Bride of the Sea Monster - Eve Langlais Page 0,26

power into it. Return to me, husband.

The title I’d used shivered down the link between us, and he paused, bobbing in the water.

Husband. I teased him again. Your wife needs you.

To my joy, he came towards me. The intensity of the siren’s song heightened. Sharpened. I lost my grip.

I got him back. For the next hour, as the ship moved out of range, we played tug of war with Ian, with me winning in the end.

Only when I knew he was safe did I collapse, my arm flinging out, my fingers loosening, and the locket spilling free to fall somewhere on the ship.

13

Killian Kraken: Fate’s a bitch.

Awe tinged with regret filled me as I stared down at my sleeping wife. Exhaustion had put her to sleep, and with good reason. She’d fought for me. Somehow, using magic of her own, she’d managed to keep me from becoming a slave to the sirens.

I didn’t know whether to hug her or shake her. It would have been easier to become some mindless tool. Not caring about anything but my next command.

Yet at the same time, there was something intensely gratifying in the fact that she’d cared enough to come after me. To save me.

Now, if only she loved me.

Kind of obvious that she didn’t, given I’d married her. Tasted her. Fallen in love with her. But the curse still pulsed inside me, the tentacles of it digging and spreading more quickly than before. It wouldn’t be long before I had to slip back into the water.

I wondered if she’d wake before that happened so I could tell her how much her actions meant to me. To say I wished things were different. If we’d only had the time, I think she might have come to love me.

A soft rap at my door had me moving quickly lest it wake her. I slipped into the hall, the sweet scent of flowers oddly surrounding me, and faced my uncle.

“So? Is it done?”

I knew what he asked. I shook my head.

“Bloody fucking hell. How can she not love you yet?” My uncle paced. “But she saved you.”

“People save others all the time. It doesn’t mean it’s love.”

Shax flung out his hands. “What is wrong with her? Is she blind?”

“She’s already given me more than I ever expected.” I rolled my shoulders. “I guess it wasn’t enough.” Apparently, I didn’t love her enough for it to count double.

“Don’t give up. We’ll be arriving in Atlantis early tomorrow.”

The boat shuddered.

“Or not,” my uncle said ominously.

“Something is playing with the boat.” I could tell natural ocean action from not. Rather than dart through my room, we went through my uncle’s, and I hit the railing, gazing at the sea.

“It’s angry,” Shax noted.

“Very. Where are we?”

“According to the itinerary, DJ’s Locker.”

“I don’t think DJ is very happy.” I pushed away from the rail and paced in my uncle’s room. “Do you really think we can find something in Atlantis?” Even something to slow down the curse might be enough. I just needed a little more time.

“If you’re visiting Atlantis, then look up Ferra. She makes the best scallops.” Once more, the devil came to say hi.

Of all the people I didn’t want to see. I sighed and scrubbed my face. “Not you again.”

“Time is ticking.” It wasn’t just Lucifer clicking his tongue like the beat of a clock, but all the timepieces woven into his suit, an eye-popping monstrosity that brought on a dizzy spell if you stared too long.

“We’re aware,” was Shax’s terse reply.

“The boy needs to make some important decisions before the curse makes them for him.”

The reminder didn’t help my mood. “For fuck’s sake, if I can’t break the spell, I’ll work for you. Happy? Now, go away.”

“Is that a promise?” Lucifer whipped out a scroll, and it unraveled, revealing the shortest contract I’d ever seen.

“What is that?” I leaned close and read, “Killian Kraken will be the official ship smasher of one Lucifer Baphomet, Lord of Hell, mightiest of kings, ruler of all, should he become a full-fledged sea monster as a result of his curse.” Followed by the date, then my name.

“Where’s all the fancy talk?” my uncle asked. Usually, a contract with Lucifer included all kinds of sub-clauses.

“It was pointed out to me that I was losing business with my technical jargon. This gives all the intent we need for the bargain.”

“It doesn’t say you’ll leave.” I noticed the flaw in the wording.

“Oops. Bad on me.” The devil smiled and flourished his hand.