Page 68 of Ensnaring the Siren

“Different moral code is a real nice way of saying she’s killed and eaten people,” Hatcher muttered. “Can you really be with someone who’s done either of those things?”

“That.” Perez jutted her thumb in Hatcher’s direction. “I have nothing against Nireed, but that’s some heavy shit to know about a partner.”

“You let me worry about that.”

“We’re worried about you. Whatever you want from this, I don’t see how it would work in the long term. What happens when you get new orders and need to move? Would you ask her to move with you? Can she live on land? And even if that answer is ‘yes,’ would it be fair to ask her to leave behind her truest self? To lie about who she really is? How would your parents react if they knew?”

Perez wasn’t wrong, but man, she sure picked a hell of a time to say it. In as calm a voice as Reid could muster, he said, “I hear you. I’ve thought about a lot of this stuff myself. But I’m gonna need a minute. Bringing this up while I was already pissed off was not the move.”

“That’s fair. I’m sorry.”

Hatcher nodded toward the door and Perez followed him out, giving him room to get his shit together.

Stressing out about relationship challenges and disapproving friends would have to wait. The still unresolved Nautic situation was a much bigger concern.

Not having answers now didn’t mean they wouldn’t come. But fuck, what was he going to tell Nireed? After everything—witnessing her friend claw her baby out of a fishing net, getting shot protecting them, finding the frozen bodies of her kin in a fishing hold—Lieutenant Commander Griffin’s lackluster news would be a slap in the face. Even though there was a strategy and a process, it still reeked of inaction.

Reid’s phone vibrated against his leg. There was only one of two people who regularly called him, and sure enough, Mom illuminated the screen. She knew his work schedule, so for her to be calling now probably meant it was important. “Hi Mom. Everything okay?”

“Reid.” He heard her fraught sigh of relief. “Sorry to bother you at work. I just needed to hear your voice.”

“Mom, what’s going on?”

“Nothing. The Mom alarm bells were going off. You are okay, right?”

“A lot going on at work, but yeah, I’m good.” It wasn’t technically a lie, but in the space of what could only be a five-minute phone call while he was on duty, he wasn’t about to say something that might make her spiral out in a panic.

This was the woman who didn’t even want him to be a lifeguard, let alone join a river rescue team. And when he announced that he wanted to enlist in the Coast Guard, they’d gotten into several heated arguments. It wasn’t until he got sent off to basic that she’d finally laid off, but man, he’d never known someone so terrified of water.

But nothing quite beat the time he shared the news about his reassignment to Haven Cove. She’d gone deathly pale, found the nearest chair and sat down, claiming a dizzy spell. A strange and alarming reaction considering she’d already been making trips out to the area. Something for work.

He’d tried asking her about her reaction but each time she’d brush him off. “It’s the thalassophobia,” she’d say. There was more she wasn’t telling him, he was certain, but what could he do?

“How about I call you as soon as I’m off duty, and we catch up?”

“Actually, I’ll be in Haven Cove tomorrow for a work trip. I know it’s last minute, but I’ll get a room at a local inn, so don’t you worry about hosting. Maybe we could meet for brunch or something on your day off? Catch up in person?”

Worry curdled his stomach. Did she book this flight because of the thalassophobia? Or just because she missed him? Keeping his voice steady, he replied, “That sounds great. Send me your flight and lodging details?”

“As soon as we hang up. I won’t keep you any longer. Just happy to hear your voice. I love you and can’t wait to see you soon.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

Why did he get the feeling there was more she wasn’t saying?

Chapter

Twenty-Three

A pod-wide mating frenzy was in full swing, just as Aersila predicted.

Nireed could scent it in the water, not to mention she’d already passed three pairs brazenly mating out in the open, wherever the mood struck. Either this was a chain reaction from the onset of Nireed’s own mating frenzy during her last trip home, or everyone was just thrilled to be alive after the fight on Gale’s Promise. No more lives were lost, thank the Twenty-Armed Goddess.

The pod appeared to be mostly healed. Or at least, their injuries weren’t impeding their “expansion” efforts. Which was just as well. Some joy and bliss were needed after all they had endured.

And when she’d stopped by to check on Delphine and Melusina, both had been relieved to see her but distracted. While Nireed hadn’t technically interrupted anything, they longed for their mates, and really it was only a small matter of time before they were all at it again.

She was glad to see their injuries had healed, and that Celia was happily playing in a corner, blowing bubbles, and swatting them with pudgy, clawed hands. If the little one remembered being trapped in a net, she didn’t show it. With any luck, she’d be too young for any such terrible memories to stick.

---