Page 32 of Siren Sins
She glanced at him, looking him up and down. “I almost didn’t recognize you without all the blood and grime. You were that guy trapped in Detective Anderson’s dungeon.” Her eyes narrowed. “It seems Sonya has found her soulmate.” His jaw flexed as if he wanted to retort that statement, but he stayed silent. Sarah sighed. “Okay, fine. I’ll leave. If you’ve come here for me, then you’ve wasted your time. But my father will want to talk with you. The supernatural community is being ripped apart and he’s going to have to be the one to wipe the memories of the world. He could use your help if you’ve been in Shanghai and can bring him up to speed.”
I blinked at her. “Father?” I staggered. We’d come here for a male muse. They were the only ones that could fix what was going on in Shanghai. I supposed it was dimwitted of me not to realize that Apollo could be Sarah’s father. There were only three possible candidates, after all.
Warily, I gazed at the sirens who watched us. “I assume your siren friends are cool with his daughter being among them?”
Sarah straightened and looked down at me along the perfect ridge of her nose that I used to kiss in the darkness of night. “My father has befriended the sirens and they work for him. They’re not a race to turn your nose up at. I’ve gotten to know them as well and they may be lost souls, but they’ve helped me to find my way again.” Her grip tightened on Vikki’s and I bristled with jealousy. “If you’ve come to rekindle what we’ve once had, it’s too late. I’ve found my people now.”
Anger and pride roiled in my stomach. I didn’t like that a male muse had somehow found a way to control the sirens, must less that Sarah seemed to be neck-deep in seaweed with them. “I didn’t come here for you. Don’t flatter yourself,” I snapped. “I came because I need to talk to your father. I’d heard that there was a male muse in Miami. One of the dragons is my lover and I won’t see him harmed. I’ll trade information for his safety.” I left out the bit where the entire supernatural community was in danger of being exposed. She’d find that out soon enough.
If Sarah was affected by the statement, she didn’t even blink. “A dragon suits you better than I ever did.”
I glowered. “Don’t be so petty. What we had was special and you’re the one who wanted to throw it all away.”
She shrugged. “I’ll leave you to the sirens to discuss your business. They confer with my father on such matters.” She turned into Vikki’s embrace and gave her a long, sensual kiss. Sarah glanced at me and a flicker of a triumphant smile twitched at the edge of her mouth before she sauntered away.
Luke kept his grip on my shoulder, even when I started to glow red with the power of my rage and fought the urge to chase after her and tackle her to the ground. The Blood Stone lived inside of me and reacted to my emotional whims and I hated how everyone could see how Sarah affected me. I’d been with her so long that even though she wasn’t one of my four, her connection as one of the seven, one of my sins, left a lingering bond that wouldn’t quite go away.
The sirens didn’t seem perturbed by my magic, just fascinated. They pressed in and ran their fingers over the red hue across my skin and made soft, sensual sounds of appreciation.
With so many around us, their magical song slipped through the barrier I’d put around myself. I swayed under the power of the enticement they wafted over me like a net. A siren’s magic worked on any creature, and I wasn’t surprised to see Luke’s eyes droop with interest.
“Well now that I can speak,” he said, his voice low and husky as he cupped Vikki’s cheek, “I can say this,” he leaned in close, then pinched her chin hard, “back the fuck off.”
Vikki squeaked with surprise and flailed out of his grip. The others pushed away with frowns of disapproval.
“All yours, Vikki,” said an older siren with a song underneath her words that crashed like waves. “We’re not looking for this kind of food.” She crinkled her nose at me, and then gave Luke a steady glower before retreating.
Vikki sighed when they were left alone. “Finally. I thought they would never leave.”
I gave Vikki a raised brow. “Really?”
She nodded. “I’m so glad you’re here. I made a mistake with Sarah and now she’s…” she turned to glance over her shoulder, “different.”
Luke frowned. “How do you mean? Like she speeds around waves like a fish? Or she’s a completely different person on land?” He grinned. “You mean she wasn’t always like that?”
I slapped him on the shoulder. “Quit being annoying.”
He shrugged.
Vikki grabbed my wrists as a frantic tone crept into her voice. “You don’t understand. This is all my fault. I told her to find a Tear of the Ocean for me and now she’s becoming worse. It’s doing something to her.”
My eyes widened. “You turned her into a fucking mermaid?”
Luke gave me a raised brow. “I think I missed this class in supernatural school. What’s a Tear of the Ocean?” He glanced the way Sarah had gone. “And she’s a mermaid? Looked like she had legs to me.”
Vikki sighed. “Tears of the Ocean are coalesced supernatural magics that have drifted to the bottom of the sea. The mermaids make them and protect them. When I restored Sarah’s powers, she was a mermaid for a few hours, and she got me one of the sea gems.”
“What did you want it for?” I snapped. “She could have been lost to the sea forever. No one becomes a mermaid and comes back.”
Vikki swallowed. “A muse can. Her father told me—”
My hand shot out before I could think and wrapped around her throat. “She said you worked for her father. Never trust a male muse. What did he want with a Tear of the Sea, hmm? It was all his idea to risk his own daughter’s soul?”
Luke pried my fingers away from Vikki’s throat. “Loosen up, Sonya,” he chided. “She’s just the messenger.”
“No,” I said, glowering at the siren who stumbled to the sands and rubbed the blossoming purple bruises at her neck. “She’s the one who did this to Sarah.” I nudged her with my foot. “What are her father’s plans?”
Vikki frowned. “If I tell you, he’ll kill me.”
