Page 55 of Emerge

His eyebrow went up. "You love her."

I didn't get a chance to say yes because he moved his hand in front of him and I was pushed to the side, a wall of thick water holding me back. I pounded my fist on it, but it was like hitting rock.

He hovered above Riley and Natalia and then wrapped a fist around his trident. A burst of bright light filled the cavern, and I shielded my eyes until the light faded enough to see.

Poseidon slowly pulled his trident from Natalia's stomach. The three punctures glowed and then closed. She gasped, her hands flying to her stomach.

Riley threw herself on her mom, hugging her tightly. Natalia's arms went around her, stroking her hair. Poseidon backed away, his trident still glowing.

"Please, Poseidon, don't." I put my hands against the water wall I was trapped behind. "They're good people."

Blake and Morgan came from the tunnel and tried to swim to Riley, but Poseidon held up his hand to stop them and turned to face Riley and her mom.

"Where are the other sirens?"

I had a feeling their lives depended on the answer he was given. I felt helpless as Riley clung to her mom, who was now floating again.

"My job as a siren is to protect you." Natalia let Riley go and swam closer to Poseidon. "Your son was going to use them and their anger to kill you and take your place as god of the sea."

She wasn't answering his question, but he didn't seem to be ready to smite them with his trident. Riley swam closer to me and I yearned to reach out and take her.

"And why did you not report this or have me woken?"

"When he first approached me, he had Finn's daughter. I couldn't risk her life, so I decided to pretend to be on his side, earn his trust, and then the plan was to lock him down here." Natalia's spine was straight and her head held high as she spoke to the man that held her life in his hands. "A few nights ago, I seduced him, put him to sleep, and freed the sirens with the trident."

His jaw ticked. "Where are they?"

Natalia looked at Riley and then back to him. "Until I can ensure their safety, they are in hiding."

"And what about my safety?"

"Apologize," Riley whispered. All eyes went to her and she cringed. "Apologize to them for locking them away."

Poseidon threw his head back and laughed. "An apology will not subdue the wrath of a siren, child."

"Then free them." She swam forward a little and I wanted to grab her and keep her away from him. He was powerful, and if she said the wrong thing, it was game over. "Apologize by freeing them from your service. We'll take you to them."

He grunted and turned toward the exit. The wall of water holding me back finally disappeared and I pulled Riley to me. Blake and Morgan were quick to join us as Natalia swam behind Poseidon.

"Mom!" Riley pulled away from us and picked something up from the ground, swimming to her mom. "This is yours."

Natalia grasped the knife in her hand. "But-"

"I don't need it. I have what keeps me afloat." She turned and looked at me, Blake, and Morgan. "I love you, mom."

"I love you too." Natalia kissed her forehead and looked at us. "You hurt her, I will kill you all."

"Yes, ma'am," we said in unison.

There was no way in hell I'd ever hurt Riley again.

---