Tonight, we’d pass by Siren Isle.
To those unfamiliar with them, there was only a handful left here and in Hell. Mostly because of the danger they posed to men. And some women. There were accounts of sirens seeking female slaves over the centuries.
But the current trio liked men.
I was a man. And a monster. Would their song affect me? Would I even care? Perhaps it would be easier if I slipped overboard and allowed them to ensorcell me. Then I could forget my fate and happily serve a siren mistress.
It sounded a lot like giving up. Had I truly reached that point already?
I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, a soft knock at my door brought me to my feet, heart hammering. Don’t ask me how, but I already knew who stood on the other side.
I flung open the door to see Sasha dressed in a summer gown, her hair loose around her shoulders, her smile hesitant.
“Why are you here?”
Her shoulders squared, and her chin tilted, almost as if in defiance. “Would you care to join me for dinner?”
I had to blink a few times before I managed to say, “Why?”
Her bare shoulders rolled. “Because you’re my husband.”
“In name only.”
“I hate to eat alone.”
“The dining room will be packed with people.”
She scowled at me. “I’m trying to be nice.”
A grin tugged at my lips. “I know. Which makes me wonder, why?”
“I saw something on my way back to my room…” She gnawed her lip.
Immediately, I stiffened. “Did someone scare you? Do you need protection?”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “No. Nothing like that. More like…” She glanced down at her feet, her sandals nudging the carpeted floor. “I saw something in the future.”
“About me?”
“I am pretty sure you were in it, but it was about me, I think.”
“You’re not sure?” I prodded.
“The joys of being a seer. I can tell just about anyone what’s going to happen to them, but when it comes to myself, my future is cloudy.”
“With a chance of meatballs.” The quip emerged from me faster than I could stop it. Then I was glad I didn’t as she laughed.
A full-throated chuckle that brightened her expression and left her eyes shining. “I thought the sequel was better.”
“No way. Everyone knows it’s all about the first movie. The second one is never quite as good.”
“I disagree, I think Spaceballs Too, Solo Parts Unknown was even funnier.”
When I eyed her for too long, she sighed. “Fuck me, it’s not out yet is it?”
I shook my head.
“I hope they make it in this timeline. Because I totally recommend seeing it.”
“I doubt I’ll be able to.”
The sunshine on her face disappeared.
I missed it, but I had to ask, “Do you really see nothing when you touch me?”
“Only water,” was her hushed reply.
At least, she didn’t lie. It also indicated that going to dinner with her would change nothing. Then again, neither would staying in my cabin.
“You know what, I am starving. Shall we, Mrs. Kraken?” I held out my arm.
She grimaced. “That is an awful last name.”
“Says Farseer.”
Once more, she laughed before sobering. “How can you still joke at a time like this?”
Because if I stopped, the monster won.
10
Sasha: How am I supposed to eat when all I want to do is…
The Future: Ew. I saw that.
I don’t know what had possessed me to ask Ian to dinner. The plan was supposed to be to avoid him while trying to help solve his dilemma because, despite myself, I felt sorry for the guy. He’d truly gotten the rotten end of the deal. And because I couldn’t wave a magic wand and love him, he was screwed.
He knew it, too. I could hear it in his tone, see it in his body language. He was giving up. It should have made me happy. It didn’t, because whenever I got close to him, things got complicated.
My heart had a tendency to race when he was near. Breathing became hard. My panties…those suckers were soaked.
On the one hand, I knew what all of those things meant, my stubborn side just refused to believe it.
So, the seeing laid it out for me.
There’s a future where you skip dinner and go right to dessert.
But would sex make me love him?
No reply to that. The pressure was enough to make me scream. Didn’t stop me from seeking out Ian, though. To my surprise—and delight—he agreed to join me.
Supper proved interesting. Ian had a great sense of humor and kept the conversation flowing, getting me to