The Sheik and the Siren (Elemental Series) (9 page)

“Can you believe that?” Ebba asked Juturna, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Believe what?” Juturna asked. “That Ace sees in these men something they don’t see in themselves? That he is giving up his own life to stay here and retrain your father’s men and fix up his demolished castle? Aye, I can believe it, because I know Ace is a fine man and once he is committed he would do anything to repay his debt.”

“His debt? What are you talking about, Juturna?”

“You two haven’t had time to talk and get to know each other, have you?”

“Well, not talk,” she said looking down, sure her cheeks
were blushing from the thoughts in her head of last night.

“You have coupled with
him, haven’t you?” asked the old woman.

“I don’t think I have to admit that to a seer.”

“Yet, he acts cool toward you as if he doesn’t remember the act at all.”

“That’s because he doesn’t,” she explained. “I went to him during the night, but he was well in his cu
ps and thinks the whole thing a dream.”

“And you didn’t tell him?” The old woman had her fists on her hips and Ebba felt like a child again, being scolded.

“I . . . I didn’t have a chance to mention it this morning.”

“You didn’t want him to know, did you?”

“I would tell him . . . eventually.”

“I do not understand either o
f you,” complained Juturna. “I told Ace not to try so hard, and now he all but ignores you. And I told you to get to know the man, yet you take him in the night and don’t even tell him about it the next day. I give up!” She threw her hands in the air. “Now, I’m going inside to start sewing clothes for these poor, ragged men, and I expect you to help me without a bit of complaining. After all, this is your father’s castle and his men are your concern now and you need to stop acting so selfish. You care only for yourself and the sea and ignore these poor men who almost lost their lives to protect you. And all the while a complete stranger walks in and turns things around in a little over a day. Unbelievable. Preposterous! Now are you coming to help me or not?”

“Aye, of course,” she said, following Juturna to the castle, feeling once again like that scolded child. She looked back over her shoulder at Ace who was teaching Sir John how to fight with his left arm.

Mayhap Juturna was right. Ace took these men under his wing when he by right shouldn’t have. After all, they were the ones who stole from him, yet he brought them even more supplies rather than claiming what was his. He truly was an amazing man though because of how he looked, she didn’t want to believe it.

But things were going to change around here from now on. She was going to be part of rebuilding Castle Varusa and its men, piece by piece. And as soon as she could get Ace alone, she was going to tell him what really happened last night. Or would she?

Chapter 9

Ace sat at the trestle table in the great hall, hungrier than he’d ever felt in his life. He’d had a good morning of training and was happy that the men were starting to come around. They were picking up their new skills quickl
y, and though they were broken men, with Ace’s instruction they had started to look at their disabilities more as a challenge than a hindrance. They were now doing things they never thought possible, and this made Ace very happy indeed.

Cook plopped down a bowl of something in front of Ace, and he almost couldn’t even look
at whatever vile concoction lay there. But he was so hungry he figured he’d have to eat it either way.

“Try it,” said the man.

Ace made a face, and was glad the man couldn’t see it. Then he raised the spoon to his mouth, dreading it, but instead of horrific spice or a vile tasting stew, he was pleasantly surprised.

“This is actually pretty tasty,” he said, taking another heaping helping. “What is it?”

“Oh, just a little concoction I brewed up of bug larvae and goat testicles.”

Ace spit the food half way across the table and the men all roared in laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Ace asked.

“They
’re laughing because I told Cook to tell you that,” said Ebba sitting on the bench next to him.

“And why would you do such a thing?”

“Just for fun,” she said with a smile. “I can’t help myself, it is the way of the fae.”

“Well, what is it – really?” he asked, scooping up more and
shoving it into his mouth. “’Tis truly delicious.”

“’Ti
s a little recipe my mother used to make. I showed Cook how to construct it.”

“Some kind of seafood, obviously.” Ace picked up the spoon and inspected it. “But I cannot tell what.
Are you sure it’s not goat testicles and bug larvae?”

She laughed. “Have you seen any goats on the island since you’ve been here? And although we have plenty of bug larvae, the dish is
made from goatfish and eel eggs with a little sea cucumber to thicken it.”

Ace wasn’t sure what a goatfish was, but he knew sea cucumbers and eels were both phallic looking, and wondered what made Ebba want to make this.

“Well, it is delicious. I didn’t know you could cook.”

“There are lots of things we don’t know about each other, and I was hoping we
could  possibly spend some time together later.”

“Well, I don’t think so,” he said, trying to push her away like Juturna instructed.

“I know what Juturna told you, so you can stop trying to ignore me. It doesn’t really make a fae want you more, no matter what she thinks.”

“It doesn’t?” he asked.

She smiled and shook her head. She accepted a bowl of food from Cook and brought a spoonful to her mouth, blowing on it to cool it. “If you’d pay more attention to your dreams, you’d know the answer to that.”

Ace wanted to ask her about it, but decided it better to wait until later.

“Would you care to go for a little boat ride with me?” she asked.

“Where to? Back to the cave and the crystal dolphin?”

“Shhh,” she said, scowling at him. “That is not to be mentioned again.”

“Why not?”

“Because, in the wrong hands it could be very dangerous.”

“But I . . .”

“Shhh.” She held her finger up to his lips, and he couldn’t help himself. He opened his mouth and sucked her finger inside. Her eyes opened wide in surprise and she pulled it free, looking quickly around the room, obviously hoping no one saw it. Then she hit him playfully on the arm.

“So are you going to tell me where we are going or not?”

“Nay. ’Tis somewhere special, and you’ll just have to wait to find out.”

Ace couldn’t wait for the meal to end to find out, and he also couldn’t help but hope this special place she was taking him to
, was bed.

* * *

A short time after the meal was finished, Ebba brought Ace to the solar. She couldn’t help but see the excitement in his eyes. And being the curious fae she was, she read his mind to find out that he thought she was bringing him there to couple with him.

She giggled and opened the door to the room slightly. “Come on inside,” she said seductively, playing with him.

She didn’t have to ask him twice. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into him and covered her mouth with his own. One touch of his lips to hers had her wishing now she had been bringing him there to couple after all. But that was never going to happen with all the people in the room.

“Lord Ace,” we love the new clothing.”

Ace looked up quickly and pushed the door open to reveal the room full of men trying on new clothes, Juturna fitting them, pulling the fabric over their heads by means of a hole in the middle and using her scissors to cut the proper length.

“What the hell is this?” Ace growled.

“Not quite what you expected?” she asked.

“Nay. Not at all.”

“Come on,” she said, pulling him into the room. “I worked on a tunic with Juturna especially for you.”

Ace looked around the room full of men, disappointed, as he thought the siren actually wanted to spend some time alone with him. It must just be her mischievous fae ways to tease him constantly.

“What are those men sitting against
the wall doing?” asked Ace, trying to see over the heads of the crowd.

“They are helping to sew the garments,” she said. “How else do you think we accomplished this so quickly?”

“The men are sewing?” he asked with a smile.

“Aye, and they are enjoying it to.”

“Well, I suppose we do have a lack of women on the island.”

“And you were the one who
said everyone had to pull their weight,” she pointed out.

“Lord Ace, look at my new leg!” Willis jumped up on one leg, holding onto the bedpost for support. He held up a wooden leg that looked beautifully carved and
very lightweight as well.

“Good work
,” Ace called out.

“With a few improvements
added,” the man said clicking something on the side of the leg and causing a sharp blade to pop out of the bottom.

“Not bad,” Ace said with a smile.

“Sit down,” Juturna scolded Willis, waving her scissors in the air, causing two men to jump out of the way. “I need to finish measuring you for your tunic so we can get started on securing your leg.”

“Juturna, I don’t know what I’d do without you,” Ace called out.

“It wasn’t just me, Ebba-Tyne worked on more than half of these tunics and hose.”

“You did?” That surprised him indeed.

“And I have made a special one for you so you no longer have to wear my father’s oversized tunic.” She handed him a tunic of bright blue material that reminded him of the sea. He pulled off his old tunic, trying not to look at her as she devoured him with her eyes, and pulled the new one over his head. That’s when he realized she had sewn a yellow lion on the front.

“You remembered my crest,” he said, impressed.

“Even the raised leg and open mouth,” she said, pointing at the lion on the front.

“I’m surprised you didn’t put a sea lion on it.”

She looked over to Juturna and they exchanged glances. “I admit I was going to, but Juturna didn’t think it would amuse you.”

“Thank you, Juturna,” he said with a nod. “But
tell me Ebba, why don’t you have a new outfit as well? I see you are back to wearing that thin shift.”

“I don’t like wearing a gown,” she said. “It’s too cumbersome and it’s easier to get out of my clothing when I go into the sea if I just wear a shift.”

“Aye, I suppose it would be faster to remove your clothing this way.” He couldn’t help himself, he reached out for her, but she grabbed his arm and led him out the door.

“This is only part of the surprise. Now I’m going to take you to that special place I told you about.”

“I can’t wait,” he said, wondering how many people would be waiting for them there.

* * *

Ebba brought Ace to the edge of the water, and started to flip over the upside-down small boat that awaited them. He reached out quickly and did it for her.

“We’re going somewhere on the water?” he asked her.

“Aye,” she said, climbing inside. “Actually in the water to be precise.”

Ace pushed the boat into the water and jumped in, then looked around.

“Damn, I forgot the oars.”

“No need,” she said. “Now sit down before you fall.”

“Fall? There isn’t even a breeze.”

“Suit yourself.” She raised her arms and with a flick of her wrist, brought forth a wave, but from the shore. She giggled as the boat lurc
hed forward and Ace stumbled, almost ending up in her lap. He caught himself with his arms on either side of her and his face just inches from hers.

He leaned forward and kissed her and she reached up and took his face in her hands and kissed him back.

“Let’s go back to the shore where we can continue this,” he suggested.

“Not now,” she said, pushing him down on the seat. Her dolphins appeared at the sides of the boat, swimming and pushing the boat forward with their noses.

“Thank you,” she told the dolphins, then looked to him.

“What?”

He saw her glance down into the water.

“Oh, aye, thank you,” he said to the dolphins as well.

They continued pretty far out on the water and when Ace started to wonder just how far they were going, the dolphins disappeared and the current stopped, making the boat stand still.

“We’re here,” she told him.

“Where’s here?” he asked, looking around.

“What you’re going to see is a
place that is special to me. ’Tis a sunken city of long ago.”

“Your ancestors?” he asked her.

“Nay. So long ago, we don’t know who lived here or why. But this is where my mother and I found the crystal dolphin when we were out for a swim one day.”

She stood and removed her clothing and slipped into the water before he had a chance to touch her.

“Take off your clothes and follow me,” she said.

“All right,” he answered, not bothering to ask why.

He went over the side of the boat, the chill of the water hitting his groin and cooling him down immediately.

“How far down is it?” he asked.

“Pretty far, but don’t worry. I’ll give you all the air you need.”

“But won’t you need it?”

“Nay, not really. I can stay submerged for hours without having to surface. My mother, being full fae could stay down here for days at a time.”

“I can’t even imagine,” he said.

She giggled again, and he loved it when she was happy. She had the body of a full fledged woman, but the innocence in her eyes and face of a child.

“Follow me,” she said. “And hold on to the dolphins for speed.”

She grabbed the fin of a dolphin and disappeared beneath the water.

“Here goes,” he said nervously, taking a deep breath and grabbing hold of the dolphin that was nudging him in the back.

He dipped below the water, feeling like he was flying, moving so swiftly with the help of the dolphin at his side. He was mesmerized by what he saw as they continued downward. It was a sunny day and the rays lit up the water, and he could make out tall white pillars that looked to have at one time held up a building or temple of some sort.

When they reached the bottom, Ebba let go of his dolphin and motioned for him to do
the same. He was reluctant to release it, but decided to put his fate in her hands. He let go, and his feet touched the soft sandy silt below.

She could see his air was running low, and she smiled and swam to him, her long blue hair
raising up into the water around her. Her beautiful naked breasts with their rigid tips pointed downward toward the ocean floor as she kicked her legs, allowing him to see her tight, firm backside as well.

She pressed up against
him, her breasts smashed up against his chest, and blew the air of life into his mouth with a kiss. Then she motioned for him to follow her, and they swam naked beneath the water, winding through the tall, white majestic pillars, in a chasing game of sorts.

S
he pointed and he saw a school of multicolored fish swim right by them, and also a huge sea turtle, splaying its fin-type legs in order to glide by and follow the fish.

There were
large stones that looked to have at one time formed some sort of temple. It was a truly amazing site the way the undersea forest reached up to the light. The beams of sun blasted through to shine upon a small stone pillar of white marble that was displayed at the center of this ruined temple.