Page 40 of Rotanev
Yep.
Black dots decorated Nero’s serious face. I’d forgotten to breathe. Couldn’t remember how to now. Which was fine. In this world of make-believe, maybe I didn’t need oxygen? No, I needed water. Because I was a siren.
I tried to laugh but had no air left in my lungs to manufacture the sound.
And wow, was I dizzy.
“Kailiani.” The note of concern in Nero’s voice barely registered.
His handsome features disappeared behind a cloak of darkness.
This was all too much.
Hopefully, when I woke, it’d be in a world I understood.
Although, a small part of me hoped I wouldn’t. Because at least in this reality, Nero knew everything about me. No secrets there. Just… chaos.
11
Nero
“That seemed to go well,”Morpheus noted as I walked through the living area.
I snorted, ignoring his smart-ass commentary, and went to the refrigerator to retrieve a bottle of water. “Dolos is in the city,” I told him.
“I heard,” he replied, a tablet in his lap. “I’m searching for a Corban now, but I’m not well versed in this updated technology. I may need to call in a favor or two.”
“Considering Kailiani thinks this is all a dream, that might be best.” She wasn’t in any condition to provide me with directions to the “loan shark’s” house, but I wanted him dealt with as soon as possible.
That memory Morpheus had tapped into had set my blood on fire.
All those whispered words were a way to manipulate my innocent siren, and the demigod had succeeded. “I want to drown him,” I seethed.
“I’ll see what I can do about locating him,” Morpheus replied, having his own reasons for wanting Dolos dead. The trickster god had a penchant for pissing off the higher deities.
I should never have allowed him to attend the ceremonies.
All this time, I’d thought Kailiani had played me by leaving the morning of our nuptials. However, no. It’d been the day before, and I hadn’t even noticed.
Because I’d been too damn busy making sure all the gods played nice in my realm.
What I should have done was talk to my betrothed, to make sure she knew my true intentions for her.
Lesson learned.
That mistake would not happen again.
I found her sitting up in my bed when I returned, a blank look on her face. She blinked at me as I approached, visibly shaking herself from her thoughts. “Hi,” she greeted me, her voice coming off a little too high.
“Kailiani, none of it was a dream,” I told her, knowing that was exactly what she hoped. “Drink this.” I handed her the water and sat beside her on the mattress. She didn’t move or react, just clutched the bottle tightly. It gave me an idea.
Reaching over, I unscrewed the top and said, “Open your mouth.”
“Wh—”
Using my elemental gift, I ordered the water to rise in a stream from the plastic to her parted lips.
Her eyes widened as she tried to move away from the substance, but I followed her with ease. “Drink, Kailiani.”
