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I gave the drink back to Leon. He placed his mouth directly on the side my lips had touched and stared at me with a hunger I could never possibly satisfy. The gesture caused my stomach to clench with nerves.
“Come,” he ordered, and stepped back from the helm. “Want to steer?”
“Me? Are you serious? I know nothing about sailing. What if I steer us off course or into a rock and the ship sinks?”
Ignoring my panic, he chuckled and grabbed my hips to pull me closer. “Stop worrying, love. Take the wheel and hold it straight.”
I clutched the smooth wooden wheel, surprised there was no tug in any direction. “This isn’t hard at all.”
Leon rested his chin on my shoulder. “You haven’t felt the pull during a storm when the ship wants to go right or left, and you need to stay straight. Most men don’t have the strength to direct a ship this size.”
“And you do?”
He growled in my ear. “Are you questioning my ability as captain?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” I whispered, turning my face so my mouth brushed against his cheek.
“Careful, love, or I may be forced to show you how a captain rocks better than the ocean.”
I laughed. “You said you would never sully a paying customer.”
He followed my gaze to Declan, who nervously approached us from the main deck.
“Sorry to interrupt, Captain, but we’re almost at the Spires.”
“Get the men ready.”
“Aye, aye.”
“What are the Spires?” I asked. “Are we in danger?”
He moved me aside to retake the helm. “You know of the Oasis, but not the dangers that guard it?”
Embarrassed by my obliviousness, I shook my head. I knew nothing beyond how the rocks were difficult to navigate around.
“There are tall and massive rock formations that surround the islands of the Oasis. Sirens swarm the area, knowing that ships will pass.”
“Sirens . . .” Beautiful maidens who seduced men to the bottom of the sea.
“Aye, slimy creatures that are a nuisance. Yet, men fall to their magic, and to their deaths. The old name, as you know, was called The Whispering Sea because of how the wind echoed off the rock, but us sailors began calling it the Eternal Sea because most who enter never return.”
“How do we stop the magic from controlling us?”
He dug into his pocket and pulled out two tiny rubber objects. “With these ear plugs.”
“How do they stop magic?”
Leon took one of the rubber objects and brushed my hair behind my ear. “The plug reduces the sound, garbles it. It’s the song that casts the spell.”
“I hear their beauty is unlike any other creature.”
“I disagree.”
My cheeks warmed at his sweet remark while he placed the other plug in.
“Can I stay on deck? I want to see,” I shouted, and Leon laughed, the sound muffled.
He nodded, a quirk to his lips.
