The Soldier and the Siren: A Wolf Shifter Fantasy Romance (Shifters of Black Isle Book 2)

by Lorelei Moone

  They considered the seas to be their domain. And of course, the Black Isles were surrounded by vast amounts of water, which the Sea Folk sought to dominate.

  And then this young woman had come along, and told him she'd arrived on their shores just to see the birds.

  Had she never seen birds before? He'd never seen a Mermaid before, so perhaps not. Perhaps they didn't travel like their male counterparts did.

  Perhaps she'd run off from her own people to go on a little expedition of her own.

  She'd seemed enterprising enough, as well as surprisingly fearless for an unarmed intruder. When she'd reached for him and grazed his arm with her fingers, Teaq had wondered for a moment if that was it. If she was hiding some secret weapon or spell that would turn him to dust at her touch.

  But actually, she'd just been curious. How laughable. Laughable and in equal measures adorable as well.

  He never thought he'd think this way about one of the enemy, but this Mermaid had seemed completely innocent. As if there was no war. And their people hadn't murdered each other over these rocks in the sea for generations now.

  But the inconvenient truth was that they had. And what had occurred earlier on the shores of the Eastern Isle while nobody had been watching was an act of treason on both their parts.

  Of course, nobody needed to know that.

  Teaq was a man of few words usually. Keeping a secret, even one this big, would not be a problem for him. Hopefully she'd be equally discreet and her people wouldn't be on the warpath as a result of their interaction.

  As soon as the ship arrived at the Harbor of Black Mountain, Teaq left the crew to their own devices and headed straight for his chambers in the castle. He didn't even see Broc to announce their arrival, or the report on the outcome of the hunt.

  All of that stuff suddenly did not seem important anymore.

  Teaq, despite his serious, almost cynical nature, was caught in the Mermaid's spell.

  He simply could not forget their meeting, however short.

  It wasn't just a passing infatuation either. He knew that he would carry these thoughts with him for the foreseeable future. There would be only one remedy: he had to see her again.

  Would he, though?

  Would she ever come back?

  He himself didn't have any reason to return to the Eastern Isle any time soon, and it wasn't even very far for him. She had travelled all the way from the Deep, where the Sea Folk had made their home.

  Unusually, he was feeling optimistic. Something told him that indeed, she would make the effort again. And as long as he made sure he returned to that same spot regularly, and kept any nosy onlookers at bay, they would meet again.

  Teaq marched into the Great Hall just a bit later than he would have liked. It wasn't in his nature to be tardy.

  "Brother, good you are here. Let's begin," Broc said, then turned to face the others who were already present.

  The Great Hall was the biggest room within the castle and as such the place where get-togethers, feasts and council meetings were held. Of course, the Islanders never did get very formal, even during official occasions such as audiences with the king. The long benches and tables used for more festive occasions were still placed around the hall in their usual fashion. The Elders sat together on one of the benches, whereas Broc and Teaq preferred to stand. Rhea, their cousin and head of the Royal Guard, along with her second in command, Yorrick, leaned against one of the other tables.

  "We have much to discuss," Broc began. "The Reaping. Are we on track?"

  Rhea spoke up first. "The castle is as secure as it's ever been. I see no problems."

  Her tone was even more gruff than usual. Rhea was obviously unhappy about something. That was nothing new, though. She did not possess what one might call a sunny disposition at the best of times.

  "Great. Have someone prepare the chambers near my own for the human's arrival. I intend to keep her close."

  "Do you think this is wise, my king?" Rhea asked.

  Broc folded his arms. "She might as well get used to my presence from the start, so yes, I do think it is a good idea."

  "Might I suggest a guard at her door, at least during the transition?" Rhea asked.

  Broc shot her a disapproving look. "She's to be a guest, not a prisoner. I will not have her treated as one."

  "How about you, brother? How did the hunt go?" Broc turned to face Teaq.

  "Good," Teaq responded.

  Broc continued to look at him, probably expecting some sort of clarification.

  What was he hoping for, exactly? A blow-by-blow report?

  "We managed to remain unseen by the mainlanders. No problems while sailing either," Teaq added.

  "No Sea Folk sightings?"

  “No, why?" Teaq responded, then immediately regretted his defensive tone.

  "I just want to ensure this Reaping goes smoothly. The last thing we need is for an invasion to hit our shores right in the middle of it all."

  Teaq kept quiet this time. It had been an innocuous question. His reaction had been way out of line. This sort of suspicious behavior would get him into real trouble.

  "Well, then." Broc turned around and faced the Elders this time. "Uri, do you have anything to add?"

  The leader of the Elders stood up and folded his hands in front of his long grey robe. "My king, as you are aware, the last Reaping did not go as planned."

  Broc nodded. "I recall that there were problems, yes."

  "So we have come up with an idea to minimize these issues going forward," Uri spoke in a thin but commanding voice.

  Teaq had no idea how old the man was, but he was certain it was an impressive number. Islanders did not often live to old age. A seat on the Council of Elders was a rare honor only few managed to achieve.

  "I'm all ears," Broc said.

  "Well, we have decided it would be best if the human is kept in the dark about the true nature of these Isles and their inhabitants, at least during the transition period."

  "I'm not sure I understand," Broc said.

  "Our powers," another one of the Elders spoke up.

  Uri nodded. "Exactly. The human world, although much more vast than our own lands, is also very small in some ways. They do not react well to things they do not understand. As such, we think it is best we introduce any newcomers into our ways gradually. Let's at first make this offering think our ways are much like her own. That way she won't get too spooked."

  Broc nodded slowly. "I see. So we pretend to be essentially human."

  "That's correct. We advise a ban on transformations in front of the human for the transition period."

  Broc remained silent for a moment.

  Teaq glanced over at Rhea, who had an even more pronounced scowl on her face now. She was very unhappy about something. It wasn't like her to keep her thoughts to herself.

  "Very well. I can see the sense in that," Broc said.

  "What if there is an attack though?" Teaq interjected. "I cannot have my men neutered in the face of an enemy invasion."

  "Which is also a fair point. Can we agree that there will be no unnecessary shifting during the transition period? At least not within the castle, where the human might see? If there's an attack, the ban will be temporarily lifted."

  Teaq nodded reluctantly.

  Broc turned to get Rhea's input. The latter just shrugged.

  "Anything else?" Broc asked.

  The Elders shook their heads. Neither Rhea nor Teaq spoke up either. The meeting was over.

  Teaq was the first to leave, marching down the hallway toward the stairs. He wanted nothing more than some time alone. After his strange encounter earlier in the day, he had much to think about.

  "Teaq," a female voice interrupted. "Teaq, wait up!"

  He stopped with a sigh. "What is it, Rhea?"

  "This Reaping business. I'm not happy about it," she said.

  That much had been obvious throughout the meeting as well. Teaq could only guess what her reasons might
be.

  "Oh?"

  He studied her face. She was visibly tense. The muscles in her jaw were working furiously.

  "It's all very well, bringing a human onto our shores for the survival of our people, but…"

  "Our people need the fresh blood." Teaq shrugged. This is how it had been for centuries, whether any of them liked it or not.

  "But things are different this time. Broc intends to take her for himself. He's going to have her live in the castle. Unguarded," Rhea complained.

  Teaq took a deep breath and folded his arms in front of his chest. "So?"

  "So, he's the king. The king's protection is the Royal Guard's main responsibility. My main responsibility. It's an unnecessary risk."

  "What would you have me do about it?" Teaq asked.

  "Speak to him. He's your brother. Make him see the risks involved."

  "Do you have any reason to think that this human poses a bigger risk than the previous offerings we've taken?" Teaq asked.

  "Call it instinct."

  "Could your instinct have something to do with the fact that you wouldn't want to see any woman paired up with my brother? Human or otherwise?" Teaq asked.

  He didn't care much for gossip or speculation, but even he had noticed that Rhea had developed a liking for Broc. Sadly for her, they were second cousins. The rules forbade any union between partners who were so closely related. There were no exceptions, especially not when the heir of the throne's health was at stake.

  Rhea's face darkened even further. If looks could kill…

  "I take my job very seriously. And I don't appreciate these kinds of accusations!"

  "Fine, fine. I can see how it would be a security risk having a stranger—a human, no less—roam around the castle unguarded. But he's made up his mind already, it seems."

  "Just speak with him," Rhea urged.

  Teaq sighed. "Fine. But if you want someone to keep an eye on the human once she gets here, you're most likely going to have to arrange for it yourself. Without my brother finding out."

  "Right."

  She still didn't look happy, but that was as much as Teaq felt like talking about the matter. He had his own problems to think about.

  "I'll speak with him," he promised. Then he left Rhea in the corridor and went on his way.

  With his younger brother getting ready to take a mate, it was only natural for Teaq himself to consider doing the same. But there was no human girl being shipped in for him. Neither was he interested in one. After today's events, there was only one female he had his eyes on, and she was well out of bounds.

  Teaq let out a bitter chuckle as he wondered what the Council of Elders might say if he sought permission to take a Mermaid as his mate. The rules didn't forbid it. Technically.

  Chapter Five

  The days passed at a crawl. Liliwen grew more and more restless, the longer she found herself confined to the palace.

  She had to slip away again.

  Her memories of the brief meeting with the Other stayed with her at every waking moment, and even in her dreams. The longer she stayed away, the less likely it would be that she'd meet him again.

  And she really did have to meet him once more. Every fiber in her body screamed for another chance to see him.

  Finally, she got her chance a whole four days from her initial excursion. Her father was preoccupied with the upcoming premonition ceremony. As a result even the castle guards had better things to do than keep track of one rebellious princess's whereabouts.

  Liliwen told Cara, just because the secret felt too big otherwise. Cara of course tried to discourage her, but Liliwen didn't listen. The urge to see the soldier again was simply too strong.

  Once she had slipped out of the palace unseen, she knew exactly where she was going thanks to her impeccable sense of direction. She did not let herself get side tracked by exotic fish or birds flying overhead. Liliwen was heading straight for the island where she had met him the first time.

  As soon as the black cliffs came into view, she felt her heartbeat surge again, just like that day.

  It was a beautiful kind of thrill. The danger was palpable. How romantic, to risk punishment by her own people, as well as capture by the enemy, just to see a man. If she could catch but a glimpse of him, it would all be worth it, she told herself.

  He wasn't there, though. She waited just underneath the surface, in exactly the same spot as last time, for what felt like hours.

  The skies were cloudy, though occasionally a ray of sunshine broke through and changed Liliwen's entire outlook. It was only her second outing, so the bright light reminded her that there was still so much for her to discover in this strange land.

  She'd never seen sunshine before. It was gorgeous and renewed her hope that today's journey wouldn't be for nothing.

  Breaking the surface of the water just for a moment, Liliwen felt the heat of the sun on her skin. It was so warm. The air felt even drier than last time. She quickly went under again, only leaving her head and one raised hand exposed.

  "Hey, Mermaid!" a voice interrupted her experiment. "You'd better be careful if you don't want to be discovered."

  She turned as quickly as she could.

  "You came back!" she exclaimed with a smile.

  "As did you." The wolf-man climbed over the fortified wall and sat down on the same rock as the last time.

  He stretched out his right arm and dipped his fingers into the water. "Oh, it's nice and fresh today."

  "Same old," Liliwen joked.

  "You don't have to tell me."

  "My name is Liliwen," she blurted out before she had the chance to think whether giving her real name was a good idea or not.

  The man paused for a moment. "That's a beautiful name. I'm Teaq."

  "Teaq, the soldier," Liliwen repeated.

  The man smiled briefly. Even last time he hadn't given the impression he was the sort of guy who laughed or smiled a lot. And yet here, with her…

  It made her happy just thinking about it.

  A loud noise filled the air, causing Liliwen to cover her ears. "Oh my, what was that?"

  "Just the change of the guard. Nothing to worry about."

  "Are there many guards here?" she asked.

  Teaq squinted as though her question had raised his suspicions just a little. "Just enough so we'll come to know if something—or someone—tries to approach unseen."

  "Aha." They shared yet another, more sensual look.

  Liliwen thought for a moment, then decided to go with a shock and awe approach for this second conversation. He would never see it coming.

  "I told my friend that I was going to the Black Isles to find out anything I could to help our cause." Liliwen watched carefully for his reaction to her words.

  "Did you?" Teaq folded his arms in front of his chest.

  "I lied, though." She smiled, then looked away at the distance. "I mean, what am I going to learn here, anyway? If I make sure I remain far away from the guards, then I can't be spying on them either, right?"

  "Indeed… So why did you actually come here? To see more birds?" Teaq asked.

  "To see you," she said, lowering the pitch of her voice just a little.

  His reaction was obvious. The way his expression softened and his gaze grew more intense. He liked her answer.

  Should she leave it at that, or take things just a notch further?

  "Are you stationed on this island, or did you come here just for me?" she asked. Although she had tried to keep her tone light and innocent, it was a loaded question.

  Liliwen knew exactly what she wanted to hear and anything less would be a great disappointment.

  "I think you already know the answer to that," he said.

  Oh, what a tease!

  She let out a soft chuckle. This game, it was getting easier by the minute.

  "You know, I'm not even allowed to be out here." Liliwen caught a stray lock of her hair with her finger and twisted it round and round. Her hair felt weird out
of the water. Sticky. She was certain it looked crap too, though the way he continued to look at her suggested he hadn't noticed that.

  "I've been wondering about that. We don't get to see a lot of Mermaids around these parts."

  Although it was an obvious truth, the fact that she was the first of her kind that he'd ever seen gave Liliwen a thrill.

  "My father would be furious if he found out. In fact, I'm pretty sure he'd punish me for swimming off on my own," she continued.

  "You don't seem to be the sort who follows the rules," Teaq observed.

  Liliwen smiled. "If I'd followed the rules, I would have never met you. And then where would we be?"

  "You'd be at home, safe. And I'd be…" His voice trailed off.

  Liliwen pouted and looked down at the water below. "So you'd prefer if we hadn't met at all?"

  "You'll admit that this—whatever we're doing here—is rather complicated. The risk we're taking if discovered…" He reached out for her. The back of his fingers gently caressed the side of her face, until they stopped just under her chin, and guided her face upward again.

  His touch sent shivers down her whole body and took her breath away all at the same time.

  "Easy is just another word for boring," she whispered, as she met his gaze.

  Just how long could she continue like this? Putting up a calm front, while Teaq was toying with her emotions so effortlessly?

  Within a couple of exchanges between the two of them, Liliwen's state of mind had gone from joyful, to hurt and now… Excited didn't quite explain it. His touch had set her alight, and soothed her all at the same time. And yet there were still those nagging doubts just underneath the surface.

  He pulled away his hand again, which nearly made her wince.

  Don't stop!

  Wait, since when did this game turn to his favor instead of hers? She had already become obsessed with him, but was he perhaps just playing with her? Did he not have a stake in this?

  "I doubt you'd ever be boring, Liliwen." The way he spoke her name made her even weaker inside. But she was determined not to let it show.

  No, she thought, he's as involved as I am. Otherwise he would have simply taken her prisoner by now.

  She reached for his hand, and weaved her fingers in between his. So warm, even more so than the sunshine she had encountered for the very first time before his arrival.