Forever - Chanda Hahn Page 0,79

Mina.”

“Why Kino?” Mina asked them. “You said he was strong. Maybe I should start with someone else.”

“Because he’s strong,” Winona said. “Ternan and I will be here to watch over the two of you.”

“Okay.” Mina looked up at Kino who ran his hands through his dreadlocks, making the water run from them. He crossed his arms and eyed her, challenging her to do her worst.

She looked into Kino’s brown speckled eyes and glanced at the darker brown siren marks across his arms. She met his eyes and tried to command him to clap his hands.

She stared at him, and he just smirked.

“Nuh-uh, sea princess. I’m not so easily controlled.”

That was right. Mina remembered. Giants were relatively dumb and hard to control. A virile young siren, one of the strongest, would be a little harder. She focused on what she wanted and thought she saw his hands flinch, but he just reached up and scratched his arm instead.

Oh bother.

“Have you gotten tired already? Am I too strong?” He flexed his muscles at her, and she grew irritated. “Maybe you need to go take a nap.”

“Oh, go jump in the ocean!” Mina snapped.

She watched in surprise as the smile fell from his face. His eyes took on a hint of golden glow, he climbed the railing, and he jumped in.

“Uh, Mina, you need to tell him to swim out now. You can’t give an order without clear directions.”

“Oh right.” She ran to the rail and saw that he’d sunk beneath the water. She couldn’t see him. He was too far down.

“Swim! Come back to me,” she demanded. A few seconds later, Kino’s head popped above the surface, and he swam back and quickly crawled up the rope ladder.

Mina stepped away from him and had to break eye contact as she worked on releasing him. It took a few deep breaths before his eyes returned to their natural color.

“I could have killed you.”

“Naw, I’m a siren. I can breathe underwater.”

“But what if I told you not to?”

Kino’s brown eyes went wide. “Well, um, yeah. Don’t do that.”

“I won’t.” Mina looked at the sky and saw that the sun was setting. “I probably need to go and wait at our spot in case Nan and Charlie get there.”

“Don’t let her go alone. We’ve been here too long in one spot. She’ll need a guard.” Ternan gave a look to Kino.

“Got it. I’ll grab Reef and Genni.” Kino took off, and a few minutes later returned with two more sirens, plus Nix and Ever. Reef was tall and slender with bright blue eyes and blue highlights and marks. Genni was short with red hair and warm honey-yellow eyes and marks, very catlike in appearance.

Ever and Nix had plenty to say about Mina’s natural look, and, after a few barbs, they quieted their jokes. Their comments didn’t faze her. Still, Mina worked to replace her glamour. It flowed over her easily. As she worked the illusion, so did the others. Genni’s hair and eyes became dull, Reef’s bright blue eyes turned a dark blue, and his highlights faded and disappeared. Their clothes shifted into casual shorts and plain shirts.

Mina led the way off the docks and down to the pier. It was weird to be flanked by her guard. With the addition of three extra guards, Ever and Nix seemed to be even more on edge. Ever was making sure she stayed on Mina’s right to prove that she was serious in her duties as Godmother.

Mina slowed when they got to the meeting spot and stayed back, hanging out of the way as she watched the people coming and going. She had to tell Kino, Reef, and Genni to relax, because their serious facial expressions were too noticeable.

Kino relayed the plight of the animals in the aquarium, and Reef and Genni were appropriately appalled. Mina caught them whispering to each other and shooting looks in the direction of the aquarium. They were plotting something, but she didn’t know what. Every part of her wanted to walk over and confront them, but now wasn’t the time. Too many people were watching them.

“It could just be their natural good looks that shine through despite their glamour. Something about them still has that otherworldly feel,” Ever whispered.

Even getting there early, Mina had them wait for an hour and a half. “I guess they aren’t here yet. We’ll come back tomorrow morning. I can’t stay here any longer and draw more attention, or Teague will find me.”

As they were walking