Page 15 of Siren's Gift

I laughed and scooped him up before he could fall out and spill water everywhere.

Yep, he was ready.

After settling Finley onto my shoulder—his favorite perch—I grabbed my duffel bag and headed for the beach. The sun climbed high in the cloudless sky, casting a warmth on sand that seemed to stretch out endlessly along the shoreline.

As soon as I reached the sand’s edge, I took off my sandals and a relaxed sigh escaped my lips. The heat from the sun-soaked ground enveloped my bare feet, sending a tingling sensation through my entire body. Grains of sand shifted beneath my weight, soft and yielding, like a comforting embrace from the earth herself.

I took my time wandering away from the parking lot and civilization in general, relishing the feeling spreading up from the soles of my feet and deep into my very soul. It was a simple joy, grounding and invigorating, as if the essence of the ocean reached out to welcome me home.

A silly thought to humans, maybe, but sirens knew how alive the ocean truly was.

When I found a secluded section of the beach, I quickly stripped down to the two-piece swimsuit I wore beneath my clothes. I turned off my phone and tucked everything except a small satchel into the duffel I’d brought before hiding it all among the tall grasses growing along the beach’s edge. Hopefully, everything would still be there when I returned.

I swallowed hard.

IfI returned.

No, don’t think like that, I chided myself.

I would come back, even if it was with bad news.

My heart pounded as I stood on the beach and stared out over the water. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air and thrummed inside me. A breezetousled my hair into a dance around my face, and the salt-laden air caressed my skin.

It was time.

I approached the gently lapping waves and let the water rush over my feet. The cool touch of the ocean sent shivers down my spine, and I sucked in a breath as the sand buried my toes. I hesitated before going farther, but not because of the cold. Nostalgia surged within me, as did fear.

The sea had been my home and sanctuary for more than half my life, and yet the bustling city had also become home, weaving its way into the fabric of my existence. I had grown accustomed to the constant noise, the distinct hum of urban living.

I had even known a taste of love for the briefest of moments. Dominic had shown me a side to life I didn’t know existed, a side I thought only belonged in fairytales and fantasies. I wasn’t sure I’d ever find that real of a feeling again, and if my father had any say in the matter, I never would.

A soft touch against my cheek brought me back to the present. Finley rubbed his head against my skin, trilling softly. Even without words, I knew he could sense my conflicted thoughts.

Never going back to that crazy human world was a genuine risk, but it was a risk I had to take. I clenched my fists at my sides.

It was now or never.

Taking a deep breath, I ran into the waves and dove beneath the surface. The reunion with the cold, briny water was everything I hoped it would be, and more. Judging by Finley’s trills as he pushed away from me and disappeared in the surge, he agreed.

I took a moment to soak in the sensation before resurfacing for air. Finley returned to my side as I swam farther out, away from the waves tugging us back toward the beach.

When I was sure I was far enough to avoid any notice from the few humans walking the beach, I ducked beneath the surface. The water enveloped me again, and a sense of weightlessness embraced me like a long-lost friend. The gentle melody of the ocean replaced the sounds of the world above, like whispers that echoed through the underwater world.

Without another thought, I grasped the talisman and pulled it over my head. The pain was immediate and excruciating. I cried out, only to suck water down my still-human lungs.

I thrashed against the throbbing in my chest, competing with the agony ripping through my entire body. Fear clawed at my throat.

Oh, sweet Tethys…

I was going to drown.

A fiery heat swept down my legs as they rejoined, my skin seeming to melt as my limbs fused. Purple scales erupted along the length of my merging legs, covering them and continuing to rise toward my belly, and shimmery webbing grew between my fingers. My body jerked uncontrollably as my lungs fought for air despite the water filling them.

Then suddenly, I could breathe again. I sucked in gasping breaths through my gills, thankful Marissa wouldn’t be attending my funeral later. At least not from this ridiculous moment.

I had experienced the transformation’s pain during our few swims over the years, but I had been smarter those times and stayed above the surface until the change was complete. This time, excitement and nerves had gotten the better of me, and I’d nearly paid the ultimate price.

This is amazing!Finley’s tinkling voice chimed in my mind.

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