My dressing room is bustling with activity. Two doctors are looking me over and both my parents are fussing over me. Mom’s worried about my injuries and my dad is giving me tips about the next trial—but I can barely focus on a word he says. I really only want Isaac and Erica at this point, but family and servants only. I’m tempted to tell them Isaac has my name tattooed on his chest as a promise to me, but I keep my mouth shut.If the third trial goes as planned, it’ll be over in no time—and both my dad and I will swim away from it. Well, he might be unconscious, but he’ll be alive, and that’s what counts.One of the doctors turns to me. “Your wounds are sewed up.”“She’ll be okay to keep on with the trials?” Dad asks. “I should’ve just used the Mila power. I don’t know what I was thinking. Suppose I was distracted.”“She’ll be fine—just needs to have the sutures looked at in a couple of days.”I press on the stitches, and find the wound barely hurts. Kind of tingles.The doctor nods.

The warmth turns into an excruciating heat. Feels like my skin is burning off my body. Wouldn’t have thought that was possible, but if I could open my eyes, I’m sure that’s what I’d see. I try to cry out, but everything hurts too much. So. Much. Pain.I think I’m on the ground. Can’t really tell. I know I’m not upright.Need the pain to stop.It won’t.I gasp. Struggle to breathe. To open my eyes. Gain control of myself.After what feels like an eternity, the agony eases. Doesn’t go away fully, but it isn’t as bad as it was before.At long last, I finally open my eyes. The sight before drives terror straight to my core.Mom is sobbing and clings to Dad, who’s limp and lifeless.I knew this would happen! Why did he have to fight against my siren powers? I race over. “Mom!”She looks up at me, her eyes red. “He was wrong about them reviving him! They can’t fix his wounds.” She leans against his chest.“Do something!” I shake one of his servants. “Save him!”He hangs his head. “We’ve tri

IsaacI typeThe End on my latest novel and lean back in my chair. This one might be my best one yet and I smile, knowing my agent and publishers will be happy. I’ll need to send it to the editors soon and then it will be time to start my next book.My mood dims a little at that thought. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing. I love using my imagination to create new worlds and characters and stories. I love coming up with new adventures to take my characters on but lately, all I’ve been able to think about is how little adventures I’ve been on myself.When I was younger, I used to pretend to be a pirate or an explorer and run around my backyard, looking for treasure. I lost count of the number of books I read about pirates and sailors or how many pirates maps I drew.I’ve always had a thing about pirates, more than any other type of explorer. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico and always dreamed of seeing the ocean. Either way, I’ve devoured every book I could find on p

He nods and I let out a breath as I back away into the bedroom. All of the furniture on deck is bolted down so as long as he just sits there, he should be alright. I strip off my wet clothes and hang them up in the bathroom before I take the quickest shower ever and rush to dry off and pull on my pajamas.Isaac is still sitting in the chair where I left him when I come out. He’s looking around the space below deck but there isn’t much to see. Just a little kitchen, an even smaller sitting area, a storage closet with all of my diving supplies, and my bedroom. The furniture is all dated but it still works and usually I’m the only one down here so it doesn’t matter to me.I’m a little worried about what will happen when I get this clumsy guy in the ocean. Maybe it will be better. There won’t be anything for him to bump into or fall off of.“Did you want to grab your bag?” I ask as I shift in front of the bedroom door. “You should probably wash off before bed.”“Yeah, it’s just upstairs.

I probably should have seen what he does next coming.IsaacI’ve wantedto kiss Mila again pretty much from the second that I stopped kissing her and after she tells me that she’s coming with me, I give into that urge again. Our lips connect and sparks fly.Her soft lips mold to mine in a sweet caress and I feel desire curl through my blood. My hands go from cradling her face in my hands to tangling my fingers in her hair. She moans into my mouth and I dip my tongue past her lips, getting my first taste of her. She tastes like spearmint and she moans again as our tongues tease each other.I use my hands to pull her closer to me and she hooks her leg over my waist. We roll until she’s on top of me and my hands leave her hair to grip her hips. Her sleep shirt is soft and worn and I slip my fingers underneath the hem, running along her smooth skin up her back. She wiggles against me and I groan as my cock stiffens even further in my pajama pants.With only these thin cotton layers separat