by Starla Night
“How could an action that dims your light ever be good?”
She glared at him from under a thick fringe of lashes.
It had to be destiny. Even her angry expressions enticed him. She burned like a fire and all he wanted to do was throw himself onto the flames.
Lucy flinched as though she read his mind. She backed away, secured the trawler, and crossed a wooden plank to the dock. “Trust me, merman warrior.”
“Marine warrior.” He followed her barefoot from the marina. One hand secured the blanket to his waist. The other he held ready to combat the stares that followed them into the city. “Or you may call us ‘mer warriors.’ Merman warrior is an old name for megalodon.”
“Megalodon? The gigantic prehistoric shark? They’re all extinct.”
“We killed one in the Seven Cities War, but more are hiding in the blacknight waters beneath the abyss. When they rise, they are deadly.”
The crowds hid his oddities, and attention on him lessened. Engines of moving boxes called cars and busses jockeyed around narrow streets. Sizzling foods, smoking pits, and flames erupted from stationary carts. Humans lined up to exchange paper money for these foods.
She passed one cart and waved a hand in front of her nose. “I love these tacos. They smell delicious.”
What did she mean, smell? A tickle at the back of his throat? No difference existed in the air between one cart and the next, or between the vehicles and the buildings.
Lucy selected clothes from a street vendor: long blue shorts, a tight shirt with a beach scene, and a pair of yellow flip flops.
“Shirt, shoes, service,” she said in approval.
Her approval filled his chest. He straightened and threw his shoulders back. Her eyes traced the contours of his muscles. Good. He possessed a shape his chosen bride enjoyed, and that would help convince her to put aside her fears and join with him. He flexed to give her maximum pleasure.
She sucked in a long breath and then shook herself. “Time to meet some eligible women.” She handed paper money to the vendor.
No.
Torun caught her hand before it touched the human male’s. “You are mine.”
She blinked at him.
“You touch only me. I touch only you.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m just paying for your clothes.” Her cheeks flushed hot. Her heart beat hard beneath his palm.
The street vendor was watching them too carefully.
Torun pulled Lucy to his chest with a growl. “Do not touch other males.”
“All right. Don’t go overboard.” She reached over his shoulder and dropped the money onto the street vendor’s palm from a distance. The vendor left the change on the counter. She scooped it into her black embroidered pouch and led Torun back to the main street. “You should be careful. Women don’t like the caveman treatment.”
Caveman? Whatever that was, he would do it more. “You like it.”
She twitched. “I’m a little love-starved. Most women’s ex-husbands didn’t throw them out like trash.” She started to duck into a building.
He stopped her with an arm across the door. “I only want you.”
Lucy burned bright. She liked his declaration.
“I want you,” he repeated.
She slowly straightened and crossed her arms over her chest. Her hands trembled. “You want me, or you want a woman who will give you kids?”
“That is you,” he said.
She shook her head, ducked under his arm, and continued into the restaurant. Hmm. He had missed something.
“You want ‘kids,’” he said, using her unfamiliar word.
“That wasn’t my question.”
Air blasted down. The sensation of the space grew in his mind. The height of the ceiling, the distance to the glass and cement walls, the pulse of music in his chest, and the individual heartbeats of all the patrons sounded in his ears. Again, the pops and sizzles of foods were loud in the kitchen. But most interesting were the soul lights.
Men and women sat at tables and sipped drinks at the bar. They shone with small stars in their chests. Some engaged in animated conversations and shone brightly. Others flared or faded when they dropped quiet. Even the brightest soul did not shine as his Lucy did.
Yes. Modern humans had flickering souls but none were as bright as his Lucy.
Lucy squealed and raced to hug a large, vibrant woman. “Mel!”
Mel returned the solid hug. “Here’s the expedition leader I remember. Week One and you’re already bringing home treasures.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” Lucy introduced Torun. “This is the man from my video. He’s a warlord and a merman.”
“A merman warrior!”
“Mer warrior,” Lucy corrected. “The other is a megalodon.”
Mel held out her arms and walked to Torun. “So nice to meet you.”
He stepped back. Was she herding him in some direction? She followed, arms out, her step quickening. He bumped into a table and stopped.
Mel hugged him.
He froze solid.
“Oh!” Lucy waved her hands. “He doesn’t do touch.”
“It’s fine.” The smaller woman wrapped her strong arms around his midsection. Her heart beat steadily in her chest, and her musical voice was soothing. Like a mother. “I’m a hugger.”
Lucy bit her lip.
Humans had different rules. Humans had different rules. Humans had different rules.
“It is fine,” Torun assured Lucy. Although, was it? Sireno warriors never encountered more than one woman at a time. He made up the rule on the spot. “Lucy, you are my only bride.”
Her star brightened, and she flushed.
Aha. He would have to repeat this claim many times. He would claim her, and he would praise her, and her star would shine until nothing could put it out.
“Bride?” Mel pulled back, mouth agape. “Congratulations!”
“He just says that.” Lucy dragged her friend away, her cheeks reddening and her star dimming with the dismissal. “It’s not what you think. You’re probably a bride.”
“Not my bride,” he clarified.
Mel lifted her brows. “Good thing. My husband would have choice words if I ended up as someone else’s bride.”
Husband?
Torun’s gut clenched.
No. Human rules were different. Mel’s husband would not demand justice.
If he did, Torun would take Lucy to Sireno now, over her objections, and damn the consequences.
Chapter Eight
Lucy hugged her college friend again. “I’m so glad you’re here! I thought you weren’t coming until next week.”
“We had the timeshare, and you kept posting the craziest videos. Did you get that leak fixed?”
“Which one?”
“Oh, you nut. All of them! Anyway, I took the week off as soon as I found our new supporter, and we flew in this morning. Elyssa couldn’t wait.”
Mel led them back to the table and placed Torun in the seat beside Lucy. She was too, too aware of him.
Another woman crossed the restaurant. A bohemian blouse and green capris looked stylish on her thin frame, and a scarf tied back her dirty blonde hair. She reached the empty chair, paused, and removed her fashionable sunglass.
Mel introduced her. “This is Elyssa Van Cartier.”
Lucy rose and held out her hand. “Thanks for backing our expedition.”
Elyssa smiled. Her slim fingers were accessorized with chunky amethyst and turquoise rings. “Thanks for having me.”
What a graceful, slender, gorgeous woman. It was like looking at herself from five years ago. Lucy clamped her jealousy between her teeth while a waiter took their orders and brought drinks and appetizers. Mel was the reason Lucy was on the water in a leaking boat instead of stuck in Florida, crying at the bus station, too poor for a ticket back to Oregon. Elyssa was the Hail Mary last chance.
Lucy shifted the conversation back to Elyssa. “Your cousin is the vice president of Van Cartier
Cosmetics, Aya?”
“That’s right.” Elyssa scooted in her chair.
It hit the table. Their silverware rattled and a fork fell on the carpet.
Lucy bit her tongue on her next question. Is Aya really screwing my ex-husband? She focused on the positive. “I appreciate your support.”
“Sure.” Elyssa dropped to the carpet and grabbed the fork. “Aya and I aren’t as close as, um, before.” Her head hit the table from the underneath with a loud thunk.
“Honey, are you okay?” Mel asked.
“I have a hard head.” Elyssa rose, rubbing her forehead, and resumed her seat. “Sea Opals are my passion. When I heard Mel was trying to raise the money for your expedition, I jumped in. You found the biggest one, after all.”
Finally. Someone outside Lucy’s immediately family believed in her.
Blake had convinced everyone that even though Lucy found the gem, he had told her where to look. Somehow.
Lucy scooped up some delicious, fresh pico de gallo with the homemade fried chips. “Everyone else in Van Cartier Cosmetics is staking their hopes on my ex.”
“Blake’s so cut-throat, he’d shoot his own grandma to get ahead. He makes me uncomfortable.” Elyssa leaned her elbows on the table. “Anyway, I know what it’s like to have your credit stolen. You’ll succeed honestly without hurting anybody.”
Aw. She was about to tear up.
“And, after your last video, I’m intrigued.” Elyssa checked out Torun’s tall, hard body. Barely contained in colorful Bermuda shorts and a taut surfer tee, he was a visual meal any woman would enjoy. “Are you honestly a merman? You don’t look like one.”
“I am in the air world now.” Torun shifted and cleared his throat. “Did this video transmit to many humans? My people have worked hard to hide our existence.”
“Not many,” Lucy said. “And don’t worry. No one will believe you.”
His eyes darkened on her. “All that matters is you believe me.”
Warmth spread through her veins. When he looked at her like that, it felt like they were the only two in the restaurant.
Elyssa’s smile sparkled, reminding her they were not. “Do you believe him?”
“Of course it’s unbelievable.”
He growled. “It is very believable.”
Honestly, Lucy didn’t want to believe him. A harmlessly delusional man with a set of abs she wanted to lick was much better than an actual merman who needed her to repopulate his undersea city. A delusional man could get therapy. An actual merman … well …
Elyssa was beautiful, young, and probably fertile. She loved Sea Opals. Elyssa could repopulate his city.
Torun might not see it right away. But eventually he would realize, just as Blake had realized, that Lucy could not fulfill his needs. Then, he would seek a woman elsewhere. Like the beautiful, young, sweet woman across the table from him.
And now, Elyssa was flirting. “Lucy’s right. If you want her to believe you’re a merman, you’ll have to prove it.”
Torun glanced around the restaurant. “This is too exposed.”
Elyssa smiled at Lucy. “You should make him do it. We all want to see him transform.”
Naked jealousy rammed up her spine. “Let’s focus on our research. Don’t get sidetracked by silly claims. This is a serious expedition.”
Elyssa’s smile fell. “Oh. Of course. Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
The waiter brought their meals. Elyssa moved a napkin holder, and her elbow knocked a glass of ice water into her lap. She ran to the restroom, red-faced.
“Do you like Elyssa?” Mel leaned closer and asked under her breath. “I posted about your ordeal with the boat, and I about choked when she contacted me. We’ve been on a couple committees, but we hardly move in the same circles.”
“She seems fine.” Wow, could Lucy be any chillier? She was not reacting from jealousy. She was not. “I just have to wonder. She works in HR. Where was she when I got fired?”
“Probably at a college recruitment fair. She’s not the hiring director, you know. The money she sent for the expedition isn’t from Van Cartier Cosmetics.”
What?
Mel lowered her voice and side-eyed the other patrons of the restaurant. “She’s backing you from her own savings.”
Lucy dropped her spoonful of melted cheese with a clank. “Seriously?”
“Her cousin’s the vice president, and her aunt’s the CEO, but Elyssa isn’t in their inner circle. We double-mortgaged our house to fund you. But she…” Mel glanced up and closed her mouth. “Oh, you’ve been gone awhile.”
“I got a phone call.” Elyssa flopped in her seat, still plucking at her damp, water-stained shirt. “Sorry, that was my bank. They were just double-checking on a few, um, recent expenditures. So, what’s our plan?”
“Ask the expert,” Mel said.
Both women looked at Lucy expectantly.
Her heart swelled three sizes. Her chest ached.
These women put their faith in her. They invested their own money because they believed. Mel double-mortgaged her house. Elyssa didn’t even know her and had invested a much larger sum. Lucy’s jealousy was stupid. She would justify their faith.
Lucy leaned forward. “We’re going to kick Blake’s ass. I’ve already found a source for the Sea Opals. Torun’s tribe collects them for wedding proposals.”
Their eyes widened.
She opened her pouch and showed them the Sea Opal. “Torun knows where to dive for more.”
Chapter Nine
Lucy’s friends were riveted by her exciting news, and Torun watched her swell with regal command as she explained her plans to collect more of the Sea Opals and guard her supply, keeping it a secret from evil credit-stealers such as her ex-husband until they had secured all of the treasures.
“In exchange, I’ve agreed to find women for Torun’s tribe,” Lucy told them, missing the important promise entirely. He would remind her of his claim on her later. “They’re short.”
Mel grinned. “Fantastic! You have to create a dating site and name it Plenty of Fish.”
“That’s already taken.”
“Oh, but it would be perfect! Sign them up.”
“There might be a rule about humans only. We’d have to read their Terms and Conditions.” Lucy’s mouth twisted. “But let’s be practical for a minute. This is all a little crazy. Isn’t it?”
Mel pursed her lips. “Hmm. I guess. But I have faith you’ll find someone with the technical skills to set up a tribe of good looking mermen.”
“What? No, I mean, the rest of it.” She clutched Mel’s hands, which were wrapped around Mel’s pineapple smoothie. “Tell me I’m crazy for going back out on the ocean all alone.”
He shifted forward. “You will not be alone, Lucy. You will be with me.”
She swallowed. “Yeah...”
“Not to worry.” Mel clinked her glass, despite Lucy’s hands around it, against Lucy’s watermelon smoothie in celebration. “Praise me. I found you some unpaid interns.”
“Good job! Who?”
Elyssa stared at the Sea Opal in Lucy’s hands and barely seemed to hear the conversation. “May I?”
“Hmm? Oh, sure.” Lucy handed over the gem.
Torun’s belly flipped.
The Sea Opal passed to Elyssa and Mel and back to Elyssa again. He had given the jewel to Lucy, and she was, therefore, free to do with it as she liked. Even give it away to another in front of him.
But he did not like it.
Lucy kissed him. She refused his claim. She promised to stand up to his Council. She planned for another woman to become his queen.
Had any warrior in a thousand years had to fight this hunger and confusion to claim his bride?
Then again, no other warrior had selected a modern bride. Torun would endure. His endurance would be rewarded in the end. It had to be.
The future of his race depended on it.
Elyssa turned Lucy’s jewel over in h
er palm, savoring its beauty. “These stones are magical.”
“They are mating jewels,” he corrected. “Are you also seeking a husband?”
“If I found the right guy.” She turned the sphere over and over. “Did you know these gems glow more brightly when certain people are in the room?”
Resonance. “Yes, we know it.”
“I was volunteering in the lab when I noticed … well, when someone noticed that the samples changed brightness. Just a tiny amount. You can’t see it with your naked eye.”
“Some can see it. It is a feeling in the chest.”
She fixed on him. “Yes. I thought I was crazy, but company scientists actually measured the brightness. And when it got brighter, those people experience stronger medicinal effects in our opal-infused cosmetics, like smoother skin and better healing from sun damage.”
“Sea Opals are the tears are our Life Tree. We are connected to it in our blood. When we find another who is compatible with our Life Tree, their soul will brighten. That is why we offer the Sea Opals to our brides. In their presence, her soul will shine.”
Elyssa turned the gem in her hand. “You can see it?”
“Yes.”
Being with Mel and Elyssa brightened Lucy. She laughed and talked a great deal, and that was why he did not forcefully correct her errors. But her light was fragile. Worryingly fragile. Now, Lucy finished the conversation with Mel and saw him conversing with Elyssa. Her light dipped.
He held out his hand to Elyssa. “May I?”
Elyssa handed the stone to him and exhaled.
He returned the stone to Lucy. “This is my offering to you.”
She flushed as her soul flashed, brilliant in her chest. “Yes. We all know. She can have it.”
“It is yours,” he emphasized. “This Sea Opal resonates with your soul.”
Lucy stopped objecting and returned the stone to her pouch, resting it against her heart.
Like compliments and reminding her of his claim, she needed the stone with her to shine. Until her soul returned to its natural brilliance.
His tension eased.
Elyssa sighed again. “So that was a wedding proposal?”
“Yes,” he said.
