The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things #1)(59)

Her eyes closed. It was the only way she could stop staring at the water. What was happening? The waves had seemed to mesmerize her.

“You asked if I could love.”

She focused on his voice. The deepness. The roughness. Luke.

Then she felt his touch. His hands were on her shoulders, holding her tight.

“I can.”

Her eyes opened.

But…

She and Luke weren’t standing on the balcony any longer. He’d moved them—used his power—and now they were on the edge of the beach. The waves came forward, tickling her toes, and a spark of pure joy slid through her.

“I’m letting you go,” he said and his smile broke her heart. “That should show just how f*cking much I can love.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “See? My brother was wrong about that. Even in the dark, a little light can shine.”

Then he—he guided her toward the waves.

But he kept her sheet. She was standing there, naked, while the waves pushed against her body. No, they weren’t pushing against her. They were almost, wrapping around her. Hugging her?

Welcoming me.

And she found herself turning away from Luke and wading deeper into the water. She didn’t want to leave him, but she felt strangely helpless in that moment. The water is calling to me.

“Your mother didn’t go to the water to die, Mina!” His shout followed her as she went out even deeper. “She went because she had no choice. Her kind never does!”

Her kind?

“The fact that she stayed six years with you is amazing. Mermaids aren’t supposed to be able to resist the ocean’s call for that long. The ocean is a mermaid’s true love. Her heart. But when she had a half-mortal daughter, your mother fought the call. She fought it for six long years, and she stayed with you.”

The water was up to Mina’s waist now and her legs…they were feeling so funny.

“But a mermaid can’t stay out of the ocean forever. If she’d kept trying, she would have died. She had to go back. Just as you…have to go.”

Her head turned. She looked over her shoulder at him. He was on the beach, his legs braced apart, his gaze focused totally on her.

“You’re not a siren, love. You’re a mermaid. When Leo healed you, he brought forth all of your dormant powers. Your human side is gone, and the ocean is calling to you.” His arms crossed over his chest.

“I’m scared.” The words slipped from her, so low but…

Luke heard her.

“You don’t need to be.” His gaze became bright, a sign of his power. “You never need to fear. Those scars on your body? Those are just there to help you transform. They actually aren’t scars at all. You’ll get gills. Your legs will become a beautiful mermaid’s tail.”

She could…she could almost see the gleam of scales on her legs, just beneath the waves.

“And when you go beneath the water…” His voice was strong, but rough. “The life you’d known before will be gone, just as it was gone for your mother. The ocean doesn’t come in second place, not to anyone. You will know only it—a mermaid’s obsession. There will be no other life. There will be no other love.”

She stretched out her hands in the water. It just felt…so good. So right. But she kept looking back at Luke.

“You won’t remember me.”

What? Of course, she would always remember him. He was unforgettable, her Lord of the Dark. And they had to go and fight Garrick. They had to get Julian back. Had to rescue Eli. They had to—

Her legs had become a tail. She flicked it in the water and a laugh of wonder escaped her.

“I will never forget you, Mina.”

The waves crashed over her, pulling her in deep, and Mina sank into a new world.

***

An hour later, Luke was in the same spot, staring at the pounding surf. Looking for the flash of a mermaid’s tail.

“She’s not going to come back.”

His dumb ass of a brother had just appeared at his side. Luke didn’t even glance his way. His focus was on the spot he’d last seen Mina.

“You know her kind don’t have a choice. The ocean is their joy. She didn’t leave you to…to hurt you.” Leo seemed to stumble over those words, as if unsure how to comfort his twin. Mostly because they’d never comforted one another before. “She left because she had to go home.”

“Fuck off.” Before he turned his growing rage on his brother.

“Figured you’d say that,” Leo muttered. “Look, I healed her, okay? That was what you wanted. You wanted—”

I wanted her. He’d wanted to keep her with him, forever. But even more than that… “I wanted her alive. Happy.” The Eye of Hell seemed to heat on his hand. That damn Eye was part of him. Mina hadn’t realized that. No one ever did. He wielded it because he owned the darkness inside of it. The Eye only did what he wished.

And right then, he was trying so very, very hard not to be a selfish bastard. Trying so hard…

Not to wish her back to me. But a mermaid couldn’t stay with someone like him. In order to stay, the Eye would have to change her.

She’d lose the new life that she’d just found.

His hands fisted. I will not wish it. For once—for f*cking once—I will let the choice be Mina’s. The ring kept heating on his hand. It will be Mina’s choice.