The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things #1)(61)

Nothing could ever compete with the sea. The freedom. The power.

A mermaid’s life.

“Mermaids and sirens are very similar,” Luke murmured. “Both have captivating voices. Power that can compel. Sirens lured sailors to their doom long ago, but mermaids, I think they were even worse.” He put a hand to his chest. “Mermaids got sailors to love them, and just when those foolish sailors thought they held paradise, the mermaids would turn away. They’d choose the ocean.”

“I didn’t think there was really a choice for mermaids.”

There was something in Rayce’s voice…Sonofabitch. Luke scowled at his friend. “You knew, didn’t you?”

“That Mina wasn’t a siren?” Rayce came a bit closer, his voice growing stronger. “I suspected. She didn’t seem to have that cold touch, if you know what I mean. A bit too soft on the inside.”

He looked down at his ring. “She wanted me to use the Eye to take her dark power away. She didn’t understand that she wasn’t dark at all.” Right then, he hated the Eye. He hated the whole f*cking world. “Why didn’t you warn me to stay away from her?”

“Because I thought you deserved a chance to be happy, too.”

His head whipped up.

“Tell me the truth, O’ Great Lord of the Dark.” The title was mocking but Rayce’s gaze was dead serious. “Weren’t you happy with her?”

“Yes.”

Rayce’s hands flew up into the air. “Then why aren’t you fighting for her? Why aren’t you using your power, using that freaking Eye, using everything that you have to keep her with you?”

Rayce had wanted the truth. So Luke would give it to him. “Because I love her. And I find that, more than my own happiness…I want hers. I want her to have the choice. I want her to have whatever she desires most.”

Rayce’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“So I’m going to kill some people.” Luke nodded decisively. “I’m going to spread terror and hell, and I’m going to spend the rest of my exceedingly long life missing a mermaid who won’t even remember me. That happens, you see. Did you know that?”

Rayce shook his head. “No, Luke…”

“It’s why her mother never came back for her,” Luke continued grimly, the words just not stopping. “When a mermaid returns to the ocean, she forgets her human life. It’s as if that time never was. The longer you stay in the water, the more those memories vanish.” He gave a bitter laugh. “How is this for my own private hell? I’ll never forget her, but Mina won’t even remember my name.”

The cruelest twist of fate.

“Luke, f*ck…I’m sorry. I didn’t know—”

Luke exhaled and a puff of smoke blew from his lungs. Time for his beast to come out. “Stay on the island. Things are about to get ugly in the Keys.”

“Luke—”

He flew straight up into the air, traveling fast, shifting easily and the beast started hunting its prey.

Maybe I should just stay this way. No longer even pretend to be a man. I’ve lost her, so what is the f*cking point? What is the point of trying to keep my control? She’s gone.

And I…hurt.





Chapter Seventeen


The water was beautiful, so clear and warm. She swam deep, then shot to the surface, moving so fast. Far faster than she’d ever dreamed.

Her tail was powerful, propelling her forward. She was racing with a dolphin and laughing because she was beating him. She broke through the surface and did a roll in the air, pushed again by her magnificent tail.

She splashed into the water. Sank deep. She was moving so quickly, swimming right past coral reefs and sunken ships. Her hands touched the fish that rushed eagerly toward her. They surrounded her and danced for her.

It was amazing.

It was…home. She felt it, all the way in her bones. This was where she was meant to be. Happiness beat in her heart. Such pure joy and—

A shark was up ahead.

For a moment, she stilled and a shiver of fear slipped through her. The shark’s eyes were so dark, and its mouth open as it swam toward her. She could see those deadly rows of teeth. I’m afraid of the shark. It’s just like before, when I was trying to get away from Luke, and the shark was there. I froze and—

The memory vanished when the shark bumped her.

But the shark didn’t attack after that bump. It just…stayed beside her. Her shaking fingers reached out and she touched its side.

The shark seemed to vibrate against her, as if enjoying her touch. In that moment, she knew there was nothing to fear. Not in the ocean. The certainty was soul deep. She didn’t have to be afraid. Not any longer. She never had to fear again.

She should tell Luke. She should—

Luke.

The name was in her mind, lingering.

But…

Who was Luke?

She spun beneath the water. The shark had disappeared. The school of fish was gone. She was all alone right then, just a few feet from the wreckage of an old plane.

Who is Luke? The question battered at her. She stared at her fluttering hands. At her beautiful tail, and another chilling thought sliced through her…

Who am I?

Because she couldn’t remember…she couldn’t even remember her own name.