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“The charmspeak has limitations,” he finally said, looking annoyed.
“As in?”
“As in the symptoms wear off. The charm only works in the presence of a siren. Those deeply enchanted usually lose all interest in about three to four weeks.”
“And?”
“You’ve been here twice that long.”
He looked away, sighing.
“Don’t cause any trouble,” he said. “I’ll be watching.”
And with that, he flew off.
***
The lattice was much harder the second time around. Probably because of the hole in my side.
I didn’t think knocking on the front door would be beneficial. After all, it was nearly midnight. Not to mention, I was the pirate who kidnapped Esmeralda in the first place.
But I had to see her.
There was an ache in my side as I made it to the top of the balcony. The bedroom balcony was too high, so I climbed the ballroom balcony instead, but it was still a little too much for my aching muscles.
It was nothing, however, compared to the ache in my chest when I saw her.
I knew it was a spell. It had to be. Nothing else would make me think such dramatic, disgustingly romantic thoughts. I wasn’t a man of romance, really. Seduction was entertaining. Flirting was a good pastime. But this woman, she entranced me so instantly.
Yes, it was a spell. But I didn’t mind it.
She hadn’t noticed me yet. She was looking up at the stars, the same exact look on her face the first night we met.
What charming thing had I said to her that night? Ah, right.
“Are you making a wish?” I repeated. “A woman only looks at the stars that intensely when she has a deep wish.”
She turned to me, her eyes widening and narrowing as if she was trying to make sense of reality. I chuckled, unable to ignore the fact that even though she was the siren, I somehow stole her breath away.
“Adrian…” she whispered. “How did you get here?”
That was her question? She was supposed to run into my arms, openly weeping with joy.
No matter.
I nodded over the side of the balcony. “I wanted to see if I was strong enough.”
“Why would you take a risk like that?” she asked, pouting and rolling her eyes. “You could have gotten hurt—”
When I stepped in front of her, she stopped speaking. Her lips were still parted as if she had more to say, but she didn’t. Instead, the wind whipped through her hair, teasing me mercilessly.
“Seeing you made it worth it,” I admitted. “As soon as they released me, I had to see you.”
Her eyelashes fluttered, a flash of pain shooting across her face as she looked down for a moment.
“These feelings…” she said. “You realize they aren’t real.”
She sounded so heartbroken at the fact. It encouraged me.
