by Неизвестный
“It’s been nice chatting, Florian, but don’t you have some online gambling or sleazy chat room to return to?” She couldn’t resist snapping. The idea of that snake-like animal near her home sent a chill to her bones.
“Screw you, dear Sis.” He stomped off, allowing Alara to return to her clacking down the hall.
She paused behind the door to the triton’s office to collect her thoughts before entering. A deep rumbling voice echoed from the room, melodic and strangely enticing like the ocean itself calling her.
She opened the door a couple inches, hoping to learn more before approaching her father. An informally-dressed six-and-a-half foot tall male with shoulders a yard wide filled the room. Stick-straight ebony hair reached halfway down a torso covered in black cashmere. She hadn’t seen a dragon in human form for half a century, but no way was this guy mere.
She gathered her calm like a coating of ice and strode into the room, not acknowledging the stranger as she approached her father. The triton’s graying beard and kindly face softened Alara’s temper just a hair, but her eyes narrowed in scolding.
“Hello, Father.” She pecked him on the cheek. Without looking behind her, she added, “I see you have a guest.”
The triton looked abashed, and his lips twisted to the side before he said, “Yes, this is General Kai Nasu. He is one of the Council’s generals.”
She trained her gaze on her father, “The Dragon Council?”
The air shifted, as if the dragon breathed heavier or changed position.
The old man continued. “Yes, the Dragon Council. They offered to come and investigate that incident last year. And…Well, I thought it would be nice to build bridges, renew…ties…” Her father’s words became quieter as he withered under her stare. Anger bubbled up in the pit of her stomach, but she took a deep breath and attempted to squash the feeling.
“How kind of them to offer assistance.” The dragon government had some nerve! They’d abandoned her island half a century ago, leaving her people impoverished and lacking defense during years of shark-shifter raids. Of course, the council was interested in the island again—now that they had more resources to steal.
She turned for the door. “Well, I’ll head out then. If you want to fraternize with—” The rest of the sentence died in her throat. Dang! He was…Just…Wow.
Almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones suggested Asian descent, but his skin was the color of espresso. His face was all hard, chiseled angles, but the lips were slightly full—the type of lips you wanted to bite. After a moment, she realized she was staring and blinked rapidly to clear her mind. At that the dragon lifted his chin and sent her a haughty glare, as if she had no right to enjoy the sight of him.
The corner of her mouth pulled up into a half-smile. So, this dragon thought he was too good to be ogled by a lowly mere? Well, fuck him.
The triton’s secretary shuffled in for a quick word, and Alara seized the opportunity to blatantly pan down his body with her gaze. The thick cords of his neck led toward a muscular chest, defined even under his shirt and sweater. Her eyes darted up to his again, noting the twitching point at his jaw as he tried to appear unaffected. Deciding to go all-out, she calmly assessed the zipper of his slacks. The material bowed forward pleasantly, maybe even impressively, but that could just be the effect of long underwear. When she raised her face to his, a mortified expression met her satisfied smirk.
She sauntered toward the door, looking over her shoulder to get a view him from behind as she left.
“Nice to meet you, dragon. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
* * * *
Kai stared straight ahead, but he didn’t hear the words the triton uttered. Of all the base, inappropriate, offensive…Every place that damn female looked his blood had pooled. He shifted his hips to the side. Unfortunately the throbbing between his legs remained, making his too-exposed body even more uncomfortable than before. If that weren’t bad enough she’d left behind her scent, a heady mix of roses and ocean…and something he didn’t even want to place.
“As I was saying, General Nasu, it caused quite a stir when those girls disappeared. Thank the gods they were returned a couple days later, but we were never able to figure out what happened to them. Some suspect the sharks, but the local Czar vehemently denies any involvement. And then there’s the issue of the children’s memory loss.”
“Whenever you’re ready, I’m prepared to meet the commander and get started.”
The kindly ruler gave him a wide smile. “My dear boy, you just met her! I’m sorry my daughter wasn’t more friendly.”
Kai’s shoulders rose and fell as he took a deep breath. He almost growled in frustration at the exhale.
“We all suffered losses, both during and after the occupation.” A twitch of pain flashed on the triton’s face, but was soon replaced by a sympathetic smile. “That’s all yesterday’s tide. Time to move forward, I say!”
Kai regarded the triton with interest. The mere habitats had fought dragon rule, and Murrough was no exception. Surely they had rejoiced when his people left. Then again, he’d learned that mere were by nature malcontent.
“Yes, sir. I agree.” Kai nodded and moved for the door, but then turned back to the triton. “You have my word that the council will assist in any way we can.”
* * * *
The mere’s leader had set up accommodations, but Kai decided to meet with the crass mere female beforehand. If they were to work together, he needed to clarify his position. The male from the snowmobile led Kai through the grand building. He hardly needed the guide though, the princess’s scent wafted through the halls, becoming stronger as he neared her office.
His guide knocked on the door. “Alara, there’s someone to see you.”
Kai wondered at the informality with which this servant addressed a woman of such high standing. Perhaps the triton had less control over his subjects than Kai had been led to believe.
“Come in!” The door opened to a large room with windows along one side. Papers littered the desk and some kind of horrible noise screeched from a stereo. The most disturbing thing by far was the female he’d seen earlier. She pedaled a stationary bicycle, in nothing but shorts and some kind of exercise brassiere. Exertion brought her color high, and sweat beaded along her pale body. An intricate gray-blue pattern ran up the sides of each of her legs.
She’d been marked by a male. A growl arose from deep in his chest.
She held a finger up to him, as if to say “One more minute,” then closed her eyes before pumping her legs up and down viciously.
Her rapid movements made his pulse speed up. A fan blew air across damp shoulders, lifting the bits of hair that fell out of her high ponytail. The resulting fragrance flowed straight to his brain, and his groin swelled uncomfortably.
He raised his voice to shout over the chainsaw-like sound of the music. “Princess Alara! If you please, I have matters to discuss!” Her face popped up from its place near the handlebars. She let out an exaggerated groan and reached for a remote control to turn down the music before dismounting the bicycle and passing a towel across her shoulders.
“What is it you want from me, dragon?” The trollop looked at him with a sly smile, like she was playing some kind of game.
“The triton tells me that you lead the Armed Forces here?” Disbelief etched his words.
“Yeah, so?”
“And your mate allows this?” The question popped out without Kai’s intention. He turned away to avoid her eyes. However, she remained silent, not speaking for so long that Kai was forced to return his gaze to her.
She smiled as if in victory. “I’m not taken, if that’s what you’re asking.”
He scowled, wishing that she read him less accurately. What did it matter whether she had a mate or had taken a lover to get her marks? He had no business caring one way or another, no business tracking said male down and crushing his torso between his long jaws…
Alara coughed, covering what sound
ed like a laugh. He curled his lips, baring his teeth. “I need access to your records from the incident last year as well as your current patrol schedules, surveillance locations, and a detailed map of the area.”
Her eyes narrowed as he listed each request. Though unaccustomed to the movements of his human face, he felt his cheeks rise and crinkles form in the corners of his eyes. Making her angry was enjoyable.
“And my father okayed this?”
He tilted his head to the side, trying to decipher her slang. Then he understood. “Yes, he gave his okay. I’m to review and observe your methods and then advise on how to improve them.”
The female’s nostrils flared, her face reddened, and her hands balled into fists. She was taller than most mermaids, still far smaller than him, but at least five foot eight. Her body was strong, broad shouldered, defined for a female. Her full lips twisted to the side, reminding him of her father.
She closed her eyes briefly, shaking her head. “Well, if the triton demands it, I suppose I’ll have to comply.”
She turned and rustled papers on the desk, her red lips puckering like she was biting the insides of her cheeks. “That will take me some time. I’ll have the documents ready for you tomorrow.” Her tone was brittle. She was bowing to his demands, but he wished that the teasing lilt she used before would return.
He molded his features into a smile. Perhaps acting kind would return her good mood. He spoke softly, as he would to a child. “Then I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Princess.”
Those icy blue eyes rose sharply to his. The princess assessed him, as if she sensed the small dishonesty of his forced grin. He would have to watch what he said around this female. She was much too smart.
Chapter 2
Dragon Council Chair Elijah Woodard sniffed the saltwater aroma in his office deep within the Underwater City. His human-form nose crinkled in disgust, and a frustrated scoff escaped his lips. What idiot located the Dragon Council’s Headquarters underwater? The expense outweighed the protection, and the cost of pumps and maintenance crippled their operating budget. As soon as he managed to disband the council he would move headquarters to New York and operations to Mumbai or maybe Shanghai. He heard real estate there was booming.
He perused his communications with the triton of Murrough Island. The old fool was so busy congratulating himself over his little utopia that he’d spilled far too much information. The tiny nation was a goldmine, but the royal family squandered their earnings on public housing, universal healthcare, and government-provided childcare. The dragons could gather a fortune in taxes if they took over.
A knock on the door distracted Elijah from his mental calculations. “Yes?”
“I have a call from a Dr. Pierson Grathers of Dendric Research. Shall I put him through?”
Elijah nodded, and a moment later a high-pitched, nasal voice came through the speakerphone.
“Chairman Woodard, I’m glad to finally be able to speak with you. I’ve only had the pleasure of communicating with your predecessor, Oceanus.”
Elijah pushed up his black glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Oceanus had presided over the Council for two hundred-fifty years. His tenure had been far too long. The dragons, and everyone else, needed to prepare for a change.
“Yes, well I look forward to working with you. How can I help you today?”
“We were wondering if you had an estimated date for us to begin the collection of mere at the Arctic Sea habitat.”
A small smile crossed Elijah’s lips. Perhaps it was a side effect of having grown up in the human world, but he much preferred dealing with businesses than governments. The Dragon Council operated on the basis of centuries. In the business world time was money. He had no doubt the Dendric humans would act in a heartbeat once he gave his go-ahead.
“It’ll be two or three weeks before we’re ready for you to begin taking subjects.” He estimated how long the buffoon Kai would need to secure the mere’s trust. “After that you need to complete your work in the area within a five-day window. You can take as many as you can catch, but once dragon takeover is complete, you’ll need to cease.”
Dr. Grathers paused. “Five days is a very narrow window. Perhaps if your coup drags longer than you imagine you could allow my men more time?” The nasal pitch rose into a grating whine.
Eager to get the scientist off the phone, Elijah acquiesced. “Alright. But we’ll have to keep in close communication over this. Once my soldiers arrive the kidnappings have to stop. Otherwise the public won’t support the takeover.”
Grathers’ cloying giggle echoed over the line. “Of course, Chairman. I certainly appreciate your willingness to work with us on this matter.”
* * * *
Gracie Kisera awoke alone aboard the Dendric One. It had been over a month since Karon had spent the night or even so much as looked at her. Despite his absence she still saw signs of him around her tiny berth. His thick leather jacket still rested on the back of her single chair. Every once in a while she found one of his blonde or gray hairs in a pillow or sheet, or on a sweater she hadn’t washed.
He’d told her to disembark after the incident near Key Sirena, but she hadn’t. And as was typical, he didn’t force her to obey. She didn’t know which hurt more, that he still cared enough to keep her close, or that she’d damaged him so badly that he didn’t have the strength to make her leave.
She’d had other male companionship in the past month. As a succubus, Gracie had no choice. However, she tried to only seduce visiting Dendric staff, not Karon’s crew. The only regular visitor, though, was Dr. Grathers, and nothing would make her desperate enough to sleep with that monster.
She drifted through the ship's painted metal passageways, her hand occasionally running along the cool damp walls. There were so few places to go that Karon didn’t frequent, the downside of living at sea. The ship was one hundred sixty feet long, which sounded quite large unless one had to live on it.
She turned into the kitchen area to get some breakfast, only to find the captain curled over a bowl of Corn Flakes. Her voice came out flat in her greeting. “Good morning, Captain Karon.”
Normally he ignored her, but this morning something about his demeanor was different. A red-hot anger simmered just beneath the surface. “What? I’m not John to you anymore?” His clipped, angry voice felt like a slap.
Tears rushed to her nose and eyes, but she stretched taller so that her head almost reached the low ceiling. “I’m sorry, John.” She paused, wondering how to make him understand. Her next words came out softer. “You know I’m sorry.”
Once again, Gracie reminded herself that no serious harm had come from her actions on Key Sirena. Sure, Karon had lost his mermaid catches, but in truth that was not her fault. John hadn’t lost his job. No one ever found out that he overlooked her spying or that he’d disobeyed orders because of her.
No, the greatest damage she’d done to Captain John Karon had been to his heart, not his career.
“Why are you still here, Gracie? If you think I’m going to let you get away with the shit you pulled before…Well, you’re fucking wrong,” he said in a harsh whisper.
“I didn’t want to leave you. I…” Wetness filled her eyes again. How had she come to care for this bastard? After a hundred years of draining men of their life force and six months as a guinea pig in a Dendric Research facility, she would have thought her capacity to care for anyone would have long passed. “I love you.”
His red-rimmed eyes rose to meet hers. Now that she looked him full in the face for the first time in weeks, she saw that deep lines marred his handsome features. Sunken muscles hung off his broad frame. Despite his skin being brown and weathered from years on the ocean, she saw the latent vampire lurking hungrily below the surface.
“Well, I don’t even like you.” He stood and threw his bowl toward the sink, scattering milk and cereal along the wall. Then the captain ducked under the doorway and strode away.
* * * *
/>
Alara’s hands shook as she pulled documents from her wall of filing cabinets. Her father was an idiot for allowing dragons access to their military’s information. An idiot! She’d tried to impress upon her father a number of times how depleted her forces had become. As she rifled through paperwork and clicked on her computer screen to verify, her mind kept dashing back to her lack of troops. The glory of being a soldier had faded now that wartime was over. She tried her best to recruit young mere, but the mine offered better pay and safer working conditions.
A quiet knock on her door signaled her father’s presence. She knew him by the sound of his footsteps, by the catch in his breath.
“Alara, I need to talk to you.” He entered with a resigned look on his face. “I know you’re angry. But I have good reason for what I did.”
His eyes willed her to trust him, but Alara couldn’t. “You know the dragons don’t offer ‘help’ out of the goodness of their hearts. They’ll expect something—money, influence, a cut of the mine’s profits.”
Her father’s eyes softened. “Of course they will. But we have plenty of profits to spare. And you must realize that a nation as small as ours needs strong allies.” He moved close, reaching for her shoulder, but she pulled away.
“Allies or patrons? You want to be colonized again? We can take care of ourselves!”
His expression conveyed far too much understanding. It pissed her off. “Know this, my daughter, as much as I resented their treatment, I would never have wanted them to leave us as they did.”
Alara returned to shuffling her papers and clicking through screens on her computer, ignoring her father. He stood next to her with a hopeful gleam in his eyes, as if his tenacity alone could change her opinion. After a moment he appeared to resign himself to her anger, and left.
She sighed at the numbers her research revealed. She had sixty-seven full time soldiers and another eighty-nine on reserve. That was a hell of a lot for an island nation of three thousand, but far from what she needed. Her patrols ran at about half the frequency they should.