Page 40 of Blood of the Sirens
I looked around. Small bits of sunlight caused the murals and walls to shimmer. “Where did all this come from?”
Merrick twitched, squirming a bit. “This is where I create my art,” he offered lamely, gesturing at the walls. “I used that to practice and get the shapes I want. It’s how I learn.”
OK. So Merrick was some sort of secret ocean artist. That I could handle. It was manageable. But everything else?
“And we are very far from the boat,” he finally answered. “I wanted to get away from them.”
“Whathappened?”I begged him. “Did you know those guys on the boat? Oh my god, I hope Javi and Mike are all right—”
I closed my eyes and heard Merrick push himself up from the pool. Hands surrounded my cheeks, one finger landing delicately on my lips. He tucked me carefully into his chest, which felt cool against my puffy eyes.
“Hush. They know I have taken you away to safety. The mer—themenwon’t bother them further. They have likely slunk away with their tails between their legs.”
Well, that seemed highly unlikely given society’s litigation-happy attitude.
“How do you know that?” I questioned. Then it hit me. “Youdoknow them,” I whispered, horrified.
Merrick’s face grew stormy, his grip on me tightening. “I know them,” he bit out.
Well, that certainly explained the similar accents, then. Just like Merrick. “They came here for spring break then? Like you?” I asked.
His lips thinned. “No. Not like me. They are looking for females to … to have sex with.”
I laughed. Hard and long, the sound echoing around the cavern. Merrick jumped slightly, brow furrowing in alarm.
“Merrick, that’severyman,” I hiccupped, wiping my eyes.
He retreated back into the water, away from me. “You don’t understand. It’s … it’s different.” His face twisted. “I will make them suffer for what they did to you.”
His face twisted with rage, and a warm feeling infused my chest. Right now, he wasn’t my sweet, naive Merrick. He was pissed. Protective. It made my stomach flip and sent tingles through my body in the most deliciousway.
I shook my head. He was simply overreacting. Though I had been terrified when that big, black-haired ogre had me pinned against the railing. The more I thought about it, the more nauseated I became. It really was Archie all over again.
I tried to laugh it off. I was strong. I wasn’t helpless. “Stupid shit always happens when you involve alcohol.”
“No,” Merrick argued stubbornly. “They hurt you. I will kill them with my bare hands if that’s what it takes to keep them away.”
His words shocked me, but a warm sensation spread through my chest, and kept moving down my arms and legs, and down to my core. I needed air. It shouldn’t turn me on to hear him threatening other people like that. But God, it did. And I fucking loved it. I needed air. Quickly.
“Where is the entrance? I need to get outside. It’s too dark too—”
“It is underwater,” he began cautiously. “It’s too deep and too long for you to swim yourself, especially injured.”
My hands balled into fists. “Oh, is that so? I was on my school’s swim team, you know.”
Until I’d gotten bullied off for being bigger than the other girls, that was. But still. I knew how to handle myself around the water. I grew up swimming.
Merrick backed into the corner of the cave, the shadows making it difficult to make him out in the water. He ran his hands through his hair, lowering himself into the water until only his head was visible above it, and only if I squinted.
“I would prefer not to have to rescue you twice,” he offered.
I should have been annoyed at the barb, but he looked awful, his skin paler than normal and rings under his eyes.
So, I wouldn’t argue, but no one told me what to do. I dove into the pool.
“Jesse! What—”
I didn’t hear the rest, the water rushing across my body as I dove. Damn, this cave was deep. I tried to open my eyes, ignoring the sting of the salt water. It was pitch black. Stories of cave swimmers being sucked into dark holes by strong currents poked at my mind, and suddenly this didn’t seem like such a good idea. Even if it was to prove a point.
