The atmosphere below deck had changed.
Not dramatically.
Not loudly.
But unmistakably.
Emberlyn Stormtide followed behind the Vixens through the lower corridors of the ship while trying very hard to pretend she wasn't internally spiraling into the deepest waters of her entire existence.
This was ridiculous.
Absolutely reef-rotted ridiculous.
She was Emberlyn Stormtide.
The Siren of the Seas.
Captain of three pirate ships.
Robber of nobles.
Terror of merchant fleets.
A woman who once stabbed a man in the hand because he insulted her cooking.
And now?
Now she was nervously following six beautiful women toward a bedroom while trying not to think about Jax Darquebane's arms.
"Stretch first," Nyxian reminded casually while opening the door to the dimensional quarters.
Emberlyn nearly tripped.
"Sweet screaming tides, woman, do you say every insane thing that crawls into your head?"
Nyxian grinned.
"Yes."
"That explains so bloody much."
The moment Emberlyn stepped into the dimensional room, she froze.
The space was enormous.
Soft lighting illuminated polished wood floors and elegant furniture. A massive bed sat near the center large enough to comfortably fit several people. Decorative curtains hung from the ceiling. A fire crackled softly near the lounging area.
It felt warm.
Safe.
Lived in.
Not decadent like a noble's estate.
Comfortable.
Like people genuinely belonged here.
That realization hit Emberlyn harder than expected.
Pixelle flew lazily through the air with a goblet in hand.
"Welcome to the nest."
"I already hate that you called it that."
"You'll hate it more later."
"Void take me…"
Lexi walked past carrying folded blankets.
"You curse beautifully."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"It bloody should've been."
Meanwhile, Bunny had already tackled Jax onto one of the couches.
"You started this."
"I absolutely did not start this."
"You threw the first piece on the board."
"That is literally how the game works."
Llandra sighed while pouring drinks.
"To be fair, Jax, you do accidentally collect women at an alarming rate."
"I do not collect women!"
Nyxian raised an eyebrow.
"You have an entire kingdom of fairies calling you their tiny king."
"That was not intentional."
Pixelle floated upward proudly.
"He is beloved by the tiny people."
"I regret saving all of you."
"No you don't," Zee said softly.
Jax looked around the room.
Six smiling faces looked back at him.
"…No," he admitted. "No I don't."
Emberlyn stood awkwardly near the doorway.
That feeling returned again.
That strange warmth in her chest.
The dangerous one.
Not lust.
Not attraction.
Belonging.
Which somehow terrified her more than the Kraken.
Llandra noticed immediately.
"Relax," she said calmly. "Nobody is forcing anything tonight."
Nyxian looked disappointed.
"I was hoping intimidation would help."
"Nyxian."
"What? It worked on the pirate."
"It absolutely did not," Emberlyn snapped instantly.
Then paused.
"…Maybe a little."
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Emberlyn found herself laughing despite herself.
That only made things worse somehow.
Because now she was comfortable.
Which was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Bunny hopped up from the couch and grabbed Emberlyn's hand.
"Come sit with us."
Emberlyn blinked.
Nobody grabbed her hand gently.
Usually there was:
- violence,
- drunkenness,
- or attempted robbery involved.
This was somehow more overwhelming.
She sat.
Immediately Nyxian slid next to her like a predator spotting weakness.
"So."
"No."
"You haven't even heard the question."
"I know your face. Whatever follows that face is criminal."
Nyxian leaned closer.
"So when exactly did you start imagining Jax throwing you against a wall?"
Emberlyn nearly inhaled her own soul.
"YOU BARNACLE-BRAINED DEMON!"
The room exploded again.
Jax buried his face in his hands.
"Nyxian…"
"What? She already knows I know."
"That doesn't mean you say it out loud!"
Emberlyn pointed aggressively.
"Thank you! Finally someone with functioning tide-sense!"
Nyxian grinned wickedly.
"Oh, he absolutely thought about it after I mentioned it."
Jax coughed violently.
Bunny gasped.
"He did?!"
"I DID NOT SAY THAT!"
"You didn't deny it either," Lexi added helpfully.
"Why am I being interrogated in my own room?"
Pixelle floated upside down above him.
"Because your suffering entertains us."
"Fair."
Meanwhile Emberlyn's face had become so red she thought she might actually combust.
This was impossible.
How were these people real?
Why were they all insane?
Why was that attractive?
She reached for her drink.
Zee quietly refilled it before she even asked.
"…Thank you."
"You looked like you needed it."
"I absolutely bloody do."
Jax finally stood.
"Alright. Ground rules."
The room quieted.
Even Nyxian behaved.
Mostly.
Jax looked directly at Emberlyn.
"You can leave whenever you want."
The joking atmosphere softened slightly.
"No pressure."
He continued calmly.
"No expectations. No obligations. No wagers anymore. If you're uncomfortable, you say so."
Emberlyn stared at him.
That stupid warmth hit her again.
That dangerous one.
The one making her chest tight.
The one making her imagine impossible things.
Like staying.
Like belonging.
Like being wanted.
Not feared.
Not obeyed.
Wanted.
"…You really are the genuine article, aren't you?" she asked quietly.
Jax blinked.
"I'm not sure what that means."
"It means," Emberlyn muttered, "you're dangerously hard not to like."
Nyxian raised a finger dramatically.
"OH she's got feelings feelings."
"SHUT YOUR DEVIL MOUTH."
Bunny giggled uncontrollably.
Llandra hid her smile behind her drink.
Even Zee failed to suppress a laugh.
Emberlyn pointed around the room accusingly.
"You're all freaks."
"Correct," Pixelle agreed instantly.
"Dangerous freaks."
"Also correct."
"Seductive freaks."
Nyxian bowed.
"Thank you."
Emberlyn groaned and leaned backward into the couch cushions.
"Sweet drowning depths…"
Then Bunny tilted her head curiously.
"So… are you staying?"
The room went quiet again.
Emberlyn looked around slowly.
At the Vixens.
At the warmth.
At the laughter.
At Jax.
He wasn't pressuring her.
Wasn't demanding anything.
Wasn't acting entitled.
That somehow made him infinitely more dangerous.
Because now the decision was hers.
Entirely hers.
And the truth?
She already knew her answer.
She stood slowly.
Walked directly toward Jax.
Grabbed the front of his shirt.
Then kissed him hard enough to make Pixelle choke on her drink.
The room exploded.
Bunny nearly fell off the couch.
Nyxian slapped the armrest triumphantly.
"I BLOODY KNEW IT!" in her best Emberlyn impersonation.
When Emberlyn finally pulled away, she stared directly into Jax's stunned expression.
"…That answer your question, tide-taker?"
Jax blinked twice.
"…Pretty thoroughly, yeah."
"Good."
Then she looked around the room full of grinning women.
A dangerous realization hit her all at once.
She was absolutely doomed.
Completely.
Utterly.
Hopelessly doomed.
And somehow?
That didn't feel bad at all.
"…Well," Emberlyn muttered while rubbing her face, "drown me sideways…"
Nyxian grinned.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."