This story is being republished on wattpad! The whole series in already on Amazon and Smashwords! Enjoy :D
A chain and a collar can imprison a nobleman, but what could entrap a devil?
Only the innocence of a fallen angel.
Once upon a time, there was...
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∞ Nyx's POV ∞
The next morning, I woke up early, slipping out of Agenor's embrace with a twinge of regret to the fact that I had become familiar with his hug. I sat in the bed, watching his face in the soft light of dawn. He looked peaceful, and for a moment, I wished he would always be like this—calm and steady, without the mercurial moods that often left me confused or even hurt. It is a rare state where I was not worried about his intentions or scared of his reaction.
As I breathed in, I felt a sense of relief that I had survived the night unscathed. The cabin felt safe, despite the horrible chain and other shameful, confusing acts.
I couldn't help but reflect on my behavior from the previous night. I had shown my fear and desperation to Agenor, despite my best efforts to keep them hidden. I was afraid of angering him or anyone else on the ship, but his response had surprised me. He had shown genuine concern for my well-being, waiting for me to join him for dinner and not getting angry with me.
I surveyed the room and noticed two covered plates resting on the table. Had he skipped dinner last night? I pushed aside the urge to dwell on the reasons behind it. My thoughts shifted to my own meal. If I wanted to survive, I knew I needed to eat more today. Yesterday, I was too exhausted to consume much, and the kitchen conditions were appalling. I wouldn't have eaten if I weren't so famished. The place needed a good scrub, but I couldn't wait for someone else to take charge. It reminded me of Mary, our housekeeper back home. I missed her.
The sun would soon rise, and I had to get to work. I held onto the chain, which served as a reminder of everything that had occurred since I boarded this ship. I didn't understand why I had to be shackled and wear this ridiculous collar again. I was his employee now, with no place else to go. Did he still fear that I might try to kill him if given the chance? He always seemed wary of me. Was that why he insisted I stay inside the cabin overnight? To keep an eye on me? It was clear he didn't trust me, and that realization hurt. Despite being a pirate captain, I still felt the need not to let him down. Maybe I was going insane, a side effect of living among pirates. Eventually, my sanity would surrender to the madness.
As I gazed at Agenor, I felt a strong desire to sneak back into his embrace. It was the safest place on the ship for me to be. His broad shoulders and the chest I had rested on all night were captivating, and it was hard to believe that someone so dangerous could also be so charming and reassuring. It was difficult to link that with who he was to me. My jailor, the one who thinks he owns me. My eyes traveled down his half-covered body, I suddenly felt ashamed when I pictured his naked legs. I quickly averted my gaze and realized that I needed to leave.
Leaning closer to him, I found the key to the chain that was dangling from my necklace, just above the beautiful silver mermaid pendant.
"Agenor," I whispered, trying to rouse him. "I need to go to work. The chain?"
