “Let go of me!” I hissed, trying to bring myself back to reality and using all my willpower, I shoved her away.

Her eyes widened and a surge of anger seemed to roll off her. As much as I wanted to back away, I couldn’t. This ship was already caught up in this storm and I needed to keep my hold on the wheel, just like Cleo had asked of me. My teeth were gritted as I held on with all my might. “Tempest.” She hissed, she raised her hand and my eyes widened at seeing the waves grow higher behind her.

I flinched, the moment she was about to lunge at me, I saw the body of a magnificent deep screamed, falling back into the water, blood splattering over me as the wolf landed a few feet ahead. He turned towards me, my heart beating wildly as I stared at Theon’s wolf, a wolf that looked on par with the Alpha King’s himself. A true beast... I gasped as the wheel broke free from my hold, the ship careening violently. The siren may have fallen into the sea, but the storm was still raging. I grabbed onto it as the wolf pounced, landing next to me. Theon shifted back, and then he was behind me, placing his hands over mine and gripping the wheel tightly, his arms caging me in. My heart pounded, but this time it wasn’t because of fear, but his closeness, his bare arms brushing mine. His scent overpowering the smell of the sea.

Two scents that I loved... “You’re fucking crazy.” He hissed breathlessly in my ear, my heart leaping as he turned the wheel with ease.

The back of my head touched his bare chest, and I dared not focus on the fact that he was standing so close in utterly nothing.

Valent Storm “And you’re fucking naked.” I retorted defiantly, looking up at him. “Not that you’re complaining. Seems like even the god of death doesn’t want you, how many fucking times will you face death and survive?” “Well, what can I say, even the mighty haughty Theon couldn’t resist me.” I replied haughtily. “No fucking idea why...” He murmured, making my heart skip a beat. I looked up at him in surprise, his hair was soaking, falling in front of his eyes, but what took my breath away was the tiny ghost of a smirk that crossed his lips...