Enticed By The Corsair (Corsairs, #3)

by Ruby Dixon

“Promise me,” Tarekh says in a low voice. When I glance over, he continues. “Promise me that if she’s dead, you’ll put an end to me, too. I won’t live knowing that I failed her.” I stare at him. We’ve been through a lot, he and I, and Tarekh’s always been light-hearted and easy-going. This isn’t him. But I’ve never been mated. I don’t understand what it’s like. This sits wrong with me. But I also know what it’s like to want to die. So I nod.

Iris lifts her chin, and both Kivian and I suck in a breath at the same time. Her eyes aren’t hidden by shadows. They’re gone, nothing but dark, angry scars remaining in their place.

Something deep inside me instinctually recognizes her as mine. I’ve heard other mesakkah talk about it. How when they meet their female, they just know in their gut that she’s the one. That the connection is lightning fast and soul-wrenchingly deep. Always thought that was garbage until now.

“Oh, I'm not fixed. I'm as broken as ever. But you get better at hiding it. And you get better at being broken.”

Sentorr. I watch him as he works busily, his tail flicking in time to the movements he makes across screen after screen. Is he lonely? I didn't realize I was until I saw Iris. “Someday it'll happen for you, too, my friend.” He just snorts.

No wonder there's no fight left in her. They broke her and she hasn't had time to mend. I'll always be here for her, I decide. Always.

Maybe my impatience isn't that I want to make Iris mine—kisses and mating and all—so much as that I want her real personality to spark. I want the real Iris to show up. When someone makes a shitty comment, I want her to reach over and smack them in the mouth like Fran or Cat would. I might be asking too much from her, though. She's a broken thing, like me. Survival is still first and foremost on her mind, and this is how Iris has chosen to survive.

“Make me forget,” she whispers. “Remind me that I'm in a good place.” “You're with me,” I tell her between presses of my mouth to hers. I am hungry for more, so much more. I love the feel of her slight body pressing against mine as we kiss, and my cock aches, my needs long suppressed. “In my bed. In my arms.” “Take my virginity,” she whispers, rubbing up against my chest. “Make it so no one wants to buy me ever again.”

“It's not to prove a point,” Alvos says. “It's because I love you and you're mine.”

If you want to hit something more than you want me, then go. I'd dismissed her words, but now I'm not so sure she was wrong. I told her before that I was broken, and I don't expect to change. But maybe I should try harder to be the male she needs instead of the male that I am. Maybe I should think beyond my fists. Try to solve this without needing a fight. Do this right.