Page 2 of Siren's Gift

I wouldn’t complain, though, since I certainly wasn’t volunteering forthisjob.

The next contender was already in the center of the room, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. He was a big guy, toned and muscled and with more than a few scars etched into his light brown skin. It was clear he was experienced, and for most people, he would be a tough opponent.

Just not for me.

Even without using my magic, I was stronger, faster, and healed quicker than anyone here. I was a shark in a school of minnows. The trick was holding back just enough so gamblers bet on the other guy, then wham! Winner winner, tuna dinner.

"How many more after this one?" I asked Brutus between gulps of water.

The main problem was that winning one round meant I moved on to the next, and the next, and the next until we cleared the list. Some nights, it was only two or three rounds. Other times, it was over a dozen.

I never signed up for those longer nights, though. The money would be amazing, but the only way anyone walked away with anything was by winning all the way through. I was sure it would be too suspicious if a woman defeated twelve tough-as-nails dudes in one night. Too many fragile egos to deal with.

As I’d done for the past ten years, I needed to stay off the radar. Especially now that the right-hand man—er, the right-hand siren of my father’s greatest enemy had shown up during my fight with Dominic.

My lungs squeezed painfully, and I forced myself to take a deep breath. While the close call with Sidon had rattled mynerves and forced Marissa and me to flee, it was the image of the Red Dragon that had stolen my breath.

I tried my best not to think about Dominic because of how much it hurt. Every inch of me missed every inch of him, missed his touch as much as his mere presence. We’d only known each other for a short time, but it had felt so right. It feltreal.

I never wanted to deceive him, but I’d run out of time and options. He needed to win more than I did. His grandfather would have killed him otherwise.

"Just two more rounds after this." Brutus’s deep voice shook me free of my dark thoughts. "It’s go time."

I took another quick drink before following the bouncer back through the crowd. His bulky size created an easy path to follow through the sea of humans.

My life on land was exhausting, and I wondered more often than not why I bothered fighting against fate. Wondered why I didn’t just return to the sea and embrace the future my father planned for me.

Sure, it meant giving in to the whims of a siren male I hardly knew all in the name of an alliance, but at least someone would take care ofmefor a change. That was the fantasy I tried to sell myself, anyway.

But then I would head home to Calvin’s house where Marissa and I were staying for now, "couch surfing" as landlubbers called it. My sister would laugh at something the wizard had said, while Finley, our axolotl, perched happily on her shoulder or cupped in her hands. And I would remember why I was doing this. Why it was all worth it.

I would paste on a smile and do this all over again the next day.

The dark-haired man facing me raised his fists and smirked, appraising me head to foot. "I can’t wait to get you on your back."

I rolled my eyes. It was always the same with these human men eager to fight. They didn’t see me as a worthy opponent no matter how many times I knocked them flat on their butts. All they saw was my appeal as a woman andalwaysconsidered me less than.

Oh, how I loved proving them wrong.

"Fight!" Brutus called out.

Immediately, the human fighter launched himself at me with a flurry of jabs. His attack didn’t have the element of surprise he hoped for.

I easily sidestepped his fists and shook my head. How could it be a surprise when they all did the same thing? Did none of them pay attention to previous fights?

As he barreled past me, I swept his feet out from beneath him. He stumbled but didn’t fall. Bouncing away, he scowled at me as he regained his balance.

I could end this fight in two seconds flat. One if I used even an ounce of magic. But that wasn’t the game. Not when I needed to pretend to be human.

I raised my arm to cover a yawn as never-ending exhaustion made itself known. Except when my gaze landed on my arm, I froze.

Crab on a hot plate.

Instead of my usual pure white skin, sleek purple scales dotted my arm.

What the heck was happening?

A sharp blow to my head sent me careening sideways. I allowed hits to get in from time to time so the crowd got the brutality they wanted, but I rarely got hit because I wasn’t paying attention.

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