Chapter 11424.
A Burning Regret
THEON
The weather was pleasant, and the sea was calm. It was the following day after the attack, and night
had fallen. Everyone was sitting on the deck enjoying the music Leto was playing. Tankards of hot
mead sat on the tables in front of us, with platters of snacks as we enjoyed the calm. Two sirens had
approached hours after that attack, but after a word with Yileyna, they had swum away. I still don‘t
know how to feel about them. For them to not attack us was... strange. Her words and concern when
she had turned back to us were still fresh in my mind.
‘We should be safe from here, the sirens and my guards will keep an eye beneath the surface but...
even they don‘t know why the Leviathan was after us. It is not meant to be anywhere near here.‘
The Leviathan... Something about it niggled at my mind. When she had encased it in ice, the darkness
I had felt from it... it felt oddly familiar to the darkness I feel around Arabella... but how was that even
possible? A witch, even a dark one, couldn‘t control a monster created by a god, especially to make it
come after us... 4
The Leviathan was meant to stay in the depths of the ocean. Why would it attack Yileyna, someone
who was tied to the sea? Everyone now knew what Yileyna was, and to my surprise they accepted her,
seeing her for who she was and not her being a siren. But it wasn‘t so surprising, the crew of The Siren
Killer were quite diverse, and they didn‘t see others by their race but for who they are. Although it had been pretty surprising to them that they had accepted it. It was impressive how she was
able to win everyone over.
As for me... I was unable to forget about what happened between us, the way she had moaned... the
way she had obviously wanted me... Fuck, just the thought made me hard.
Even now she was dancing with Cleo, whilst Leto strummed his guitar as he sang his sea shanties.
I listened to the words, my eyes on Yileyna, she was far more beautiful than I could put into words. The
changes in her appearance only made her sexier and it was fucking hard being around her. Her eyes
remained in that multitude of iridescent colours, and even just looking into them made me lose myself.
Right now, she was wearing a white dress that just about covered her ass, her corset accentuating her
curves. Her sensual laugh reached my ears as Cleo spun her around, giving me the perfect view of her.
Damn her breasts were fucking fine...
Remembering the feel of her body against mine, I forced myself to look away, feeling pleasure rush
south. I picked up my tankard, downing it. I looked back at her, only for our eyes to meet. Her heart
skipped a beat, but I refused to look away, or I just wasn‘t able to...
There was no way that we could be together, not after everything I had done, but why did the urge to
pull her close, apologise, and fuck her senseless, consume my mind?
Regardless... I still needed to apologise properly for actions that I truly regretted. I stood up, shooting
pain rushing through my chest as I did, but I didn‘t let it. show on my face, I had become accustomed to
it. I walked to the edge of the boat, just as the sound of footsteps approached. I frowned, knowing who
it was before they even spoke. “Can I get you anything, Commander?” Barbara asked. 2 “No.” I replied
curtly, not sparing her a glance. I knew exactly what she wanted, and if I wasn‘t so fucking hung over
Yileyna, I would have taken her offer. But the only woman I wanted was her, and I knew none other
would cut it for me. The moment Barbara put her hand on my arm, my eyes snapped to her, flashing dangerously. “Do not
touch me.” I almost growled, trying my fucking best to keep my voice down. “Are you sure? You seem
tense.” She squeezed my shoulder, and I clenched my jaw, knowing my muscles were all knotted up.
“One hundred fucking percent sure.” I shot back, moving away from her and walking away towards the
back of the ship, away from them all. I could feel Yileyna‘s eyes on me, but I didn‘t turn back.
I once said we were heaven and hell... but now we were further apart. We were still the opposites of
one another, but only now that distance between us was far bigger.
The sound of light footsteps on the wood and her intoxicating scent filled my nose, I clenched my jaw.
Not now, Yileyna… Not when the urge to devour her was fucking strong.
“Here, I got you another one.” She held out a tankard to me, and I was forced to look at her, taking it.
She smiled slightly, raising hers, and we knocked them together before taking a gulp.
“Thanks.” I said after a moment, not looking at her.
She leaned her back against the rail next to me, tilting her head as she observed
1. me.
“Something on my face?” I asked, cocking my brow as I glanced down at her. She pursed her plump
lips, a slight frown on her face. “Theon, are you injured?”
“No.”
“You‘re lying.” She murmured, stepping closer and sniffing me. “I can smell blood. It‘s faint but it‘s
there... besides, your eyes look duller.” “No, they don‘t actually, just because you became somewhat... dazzling, everything else probably just
looks washed out to you.” 1 She frowned, staring into my eyes. “No.Your eyes have always been
vibrant, Theon. You don‘t look ok.”
“Thanks. Like I said, your view on things has changed.” I retorted coldly, downing the drink and placing
the tankard down with a thud, turning away.
“Theon.” Her irritation was clear, but I ignored her, walking away when she grabbed hold of my arm and
blocked my view, glaring up at me.
“Don‘t block my path, Little Storm, or I will throw you overboard.” I threatened, a threat with no force
behind it.
A small smile curled her lips and she smirked. “The water welcomes me.” She reminded me smugly.
“How nice.” I replied in the same tone, with added mockery.
She frowned, looking me over. I didn‘t miss how her eyes lingered on the front of
my pants, her heart thumping.
Interesting “Theon, if you‘re injured, why don‘t you just tell me, did the Leviathan hurt you? “She asked
sharply.
“Doesn‘t really matter. Now, unless you want me to push you up against the beam behind you and fuck
you until you scream. Move.” I whispered dangerously.
Her heart was pounding, and I didn‘t miss the way she swallowed.
Taking her silence as obedience, I stepped around her, continuing on my way down. “Then why did you refuse her?” She asked quietly.
I didn‘t need to ask who she meant.
Navig@te back to th€ roots of thïš substance at n0v^lebook“What do you want to hear, Little Storm? Because I don‘t think anything I say will help in any fucking
way.” I replied quietly, as I glanced at her over my shoulder.
“I don‘t know either, I just... Ignore me.” She frowned, running her fingers through her hair. She was
frustrated, agitated even, and I could see her nails were growing.
“Are you alright?” I asked sharply, I didn‘t need her going crazy siren mode on us.
She nodded, her cheeks flushing and confusing me as she quickly backed away.
“Yes, I am.” She shook her head, and I noticed the tips of her hair that had begun to change return to
normal.
“That didn‘t look normal to me.” I frowned, turning and walking back towards her. “If there‘s something
you are hiding from me, then it‘s better you tell me now.”
Was she unable to control herself?
She frowned, crossing her arms under her breasts, and it took my fucking all not to admire them.
“I have hidden nothing of importance from you.” She retorted, her gaze dipping over me before she
looked back into my eyes defiantly. “You‘re the one who refused to tell me what‘s wrong with you.”
Her gaze became suspicious, and I wondered what she‘d think if I told her it was her attack that had left
this injury on me.
“I don‘t need to share it with a dumb little blonde.“, She blinked, not expecting that, before her eyes narrowed.
“Well, you found this blonde appealing.”
“Doesn‘t mean you‘re any less dumb.” I retorted, almost smirking at the fact I had managed to deviate
the conversation. She glowered up at me. “Well, you are no smarter than I am, you have done some
pretty foolish things too.”
“Yeah, although I don‘t think they were as foolish as they were terrible...” This was my chance. I
frowned as I looked into her eyes. “I know my words alone will never be enough, nor will they change
the past, but if I could do it all over again then I would make sure they were safe. In all of this, I would
have done my best to keep them away from any harm.” , I looked into her eyes, which were now filled
with pain and vulnerability, her heart beating wildly as my words sank in. “It will never be enough, but
it‘s one of my greatest regrets, one that I know I can never be forgiven for and one that I can never fix. I
am sorry, Yileyna, and I really mean it.” My voice was quiet, blending in with the hum of Leto‘s singing
and the crashing waves of the ocean.
Our eyes were locked, hers pooled with tears that spilt silently down her cheeks, the sky darkened as
rain began to fall gently. The sky was crying with her. “I‘m sorry.” I repeated softly, as her lips quivered,
and for a moment I remembered the young girl who had been vulnerable and alone as she ran to give
me the key to our cabin that snowy day... “I‘m fucking sorry for everything.” I wasn‘t meant to let my
emotions take over, and I didn‘t want a simple apology to weaken her resolve, but she deserved to hear
it. Especially if I was killed before I got the chance again.
I looked at her, and although I wanted to pull her into my arms and comfort her, I wouldn‘t, because this
wasn’t an act to make her heart soften to me. “I‘m sorry.” With those final words, I turned and left her,
just as a small sob left her lips. 1 It tore me up, leaving her like that, but I didn‘t deserve her. I stopped on the stairs, looking at Ailema the
hybrid woman, I had a feeling she heard everything. “Comfort her.” I commanded before I made my
way to my cabin.
Entering, I closed the door behind me and sat on the small bed, running a hand through my hair.
I loved her but I had lost her, and it was indeed too late.
This was the most I could do...
I tried to distract myself, thinking of anything but the woman I had left in tears... once more.
Tomorrow morning, we will find ourselves in Eastcourt, and from there I would head to Lochfox. It
should take no more than two days, and by the following night, we would be back on board.
I was looking forward to seeing Thea, it had been two years since I last saw her and in all of this, it
would be nice to see someone who didn‘t think of me as anything more than just her brother. I would
say someone who loved me for me, but I don‘t think even she knew what I have done... I looked at the
door, the temptation to go see if Yileyna was ok nearly overcoming me, but I stayed put. Deep down my
wolf‘s restlessness gave me a clear message, one I was trying to deny: Yileyna still loved me.
But even if she did, those feelings would soon fade away too, because no one could love a killer. 3