Siren’s Desire: A Dark Tides Novel

by Devyn Quinn

  Nothing had happened.

  When he’d proven unable to pleasure her, Magaera had resorted to other methods to amuse herself. She’d whipped him with a leather strap, repeatedly and without mercy. His back was a raw mass of red welts.

  That he’d been able to bear it was a small but bitter victory.

  Noticing that he’d awakened, Magaera turned her head. Displeasure continued to simmer in her eyes. “You have disappointed me, pet. I expected more out of such a fine specimen.”

  Mason’s tongue felt as heavy as lead, and it seemed as if his mouth had been stuffed full of cotton. God, what he wouldn’t give for a long cool drink of water. “Sorry to disappoint you,” he rasped drily, “but I don’t perform on command.”

  Magaera nodded slowly. “I can see you are a stubborn one and have a mind of your own.” She cocked her head. “I like that in my males. It amuses me to break a man’s will.” Her smile was twisted, a mockery of amusement. “You will give me many hours of entertainment.”

  The idea of spending night after night with this maniac was enough to cause Mason’s heart to seize in his chest. “You might be able to abuse my body,” he grated, “but my mind will remain my own. That’s the one thing you’ll never touch.”

  Magaera inclined her head. “We will see about that.” She tipped the goblet toward her full lips. Wine dribbled down the sides of her mouth, running down her neck and onto her bare breasts.

  Mason shivered. The red lines reminded him of blood, which seemed to be a thing the Mer queen didn’t mind spilling. He hadn’t been in her company long, but it was already clear to him that she was irreversibly insane. Her shifts in mood were unpredictable and volatile. She expected immediate attention from her courtiers and servants, and when they did not respond to her satisfaction, she abused them both verbally and physically. It was nothing for her to flick a wrist and send someone flying into the nearest wall.

  The trouble was, he couldn’t decide which was worse: leadership under a monarch who was insane, or the soldiers who would unquestionably follow her into battle.

  She’s going to be the downfall of the Mer people, he thought. They have set themselves on a course of destruction.

  Magaera chuckled wryly, breaking through his silence. “Instead of turning you back over to your people, I think I will keep you.”

  Mason shot her a sharp look. “I thought you intended to trade me for Tessa’s sisters.” Not that he wanted that to happen. He’d gladly stay on Ishaldi and bear Magaera’s torture as long as he knew Addison and her sisters were safe.

  The Mer queen shrugged off his words. “I can lay hands on those girls anytime I wish.” Her words slid off into a humming croon. “The power to command land and sea is mine alone. I can part the waters or pull lightning from the sky. The price is well worth…” She faltered and her lips twisted.

  “Worth what?” Mason prodded. “What is the cost?”

  Without glancing his way, Magaera raised her left hand and slowly made a gesture, as if drawing symbols in the air. “That which the goddess grants, she will also take away. Have a care, oh unwise, for your soul will pay the price of blasphemy.”

  Her words seemed to hang between them, heavy but laden with a meaning he couldn’t even begin to fathom.

  Mason blinked. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but something seemed to have struck a chord deep inside her.

  Hope flickered. Perhaps she wasn’t as far gone as he’d first imagined. Maybe, just maybe, there was a grain or two of sanity still within her grasp. Although it was a long shot, he had to try.

  “My people only want peace with the Mer,” he ventured, speaking in a steady, nonthreatening tone. “Release me and Tessa, and we will work with you. We will help the Mer regain their place in these waters.”

  Magaera turned her head, staring at him through a blank and uncomprehending gaze. “There was a time when the Mer ruled the oceans of this earth,” she said. “Humans who wanted to cross our seas safely had to pay for the privilege. They feared us; yet still they came from all corners—to worship us and to offer their finest males to breed with us and their females to serve us.”

  “Times have changed,” he said slowly. “The days of the gods are no more. Man has science and reason. We have grown beyond the old times when the nights were dark and this earth was lit only by fire.”

  Magaera looked into the distance. Was she thinking about the glory of past times, or the future that might welcome the Mer if only she would lead her people with reason and restraint? “This earth has changed in so many ways I do not yet understand.” She looked around, suddenly panicked. “My minister.” She clapped her hands. “I must speak with him. Now!”

  One of Magaera’s servants came out of the shadows. His hair, heavy and black, fell in lank curls around his shoulders. Even by the light of nearby lamps, his skin was pale with the unhealthy pallor of one who had never stood beneath the sun. His face was haggard. At first glance he appeared to be very young; yet a closer look revealed features lined with the woes of a hard and unrelenting life.

  Mason started. They barely seem human. He still hadn’t gotten used to how the people born in Ishaldi looked. The huslas, or lessers, were those unfortunate enough to be born with dark hair, eyes, and skin. According to Tessa Randall, as the animals of that doomed world had begun to die off, humans had slowly assumed their place, pulling carriages as if they were horses and plowing fields like oxen. Blond-haired, blue-eyed women were prized for their looks and were valued like pedigreed pets, companions to the Mer owners. The males were even more desired. Given a life of luxury, they were to be used only for propagation.

  That he’d be considered a prime specimen for breeding wasn’t an encouragement as far as Mason was concerned. Having his body pawed disgusted him, causing the pit of his stomach to curdle.

  Magaera’s servant lifted dull eyes. “You have no minister, my lady,” he answered in a voice barely above a whisper. “His body lies now beneath a cairn of stone.”

  The queen snorted. “Enough with your lies,” she hissed. “I saw him just the other day.”

  Her servant took a step backward. The wringing of his hands intensified. “Do you not remember, my lady? You fed yourself well upon his essence.”

  Mason froze. Oh, shit. So that was what had happened to Massey. Tessa had explained how the D’ema, or death magic, worked. Such a death was agonizing, akin to being tossed alive into a vat of boiling acid. The poor bastard—no matter what he’d done, nobody, not even a dog, deserved to die in such agony.

  Much to his surprise, Magaera chuckled. “Ah, now I remember.” She smacked her lips in an exaggerated manner and gestured to her servant to refill her goblet. “He tasted quite good.”

  Christ almighty, Mason thought. She’s as mad as a hatter.

  He nearly jumped when Magaera reached out, running the flat of her palm across his exposed abdomen. What remained of his clothing was in shreds. “I am sure you won’t mind taking his place. He had his uses but displeased me so.”

  Mason decided he’d rather be swallowed by a sea monster than endure another go-round with Magaera. Her decision to keep him wasn’t exactly encouraging. It looked as though he was going to be in for a long and miserable stay on Magaera’s island.

  The notion didn’t have long to linger in his mind.

  At the sound of heavy footsteps outside her chamber, Magaera came to instant attention. Two of her soldiers entered the room.

  Spears in hand and knives sheathed at their hips, both offered a deep bow.

  “How dare you disturb my rest!” she snapped.

  “My lady,” said one, “there is important news to be told.”

  Magaera stiffened. “Speak now,” she barked.

  “The humans have sent word,” the other answered formally. “They have declined the trade and say they will not turn over the criminals.”

  A tiny muscle in Magaera’s jaw jumped. “How dare they defy my wishes,” she said in a voice trembling with emotion
. “Do they not know I will strike them down with the wrath of the goddess herself?”

  The first soldier took up the message. “The humans say they will meet us on the field of battle, whether by land or by sea.”

  “They have many ships,” the second woman added with terse directness. “And the Nyx have joined them. Although the humans cannot easily make landfall, the Nyx have no impediment in these waters around the island.”

  Flinging her goblet across the room, Magaera pushed herself off the bed. “How dare they defy my wishes,” she repeated. “Do they not know I will bring the heavens down upon their heads?”

  One of the Mer soldiers stepped forward. “Curse not their heads, my lady.” Dropping to one knee, she brought her fist up against her chest in a gesture of solidarity. “We shall serve your will. The waters around this island shall run red with the blood of any who dare breach our shores.”

  Magaera ignored her, walking with great deliberation toward the balcony overlooking the shoreline. She held herself very stiff and erect. Her servant cowered, fearing an angry hand. “Deliver a message unto the humans,” she said without turning.

  The soldier still on her feet stepped forward. Although Mason couldn’t be sure, she seemed less eager than her partner to pledge devotion to Magaera’s cause. “What shall I say?”

  Magaera whirled. “Tell them, come the morrow, they shall see the power and strength of the Mer. I shall walk across these waters as if it is the land itself and drive their ships aground.”

  After a moment’s hesitation, the second soldier offered the salute her queen expected from a loyal servant. “I shall do as you wish, my queen.” Giving a final bow, she turned. Just for a second a tormented look flitted across her face. And then it vanished.

  Even from a distance Mason recognized her misgivings. He’d seen the same look on the faces of countless other men and women whom he’d served with in wartime. She would fight for her queen, perhaps to her death. But she wouldn’t be happy to make the sacrifice.

  Why must those in power send us to die without considering the consequences of their actions? There was, he realized then, no clear answer.

  The two soldiers left, disappearing back into the night, leaving no doubt in Mason’s mind that, come dawn, all hell would break loose. The vision of the bloodshed to come sickened him to the core of his being.

  Weary to the bone and aching from head to toe, he closed his eyes.

  Chapter 26

  Nobody was exactly sure what to expect when dawn arrived, but one thing was for certain. Everyone felt ill at ease and no one had slept a wink. By the time the first rays of light began to peek over the edge of the faraway horizon, the tension in the air was palpable, hanging over the coming day like a giant fist of doom. Veiled in mists, the island loomed in the distance.

  Addison, standing on the port bow of the Sea Horse, felt uncertainty gnawing in her gut. She glanced at her wrists, now encircled in an intricate arrangement of gold and jewels that extended halfway up her forearms. Andru, one of the few craftsmen remaining among the Nyx, had worked through the night to create the pieces. He was one of the few old enough to recall the lore behind the casting of the jewels of Atargatis. A variety of stones were needed, and the jewels had to be arranged in a certain way to maximize their output of energy. He’d also created a breastplate, which fit around her shoulders and covered most of her abdomen. Andru had worked without ceasing, amazing onlookers with his ability to create a weapon to counter the scepter.

  The downside was that it was going to drain away a lot of her own energy. If she expended too much too fast, she’d burn herself into a cinder, both physically and mentally.

  It would all come down to who was the stronger. Addison not only had to outwit Magaera; she had to outlast her. If she couldn’t counter whatever the Mer queen chose to throw at them, a lot of people might lose their lives. Magaera had warned she would come at dawn and that those who witnessed her coming would tremble and fall to their knees.

  Gwen stood beside her, gazing into the distance. Although Andru had had no time to construct a weapon for her, Gwen would be providing as much backup as she could from her own arsenal of crystals. She’d spent the last few hours in meditation, drawing in as much energy as she could without overloading her psychic circuits.

  “What do you think is going to happen?” Despite her outer calm, Gwen looked pale and frightened. Getting into a firefight with Magaera was the last thing anyone wanted to do, but Tessa’s and Mason’s lives depended on their success. They had to win. They just had to.

  Addison shook her head. “There’s no telling what she’s going to throw at us.” She glanced around the Sea Horse. Vice Admiral Dalton’s ship loomed nearby, practically dwarfing the smaller liner with its massive girth.

  The sound of footsteps interrupted the lull. “Anything?” Jovon’s smooth voice sounded from behind.

  Addison turned. Jovon wasn’t alone. Commander Hawkins followed at his heels, as did Kenneth and Blake. The looks on their faces were grim. Nevertheless, they were armed and ready to stand and fight.

  She shook her head. “So far, nothing.”

  Jovon nodded. “My men are in the water and ready to fight.”

  All nervous energy and angst, Kenneth couldn’t seem to control his hands. “This waiting is driving me mad.”

  Gwen laid a hand on her brother-in-law’s arm. “I’m certain she’s all right. I would sense if something had happened to her, I’m sure.”

  Addison vaguely followed the conversation. Goddess in heaven, how was she going to handle this if she couldn’t even keep her own thoughts straight? Fear of failure terrified her. Lack of knowledge of what would happen next only made her all the more anxious.

  What if I can’t…

  She pushed the notion away. Failure, she decided then and there, wasn’t an option.

  The sun rose a little higher, lighting the water with a pink-gold shimmer.

  Gwen suddenly pointed. “What’s that?”

  Everyone looked.

  Addison squinted. All she saw was the murky fog swirling around. It was like trying to look through pea soup. “I don’t see anything.”

  “There,” Gwen insisted. “The water around the edges of the island is turning white.”

  Commander Hawkins lifted a pair of binoculars to his eyes. “Holy shit,” he cursed under his breath. “She’s right.”

  All at once, the mist surrounding the island began to gather itself, rolling out across the water in a churning mass. As it made contact with the sea, a hard crust of ice began to form, instantly freezing into a solid mass. Its circumference widened, stretching outward and onward with breathtaking speed. Broadening and extending, it soon encased the ships. They were frozen in place, unable to move.

  “What the hell!” Hawkins exclaimed.

  Jovon immediately ran to the diver’s platform. Dropping to his knees, he frantically drove a fist against the chilly white surface. “She’s trapped my men beneath the ice!”

  No one had a chance to respond to his warning.

  Magaera suddenly appeared on the shore. Draped from head to foot in resplendent white robes, she glowed with all the energy of righteous anger. And she wasn’t alone. Flanking her to the right and the left, row after row of Mer soldiers appeared. Weapons at the ready, they were prepared to do some serious ass kicking.

  Addison felt her blood run cold. She had no way of knowing what Magaera was capable of. She wasn’t even sure she had enough firepower to counter what might head their way. It was like fighting blindfolded, with one arm tied behind her back. The odds were against them.

  A spike of fear clutched her heart. “Fuck,” she gasped. “I think we’re in trouble.” It was true. People were going to die today, no doubt about that. It was unavoidable. Turning away, however, was impossible. Her fight wasn’t only for her sisters, but for the Mer as well. Her people deserved a chance to thrive, to find their own way in the world without the heavy hand of tyranny and oppression h
anging over their heads. Today wasn’t just history in the making. Destiny, too, had brought them all to this moment.

  Gwen shot her a look. “Don’t let her get to you,” she shot back. “This display is going to cost her a lot of energy. If we can wear her down, we’ve got her beat.”

  “Steady now,” Blake added. “We’ve been through this before.”

  “Piece of cake,” Kenneth added.

  Wishing she felt as confident, Addison nodded. “You’re right. She puts on a good show, but it won’t last.”

  “She may not last,” Hawkins warned, “but she’s got a lot of soldiers. I hope Dalton’s got his guns pointed their way.”

  Addison shivered despite herself. In one mighty stroke they’d lost the Nyx and their ships were totally incapacitated, trapped in thick ice. What else can go wrong? she wondered in panic.

  They would soon find out.

  Queen Magaera stepped down onto the ice. The scepter in her hand punctuated every step. The Mer soldiers followed in her wake. Mason, too, was present.

  Addison gasped when she saw him. Although she tried not to let the sight of him affect her, she couldn’t stop the trembling that started deep inside her. Shackled and under heavy guard, his presence set off alarms in her head. Was he being presented as bait, or for another darker purpose?

  Tension throbbed between the two opposing factions for a minute or so. It didn’t take a mind reader to know that Queen Magaera intended to take every last one of them down to their knees.

  Addison swallowed hard and tried not to let her nervousness show. “Get your hands off my man,” she grated under her breath.

  Gwen shot her a look. “Let’s go get our people.”

  Addison nodded. “Game on, bitch.”

  Hurrying onto the diver’s deck, the sisters stepped onto the ice. Kenneth and Blake followed close on their heels. Jovon and Hawkins joined them. And they weren’t alone. Several members of the Sea Horse crew also filed into place behind them. The men were all armed. By their expressions, they were also ready to face whatever might come next.