looked out over the Bay. Key Sirena was really something. With the sun high in the sky, the water sparkled blue, and she could see straight to the sandy bottom. Boats knocking created a baritone wind chime, and the salty air tickled her skin.
She pulled out of her reverie to see Sidon watching her, a curious smile on his face. “I forgot how cute you are.”
Isa blushed at his momentary sweetness. Then she smiled.
The silence between them stretched tight. The mermaid looked out over the bay, at the white boats glinting, at the colorful baskets of flowers hanging off the arbors, always feeling his presence beating against her like a pulse. It was all so comforting. She’d miss it when she left.
Not content to mind her own business for long, Melly shuffled back to their table. “I see you’ve hooked back up with our Sidon here. I always knew you kids would work it out. I remember the two of you together—never seen two bigger sets of moon-eyes. Couldn’t keep his claws off you, either, if I recall! You gonna settle down here now?”
Ismaelda choked on her piece of bread. One thing she could say about the mere, they didn’t waste any time. Eyes tearing, she coughed and spurted before answering.
“I don’t quite know yet, Melly. But I’m sure happy to be visiting.”
Her look threatened a scolding. Isa had a feeling the older woman was biting back a mouthful of unwanted advice as she turned and ambled back to the kitchen.
Isa didn’t know why she didn’t give Melly a straight answer. Telling Sidon she wasn’t staying was somehow easier. With him, she was just refusing to sleep with him. Heck, she’d done it lots of times! But with Melly, she felt like she was rejecting the mere.
Last time she’d run quietly in the night, not saying goodbye. She was a kid then, and her haste could be forgiven.
Sidon’s gaze held far too much understanding. Isa struggled to organize her thoughts and memories into something logical, something that showed a clear path forward. Her efforts were to no avail. This time when she left, it would break her heart.
* * * *
Karon peered through his face mask at the small school of mere. They darted forward for moments before disappearing again, only to weave back out to his line of sight. His location in the sea grass was well hidden, but the fry’s lack of caution suggested they didn’t realize their closeness to the edge. He noted how many males and females swam past and their frequency. From this spot, they could harvest a good number before any of the catch were the wiser.
His leg ached as he kicked up to the surface and pulled off his mask. The Zodiac idled just ahead. His crew hauled him over the round rubber edge before speeding back to the Dendric One . Rifling through his dry bag, he pulled out his cell phone and called for back-up. “This is Captain Karon. I’m texting you the coordinates for a possible collection site. Tons of adolescents, must be a hangout, or near a playground. Send more divers to the location. I want full recon before we attempt another capture. We’re not taking chances this time.”
Pulling up to the ship, he mentally calculated how many areas he would need to collect all the subjects. Too many from one spot and the fish would stop swimming. Grathers would expect results soon, though. The scientist knew nothing about hunting paranormal species. Whether they were fairies or werewolves, set-up took time, and they always had hidden defenses. Karon made a mental note to take harpoons next time.
His neoprene-covered feet sploshed on the deck. Karon peeled the wetsuit down to his hips. Gracie’s flowery smell mixed with the scent of ocean. Her hands came up around his back to cover his eyes. “Guess who?”
He’d know that touch anywhere. “Hi, babe.”
“That’s not a guess.”
There weren’t any other babes in his life, but he wouldn’t tell her that. Instead he grabbed her wrist and stretched his teeth over her skin, growling like a
She pulled out of her reverie to see Sidon watching her, a curious smile on his face. “I forgot how cute you are.”
Isa blushed at his momentary sweetness. Then she smiled.
The silence between them stretched tight. The mermaid looked out over the bay, at the white boats glinting, at the colorful baskets of flowers hanging off the arbors, always feeling his presence beating against her like a pulse. It was all so comforting. She’d miss it when she left.
Not content to mind her own business for long, Melly shuffled back to their table. “I see you’ve hooked back up with our Sidon here. I always knew you kids would work it out. I remember the two of you together—never seen two bigger sets of moon-eyes. Couldn’t keep his claws off you, either, if I recall! You gonna settle down here now?”
Ismaelda choked on her piece of bread. One thing she could say about the mere, they didn’t waste any time. Eyes tearing, she coughed and spurted before answering.
“I don’t quite know yet, Melly. But I’m sure happy to be visiting.”
Her look threatened a scolding. Isa had a feeling the older woman was biting back a mouthful of unwanted advice as she turned and ambled back to the kitchen.
Isa didn’t know why she didn’t give Melly a straight answer. Telling Sidon she wasn’t staying was somehow easier. With him, she was just refusing to sleep with him. Heck, she’d done it lots of times! But with Melly, she felt like she was rejecting the mere.
Last time she’d run quietly in the night, not saying goodbye. She was a kid then, and her haste could be forgiven.
Sidon’s gaze held far too much understanding. Isa struggled to organize her thoughts and memories into something logical, something that showed a clear path forward. Her efforts were to no avail. This time when she left, it would break her heart.
* * * *
Karon peered through his face mask at the small school of mere. They darted forward for moments before disappearing again, only to weave back out to his line of sight. His location in the sea grass was well hidden, but the fry’s lack of caution suggested they didn’t realize their closeness to the edge. He noted how many males and females swam past and their frequency. From this spot, they could harvest a good number before any of the catch were the wiser.
His leg ached as he kicked up to the surface and pulled off his mask. The Zodiac idled just ahead. His crew hauled him over the round rubber edge before speeding back to the Dendric One . Rifling through his dry bag, he pulled out his cell phone and called for back-up. “This is Captain Karon. I’m texting you the coordinates for a possible collection site. Tons of adolescents, must be a hangout, or near a playground. Send more divers to the location. I want full recon before we attempt another capture. We’re not taking chances this time.”
Pulling up to the ship, he mentally calculated how many areas he would need to collect all the subjects. Too many from one spot and the fish would stop swimming. Grathers would expect results soon, though. The scientist knew nothing about hunting paranormal species. Whether they were fairies or werewolves, set-up took time, and they always had hidden defenses. Karon made a mental note to take harpoons next time.
His neoprene-covered feet sploshed on the deck. Karon peeled the wetsuit down to his hips. Gracie’s flowery smell mixed with the scent of ocean. Her hands came up around his back to cover his eyes. “Guess who?”
He’d know that touch anywhere. “Hi, babe.”
“That’s not a guess.”
There weren’t any other babes in his life, but he wouldn’t tell her that. Instead he grabbed her wrist and stretched his teeth over her skin, growling like a
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