The Mermaid's Pearl (Tears of the Deep Book 1) (18 page)

I slipped onto the floor to lie on my stomach beside him and look down at the map. I sighed. “What are we in for?”

“
I
am in for an adventure. Nothing to worry about, love, I just have to get this map tattooed into my brain. If I know where I’m going, I can quickly snatch this stone and get back to you.”

“No, I’m going with you.”

He shook his head in disagreement but continued to focus on the map. “No, Rae, you have to stay here. I will get the stone of prosperity. There’s nothing to worry about. You will just run through it without thinking.”

“I’m coming with you,” I insisted and ignored his comment about my spontaneity. “I can help and you know it.”

Aiden chuckled. “I cannot watch over you and obtain our freedom at the same time.”

“I can watch out for myself. It’s my life in the balance here.”

“I won’t allow it.” He said it as if it were the end of the conversation, but I wasn’t about to give up. I wanted to go, and I wasn’t going to let him stop me.

I opened my mouth to argue, but he finally looked up from his map and at me, with something in his eyes I hadn’t seen before. He brought his hand up to cup my cheek and stared into my eyes.

“I wasn’t worried about this mission until they put that device on you. This treasure is what me men and I have been looking for. It would be easy for me to retrieve it and their stone, and then come back to get you. When they slapped that thing on your wrist, it changed the entire game.”

“I’ve never heard anything like this. Do you think they’re honest and it would work?”

“I’m not willing to take that chance. There are better technologies out there, lass, ones that are rare and like you wouldn’t believe.”

I pulled at the cuff, trying to remove it. “If you would just have fought back, we wouldn’t even been here.”

“I couldn’t. There was something more important in the balance.” His voice lowered as he brought his face closer to mine. “I hate to admit this, especially to you, but you make me weak. I would die to protect you.”

Although he opened up about who he really was while we were on the beach, hearing this from him was a shock. I opened my mouth to answer him, but he crashed his lips upon mine and kissed me. He kissed me as if he would never see me again, with an uncertainty that didn’t ring well. It was as if he was giving a bittersweet goodbye, making certain this was the one and only choice for him to make. His fingers curled into my hair and pulled me closer to him, deepening the kiss and eliciting a sad moan from me. I kissed him back with the same ferocity, determined to pour every ounce of emotion I had into it.

He rolled me over on top of him, my long hair hiding our kiss from the world, and tightened his hold on my head. Aiden wasn’t letting me go, though one of his hands trailed down my body and gripped my waist. His kisses moved down my jaw, his fingers pulling my head back to reveal my neck to him. Warm wet kisses moved down to the hollow of my neck.

I couldn’t get enough of him when we were like this, and it could be the last opportunity to kiss him. There was danger ahead of him in the unfamiliar cave. He had been forming a strategy in his head while looking at the map, but I still couldn’t be sure he would come out alive.

My hands took his face in them as he sat up to continue his exploration of my body with his mouth. His name fell from my lips softly, earning a satisfied groan from him. If this were to be our last moments together, I wanted to make it last. Making love to him was my one last wish. He pulled my shirt off my shoulder to make more room for his kisses, and my hand slipped underneath his. My fingers trailed over his hard body and pushed the fabric upwards to pull it off.

He obliged, his hands letting go of me for just a second to lift it over his head and throw it to the floor before returning to me. He rolled me underneath him and lowered his face to mine.

“I want you to remember this, love, in case I don’t make it back.”

“You’ll make it back, Aiden, don’t be silly,” I said and tried to kiss him.

He pulled away from me and ran one of his hands down my body, pushing my shirt up and placing his rough palm against my stomach. I squirmed under him, trying to fit us together again, but he fought back and shook his head.

“Slow it down. My beautiful Rae, I want to remember this. I want something to remember when I’m fighting through the caves for you.” He was speaking as if he would never see me again.

“Okay,” I whispered breathlessly.

“Will you remember me? When you are a free woman?”

Freedom. Something I’d wanted since boarding
The Devil’s Pearl
and yet, the sudden thought of it made my stomach drop and sadness come over me. He didn’t want to let me go now. 

“I will remember you,” I reassured him. “Always.”

He pulled me in for another kiss, and I feared nothing would ever come close to this feeling of being with him. I’d never forget him. Aiden was one of a kind, and there would be no one else out there like him. I’d searched for too long and found nothing.

As his hand slid higher underneath my shirt and started to remove it, there was a rattling at the door.

“Bloody hell,” he growled and let go of my shirt. He planted one last quick kiss on my lips before standing in front of me and shrugging on his shirt.

“Time to get going,” William said as he stepped into the room and eyed Aiden.

Without another word, Aiden followed him through the door. I raked my hands through my hair and groaned. He didn’t even say goodbye. I was determined to find a way to go after him. He wasn't going to be in this alone. I wouldn’t be far behind him, and they couldn’t keep me from it.

Besides, I wasn’t one to miss out on a treasure hunt.

Chapter Nineteen

“You’re free to go.”

I looked up from where I sat, in the exact same place I was after they took Aiden from me. Julianna stood there with a scowl upon her face, as if she hated me personally for some reason. I wasn’t sure what her problem was.

“I said, you’re free to go.”

I stood up and dusted off my clothing. “I heard you just fine. You don’t have to repeat yourself.” I walked over to her and glared. “What’s your problem anyway?”

“Just
you
in my hair. I told William to send you on with Aiden, but he never listens to me.” She sighed. “You have to go after Aiden. He cannot obtain the stone without you.”

“Of course he can,” I said with a laugh, knowing it to be true, but I wanted to see why she thought he couldn’t. I wanted to go after him, and I was thankful to have my opportunity now. Still, I was very suspicious about why they would let me leave when they needed me for assurance he would come back.

“No, he can’t,” she clarified. “It has to be a princess. You
are
a princess aren’t you?”

I shook my head. I wouldn’t tell her anything.

“Must I really persuade you to be agreeable with me?” She sighed and walked over to a cabinet in the corner. After she opened it and reached inside, she turned around with a large ring in her hands.

My mouth fell open in shock. “Where did you get that?” I rushed forward to get a better look, to make sure I was seeing it right.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

I suppressed a scream and held back my emotions. If I showed too much, she would know how intimately I recognized it. The ring in her hands was old and gray, with a purple stone in it. It matched the color of my eyes exactly, and my father had worn it every day since I’d been born.

“How badly do you want to know where I got it?”

“I don’t care,” I said and crossed my arms. Inside I was dying to know where she got it, and I wanted to rip it from her hands. She had no right to hold on to that.

“My love gave this to me. It once belonged to a great king. I don’t know who he is, but the fact that you recognize it tells me you know.”  

I cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe I do.”

“Listen, a princess spelled the stone of prosperity thousands of years ago. She made sure men would not be able to obtain it and use the power. When she hid the two pieces away, she used her magic to connect the stone to the pedestal. Only another princess can remove it.”

I wasn’t sure I believed her, but I pressed on. “Why would she do that?”

“Her lover left her.”

“Why?”

“Don’t ask so many questions, because I will not answer them. If you don’t know the legend, it’s not my place to tell you.”

I shifted through my mind to try and remember any sort of legend, but none surfaced. How was it I hadn’t heard about this story or the stone before?”

“The bottom line is if you don’t go help him, he won’t get the stone, and you will die. Is it really worth risking your life just because you don’t trust me?”

Although I didn’t trust her, this was my chance to get out of there and get to Aiden. I could help him get the treasure, whether or not what Julianna was saying was true, and free myself.

“And if you help him retrieve it, I will give you this ring.” She twirled it in her hand and looked back at me expectantly.

There was no way she was keeping it.

“Fine. Show me where I need to go.”

Without another word, she led me out of the house. Once we were outside in the darkness, she handed me a small dagger. “This may help you on your way. I want that treasure. If you don’t come back with it, I will have William push the button without a second thought.
I
don’t need you around.”

I ignored her snide comments and headed in the direction she pointed. Only the moonlight from above guided my way. It was almost full.

Just a few more days.

When the large opening to the cave system was in my field of vision, I rushed toward it, eager to get this over with.

There would be challenges up ahead, I was certain. If not, William and Julianna would have gotten the other half of the stone of prosperity themselves. After all, I didn’t trust the whole princess thing.

As I stepped up to the opening, I paused to listen. I couldn’t see Aiden anywhere in sight, but I hoped he was inside. Dripping water along the cave walls was the only sound I could hear. It was dark and damp, no light to be seen, but as I took my first step inside I noticed a light up ahead. It had to be Aiden.

I rushed inside, trying to ignore the sense of dread and terror wanting to slip under my skin. The terrain was uneven and difficult to maneuver with human legs. I stumbled forward and grasped the wall to keep from falling.

I missed the ocean, and I was so far away from it with no idea of where I was. I just hoped the adventure wouldn’t last past the full moon. If I missed it, I wouldn’t be able to go home for another month. Just the thought made my heart clench.

Carefully, I walked inside, taking each step with caution so I wouldn’t fall again and followed the light ahead of me. Further inside torches lined the walls to light the way. Which meant someone had to have lit them. I peered around, hoping to see Aiden. The sudden sound of a scream caused me to take off in that direction.

“Aiden!” I exclaimed.

It had to be him. He was fighting something, and I needed to hurry. Panic arose in me because he was alone, but he was also one of the most dangerous pirates on the sea. Why was I so worried about him? Just because he showed interest in me didn’t mean his fierceness changed. I needed to trust in his ability to remain alive.

I ran into an opening to a room inside the cave, this one a lot larger than the tunnels I walked
through, and saw Aiden standing in the center of creatures of legend. They were taller than him, and their lower halves matched that of a large snake. At their back were wings, but they couldn’t fly. Still, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Lamia were supposed to be extinct.

Creatures waited for us in the cave system, obviously one of the reasons William didn’t want to come in here.

Each lamia carried a long metal spear that they jabbed toward Aiden. Loud hisses reverberated off the cave walls. They were large and disturbing, but I hoped we could kill them.

I reached into my pocket to retrieve my dagger and ran toward the closest one. I winched as I stabbed it into her back, making her cry out and spin around. The dagger slipped from my hand as she turned toward me, glowing green eyes and fangs bared.

“Don’t you want us to destroy this evil villain?” she questioned, confusion barely masked by her anger. As a woman, she expected me to be on her side against a man. Men had cursed the lamia and made them bloodthirsty.

“That villain is mine,” I said, eyes not leaving hers. I was surprised at the protective tone of my voice, how I was claiming Aiden in front of this monster as he would me in front of anyone else.

She snarled at me and pushed me to the ground. I rolled away from her and into the middle of the circle of monsters and crawled over to where Aiden was. As I stood up, I threw my back against his.

“Happy to see me?”

“I told you to stay behind. You just threw yourself into a dangerous situation. Again.” I could almost see the scowl across his face as he sliced his sword at a nearby lamia. The sword connected with her spear for just a moment before he swirled it around and sliced her head off.

“I’ll take that as a yes. I have never missed out on a treasure hunt before, and I don’t intend on doing it now.” I laughed. I wouldn’t tell him the part about wanting to help him.

He huffed in irritation and sliced his sword into the lamia on my right. “Sounds like you’ve been hiding something from me, love. Are you sure you aren’t a pirate?”

I smirked.
Not even close.
“I’ll be more of a help than you think I will be, let’s just say that.” At least, I hoped I would be. More than one occurrence over the past few weeks showed me I might just be too sure of myself.

I reached behind me to search for a weapon. I felt the cloth of Aiden’s coat, the hardness and tenseness of his body, as he waited for more attacks. When I found the hilt of a sword at his hip, I slipped it from its resting spot and held it high.

“Be careful with that thing,” he chastised.

The lamia in front of me lunged forward with her spear and I jumped to the left, thankful Aiden got out of the way when the one across from him attacked. I swung my sword into the air like Aiden had taught me and it collided with her spear. My foot flew out to kick her to the ground, but as she fell backwards she grabbed ahold of my arm and pulled me down with her. I cried out as I hit the
hard, dirt floor below. She rolled over on top of me, her fangs bared as she hissed in anger.

As she raised her spear in the air, I stretched my arm out for the sword I dropped. It was only a few inches from my fingertips, but I couldn’t reach it. Fear swelled up in me as I looked back up at the lamia. She paused for a moment to look back at me, and I let her see the terror in my eyes, hoping she would have some sort of sympathy because I was a woman. She considered me for just a moment before raising her spear higher to gut me.

“Please, don’t,” I whispered, but she wasn’t ready to have mercy on the one aiding a man.

Suddenly, the edge of a sword cut through the front of her body, causing her to scream out. My scream was echoed behind hers as the tip stopped inches from my chest. Aiden’s hand adorned with all his rings appeared on her shoulder as the sword retreated and he pushed her off to the side. He looked down at me with victory in his eyes and blood on his shirt.

“Thank you,” I forced out through large gulps for air.

“It’s my pleasure, Rae.” He held out his hand for me. I took it and he pulled me to my feet, hard enough for me to fall against him.

Aiden ran his hand down my hair, smoothing it out, and smiled that charming smile of his. “You are so beautiful, even covered in dirt.”

I slapped his chest playfully. “Shut up, we have a job to do.”

“But first…” His voice trailed off as he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.

It took me off guard, but the rush of the battle and his warm hands on me increased the adrenaline racing through my body. In that moment, it was exactly what needed to be. What needed to happen. Somehow, the world still faded around us in the cave. There was no sense of danger, only the feel of his fingers in my hair and his lips on mine. I curled my fingers into his shirt and deepened the kiss, pressing myself up against him as warmth radiated through my body. There was no denying it, Aiden thrilled me. When he pulled back from me, his eyes were full of adoration, and I returned the heated gaze.

“Sorry, love, we have to go. It was just so bloody sexy seeing you trying to fight those monsters. I couldn’t help myself.”

“Just using the essence of everything you taught me,” I said with a smile as I stepped back from him.

“That’s right you did. I’m glad my teachings didn’t go to waste, but please do be careful. You lost your weapon awfully fast.”

I frowned.

Placing his sword in its hilt, he motioned for me to follow him. He picked up my sword on the way out of this room and handed it to me. When he pulled one of the torches off the wall, I followed him into yet another thin tunnel. This one was just barely wide enough for the both of us.

“How do you even know where you are going?” I asked.

He tapped the side of his head and gave me a cocky smile. “It’s all in here, lass. When you’ve been a pirate as long as I have, you learn how to memorize a map.”

“And you believe them to be honest when they gave it to you?”

“Of course. They want their treasure and know I will retrieve it, especially when you have that contraption on your wrist.” He reached out to snatch my arm and look at the black cuff. I stumbled, but he caught me and laughed. “Watch your step.”

I jerked my hand from him. “Don’t grab me like that then.”

Stupid feet.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before.” Aiden dropped my hand and started walking again with a contemplative look on his face. “I wonder where they found such a thing.”

“Might be useful to use on
your
enemies.”

“Perhaps,” he said with a chuckle.

When we reached the end of the tunnel, he held out his hand to stop me from walking any further. He took a step into the room and held out the torch to look around. I sighed and pushed past him, surprised when my feet hit a puddle of water.

“Put the torch down here, Aiden.”

He lowered the torch and crouched down beside me. My eyes followed the path of the water, which seemed to reach across this entire room. There was nowhere else to go. We were stuck.

“See, you don’t know where you’re going,” I accused and pointed to the other side of the cave. There was no exit to be seen.

“Bloody hell.” He groaned and ran his hand down his face. “I was hoping the map was wrong.”

“What is it?”