Page 21 of Sworn to Revenge
She stays silent, just giving me a sly half-smile as she opens the back door and gestures for me to get in.
Now I understand Luca.She’s literally going to be the death of me.
Pedro
“Alin, I really hope you know what you’re doing,” I whisper to the air as I sit down in the shallow waters at the beach where Alin always swims back home, waiting for her and Bay to arrive. The cold water of the small waves spreads over the sand behind me, gently caressing my skin, not letting my body block their path. But a quick glance at the horizon, and the undeniable power of the sea reflected before me, sends a shiver down my spine. Did I make the right decision?
I’ve been dragged into a world I never imagined; a world that feels so far removed from anything I’ve ever known. Yet now, I’m about to step into it, whether I’m ready or not. I take a deep breath, inhaling the salty sea breeze into my lungs, hoping it will help ground me. I haven’t yet drunk the strange and frightening potion Alin gave me, but this breeze, harsh as it is, seems to ease the suffocating pressure building in my chest—a reminder that I might belong here, in some twisted way.
I’ve been through far worse situations in my life, battles more brutal, threats more tangible. I always had weapons; I knew the territory—I knewwhat I was dealing with. But this? This feels different. This is something I can’t prepare for. The ocean, these merfolk, the magic—I’m wading into waters where I have no footing —literally. Can I even protect her? For the first time in my life, I’m unsure if I’m more of a burden than a help.
I sigh as the thoughts won’t leave me, but suddenly I hear the familiar voice I try not to think about every minute of my day.
“Pedro?! Alin, what’s going on here?” Bay shouts accusingly, and a small pang of guilt pierces my chest for not telling her the whole plan. But she really would have done anything to go alone if she had known. We made the right decision.
“I’m sorry, Bay, but trust me. I know what I’m doing; I’m increasing your chances of coming back alive,” she replies, and I turn my gaze to them now, standing on the sand behind the rocks, their feet still not touching the water.
“Alin, what else are you hiding from me? I really don’t know how many more surprises I can take. I need to know everything before I throw my life away like this,” she pleads, gripping Alin’s arms tightly, her voice trembling on the verge of breaking. Seeing her like this tears at me.
“Pedro, now,” Alin commands, her gaze intense. I realize that this may be the only way to stop her from backing out. I take the vial with the unfamiliar liquid, quickly popping the cork.
“Alin, what’s he doing? Stop everything right now! I want to understand what’s happening here,” she demands, her eyes wide with shock—or is it fear? I can’t tell anymore, but the liquid is already sliding down my throat. Oddly, it has no taste at all, just a strange numbness.
“What did he just drink? It looks like one of your mother’s potions, Alin. I want answers!” she snaps, her voice nearly drowned by the sea breeze as a tingling starts in my legs, soon followed by a searing pain in my neck.
What have I done?There’s no turning back now.
“Bay, this is the only way Pedro can join you,” I hear Alin’s voice, but it suddenly sounds so distant as my pulse thunders in my ears, pounding and burning as if I’ve stepped through the gates of hell.
The burning in my neck intensifies, and I swallow hard, squeezing my eyes shut. I have to endure this pain, or how can I help her if I can’t even survive this?
I stifle a guttural roar as I feel my skin splitting, my hand instinctively reaching for my neck. Gills?Great.
Now a burning tear spreads through my arms, and I watch as strange blue fins emerge along the length of them, scales covering most of my skin and the famiglia marks sleeve tattoo on my right arm. I glance back at Bay and Alin behind me, and it seems they’re just as speechless, judging by Bay’s dropped jaw.
I blink twice as I feel something change in my vision, and when I open my eyes, I can see the horizon with such sharpness, it’s as if my eyes have turned into 4K cameras. Is this how they see all the time? For the first time, I smile as I scan the area with my enhanced sight. I wish I could keep at least this ability afterward.
A chuckle escapes my lips, but I grit my teeth, trying not to reveal the sharp pain that now slices through my legs, which are slowly transforming into a royal blue tail with a scattering of golden scales. Transparent bluefins extend along its sides, tapering down until they meet the large fins now spreading at its tip.I’m a freaking fish.Damn, and I smell like one now. What’s this fish market stench coming from me? I wonder if I’ll still feel like eating sushi after all this. Seems a bit hypocritical.
I smirk to myself as the pain finally subsides, and I give my new tail a flick, testing it out. I feel so strong now, like I could shatter rocks with a punch. A mischievous grin spreads across my face.Should I try?
I turn with some difficulty to face Bay and Alin, showing off my new tail. Alin’s face glows with satisfaction—it worked. I give her a half-smile, signaling that I’m okay.
“You and I,” Bay suddenly says venomously to Alin, pointing first at herself and then at Alin in clear warning, “this isn’t over. When this is done, we’re going to have a very long talk. That is, if I survive, of course.”
“Don’t blame her, I insisted on coming with you,” I shout over the wind and waves, defending Alin. An unfamiliar sensation rises in my throat as I speak, my gills trembling with my voice. A shiver runs down my spine at the strange feeling, but I could get used to the power coursing through every cell in my body right now. “Besides, I’m really excited to try out this new strength.”
“I’m sorry, Bay. I’ll explain everything when we get to the city. We need to go together to my mother, who will guide you and Pedro on exactly what to do. I’m doing all of this to keep you alive,” she says before undressing without warning. Shit. I quickly avert my gaze. Better not give Luca another reason to fight. I’m already on his bad side these last few days with Bay.
Bay sighs without saying a word, but her eyes are now scanning my body. Is that curiosity I see in her eyes? She bites her lip as her gaze dropsto my chest. Now it’s clear... it’s not curiosity, it’s hunger. I’m part of her world now—maybe that’s her kink.
I raise an eyebrow playfully at her but quickly regain my composure. I can’t break the capo’s rules—she’s family!
“We should swim out, we don’t have much time,” I remind her, and the hunger in her eyes fades, disappointment clearly written on her face. Maybe this new look really does it for her. Will she still look at me like that when my legs return? If we return alive at all.
She starts reluctantly stripping off her clothes, but this time I have to fight with all my willpower not to sneak a peek. I can’t give in to temptation; she’s forbidden fruit.
I reopen my eyes only when I hear the splash of water, knowing they’ve already swam ahead. I drag myself forward until the water is deep enough for me to swim. I close my eyes against the saltwater, childhood traumas gnawing at me. But my body, as if it didn’t just gain a tail but also the natural ability to move with the water, swims forward as if it’s second nature.
