Page 15 of The Howl
“I’ll show you weaker, mouth breather. Come say that to my face.”
“They like to act angry to goad their prey into arguments or play on your other emotions to induce pity. No matter what they say or do, keep away from the water. Got it?”
The trio of new humans was silent so long that I glanced up. Kelsey and Zoe, orphaned sisters from New York, were about my age. Neither of the brunettes looked up, but I caught Kelsey’s nod beside Fenris as his gaze locked with mine.
“You okay?” he mouthed.
I gave a small smile and nod and told myself I was lucky to have such an amazing group of friends. Even if none of them actually knew the real me. That thought just brought back Eugene’s comment about my real eyes.
I nudged him to catch his attention and leaned closer.
“They aren’t my real eyes,” I said.
“What?” Eugene asked, turning his head to look at me.
“My real eyes are my brown ones.”
He frowned, and before I could stop him, he pulled the earplug from his ear. Several sirens immediately started to sing. I watched his eyes glaze over.
I grabbed for his earbud to shove it back in his ear but missed when he turned his head toward the water. He leaned in his seat, teetering toward the pool. I grabbed for his shirt, my hold barely there as three mermaids surged up from the water and grabbed him.
He was gone in seconds.
I dove in after him. The water churned with the number of mermaids and sirens that surrounded us. Eugene was pulled away from me. I fought to get to him, but they tugged my hair and clawed my face, trying to keep me from him.
Something inside me snapped. My vision sharpened, showing me a galaxy of tiny bubbles reflecting light within the water. The beauty didn’t distract me from my purpose, though.
The next mermaid to reach for me got my full attention.
“Kneel before me, mermaid,” I mouthed underwater.
Her eyes went wide as her fins disappeared, replaced by feet. She started to sink even as her arms flailed to bring her to the surface.
My gaze swung to the cluster of mermaids and sirens fighting for Eugene.
“You will all kneel before me,” I mouthed.
They shifted from fins to feet and began to sink the same as the first one had, leaving Eugene floating unconscious in the water. I swam to him and wrapped my arms around him to bring him to the surface.
He didn’t gasp for air when our heads cleared the water.
“Eugene?” I said, tapping his face. He couldn’t die. Not like this. Not in the pool.
I barely had that thought when he gave a watery cough. Water gushed from his mouth, and he started treading water. His eyes met mine.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yep. Stay away from the water. Got it.”
I grinned.
His eyes dipped to my mouth.
Before I could think, I had my legs wrapped around his waist. He continued to tread water for both of us as my hand pressed against his chest just over his rapidly beating heart. The way he looked at me, full of need and desire, and the way the sweet scent of his lust filled my nose made my head swim with giddy anticipation. He was almost mine. I could feel it.
“Tell me you want me,” I said, my mouth an inch from his.
His shaky exhale warmed my lips. I could already taste him.
