Page 77 of Sworn to Revenge
Just as I thought, she’s an award-winning actress.
“How the hell do you do that?” I ask in frustration, shoving the phone back into my pocket.
“There are mysteries you’ll never understand,” she grins from the back seat, and Abert shoots us a questioning glance. Too many people already know the secret; now isn’t the time to add another to the list.
“Family drama with Alin,” I throw at him dismissively, and Alin barely stifles a laugh in the back seat.
‘Family drama with Alin,’ she mouths mockingly, like I’m the only one in this cursed family who’s worried about Bay. I’m really starting to believe that’s true.
“Will someone finally explain to me what’s up with this beach?” Abert asks as he pulls up to the familiar shore where Alin and Bay always swim out to their city.
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” I joke, stepping out of the car, though it isn’t really a joke. Who knows what Luca would do if one more person found out. He nearly lost it when Flavio did. As usual, Alin had to calm him down and take the blame. Well... it was her fault my tail had been out in the open like that... So, it is basically her fault to claim.
Abert’s heavy sigh echoes from inside the car, and I lean back to glare at him, making it clear this isn’t up for debate.
“One day, I’ll get the truth out of you,” he says with a confident smirk—he’s definitely been around us too long if he’s starting to hold his own against me without flinching.
I slam the car door shut. I’ll deal with him later. Alin and I have more important things to handle.Why the hell isn’t she getting out of the car?I walk to the back window and tap on the dark glass that hides everything inside. The door pops open instantly, and Alin steps out like she’s the queen herself. Guess she’s getting too comfortable in that role too.
I shoot her a look of exasperation. “How much longer is this gonna take?” I ask, impatience leaking into my voice.
I’m already exhausted from the flight and this long, draining drive. She waves me off dismissively, her fingers busy typing on her phone. “You’re a family of obsessive control freaks. You really think it’s easy to satisfy your brother? Ever since the pregnancy, he’s been anxious about everything.” She doesn’t lift her gaze from the screen but strides toward the shore like her feet know every stone, every grain of sand on this beach by heart.
“And there it is—the life threats start,” she suddenly grits out, still glued to her phone. I trail behind her at a slower pace, watching her pause to furiously type what looks like a very angry message. I definitely don’t want to be in my brother’s shoes right now.
“Enough already with your phone. It’s been two days, and Bay still hasn’t come back. That doesn’t worry you?” I snap, my patience wearing thin.
“Pedro, do you really think Bay would break that easily?” she finally puts her bag down behind the usual rock, shoving her phone inside and stripping down in one smooth motion. Not wasting any time, I strip off my clothes too, shoving them into her bag right after. I stuff it deeper into the gap between the big rock and a smaller one in the rocky ridge, somewhere no one dares approach ever since Luca marked the area as his territory. Even the locals know better than to mess with mafia territory markings.
“You’re so paranoid. It’s just a bag. What’s the worst that’ll happen if someone steals it?” She rolls her eyes and rushes into the water, pointedly avoiding looking at my naked body.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m not planning on walking home butt-naked! And in case you forgot, my gun’s in there this time too,” I shout after her, running into the water myself. The cool water washes over my body, immediately mingling with the familiar tingling sensation. My tail and gills appear instantly, and then the long fins along my arms emerge from my skin like they’ve always been a part of me. Why does this feeling get more addictive every time? It’s like the water wraps itself around me, calming the storms in my mind.
“You coming?” Alin’s voice snaps me out of the blissful daze that’s settled over me in the last few moments.
“Should I remind you who was the one holding us up a few minutes ago?” I retort sarcastically, quickly swimming to her side, keeping pace as if it’s second nature.
“There’s something different about you,” she suddenly remarks. I glance over to my right, meeting her curious gaze. “Different?”
She nods. “You seem like you’re starting to connect with your powers. That’s great.”
I raise an eyebrow at her, confused. What is she talking about? I lower my head to scan my body and tail, but everything looks exactly like I remember.
“What’s different about me?” I ask.
She laughs. “It’s not you. It’s how the water responds to you. It’s accepting you now, like you’re one of its own. The currents are wrapping around you like they do with other merfolk now.” My gills open with a sigh, but I know what she means. The feeling in the water is much more comfortable now, almost warm? It feels like home, like an endless power surrounding and protecting me.
“You can feel it too, right?” she asks, wanting confirmation, and I nod. “I wish I could experience that with Luca, but we still don’t know the risks of that potion and the consequences of the mess you made...” she suddenly opens up to me.
“So, I’m an easy sacrifice for you?” I tease, knowing full well I’m the one who chose to make that decision, and I’ll deal with the consequences. She clicks her tongue in irritation, clearly fed up with my nonsense.
“If you don’t shut up, you’ll find out what it’s like to really be a sacrifice.”I can’t help but laugh. Yeah, Luca chose his wife well.
“So, can you explain why we’re heading to your city first?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Because I have no idea how to get to theCoral of Life. Only a huntress can sense it. My mother’s been there before, so we’ll need her help,” she explains. Suddenly, her gaze drops to the sandy seabed, and in an instant, she stops, her eyes fixated on something shimmering in the sand as she swims toward it.
Great, what now?I pause, watching her as she moves. She digs into the sand with her hand and pulls out an old, rusted piece of metal. She examines it for a moment before tossing it over her shoulder in disinterest. The piece of metal floats lazily back down to the seabed as she continues swimming forward.
