Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

“Your enchantments last long after your song fades.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“He relaxes considerably. "Thank the stars. I was trying so hard to be supportive and forget what I want most."

"And what's that?"

Those beautiful brown eyes glint. "You.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“So he is your intended, then?" He asks it casually enough. A smile still rests on his lips. But one mental switch and I can see he's swirling with a dark green. Jealousy in its deepest rawest form.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“He glares at me. "Sympathy is not what I want from you, Alosa.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“Because pirates aren't supposed to look like you look and talk like you talk an do what you do. You're confusing and it's messing with my head.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“My heart leaps as I feel his breath there.

“Your enchantments last long after your song fades.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“Then don't leave. Stay." Riden's mouth widens at his own exclamataion.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“Once he reaches my ribs, he moves his hands to my arms, running them up to my shoulder.
“I don’t know what you’re wearing,� he says. “But I like it.�
“Custom-made,� I say.
“And then stolen by you?�
I shrug. “What are you doing?�
“What does it look like I’m doing?�
“You’re touching me.�
“I’m trying to get my key back.�
“Sounds like an excuse to touch me.�
He smiles and leans forward so his mouth is at my ear. “I don’t see you stopping me.�
“If I had, I wouldn’t be able to do this.�
His eyes shoot up in alarm, but he doesn’t have enough time to guess what I’m about to do until I’ve already done it.
Yes, I knee him. Right between the legs.
He takes some time to recover. Enough for me to exit the cell and lock him in.
He stares at me levelly. “That was low.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“I didn’t have a choice,â€� he says.
“Of course you had a choice, Riden. You just had a hard one. And you chose the easy option, which was to do nothing.�
“Easy? Do you think it was easy for me to watch you? Seeing you up there, knowing the pain you must be in, it â€� it made me feel—it would have hurt less if I had been the one hanging. I hated myself for what happened. And the only way I could punish myself was to force myself to watch you in pain. That was my punishment.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“Now someone's nuzzling my neck. "You stole my blanket, Alosa.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“Shall we continue our discussion of the constellations for a while more?"

"Oh yes." As if we could still see the constellations while in his room. Blundering idiot.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“And just who claims to have seen me disobeying orders?"

"I saw you." idiot.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“Still, its width is small enough that I’m tempted to give Riden a slight push.
As if sensing this, he says, “Don’t even think about it.�
“I already did.�
“I could have you shot.�
“Your gun would have a hard time working once it’s wet.�
“I didn’t say I had to be the one to shoot.�
“But let’s face it, you’d like that pleasure for yourself.�
He smiles.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“Get of me."

He looks down at me trailing his gaze from my eyes to my mouth. So very slowly. "Are you sure you want that?”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“How did we turn out the way we did when such horrible men raised us?" I wonder aloud.

"Because we are not our fathers. We saw what evil looked like, and we knew we wanted to be different.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“You're mine."

"No, he isn't." Wallov has the door to his cell open before anyone else can move.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“No one is going to touch you now that you’re down here. I will see to that.â€�
“And who will see to it that you do not touch me?�
“Let me assure you, I have never had need to force myself upon a woman. They come willingly.�
“I find that hard to believe.�
“That’s because I haven’t worked my charms on you yet.�
I laugh scornfully. “As a female pirate raised by other pirates, I’ve had to fend off the most despicable and persistent of men. I’m not too worried.�
“And what would you do, Alosa, if you had to fend off a man who wasn’t despicable and persistent?�
“I’ll let you know when I meet one.�
He laughs. The sound is deep and rich.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“Air isn’t what I need to live. It’s him. It’s always been him. Why did it take me so long to realize?”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“Master Riden only said I 'probably' shouldn't speak to her, on account of beautiful women have a way of playing tricks on a man's mind. But it wasn't a direct order.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“He sighs. "What are you doing?" He's talking to himself.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“No, it wasn't," he insists.

Then he is kissing me.

What the—I misread where that was going.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“I want to kiss you again.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“No I can only tell what you're feeling."

This seems to give him great alarm. His emotions turn form a glowing, vibrant red to light gray almost instantly.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“You could live your life among the sirens and leave this all behind you.â€�
I smile and turn to him. “You and my mother are both missing one important thing.�
“What’s that?�
“I love being a pirate, and there’s nothing I want to be more.�
He relaxes considerably. “Thank the stars. I was trying so hard to be supportive and forget what I want most.�
“And what’s that?�
Those beautiful brown eyes glint. “You.�
“Have you decided you want to be a permanent member of the crew, then?� I tease.
“Aye, Captain.� He lifts the tricorne off my head and runs his fingers through my hair. “I’ll sail with you anywhere. I don’t care where we go or what we do as long as I’m with you.�
“Could be dangerous.�
“You’ll protect me.�
He leans in and kisses me. So slowly it’s maddening.
When he pulls back, I say, “I run a tight ship, sailor. I expect the rules to be followed.�
“What rules would those be?�
“All men are required to keep a couple days� worth of stubble on their chins. Makes them look more fearsome. Better pirates, you see.�
He grins so widely, I can feel my heart melt. “I had no idea you liked it so much.� He brings his lips to my ear. “You needn’t make a rule and trouble the other men. I’ll do it if you ask nicely.�
His lips trail down my neck and I shiver. “Anything else?� he asks.
“I need to see you in my quarters for the rest.�
“A²â±ð-²¹²â±ð.&°ù»å±ç³Ü´Ç;
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“Eventually, he says, "Their attention is unwanted.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“My heart leaps as I feel his breath there.

“Your enchantments last long after your song fades.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“Why are you on my ship?â€� Reading my father’s note seems to have brought on a bout of distrust.
He watches me carefully, his eyes turning inquisitive. “Is it not obvious?�
“If it were, would I be asking?� I say, irritation coloring my tone.
He smiles as though I’ve just said the most amusing thing in the world.
It makes me want to hit him.
Since that’s not the best idea, I turn around to leave him, but he puts his hand on my arm. Before I can do anything else, he’s right there. His chest pressed against my back, his breath warm on my ear.
“I’m here because when I tried to get in that rowboat with my brother, I realized the last thing I wanted was to be away from you.â€� His hand runs up the length of my left arm, which is facing toward the sea. Away from the eyes of the crew. “I’m here for you, Alosa.â€� His fingers flutter against my neck, sending a shiver down my back. “If you can’t tell that, I’m not doing a good job of showing you.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Siren Queen

“Riden removes his coat. Obviously, things are getting warm for him here.”
― Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King

“Alosa,â€� Riden says as he takes my hands in his and presses me gently against the wall.
He leans in, and I ask, “What?� As though he were about to ask me a question instead of saying my name aloud simply for the pleasure of hearing it roll off his tongue.
“You dance beautifully,â€� he says, and I feel his nose sidle up next to mine. My eyes have already closed.”
― Tricia Levenseller

“She swallows, never breaking eye contact with me. "I understand, Captain. He won't hear any complaints from me again."

Such conviction from someone so small. I believe her.”
― Tricia Levenseller