Page 54 of Siren in Love
“I…I’m dreaming, right?Oh, or is this some themed resort activity?A murder mystery or something?”He giggled, but Mike heard the confusion and disbelief in it.
“It’s real, Corvin.You know it’s real.You always knew something wasn’t quite right with Peter, deep down.You know no one hums or sings as much as I do.You know this is real.”
“Yeah, you like humming, but that’s just… You’re…you’re not some monster that wants to sing sailors to their death, are you?Do you want to—”
Corvin swallowed, and in that sound, Mike could just make out a drop of fear.Still, Corvin didn’t pull away from Mike.
“No, we don’t lure sailors, and no, I will never hurt you, ever.Nor will I let anyone else touch you.Do you understand?”Corvin nodded, but he didn’t say anything, so Mike couldn’t be sure what he was thinking.“Listen, honey, we need to move.Now.Do you remember Dominic?Fuck.Of course you remember fucking Dominic.He’s a necromancer, apparently crazy and delusional, and he’s raised at least one zombie in a bid to win my love back.Why the fuck he thinks that’s a good idea I can’t tell you.I know this is a lot, but we have to move.”
Corvin’s eyes went large in the darkness.“What?”
Mike pulled him to his feet.“Get dressed.”He switched on the lights, which had Corvin struggling to see for a moment, so Mike tossed clothes his way even as he found his own.“We need Peter for this.I’m no good with zombies.”
Corvin giggled as he struggled with his pants.“This is a murder mystery, and we’re the first people to die, right?”He wanted to believe that, Mike heard it in his voice.
Mike walked over and took Corvin’s face in his hands.“No, Corvin.I’m a siren, and I love you with all my heart.This is real.Do you trust me?”
“Yes, I trust you.Of course I trust you.”Mike could tell Corvin meant it, and for now, it had to be enough.
25
Mike
Unsurprisingly,Peteropenedthedoor not three seconds after Mike’s knock.The vampire didn’t look as if he’d been asleep.
“What?”Peter said, eyeing their hastily thrown-on clothes.“‘Bookish Is the New Sexy.’Hmm.Lovely T-shirt choice for a librarian, Corvin.”
Mike swallowed hard and ignored Peter’s interest in Corvin’s quirky wardrobe.“I told Corvin.Listen, there’s a situation.My necromancer ex wants me back and is using at least one zombie to achieve that fantasy.”
Peter rolled his eyes.“What did I tell you about dating necromancers, Michael?”
Corvin giggled with nerves, and Peter looked straight at him, which made Corvin shut right up.
“Keep it together, Corvin,” Peter said.“Things like this happen, and one just has to keep one’s wits about himself.While one goes ahead and decapitates the undead.”
“Umm.D-decapitate?”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Mike said.
“Yes, it’s the most effective way to dispose of them.Michael, I’m sure Corvin can handle the sight of one or two decapitations just fine.Recall how competently he helped dispatch the yule cat?”
“What?”Corvin squeaked.“Yulewhat?”
“Relax, he’s joking.”Mike knew full well Peter wasn’t.He was turning into do-not-fuck-with-me Peter, and not the kind that would sue you if you did.The kind that would stash your body behind some crates in an abandoned cotton mill if you tried anything stupid.Dominic had no idea what was coming for him.
“Yule cat.Come on inside.”Peter ushered them across the threshold and closed the door behind them.“You brained it with your dictionary—very nice form that.I knew then and there that Michael did well to claim you.”
“Uhm.C-claim… Can we turn on a light?It’s totally dark in here.”
“I see well in the dark, and it’s better if we leave the light off for now.We wouldn’t want to give our position away.”
“Peter, what do we do?”Mike asked.“I’d love to lure Dominic into the ocean, but—”
“He knows you and will have brought earplugs.”Peter nodded.“Kindly walk me through this from the top.Why is your ex here when we specifically went to Morrowvale to get away from skyclad Wiccans?”
“Wiccans?”Corvin said.Mike made for the couch and pulled Corvin down with him.“You mean…witches are real?”
“Of course they are,” Peter said.“But Wiccans aren’t witches.Witches, thankfully, do their magic clothed most of the time.Michael, the necromancer.”
