by Devyn Quinn
Tessa’s expression crumbled. Her shoulders sagged. “Maybe it was me. I’m the one who told Jake I thought we needed to wait to get married. I didn’t know he’d just call the whole thing off and walk. I thought he’d wait.”
“For what?”
She threw up her hands. “A Mer gives up so much to be with a human. I was only twenty-seven. Taking a mate and having children would have cut my life in half. I guess I felt I needed more time. But humans don’t have that time.”
If he’d thought he didn’t understand the Mer before, he definitely didn’t understand them now. “What do you mean it would have cut your life in half?”
Tessa’s hands dropped. “A Mer doesn’t age the way a human does. But we can’t have our children until we synchronize our internal clocks to match that of the mate we’ve chosen. So when a Mer decides to take her mate, she has to begin aging normally in order to activate her fertility and bear his children.” She shrugged. “I guess I wasn’t ready to give up my youth.”
It took a moment for him to fully understand the implications behind her words. “Are you telling me you don’t get old?”
Tessa shook her head. “I didn’t say we don’t get old. I said we don’t age the same way.”
Kenneth threw her a questioning look. “So how long does a Mer traditionally live?”
“We can survive a very long time if we keep ourselves healthy,” she answered simply.
The proverbial bulb hovering over his head was finally beginning to shed some light. Tessa wasn’t being a cheat so much as she was trying to find a suitable mate to help her continue her species. The old saying was probably true. A girl had to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.
Kenneth wondered if he was going to be another one with warts. “And single?”
Tessa nodded. “Yeah. Trouble is, we’re infertile until we take our mates.” She grimaced. “But once we do make our choice, it’s for life. We can’t just get a divorce and move on to the next man because nature adjusts our eggs to accept only one man’s sperm.”
Kenneth frowned. “Sounds a little complicated.”
She spread her hands in helpless dismay. “Maybe it’s the reason we’re almost extinct. We’re too damn picky.”
“Must be hard choosing a man worthy enough to sacrifice your youth.”
Tessa lowered her head guiltily. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a bitch, a total bitch, and there’s no excuse. My mother always cautioned us not to give in to the selfish Mer side of our natures. Somehow it’s just a part of our spirit to relegate humans to a lesser status. I just shoved you aside, assuming you’d be there when I wanted you.”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
Straightening her shoulders, she nodded. “It’s give and take, I know. And I’ve been doing all the taking.”
Kenneth thought about her words. It was true—she’d been tough to deal with lately. But he knew he wanted her, knew that he wanted her to choose him. He wasn’t about to lose her to Jake.
Making a sudden decision, he walked over to Tessa. Fingers curling around her arms, he pulled her close. Tessa had the right to choose the man she wanted. But he had the right to try to change her mind.
Kenneth was tired of sucking it up, being the nice guy. It was true. Nice guys finished last. Real men took what they wanted. Period. “You’re not putting me off anymore.” A second later, his mouth claimed hers.
Tessa’s lips parted willingly under the searching invasion of his tongue. She tasted sweet, musky, and sexy. Her arms rose, circling his neck. Her hips pressed against his, creating a most enticing friction.
Kenneth’s mouth left hers. His fingers threaded impatiently in the masses of her hair, tipping her head back so he could look into her eyes. Her gaze glittered with craving. “If Jake was any kind of a man, he wouldn’t have let you walk away. Not then, not now. I’m the one who wants you.”
Tessa shivered and closed her eyes. Silky lashes feathered across her rosy cheeks. “I can’t make any promises,” she murmured. “I can’t . . .”
Breathless with reckless exhilaration, Kenneth growled, “I don’t care.” He needed her. Now. “Just give me today.” Tomorrow would have to take care of itself.
She made a helpless, tiny noise of acquiescence. Spurred on by pure instinct, Kenneth tugged impatiently at her shirt. Somehow he got it open, pushing it off her shoulders. Her flimsy bra followed, baring her breasts to his eager hands. He teased her nipples, plucking at the rosy tips. Heat curled around his cock like a woman’s warm, silky fingers.
Tessa’s breath hitched. “Goddess . . .” She whimpered. “That feels so good.”
Nibbling at her lips, Kenneth cupped the curve of one breast. Capturing the sensitive pink tip, he rolled it between thumb and forefinger. At the same time, the primal male inside him raised its head. Jake had already explored this territory. Traces of his tacky aftershave still lingered on her skin.
He’d soon erase it, branding her with his own unique scent.
Kenneth fumbled open the top button of her jeans, tugging the zipper down. Pushing the faded denim down her hips, his hand slid past the elastic of her panties. Crooking a finger, he stroked her with a slow, steady motion. She was wet and ready to be taken.
Oh, yes, he thought, sliding the tip of his finger into her depth. Tessa was definitely worth the fight.
And he wasn’t giving her up, come hell or high water.
Chapter 13
A day later, Tessa looked up at the men gathered around to watch her make the first dive. Because she would be plunging to a depth of almost three and a half miles under the sea, it had been necessary to reveal her secret to the crew. Given that a human diver could manage only about four hundred feet max, those working the salvage had to know. Even with the three-man submersible the Swiftship carried, the crew wouldn’t be able to penetrate the areas she could. She’d have to handle the majority of deep-sea scouting and mapping.
Since most of the crew had served with Jake on earlier expeditions to locate Ishaldi, they were familiar with the lore surrounding the mermaids and their lost civilization. At first Tessa was a little apprehensive about showing her skills to a cadre of strangers. But once she hit the water, she found she enjoyed the attention. The crew of five men and three women thought it was wonderful to have a mermaid on board. It certainly made the other divers a little less apprehensive about the depths they were facing. No one had ever heard of a mermaid losing consciousness and drowning.
Everyone was excited about being a part of something huge.
Swimming up to the ladder that allowed divers to climb back on board, Tessa laughed. “You guys sure you don’t want to join me?”
Jake bent over the edge. “I would be glad to, babe. All you have to do is give me that magic kiss.”
Scrunching up her face, Tessa stuck out her tongue. “I wouldn’t toss a glass of water on you if you were on fire, Jake Massey.”
Jake frowned, clearly unhappy about missing the chance to hit the deep sea and do a little exploring. “Come on, babe. You know how important this is.”
Tessa shook her head. “I don’t even want to talk to you after that little stunt you pulled last night.” She’d already refused to take him down with her. There was no way she’d ever lock lips with the lying dog again.
Kenneth clapped the archaeologist on the back. “Sorry, man. I told her all about your little wager.”
Tessa pinned both men under her gaze. “I’m still pissed you two have been haggling over me like I’m a piece of furniture.”
Jake gestured helplessly. “I wasn’t playing around. I was honestly trying to get you back.”
Kenneth gave a show of hands. “And I’m just trying to keep you safe from this lech.”
“I’ll make up my own mind, thank you very much,” she said to both men. “Right now we’ve got work to do.”
“How deep will you be going down?” Kenneth asked.
Tessa considered a moment. “Well over three miles, so I won’t b
e back before sundown. If you’d like to take the first dive, now’s the time to hit the water.”
Kenneth hastily shook his head. “I think I’ve had enough of the water to last me a lifetime. You are welcome to have the honor.”
Tessa nodded and pushed away from the ship. “I’m off, then.” A second later she slipped beneath the radiant blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Plunging straight down, she abandoned her legs and shifted into her true form. Since learning to manipulate the energies contained in her soul-stone, she’d mastered the technique of shedding clothing. The wet suit she wore simply melted away. The downside was that her clothes were never to be seen again. She had no idea where they ultimately ended up. But at least she’d advanced to the point where she could call different clothing to her when she exited the water.
A thrill suddenly went through her body, from her fingertips to her toes. The freedom of her newfound abilities had expanded her horizons tenfold. There was no more shame in being different. For the first time in her life she felt special. She felt . . . empowered.
Brimming with a sense of infinite strength, Tessa became aware that being a Mer made her close to being truly divine.
Intoxicated by her thoughts, Tessa plunged deeper. Though the waters of the Mediterranean were normally warm and made for pleasant swimming around the beachfront area, the waters deep below the surface of the open sea were chilly. But she didn’t feel the cold at all. To her the water was warm and tingling, an effervescent living thing that welcomed her into its bosom. The water seemed to glow and shimmer, flowing around her body with a silken caress.
Cutting through the water at a speed the human eye couldn’t even keep up with, Tessa made her way toward the bottom of the sea. The other occupants of the water quickly darted out of her way. Her visibility was good a clear five to six miles on the bottom. Light from above was murky thanks to a layer of plankton hovering at a twenty-meter depth. A human this far down would have already lost consciousness.
The dangers still didn’t stop divers from trying to find the mother lode. The Mediterranean, with its three thousand years of maritime history, temperate climate, and easy access, was one of the best diving sites in the world. There were literally hundreds of wrecks and remnants littering the waters—relics from Phoenician times and the Roman- era amphorae, WWII war casualties, modern barges, and trawling wrecks.
Tessa swam on. The craggy sea floor was hardly a hotbed of treasure. Now and again she stopped to examine an object that caught her attention. Eventually a few objects began to emerge from the murk: a few large Grecian-style pots, some brass circlets that might have been bracelets, a scattering of coins.
Promising, she thought, and kept going.
Putting more distance between herself and the surface, she followed the steep decline of a sudden drop in the sea floor. Volcanic activity and earthquakes had created a valley of deep crevasses. At this point even an automated rover would have to stop the search. There was no way a machine could navigate the unstable depths.
Swimming deeper, Tessa peered into the murky gloom. At this depth, vision was getting iffy, even for a mermaid. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she could make out some tall, tilted objects straight ahead.
She stopped suddenly, brought up short by the sight of a headless statue positioned amid a scattering of fallen pillars.
Tessa gasped, reaching for the crystal around her neck. A flurry of small bubbles floated past her face. By the goddess. There’s really something here to be found.
She maneuvered closer. Though the statue had only a single arm, there was no mistaking the fishlike form of its lower body.
Her first instinct was to dart to the surface to tell everyone the good news.
Reining in her excitement, she forced herself to take a few steadying breaths. No reason to leave just this moment. All too soon, this first significant find would be revealed to the eyes of a prying, invasive world. This would literally be her only chance to have it to herself.
She skimmed as close to the seabed as she could, digging amid the debris surrounding the statue. A series of polygonal stones soon emerged.
As she poked among the crusted debris, the rise of tears blurred her vision. She couldn’t help but think what a joy it would have been to be able to share the moment with her sisters. Though she’d wanted them to come, they had declined. They both had ties, commitments holding them back. Not to mention the fact that someone had to stay behind to finish supervising renovations on the house, as well as lay the groundwork for the maritime museum Jake planned to found in Port Rock.
Tessa blinked hard. She’d memorize every moment for them. When they were together again, she could share her impressions.
Twitching her tail, she kept swimming. There had to be more.
Swimming through the wreckage, Tessa stopped to examine a strange object. It looked oddly familiar, but took a moment to identify. Giving it a look from all angles, she finally concluded it was a chariot of some kind. Of course, it sat on no wheels and any decorations and trim it would have had were long gone. It occurred to her that softer materials, such as wood, fabric, and any sort of remains, would have been devoured by undersea organisms.
As she examined the bits and pieces she found, Tessa became acutely aware of the strange vibrations thrumming through the water.
Drifting with no real thought of destination, she imagined how the city might have looked all those centuries ago. In her mind’s eye she saw great temples sitting above the water, bustling with life. Surely humans would have walked the cobbled streets as well, merchants and explorers seeking trade with the females inhabiting the island—perhaps even trying to woo a Mer woman into marriage.
As to the destruction of Ishaldi, Jake had theorized the island might have been taken down by some sort of seismic disturbance. Currently the most common geological effect plaguing the region was volcanic action, which could have certainly triggered some sort of massive disaster.
Tessa contemplated the idea. Though it might not be the correct conclusion, it certainly made sense. A volcanic earthquake would probably have struck without warning, sucking everything in a single gulp. The sea would have been a boiling, toxic brew, suffocating human and Mer alike.
There would have to be survivors, though, Mer who escaped the chaos. They probably scattered onto various shores throughout the Mediterranean, taking refuge among the native populations. Some of the Mer would naturally have drifted into the wider waters of the Atlantic Ocean, eventually making their way toward the Americas. She knew several of her ancestors had swum into the Penobscot, finding refuge with the local Indians. That was how the island of Little Mer gained the name it was known as to this very day.
Lost in her exploration, Tessa swam on. Another mile disappeared, then another. A cache of piled stones that appeared to be purposely fashioned by hands caught her attention. It took a few moments to realize she’d found a fully intact temple.
A closer examination revealed a series of dark sculpted blocks arranged in a circular pattern, vaguely resembling the shape of Stonehenge. Capped with thick stones, there was only a single narrow space through which to enter.
It didn’t take someone with Jake’s knowledge to realize the edifice hadn’t been part of the surface world. This arrangement looked as though it had been constructed under the water to begin with. To enter it, one had to swim, and with the dexterity of an underwater creature.
Curious, Tessa peered into the crack between the stones. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she detected a faint glow coming from within. She reached out, touching the rock. The surface beneath her bare palm hummed, vibrating with a strange energy.
Now would be the time to turn back, she warned herself. Report the findings. Get Jake’s advice.
But she didn’t.
Wriggling through the space, she found herself in a tunnel-like passage. Once inside, the rock walls seemed to have a different sheen, acting as a dim but definite source of ill
umination.
Eager to see where the passage led, Tessa flicked her tail. Several minutes passed as she made a sharp descent. If she hadn’t known better she would have sworn she was heading toward the core of the earth itself.
Her journey ended as abruptly as it had begun. At the end of the corridor she was surprised to find a wide stone staircase leading . . . upward?
Her brow wrinkled. That certainly doesn’t make sense. Curiosity tugged. She definitely had to explore.
Swimming as far as the water would allow, Tessa quickly shifted into human form and followed the steps to their top. Alone, she didn’t bother with clothing. It would have been a waste of energy since she anticipated shifting back soon.
Tessa gasped. “Holy shit.” Rubbing her eyes, she blinked hard. She appeared to have stumbled into some sort of antechamber.
She looked around, gazing upon a place no one had seen for centuries. A glorious vision to behold, the artistry of nature had been finely tempered by the hand of a nearly lost race.
Ishaldi’s artists had fashioned their temple out of pure stone. The shade of the walls and floor was incredible—the deep burgundy of iron ore, the blues and purples of manganese oxide, blotches of pink and coral and, lastly, calcite as pure and polished white as any pearl.
Rectangular in shape, the chamber was lined with a series of columns stretching from floor to ceiling. Seemingly lit from inside, the columns glowed with pale luminescence.
Labradorite, her mind filled in. A high-energy, powerful stone.
More incredible was the fact it was not submerged.
She drew a breath to test the air. Her lungs rose and fell. There was oxygen, breathable oxygen. A little stale and definitely damp, but perfectly breathable.
Given the expert set of the stone, she guessed the chamber to be impermeable by water. The temple’s ancient builders had somehow found a way to create an airtight sanctuary beneath the sea.
Progressing deeper into the chamber, Tessa shivered. The ethereal gleaming of the columns cast strange shadows on walls covered with all sorts of unusual images.