by Helen Scott
“Thank you for your gifts. I will send one of my maidens to pick them up shortly. As for your brother, I will attend to him directly. His appearance matters not to me,” she said, reaching for his hand.
“As you wish, my lady. If you are ready, we can leave now.”
Aphrodite nodded at him, and Hal jumped them directly to the training room.
Alec’s eyes widened in surprise, and he fell to his knees.
“My lady, you are truly the most beautiful of the gods and goddesses.”
“Thank you, son of the siren, what is your name?”
“Alec, my lady.”
“Rise, Alec, and tell me your story.”
Hal left when Alec rose, to give them privacy as his brother relayed the story of his relationship with Ellie.
“You became unable to control yourself when she left, and it still has not abated?”
“No, my lady. That is why I am in this cell, to protect my brothers from my outbursts.” Alec was ashamed of his behavior but knew in his heart he was equally unable to control it.
“Do you know if she suffers similarly?” Aphrodite was pacing regally in front of him.
“I don’t know, my lady. She went home to Scotland, and I stayed here to respect her wishes.”
“My poor, lovesick son, your pain shimmers around you like heat over a fire.” Aphrodite shook her head, her blond curls shimmering like liquid gold in the light. “She is most likely your soul mate, and that is why you have become unstable. Plato had some of it right when he said humans were created as a pair. Although where he got the circle business from I’ll never know. If you were reunited with your other half, then your soul cannot stand being apart from it again.” She sighed, pity filling her eyes. “There is only one thing for you to do. Go to her. Sing for her.”
“But—”
“Do not interrupt.” She gave him a hard look. “Sing for her. If she is not enthralled by your song, even better. If she dislikes your song, then you are true soul mates, and not even Zeus could break you apart—once your souls have been united.”
“She won’t be hypnotized by my voice?”
“Not if she’s your true love.”
“Thank you, my lady, thank you so much.”
“If she is hypnotized, then it will be up to your brothers to decide how to deal with you, which you won’t thank me for.” She brushed imaginary dirt from her creamy dress as though she didn’t want to think about the consequences of what could happen if she was wrong.
“You have given me hope, which is more than I have had in months. For that alone I will praise your name.”
“I will leave you to your quest for your love then. Good luck, my son. May your love be everlasting.” Alec’s heart felt light as a feather as Aphrodite went in search of Hal to be jumped out. He knew his love for Ellie wasn’t just a passing emotion, and now he could prove it.
Chapter 21
Alec’s chest was tight as they landed in Scotland. He had been keeping himself calm by focusing on his breathing all through the turbulence and the noise of the wheels descending and now the wheels touching down.
He hated flying, but they needed their luggage, and while short jumps from London to Inverness weren’t so much of an issue, jumping with luggage halfway around the world was something neither Alec nor Hal were prepared to do. He wouldn’t have had anyone else with him at this point. Hell, he would have preferred to go alone, but he knew he needed Hal in case things went wrong when he sang for Ellie. Plus they had a pit stop to make, and Hal would be the only one who could control him.
The other passengers were scrambling off the plane as quickly as possible. Hal and Alec watched from the first-class cabin and waited. They were in no rush, and both hated being crammed into crowds of people. Hal had been quiet for most of the trip, and if Alec couldn’t read him so well, he would’ve assumed his brother was completely at ease. Alec could see the signs of tension in Hal’s shoulders, and combined with the fact that his ears were bright red, they belied any thoughts of relaxation. Putting either of them in the crush of people desperate to escape this tin can of a plane would be a bad idea, so they sat and watched, waiting for their chance to escape the flying casket that had carried them over the ocean.
“Remember when we found the island?” Hal said under his breath, his eyes fixed on the seat in front of him.
“Yeah, that ship we were on almost crashed into it. How could I forget?”
“I miss taking voyages to get from place to place.” He sounded so wistful it made Alec’s heart ache for the days when they had been free to fly whenever and wherever they wanted.
“I know, bud.” Alec reached over and squeezed Hal’s shoulder. “The air in here is so stale, and the scent of the humans is overwhelming.”
“There’s no wind in our feathers or sea to soar over.” Hal’s back twitched as though he wanted to take flight, and he glanced over to the exit.
“We’ll go to the shore and pay our respects to the Oceanids of the area before we start. Plus from what I hear of the Scottish coast, you’ll have plenty of fresh air and waves to last you for a while.”
Hal grunted an agreement as he nodded to the thinning crowd.
They were the last ones in first class, everyone else rushing to leave and taking advantage of their proximity to the exit. It was finally their turn. They made their way off the plane and waited what felt like an eternity to get their luggage. Alec’s wings were itching to fly and feel fresh air. He focused on taking this trip one step at a time and tried to ignore his heart, which was beating hard, like it knew it was getting closer to Ellie. Finally they found a corridor that led to an employees-only area and jumped out.
Hal had tracked down Robbie for them, and that meant instead of jumping straight to Inverness and Ellie, they were making a detour to Edinburgh. Alec couldn’t stand the thought of being delayed from getting to Ellie, but this was also something he needed to take care of before he saw her. He wanted to be the bigger man and just ignore this part of her past, but he couldn’t. He just wasn’t that noble.
They had found Robbie’s presence all over social media and discovered that every Friday, after a long week of working at a warehouse, he indulged in some fish and chips at a local chippie before heading to a pub and knocking back a few pints. Whenever they were dealing with modern humans, Hal and Alec were always thankful for social media and the glimpses it gave into their subjects’ lives. It never failed to help them track someone or something down.
In Robbie’s case, it led them straight to the Selkie Fish and Chip Shop and the Crown Pub. They had jumped to the house they had rented for the night before getting suited up for a brawl. Alec knew from what Ellie said Robbie would fight back, and he wasn’t about to ruin any of his good clothes on that waste of space.
As Alec pulled on an old T-shirt he didn’t mind getting blood on, he could sense Hal waiting for him. At some point he would have to make arrangements with his brother—in case this whole thing went sideways—but now wasn’t the time. Hal was the picture of patience as Alec came out of what was his room for the night. He had put on some jeans he used for painting and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Hal, on the other hand, was in dress pants and a button-down shirt with a very faint, almost unnoticeable, pinstripe. Both were tailored to perfection.
“Going on the prowl?”
“Want to make a good first impression on Scotland. I don’t remember ever coming here before. Besides, I’m not the one fighting. That’s all you, my brother. I’m only here to ensure you don’t kill him.”
“Fair point.”
“I’m sure the lovely ladies of these parts will be very welcoming.”
“I’m sure they will—for you.”
“I know you have no interest, but you can at least be my wingman.”
“With pleasure.” Alec was more than happy to help his brother find some happiness.
They went outside and walked down to the shore—the wind whipping around them, pulling them clos
er to the water—until finally they each dropped to their knees, whispering thanks and praise to the Oceanids who guarded the bodies of water in the area. Then they left for the pub, knowing they would both get what they wanted out of the evening there.
Robbie was sitting in what appeared to be his usual seat—at least from the photos he posted on social media. He had a friend with him, and they were cheering on a football match playing on the television over the bar. Alec watched the little jackass approach the bar and order another round. He was already ruddy-cheeked and tipsy. Clearly, he and his friend were here for the long haul, so Alec had plenty of time to decide how best to accomplish his task. He wanted to just lay into him right now—get it over and done with—but that wouldn’t be good for anyone.
Hal had already struck up a conversation with a group of women around the other side of the bar, which was earning him some disgruntled looks from many of the patrons, including, to Alec’s surprise, Robbie. His task might not be as time consuming as he’d expected.
Alec discreetly leaned in to listen to what Hal was up to.
“So, yeah, we’re here to get him back to the love of his life.”
“That’s so romantic!”
There was a chorus of awws and cooing sounds. Alec hadn’t expected to be used as bait for Hal’s seduction, but there was no doubt a lot of women loved a good romance, and apparently traveling to Scotland from the US qualified as a grand, romantic gesture to them.
“Want to introduce me to your friends?” Alec said, sidling around Hal, making sure he could keep Robbie in his peripheral vision.
“This is Eileen, Nora, and Donna.” Hal shot a questioning look in Alec’s direction.
“Nice to meet you, ladies.” Alec looked at each of them individually, making eye contact. They were all brunettes and all on too-high heels, wearing skirts that were almost too short. Just the sort of woman Alec would have devoured before he met Ellie. Now they were merely a pond in comparison to the ocean that was Eilidh.
“Ye really came all this way to find yer love?” Nora seemed to be the appointed speaker for the group. Her eyelashes fluttered at him as she spoke, as though she wanted to convince him his love for Ellie was a passing thought.
“We did. I can honestly say I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, and I wanted to prove it to her.” He looked down into his beer and glanced back up at them, wearing the love for Ellie on his face. He was putting on a show, and Hal was picking up on the act. Out of the corner of his eye, Alec saw Robbie elbowing his friend and nodding in their group’s direction—clearly getting agitated.
“I’m sure you lovely ladies will find your special someones soon. Hal, don’t you think they will?”
“I’d be happy to be their special someone for the night.” He winked at Donna, who giggled at him.
Alec was never good at intricate water play the way Hal was, but he was good enough to spill a drink when someone moved and make it look like an accident, which is exactly what he did when Nora took a sip of her beer.
She made a noise indicating she was disgusted with herself.
“Here, let me help with that.” Alec deftly patted the damp area of her top with a napkin, earning a deep blush from Nora. “Sorry, I hope that wasn’t too personal. I just had a napkin and thought I could help.”
“You’re all right.” She smiled up at him, clearly thinking her eyelash batting from earlier was working.
Alec smiled at her and could almost see her melt for him. If she was at all appealing, he would have no trouble getting her out of there and into bed with him, but—and he never thought he would ever say this about anyone—none of the women he had seen appealed to him in the way Ellie did.
“You’ve very delicate ’ands,” Nora said.
“Oh, thank you.” He held a hand up, and she took it, admiring it as though he were Adonis himself. “I think it comes from being a painter.”
“Well aren’t ye a fancy one!”
Hal had turned to the side a little and was having a separate conversation with Donna, their heads bowed together as they talked in hushed tones. Hal ran the backs of his fingers down Donna’s arm, earning a shiver of anticipation and a deep blush from her. He was progressing well, so Alec just needed to keep Eileen and Nora busy.
“What brought you lovely ladies out tonight?”
“Eileen just broke up with her boyfriend. So we’re ’aving a girls’ night.”
“Oh, Eileen, I’m sorry! I hope you aren’t too distraught.”
“He’s a drunk ’nd an eejit. I ain’t gonna miss ’im.”
“Well, it sounds like you are better off without him.”
“Yeah, I would be, if he’d stop starin’ at us like that.”
“He’s here?” Alec feigned shock. He had known Robbie was interested in this group of girls, but up until now he hadn’t been sure why. Now it made complete sense.
“Aye, over in that corner, watchin’ us like a perv.”
If someone had asked Alec which one of the women he was talking with Robbie had been interested in, he wouldn’t have picked Eileen. She looked the least like Ellie, tall and slender, her makeup heavy and her hair long. Alec was willing to bet she had extensions in, and her clothes left little to the imagination.
“So do you want to make him jealous?”
Eileen looked up at him, curiosity sparking in her eyes—which may have been blue, but there was so much makeup around them he could hardly tell.
“What d’ya have in mind?”
“Well, we could all go to another bar together? He would see you leaving with me and Donna and Nora with Hal. You know I’m only interested in the woman I traveled here to see, but he doesn’t know that. So you won’t feel pressured, but you get to rub his nose in it.”
“Nah, I dinna want everyone thinkin’ I’m a tart or somethin’.”
“Fair enough.” Alec knew he was taking a gamble with that, but he wanted to try. “I could just flirt with you like crazy. You know, make him see other men are interested in you too.”
She grinned at him and then at Nora. “Don’t be daft.”
“I’m serious. Nothing wrong with causing a little jealousy after a breakup.”
The two girls smiled at him, and Eileen dipped her head in a nod.
“Let me go and get another round first. I’ll be right back.” Alec returned with the drinks to see Hal getting even more handsy with Donna, and Eileen and Nora giggling to themselves.
“Cheers.” Both ladies took long pulls on their beers.
“So what do you do, Eileen?”
“Oh, I work in the factory with Robbie.” She smiled at him.
“Ah, I see.” He had positioned himself closer to her than before and was pulling out all his flirting stops, brushing hair out of her eyes and using the smile that made women weak in the knees, not to mention all but ignoring Nora.
Alec knew at some point Robbie would have had enough and would confront him. He was too possessive to not. As if on cue, right as he brushed an imaginary speck of dust off the sleeve of Eileen’s dress, he got a tap on the shoulder.
“What d’ye think you’re doin’?”
“Having a conversation with two very lovely ladies. Right, ladies?”
“Aye. We was just havin’ a blether, Robbie.”
“Aye well, ’e had ’is hands all o’er the two o’ ye.” Robbie shot a disgusted glance at the two of them before rounding on Alec. “What? Couldn’t pick one? Was ye tryin’ to take ’em both home?”
“Not at all.” Alec smiled, knowing Robbie wouldn’t believe it even if it was the truth.
“You lads all right?” the bartender called.
“Aye, just settin’ the tourists straight, that’s all.” Robbie was close enough that Alec could smell the beer on his breath. Alec wanted to reach out and strangle him. Instead, he smiled again.
“What do we need to be set straight on?” Alec saw the bartender shake his head out of the corner of his eye as he felt Hal come up be
hind him on his right.
“Ye need to keep yer ’ands off our women.”
“Ladies, are either of you attached to this man?”
“No,” Eileen said, and Nora shook her head. Donna had backed off behind them.
“Whether they are with me or not, you don’t get to fondle them in public and get away with it.” Robbie poked a finger into Alec’s chest as if to accentuate his point.
“I don’t remember fondling anyone. You might be talking about my brother.”
“Don’t even get me started on ’im. Both of you need to leave—now.”
“No.” Alec stared Robbie down.
“Lads, take it outside, all right?” the bartender called.
“He’s right. Let’s take this outside.” Robbie pushed at Alec’s shoulder again.
“If you insist.” Alec shrugged as though he didn’t care either way, even though this was what he had wanted all along. He had craved the coming moment ever since Ellie revealed what had happened.
“Alec, you don’t have to—” Eileen pipped up from behind him.
“I do.” Alec turned and squeezed her shoulder. “Just promise me you won’t get back together with this fool.”
“No’ in a million years.” She was more serious than Alec had seen her all night, which for some reason made him all the more sure of this course of action.
“Good.” Alec smiled at her, truly thankful that he knew one more woman wouldn’t be at risk of Robbie’s temper.
Hal followed Robbie and his silent friend outside with Alec following quickly behind. The doors hadn’t even shut when Robbie threw the first punch, hitting Alec squarely in the jaw as the silent friend attempted to hit Hal, who was much faster on his feet than he looked.
Clearly, Robbie thought his punch would make Alec back down, but Alec barely even moved. He was used to demigods and half-breeds like himself throwing the punches; a human was nowhere near as strong.
