Daughter of Tide and Illusion

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Sand flew into the air as Roshan and Erly landed on the beach, a thundering boom echoing around them at the hard impact. It took a moment for Lyv to breath again, sitting up straighter as she surveyed the others around. They were beginning to set up a white canvas tent just beside the freshwater pool, obviously staying for longer than an hour or so. She met each and every one of their gazes on them, but they didn't seem surprised at their sudden arrival.

But it was Kalla Lyv's eyes went to after she jumped off Roshan.

Just like always, the pirate queen was way more comfortable showing more skin than was appropriate. She was wearing a white dress that was more like a shift, only reaching mid-thigh. It was thin enough to clearly see the outline of her breasts and the rest of her body through it and had a slit up the side that, when the breeze caught the hem, it clearly displayed her backside in her lace underwear for all to see.

Apparently, it was just to go swimming in, though it hadn't looked like she'd gotten the chance yet since her light blonde hair was still in its braid, silver spikes embedded in it. Another female came up behind her, helping her slip on a knee-length black vest embroidered with red and silver swirls. It covered all the important parts, especially since Elys was in their midst.

Kalla's wicked blue eyes glistened brightly as Lyv walked toward her. "Well, well, well," she purred, looking her slowly up and down, eyes roaming every inch of her. "Look who we have here...the heir of Asturia, Alyvia Deverell."

Jai had been right, of course. Even before her human glamour disappeared, Kalla held an obvious attraction to Lyv, but now it seemed like she was even more. An embarrassed heat flushed through her at the way she slowly looked over her, lingering on her accentuated curves in her leather riding gear.

"Kalla, it's nice to see you again," Lyv greeted, shifting back and forth on her feet."

Kalla slowly dragged her tongue along her bottom lip before biting at it with her perfect white teeth. "It's definitely nice to see you again, especially since that glamour of yours is finally gone. And here I thought I couldn't find you any more attractive. Now, I might have to think of a way to get Jai out of the picture. You two aren't officially mated yet, so I still hold a chance."

"I wouldn't hold your breath too long."

The two of them stared each other down for several long moments...before Kalla let out a laugh that had Lyv grinning. She rushed forward to wrap her in a hug that Lyv wholeheartedly returned. Even though they'd really hadn't known each other for long, Lyv still found Kalla absolutely fascinating and already considered her a friend of sorts.

"It really is good to see you again, though," Kalla told her, pulling back just slightly to look at her. Her eyes swept her face, the changes there that hadn't been visible the last time she and Jai were on Blackloch, her now burgundy hair, her silver streak. "What happened in Asturia after you and Jai left Blackloch...with Destan...I'm so very sorry. I hope you're all doing all right since I haven't seen Jai since then."

"We're getting there, but thank you," she nodded, her smile wavering just slightly before brightening again. "What brought you here, though? You're not terrorizing my family's lands, are you?"

"I wouldn't call it terrorizing, per se," Kalla winked. "But a little birdy told me you were wanting to see me."

Lyv's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "What...how...?"

"I have eyes and ears in Ayveri, darling. And when some of my favorite people say they want to see me, I make myself available...though I am missing a fabulous party at Madame Amoria's tonight. We were actually planning a trip to Ethran to visit an old friend, so we just left a day early."