Siren’s Desire: A Dark Tides Novel

by Devyn Quinn

  “Actually, he’s fine.” Mason didn’t feel there was any reason to tell the woman her husband had been critically wounded in Magaera’s attack. Thanks to Gwen Lonike’s healing, he was back on his feet and stronger than ever. He was a stubborn bastard, too.

  “Oh, praise the goddess,” she murmured under her breath.

  “He’s here, anchored off the perimeters of the dead zone. Your sister Gwen is with him.”

  “And Addison? Is she here, too?”

  Mason nodded. “Yes.” As they talked, he couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance of the three sisters. They looked so much alike, they could almost be triplets. Tessa was a beauty, even in torn clothing and a face smudged with grime. Those emerald green eyes could pull a man in and steal his heart. He knew that to be a fact. He’d lost his own heart, and he was still reeling from the shock of realizing he was in love with Addison.

  “All this time I’ve been thinking the connection I felt to them was the illusion of a desperate mind.” She tapped her forehead with her index finger. “I’ve been driving myself insane, wondering what’s been going on. All these quiet hours are driving me stir-crazy, you know?”

  Mason nodded again. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would feel like to be locked away, alone, with no information coming in from the outside world. Such solitary confinement wasn’t only brutal; it almost bordered on torture.

  “Your instincts haven’t led you astray,” he said. “Addison has been working with the USET team, and your husband and Gwen arrived just a few days ago.”

  Tessa’s eyes widened. “Kenneth’s put the DreamFever back into the water?”

  “He has.” He frowned. “And he even managed to get it past navy patrol ships. These waters have been declared off-limits until we figure out what’s going on with the Mer.”

  She rolled her eyes. “What’s going on with the Mer is just a whole lot of trouble. I rue the day we rediscovered Ishaldi. What was at the bottom of the sea should have stayed there, for good.”

  Mason would have been inclined to wholeheartedly agree, except that he never would have met Addison and been introduced to the wonders of a mermaid and her magical kiss. The hair at the nape of his neck prickled. You have to take the pain with the pleasure, he reminded himself.

  A crackle of lightning followed by the roll of heavy thunder warned that the storm wasn’t finished for the night. He dimly recognized the sound of rain pattering against the stone above their heads. At least the roof seemed secure.

  Tessa turned her gaze toward the ceiling. “Looks as though we’ve got a long night ahead.”

  Mason winced. That might present a problem. Feeling a full sensation in his bladder, he looked around. A chill lingered around the edges of the walls, and save for the meager illumination by something that vaguely resembled lamps, there was no other light. The cell was small, dark, and cramped, but it was clean. Primitive didn’t even begin to describe their conditions. He saw a cot, some filmy-looking blankets, and a few washbowls that looked to be fashioned out of clay. A couple of basins carved into the base of one wall brimmed with water.

  It was a brutal way to have to survive, and he hoped his incarceration wouldn’t be a lengthy one. Stay here more than a day and I’ll go over the edge, he thought.

  Tessa recognized his distress. “The facilities aren’t the best, but they’re workable. You have to remember the Mer civilization is still kind of stunted. They’re still working with Greek- and Roman-style plumbing.”

  “Guess I’ll have to make do,” he muttered. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

  She glanced toward the entrance. “You get one meal a day here, mostly fruit and fish.” She stuck out her tongue and made a gagging motion. “It’s definitely not the finest dining experience.”

  “If it’s food, I guess I’ll be glad to have it.” Since there wasn’t anything to do but sit and wait, he stretched out his legs and leaned back against the wall. That helped ease some of the cramps in his legs. He had no idea how long he’d been unconscious, but, judging by the dampness of his clothes, it had not been more than an hour, maybe two.

  Tessa settled into a more comfortable position on the hard floor. Her clothes were more than a little loose. “The fish is usually raw. It’s nothing I can put in my mouth.” She offered a weak smile, but Mason thought he detected the shimmer of nerves beneath the surface of her calm.

  “Sushi isn’t exactly my favorite food, either,” he allowed. “Though I guess if I get hungry enough, I’ll eat it.”

  “I try pretending it’s all steak and potatoes.” Tessa stuck out her tongue. “But my imagination is wearing thin.”

  “I hope I’m not here long enough to really sample the cuisine.” Mason laced his hands behind his head. Frankly he wouldn’t mind a few good hours of shut-eye.

  But even though exhaustion weighed him down, he knew he wouldn’t get a moment’s rest. By the look of things, Tessa was trying hard to hold herself together. The best thing to do would be to keep her calm and get her talking. “If you’ve got the time, I’d like to hear the beginning of your story. So how did a little mermaid like you end up in Maine?”

  Tessa’s mouth curved up. “It’s a long story.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve got all the time in the world.”

  Commander Hawkins nervously paced the narrow confines of the Sea Horse’s communications center. It was clear by the look on his face that he hadn’t expected to be thrust into the position of senior officer.

  “I can’t believe how they just came out of the water,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Addison felt more than a little sorry for the man. Not only had he just watched his captain disappear right before his eyes; Hawkins had witnessed the ruthless slaughter of the Nyx by Magaera’s soldiers. Between the Ri’kahs and the wicked blades the Mer wielded with expertise, the Nyx had little chance to defend themselves. It was a bloodbath from beginning to end.

  As it stood, the entire ship was on red alert. Although the Sea Horse wasn’t a vessel equipped to carry devices of defense, the crew was armed and trained in hand-to-hand combat. Out of the water, people had a chance to defend themselves. But beneath the surface, no one stood a chance. It appeared that Magaera had gone on the offensive and was stepping up her control of the waters bordering her island.

  They wouldn’t be unguarded for long. Hawkins had already sent out a distress signal to the navy ships patrolling in the region. Reinforcements were on the way.

  As for what had happened to Mason McKenzie, they could only wait and see.

  It bothered Addison that she and Mason had parted on such bad terms. There was so much she wanted to say to him, and now she might never get a chance to make things right.

  “It’ll be all right,” she heard herself saying as crewmen swarmed in and out with regular updates. After the Mer had retreated, Jovon and the remaining Nyx had returned to the water to search for Mason. No one knew whether he was dead or alive. Had the Mer drowned him in retaliation, or had they taken him prisoner in an attempt to extract information?

  Not knowing had everyone on edge.

  Jovon strode in, his skin still damp from the water.

  All eyes present turned to the Nyx.

  After Addison had stitched him up, Jovon had insisted on returning to the sea. Although a bit pale and shaken, he refused to let anything stop him from leading those Nyx who’d survived. She had to admire his tenacity. As it was, she barely had the energy to swat at a fly. Two intense healings in one day had completely wiped her out. She needed to rest but knew it would be futile to try. She was too keyed up to close her eyes for more than a second at a time.

  “Anything?” Hawkins didn’t bother to conceal the anxiety in his voice.

  Jovon shook his head. “Nothing. We have scoured as much as we can without impeding on Magaera’s territory. There is no sign of your captain in the water.”

  Thank the goddess. If the Nyx hadn’t found Mason’s remai
ns, then there was a good chance he was still alive.

  Hawkins nodded stiffly. “Thank your men for returning to the water so quickly. I know you suffered steep losses of your own.”

  Jovon lifted a hand, making a strange gesture near his chest. “My men and I have pledged to join humans against Magaera. We will fight to the last breath.”

  The commander quickly raised his hands. “At this point my orders are not to engage the Mer in any further way until reinforcements arrive.”

  The Nyx nodded his acquiescence. “Of course.”

  Addison watched the brief exchange without comment. She already knew that Hawkins had been in communication with Secretary of the Navy, Adam Webber, updating him on events. As Mason hadn’t yet revealed the existence of the Nyx, Webber was more than a little surprised at the emergence of a second sea-born species. The Secretary of the Navy would get back to Hawkins when the government had decided on a course of action. Until they knew otherwise, Mason McKenzie was classified as MIA—missing in action.

  Her own angst wasn’t helping matters. As much as she wanted to put Mason out of her mind, she couldn’t. She ached for his touch something fierce. It unnerved her more than a little that she’d fallen so hard and so fast for a man. He made her want things she was a fool for thinking about, such as a home and children.

  The back of her neck heated as she remembered how he’d touched her and kissed her. She felt a stir of longing in her core. Her body had responded to his touch in ways she couldn’t even begin to describe.

  Addison closed her eyes, blanketing her mind in soothing darkness. Damn it. Mason had made his feelings crystal clear. Mooning over him was a wasted cause. The more she thought about him, the more it felt like another stab to the heart. She would be better off taking a whip and lashing herself across the back.

  Physical pain would be so much easier to bear than the agonies of watching what she believed to be love slip away.

  He doesn’t want you, she reminded herself. Don’t be a stupid little girl. Grow up and get over it.

  A hand settled on her shoulder, warm and firm. The scent of salty water and musk tickled her nostrils. “I never thanked you for healing me,” she heard Jovon say.

  Addison reluctantly opened her eyes. “No need to thank me.” She shrugged his hand from her shoulder. “I’m an EMT. It’s my job.”

  Jovon accepted the slight with good grace. “I could have died from such wounds. It makes me realize again how dependent the Nyx are on their females.”

  His words made her shiver a little. She glanced up at his face, stark and austere. He bent a little closer. “Do you know what satki-annahdis means?”

  Addison shook her head, feeling more than a little stupid. Even though Tessa had tried to teach her, she didn’t know much about the Mer language and could barely speak it more than to say a few simple greetings. “My mother didn’t exactly immerse us in the Mer culture or language before she died,” she explained. “She wanted us to live as much like humans as we could.”

  “To blend in better, I suppose,” he finished, suppressing a slight frown.

  She nodded. “Pretty much.”

  “Satki-annahdis means to have a mate who uses her powers to lead and support her male’s strength.”

  Addison didn’t respond directly. A creeping sensation in the back of her mind warned her where Jovon was heading. “And you’re telling me this, why?”

  The Nyx’s strong warm laughter filled her ears. “Since you are not a foolish little girl,” he said, lowering his voice to almost a whisper, “I refuse to make a game out of what I consider to be a most pressing matter.”

  Addison stiffened, every muscle going rigid. Clenching her fists behind her back in an almost uncontrollable anger, she forced herself to keep a tight rein on both her mouth and her temper. There was a time to pop off and be a smart-ass, but now wasn’t one of those instances. “I am aware of what you want from me,” she answered, keeping her voice level. “For the moment, let’s just say I’m giving it due consideration.”

  Jovon eyed her, seeing straight through the deception. “Because you have feelings for the human captain?”

  Addison quickly shook her head. “I want to be sure the decision I’m making is the right one.” She glanced toward Hawkins, who was attempting to keep calm under the pressures of an unwelcome and unwanted command. “Those in government haven’t yet made a decision as to how they’re going to proceed against Magaera, if at all. It would be irresponsible of me to enter into any kind of agreement with the Nyx if that’s not what our allies view as a wise move.”

  “Ah, it all comes down to the politics.” He offered a small nod. “Already you think like a future queen.”

  Addison offered a thin-lipped smile. “Assuming makes an ass out of you and me.” Okay, so she couldn’t resist a little smart-assery. She wanted to let him know she had a mind of her own and knew how to use it. She might stumble and put her foot in shit now and again, but when push came to shove, she knew how to shove back—hard.

  Jovon stood still. The line of his stern jaw betrayed not a hint of self-doubt. If he felt stung by her glib retort, his features did not betray it.

  Lieutenant Sam Russell, now serving as second-in-command, rushed into the control center. A burly, darkly tanned man, Russell had been chosen by Mason not only because he was a skilled diver but also because his analytical temperament meant he would accept neither double-talk nor bullshit.

  “We’ve got trouble,” he announced.

  Commander Hawkins’s gaze immediately sharpened. “What is it?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think Queen Magaera has sent an envoy to speak to us.” He took a breath and then added, “She doesn’t appear to be armed.”

  Hearing his words, Addison immediately felt suspicious.

  Hawkins ran a hand across his stubbled face and muttered, “What fresh hell is this?” He cut a glance toward Addison and Jovon. “I think I’m going to need some backup here. You two coming?”

  “Of course,” Jovon murmured.

  “You bet your ass,” Addison added. She wouldn’t miss this meeting for the world.

  Chapter 24

  The blond, blue-eyed siren emerging from the waters of the Mediterranean could easily have been mistaken for a cover model caught in the middle of a photo shoot.

  Although the Mer emerged from the water as naked as the day she was born, a shimmer of energy quickly enveloped her from head to toe. It took only seconds for the glimmer to fade, and then she was clad in a formfitting outfit fashioned out of fish leather. Leather boots were laced up her calves. Her outfit was studded with an elaborate array of gold and other semiprecious stones. A dagger was sheathed in its hilt at her waist.

  There was a moment of awkward silence as each looked the other over.

  Addison’s eyes widened. Good grief! She’d never seen such a perfect specimen of female beauty in her life. The Mer was tall, thin, and angular. Her hair had been shaved away into a strange Mohawk-like style, and a strange marking had been imprinted on one of her flawless cheeks. Although her civilization had existed thousands of years, she looked like some kind of futuristic badass bitch—and definitely ready to kick some ass.

  Jovon leaned closer to Hawkins. “One of Magaera’s fiercest warriors,” he whispered under his breath. “By the marking she wears on her face, she has pledged to fight and die for her queen.”

  Hawkins looked the Mer up and down. “Shit, she looks as though she could kick our asses to hell and back.”

  Jovon nodded. “Trust me when I say the Mer are ruthless fighters. Their vow to serve their queen is absolute. Most will kill themselves rather than allow themselves to be taken hostage by the enemy.”

  “How many do you think Magaera’s got?”

  The Nyx eyed the newcomer. She held herself very stiff and erect. Her expression was fixed, revealing no emotion.

  “Now that she has control of the sea-gate,” Jovon murmured back, “thousands.”

  Hawkin
s pressed his lips together in a tight line. “We’re so screwed.”

  Overhearing their whispered conversation, Addison raised her brows. “Maybe,” she allowed. “Maybe not. Let’s see what this bitch has to say.”

  Hawkins squared his shoulders and stepped forward. “I am Commander Hawkins,” he said by way of an introduction. “And you are aboard the USET ship Sea Horse.”

  The Mer soldier pressed the palms of her hands together as if in prayer. She gave a slight, stiff bow. “I am Arta Keria,” she said in a mannered, strangely accented tone. “I bring greetings from my queen.”

  Never one for diplomacy, Hawkins cut straight to the heart of the matter. “Your recent attack on our people is unacceptable. We are viewing it as an act of aggression that will force us to take measures to defend ourselves.”

  Keria’s expression remained set. Despite her manner of extreme discipline, it was clear by the look on her face that she considered herself to be surrounded by menials. “My queen wishes to express her regret for the unfortunate occurrences of recent days,” she returned stiffly. “She wishes to assure you that your man is safe and has not been harmed in any way.”

  “Yet you have attacked us in the water before, and that cannot be overlooked,” Hawkins reminded her. “And you have committed acts of aggression against our people, on our own land.”

  “We did not intend to attack or harm any humans,” the Mer soldier hedged. “However, your vessel harbors those we consider to be an enemy to our people.” Her tone was low and steady, but it held an overlay of effort, as if she were afraid of losing control.

  Hawkins indicated Jovon. “You mean the Nyx.”

  “The Nyx,” Keria allowed. “And also those Mer who have been declared traitors of our people.”

  Hawkins frowned. “I assume you speak of those Mer who were on the outside when the sea-gate was sealed by Queen Nyala?”