by Anna Santos
“Are the humans afraid of you? Do they hunt you?”
“We keep our existence hidden.”
“Like we do,” she whispers and sits back on her legs. “Is it dangerous for me to stay here if one of you transforms?”
“I have men to track down the rogue shifters and imprison them until they turn into humans. Also, my beast will keep you safe. It recognizes and loves you. It would never let anyone hurt you.”
She places her hand on my chest. “And you, Duncan, do you recognize me as yours?”
Holding her hand in mine, I bring her palm to my mouth. “I want you to be my queen and my companion.”
Her voice sighs my name. “Duncan, Dad won't let us be together if he thinks you can't keep me safe.”
I lean forward, feathering her skin with my breath. “Then we need to prove him wrong.”
My body tenses with desire. I need to hold and kiss her.
Mirella leans her head back before I can claim her lips. “Do Lycans kill mermaids?”
“We only attack if we are provoked. Until recently, I didn't even know that you truly existed.” I lean forward.
Mirella's hand stops me from kissing her. “Duncan, the witch said that mermaids with broken hearts die.”
“I'm not planning to break your heart, my love.” I grab her wrist and pull her to my chest. Slipping an arm around her waist, I speak closer to her lips. “You saved more than my life when you rescued me from the cold depths of the sea. I'll make you my wife and my queen. I'll show you happiness like you never thought existed.”
I lower my lips to hers, waiting for permission. Her eyes shut, and her chin raises as her mouth pouts to receive my kiss. That's all the incentive I need to crash my lips against hers and claim her gorgeous mouth.
Mirella moans and shivers. My tongue darts into her mouth and deepens the contact. Her breasts are trapped against my chest, and my erection is poking against her lower stomach. The fabric of her dress is so thin that it's almost as if there's nothing separating her from me. Yet, I know her skin is ten times softer. As aroused as I am, I recognize that I need to take things slower and prove that I'm serious about my intention to marry her.
ONE HOUR LATER, MIRELLA is dressed like a princess, wearing shoes, and one of my sister's winter dresses. She looks ravishing. The maids had braided her long and glossy black hair and decorated it with pearls. Her arm is entwined with mine as I show her my castle. When we step outside of the fortress, her eyes light up as she asks me the names of all the flowers and trees that decorate the gardens.
Everywhere we go, my subjects bow in respect, but I hear the whispers of surprise and curiosity.
Mirella stops walking. “I'm sorry, Duncan. I would love to see more of your kingdom, but my feet are hurting. I'm not used to walking, and if it weren't for your arm, I would probably be tripping.”
Standing before her, I grab her hands. “It's okay. We'll go to the stables, and I'll show you the horses. They are beautiful animals that we use for transportation. I want you to ride with me, and I'll show you the prairies and the village on the other side of the island.”
My mermaid smiles and leans forward, resting her head against my chest. “I wish I could bring you underwater and show you the place I live.”
“Are you missing home already?” I caress her back.
“No. My home is with you. But I wish I could show you my world like you are showing me yours.”
Kissing the top of her head, I appease her mind. “You can tell me all about it, and it will be as if I'm there.”
Mirella leans back. “Duncan, I'm feeling lightheaded and parched.”
My breathing stops when I notice her pale expression and her dry lips. “We've been outside far too long. I'll get you water, and you'll rest. We can ride to the village tomorrow. It's also time for lunch.”
Taking her in my arms, I walk back to my home. One of her arms circles my neck and her hand fists my coat. Her voice comes out weak when she talks, “The Sea Witch said I should constantly be drinking water, and I can't eat meat or anything else that came from the land. I should eat raw fish.”
“I will take good care of you, my love.” I stride faster, so I can tend to her needs. “Did she say how long your legs will last on the dry land?”
“I didn't ask her that. I assumed that when I'm dry my tail becomes legs. If I get wet, my legs become a tail. Before I saved you, I didn't even know that I could have legs like the humans do.”
“I've been in the library reading about your people, but there isn't much about it.”
“What's a library?”
Breathing deep, I explain, “Well, it's a place where we have all sorts of books. Do you know what a book is?”
“Yes, but we don't have paper. We keep important information carved in seashells. I have seen books, but they don't last long once they get wet.”
“What do you write in the seashells?”
Mirella lays her head against my shoulder. I look down and see her smile. “We write songs and important information about our family. The old seashell books have all the tales of our ancestors and talk about a time where there was just the sea and no dry land. The elders teach us about our god and warn us to stay away from the humans and their kingdoms. Yet, lately, there are more and more ships cruising the ocean and transporting humans. They fight. Like you were fighting when I rescued you. Why were you being attacked?”
I clench my jaw, reminding myself of the vampires. “My people are peaceful. I don't like war. Yet our boats transport expensive merchandise. The vampires don't normally leave their cold kingdom. Lately, they have been pillaging my boats and destroying them. I can't afford a war...”
“Did you attack them first?”
Shaking my head, I gaze into her silvery eyes. “I was returning home from my sister's wedding when I was attacked.”
Mirella purses her lips and gazes at my coat. Her nail scratches the fabric. “We have no need for gold and precious stones in my kingdom. Yet, the shipwrecks are filled with treasures that I can offer you, so you can build the ships you need to defeat the ones who are attacking you. Would you be pleased if I did that?”
Frowning, I question, “If you gave me gold?”
Mirella nods and gazes at me. “Isn't it custom for a princess to provide her husband with a dowry?”
“Yes. But you don't need any dowry for me to want to marry you. You are my fated mate.”
“My dowry will allow you to keep me safe. It's one of the witch's demands. I don't want to lose my voice... I like to talk to you.”
I halt in front of the castle entry and hover my face over hers. “It seems that a storm is coming. After you eat, we'll have a lot of time to talk about your kingdom and everything we have to do to stay together. All right?”
Instead of smiling, Mirella looks worried. “A storm? Can we go to a tower, so I can see where the storm is forming? Does it come from the sea? I thought I had more time.”
I let Mirella's feet touch the ground, and she rushes through the hall and up the staircase. “Honey, you'll get lost.”
Going after her, I make sure she doesn't stumble and fall down the stairs and guide her to a room with a view of the ocean.
WITH A VIEW OF THE ocean, I sit at a table watching the storm build over the sea. Duncan has requested a maid to bring us what he called tea and butter biscuits. All of this is new to me. Drinking warm flavored water seems odd. Still, my love says it’s good to calm me down. How can I calm down when my father wants to destroy Duncan’s kingdom?”
From the tower, I see the small houses, the village, the anchored ships, and the innocent people. Like zooplankton, they rush to keep their belongings safe from the wild waters coming their way.
“I need to return, or my father will destroy everything.”
Duncan’s hand holds mine. “I can go with you and explain to him that I wish you no harm, and we are meant to be together.”
I suck in a breath. “Are you willing to lose your
kingdom because of me?”
Duncan frowns. “I want you to be my queen. Surely, we can reason with the Sea King.”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Marriages between mermaids and men are unheard of.”
He leans forward and takes my hand against his lips. “I’m not a man. I’m a Lycan, and you are my mate.”
I avert my gaze. “I need to go to the beach, so I can stop the storm from destroying your kingdom. I might be able to reason with my father.”
His hands hold me tighter and prevent me from getting up. “What if he takes you away, and I never see you again?”
I lean forward and cup his face. “I’ll be heartbroken if that happens.”
“Let me talk to your father. King to king. I’m sure he’ll see the benefits to both of our kingdoms if he’ll allow our marriage. There’s nothing more I want in life than you. He will understand our love.”
I smile. “It’s nice to understand your language and be able to talk to you. I wish we had more time to talk and share everything we’ve been feeling. But I have to calm my father down.”
Duncan nods and kisses the palm of my hand, leaving a tingling feeling throughout my body. My mouth searches his and consumes my desire against his lips. It might be the last time we kiss each other. Pain digs into my chest.
Stopping the kiss, I rise to my feet and fix my dress. I glance one last time at the storm on the horizon before I head to the beach.
Chapter 10—The Sea King
I CAN’T LET MY FATHER destroy the island and kill Duncan’s subjects in the process. Why is he doing this, and how did he find out?
Running, I descend the slopes and almost fall. The wind is fustigating my flesh, and the storm has unleashed the first heavy drops of water from the skies. The fabric clings to my form, and I pray that my legs don’t turn into a fishtail before I reach the surf. It’s a challenge to run. The liberty of movement inside the water is something that I’ll miss. That is if Dad doesn’t kill Duncan before I can explain what’s going on.
“Mirella, you are going to kill yourself.” Duncan’s arms surround my waist, and he pulls me against his chest.
I grab his hands and steady my body. “I need to get to the sea.”
“I understand that. But you’ll fall if I don’t help you.” He breathes deep and talks sweetly against my ear. “Turn around and hold on to my neck. Let me carry you.”
Breathing his scent, I nod and curl against his embrace. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. I should have talked to him before coming here.”
Duncan’s heartbeat is steady, and he descends the slope with me in his arms as if I’m weightless. “Are you going to leave me to save my kingdom?”
“I’m going to stop the storm and reason with Dad.”
“And if he takes you away and you can’t come back?”
He stops near the revolving waves hitting the sand.
I raise my head and search his eyes. “He can’t keep me away from you. You are my mate. We belong together. I’ll unleash hell if he tries.”
My mate smiles. “I’ll search the seven seas for you if I must. Tell your father that I want to talk to him and make it clear that my intentions toward you are honorable. I want to marry you, my love.”
Beaming, I kiss him.
“Mirella!”
The kiss is briefer than I want it to be. Still, my sister’s calling makes me leave Duncan’s arms and search for her in the sea. “Dana. Where are you?”
The waves slow down, and the raindrops freeze in mid-air. Duncan and I look around, surprised by the display of magic.
Dana walks to us as if she’s floating and the water is evaporating from her form. Her long, blonde hair falls down her body like a dress and the almost translucent fabric covering her figure is the only thing that conceals her feminine parts.
I put my hands on my hips. “Were you the one who told Dad where I was?”
“I was worried about you. I didn’t know if you were a prisoner on this island. Plus, Dad forced me to tell him where you could be found.”
“Stop with the water tricks. We need to talk to him and stop this madness.” I walk to my sister and grab her by the arm. “Stop ogling at Duncan. He’s mine.”
Dana giggles as she follows me into the water. “He’s tall and handsome. It would be a shame if Dad killed him.”
We enter the water and our tails propel us forward into the big waves. “That’s why you’ll help me reason with him and stop the storm.”
THERE’S NOTHING I CAN do but stay back and watch. Mirella’s head disappears, and I step away from the huge waves unfolding against the sand. The rain intensifies and lightning strikes as it snakes from the sky to the sea. Though I’m worried about my kingdom, my heart hurts with the idea of never seeing my mermaid again. My world will end if that happens.
“Duncan! What are you doing here? You need to come inside the castle. A huge storm is coming.”
My beta’s voice reaches my ears, and I see him, fighting against the wind as he tries to reach the beach. I stride to him, grab his arm, and push him to the safety of the trees.
“Lightning can strike here. We need to leave,” Leonard protests.
“Not without knowing what will happen to Mirella. She went to talk to her dad.”
“Is the Sea King doing this? We are going to die.”
“Calm yourself. I’ll talk to him and ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage.”
My best friend stops gesturing like a mad person and gazes at me wide-eyed. “Are you serious?”
“What else do you want me to do? Mirella is mine. I can’t live without her.”
“Are you going to his underwater palace to talk to him? Do you really believe that you’ll survive? Or will he come here after destroying half of your kingdom and your ships?”
My fingers run through my tangled hair. “I really didn’t think a lot about this. I trust that Mirella knows what she’s doing.”
The wind seems to slow down, and I turn to the sea and look at the eye of the storm. “It’s calming down.” I step back with wide eyes as a huge wave forms far away and travels in the direction of the beach. “We should run, now.”
Leonard doesn’t move and grips my arm. “I don’t think we can run far enough without being swallowed by it.”
I brace myself for the impact. When all seems lost, the wave flattens and the sea parts. The rain stops, steam rises from the path created by the split sea, and a group of men in gold uniforms led by a tall man with a trident in his hand march to the beach.
My feet walk on their own accord and my eyes search for Mirella. That must be her father. He looks too young to have a daughter of her age. Still, his expression is severe, and his men look ready for war.
In a tight formation, the army of mermen form a line far from the surf.
“Which one of you is asking for my daughter’s hand?” The king’s voice is stern.
I’m used to dealing with difficult men in powerful positions. My father was one of them. I step forward with a respectable bow. “I am, Your Majesty.”
He looks at me from head to toe. “Is this your kingdom?”
I endure his gaze. “Yes.”
“Do you love Mirella?”
“I love her with all my heart.”
He steps forward. “Would you die for her?”
“Yes. Where is she? Why did she...”
“Silence!”
I glare at him. “You are in my kingdom, don’t tell me to shut up. You were threatening my people just a while back without any provocation.”
“You were holding my daughter hostage.”
“She came here on her own. We belong together, and I’ll do anything to have her back. We are bonded, and that bond should be respected. I’m not a fearful boy. Respect me and I’ll respect you.”
“I’ve come here to negotiate.”
I frown. “Negotiate what?”
“Your terms to marry my daughter.”
I purse my lips unsur
e about what negotiations he intends to wager.
He taps his trident against the sand and a lightning resonates far away. “She says she’s in love with you. Are you going to make her your wife or not?”
“All I want is for Mirella to be my queen.”
The Sea King scrubs his black beard and growls before adding, “She’s a mermaid. My youngest daughter. I need to know that you’ll protect and cherish her with all your heart. I won’t go against the Fates, but I don’t want her to have her heart broken.”
“So, you aren’t against our marriage?”
“I’m more concerned about how you plan to take care of her since she’s clearly not human.”
“I’m not a human either. I’m a Lycan.”
The king places a hand on my shoulders. “Let’s discuss the terms of this wedding. My army will remain here. Meanwhile, show me your castle.”
My body slowly relaxes, and my heartbeat calms down with the notion that he isn’t here to kill me or take Mirella away from me. If he wants me to prove to him that I’m worthy of his daughter’s hand, then I’ll comply.
Chapter 11—The Gathering
I SIT ON MY THRONE and listen to my advisers enumerating the reasons why I shouldn't marry the mermaid princess.
My elbow rests on the left side of the throne and my palm supports my jaw.
Sir Fulgor is presenting his case as many before him. “She's a mermaid. A deceiving and cunning creature. They are known for seducing and killing sailors and fishermen. Who can say if the merfolk aren't trying to trick us and betray us to the vampires?”
My beta, Leonard, intervenes, “The Vampire King has been pillaging and destroying our merchant ships for a few months now. We need King Tritan's protection if we want to have a shot at continuing trading our goods with the mainland.”
Sir Fulgor turns to him. “Exactly. He's been attacking us. Why are the merfolk so interested in us all of a sudden?”
Sir Julian walks forward. “Sir Fulgor is right. Mermaids are cunning sorceresses. We shouldn't trust the merfolk.”