MERCILESS (The Mermen Trilogy #3) (16 page)

“We have to get to the Great Hall, the men are—”

Liv pushed him back into the small sofa. “They can goddamned wait.” Raw lust gleamed in her brown eyes. “I need to feel you inside me again.”

She whipped off her top and pulled down her shorts, revealing that patch of dark hair between her legs that he knew would lead him to the sweetest spot. She moved over him and straddled his lap.

“Liv, you’re so fucking sexy.” He felt blinded by his need for her.

She took his cock in her hands and then positioned him just right before slamming her body down on him, sheathing his cock deep inside her. He held back a groan as she rode him hard, trying to coax the cum from his shaft.

His mind in an utter state of oblivion, he gripped her hips and rocked himself into her. She felt cool, but still so delicious. “I’m going to get you pregnant, Liv. You know that, don’t you?”

“I fucking hope so, Roen. Come for me, merman. Come inside me.” Her supple breasts bobbed in his face as she slid him in and out at a ravenous pace.

As his cum exploded into her, he felt a coldness in his heart.

“Roen, no!”
Liv’s faint voice echoed somewhere inside his head.

“What the
foke
was that?” he said.

He looked at Liv, her head flung back, her chocolate brown hair cascading down her shoulders. “No! Don’t stop, Roen. Don’t stop.”

He blinked, feeling disoriented for a moment. He could’ve sworn he’d heard her speaking to him not through his ears, but through his heart.

Of course. She is your mate
. “I foking love you, Liv,” he said.

She smiled and then pulled his lips to hers for a wet kiss. “I know, baby. I can feel it. Now fuck me again.”

“With pleasure.” A merman could go all night. “But just once more. Then we have to go to the Great Hall and tell everyone we’re leaving.”

Liv pressed her mouth to his in a punishing kiss.

~~~

Every time Liv heard those manipulating lies coming from her own mouth, twisting words so that Roen wouldn’t see the truth, Liv’s heart grew angrier.

But when Liv felt Roen inside her body, that fucking evil bitch at the helm, making her limbs and muscles move and stroke and kiss and suck, her heart ached with despair. It was torture watching him make love to this other woman. Yes, it was her body. It was her face and her voice.

But it wasn’t her.

Why can’t he tell the difference?
she screamed to herself.
That’s not me, Roen!
And now Crazy Dirt wanted him to have babies with her?

They won’t be free, Roen. That evil bitch probably has some other plan
. That vile, life-sucking demon probably had the next thousand years of her existence all figured out.

“I foking love you,” Roen said, and his words felt like a blanket of soothing warm honey being poured over her raw and aching soul. Those words were meant for her.

But then why was he fucking her again? Why wasn’t he seeing the truth?

“Roen! No!”
she screamed.

“What the foke was that?” Roen said, stopping the rocking movement of his hips.

He heard me. He heard me! Ohmygod! Roen!

But then that evil bitch started screaming, urging him to continue.

Because she heard me, too.
Crazy Dirt could hear everything Liv said, couldn’t she? The two of them were connected now in almost every way.

Except I’m not an evil demon. “And I won’t let you win, Crazy Dirt! I won’t let you have him!”

“Yes, Roen. That’s it! Just you and me. No one else matters,” Crazy Dirt screamed loudly to mask Liv’s cries.

“This isn’t over, Crazy Dirt. You can’t silence me forever
.” Which got Liv thinking. If Roen left the island, would he still be able to hear her? The island still had some connection to those off the island, but it wasn’t the same. She knew that first hand. It was why Crazy Dirt always wanted the men to stay close to her.

So how would she draw energy or feed or whatever it was called from so far away?

She’s bringing lunch with her: Roen.

He’d drink the water from here, he’d stay healthy and strong, and she would draw from him.

Liv wanted to vomit. Crazy Dirt had needed two strong people in order to free herself from this place. Her and Roen. Their love, their bond, their strength. She’d chosen them specifically for this. Liv could see that now.

Who could ever have seen it coming?

I have to stop Roen before he leaves.
She just wasn’t sure how.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Is this truly over? Am I really leaving this place?
Roen could hardly believe that the moment had finally arrived. It had come at the great expense of those around him, of those who’d come before him, and of those he loved, but he’d done it.

Well, me and Liv
. He glanced at her sweet face—those pink lips, the elegant lines of her nose, jaw, and cheekbones. His heart swelled for this woman who’d been brave enough to return for him. Who’d been fearless enough to confront the threats.

And now, she and he would leave here. Together. The island would be well guarded, his people could choose to stay or go, and there would be no more Collections or killing.

His only concern now was the island’s motives.

She
had not spoken with him or attempted to; however, he’d shut her out of his heart, as had the other men. He had no doubt that eventually she would try to make her comeback, but what good would it do? They now knew they could live without her water, although many would not want to. Just as he did not. He wanted to live as man and woman with Liv—his human mate.

As for the young men and boys out in the world who had yet to discover what they were, he would just have to wait and see. Would these future mermen continue making their way to the island, being drawn by their blood to join their people? Would they instinctively seek out one of their kind on the mainland? No one knew. He only hoped that instinct would guide them somewhere safe before their bodies underwent any changes, which as far as Roen could tell, happened later in a male’s life. Something triggered the mermen gene.

One more mystery to be studied about their people. But this was work that now needed to be left to others. Roen had done his part.

The men, who’d now all been given water, and the women who’d been transformed gathered in the Great Hall.

With Liv at his side, Roen looked around at the smiling faces, and it was a moment he’d never forget.

“You know what?” he said. “This is the beginning of a new life. Let’s hold the meeting outside, under the blue sky.” This cavern held too many bad memories. “In fact, I’m going to ban anyone using it from here on out. We come, we collect our water, we leave.”

From the sounds and rumbles of the voices, everyone seemed to agree. They all made their way outside and to a small clearing just down the hill, where they gathered around him and Liv.

“First,” he said, “I want to say how grateful I am that we’ve been given this chance to live freely. And, as I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the island fooled us men into believing we were dying when in reality, we were merely returning to our natural state. But I want everyone here to know that they have a choice; they do not need to depend on this island any longer. If they choose to be free and live as our ancestors once did, then they will be safe within the waters surrounding the island. Any further out, of course, comes with a risk of being discovered.”

Holden, who stood next to Dr. Fuller, raised his hands. “Dr. Fuller and I have been discussing the idea of trying to bring back all of the maids. We’d like to understand which ones are immune to the water and why. We’d also like to see if there are any who remember their lives before they were changed.”

Dr. Fuller spoke up. “We’ll also need help to change back all of the maids, so they can decide for themselves how they’d like to live.”

Roen hadn’t really thought about that. It would require many men. “It will take time; however, I suppose I can—”

“Roen, not to interrupt your speech,” Liv said politely, “but you’ve already given so much to this island. Can’t someone else be put in charge? Lyle, for example?”

Roen leaned in close, so only she could hear. “That is an excellent idea, Liv. I’m thrilled my mate is such a smart woman.”

He straightened his back. “We’ll get through this next phase. Lyle can handle things—”

“Where are you going?” Lyle asked with his deep, gravelly voice.

Roen lifted his chin, knowing his reply might displease some. “Liv and I are leaving, which is the other reason I wanted to gather everyone. Anyone else who wishes to go may come with us. If you are planning to live as a landlover, we will need to make arrangements for water to be sent to you. In any case, for those who remain here, we are going to need new laws and new leadership on the island. I propose that once we get through the next few weeks and have all of the maids returned to their human state, we will work on a new infrastructure. Everyone will have a say going forward. Everyone will have land and a home. Everyone is free to come and go as they please. Until we’ve worked out the new laws, however, all disputes are to be handled by Lyle. Killing is prohibited except for self-defense, of course. But I suspect we’ve all had our fill of fighting.”

“Roen,” Liv interrupted again, “we cannot risk intruders or being discovered. The island is still sacred. We need her to stay healthy if she’s going to keep making water for us.”

“That all goes without saying.” He took her hand and wrapped his fingers tightly around hers. “We will continue our scientific work, studying this place. We’ll set up secure means of transport on and off the island by boat and air so that we can bring in supplies when needed and so that people may come and go. But this land will no longer be referred to as sacred.”

Liv’s fingers squeezed his. “Well, it’s still sacred. The water can heal almost anyone from almost any injury. It’s pretty remarkable if you ask me.” She looked at Dr. Fuller. “Isn’t that right, Doctor?”

Dr. Fuller smiled. “I don’t know, Liv. After everything I’ve seen, I’m wondering if she’s not just some demonic freak of nature.”

Roen could see the anger in Liv’s eyes, and her mouth began to express it out loud. “How can you—”

“All right, Liv,” he cut her off. “We’ve all had a trying few days, and I know we’re all in need of a little rest.”

Pure rage flickered in Liv’s eyes and made him pause. But then that glowing, warm smile he loved so much crept across her lips. “You’re totally right, Roen. I haven’t slept in days.” Liv gave his hand another squeeze. “I’d like to go home now, if you’re done playing benevolent ruler.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “Yes. I’m through. Let’s get you home.”

~~~

Liv watched through her own eyes as Roen packed up his things, including some of the island’s ancient texts. Crazy Dirt, of course, tried to dissuade him from bringing anything back to the mainland, claiming that the distractions of this place would get between them.

Liv screamed and fought and cried and begged, but every time she saw a look in Roen’s eyes, some hint of worry or discomfort, there
she
was, distracting him again. “Fuck me, Roen. Fuck me again,” Crazy Dirt would beg.

Roen would then flash that cocky smile, unable to deny his mate what they both wanted. It was a nightmare. A horrific nightmare to witness Roen unknowingly betraying her.

He loves you, Liv. He loves you. He’s not doing this to hurt you
.
“Roen! Don’t leave. Don’t leave the island!”

Crazy Dirt walked into the bathroom, closed the door, and then stared into the mirror, a look of pure evil flickering behind brown eyes that were so familiar, yet so foreign. “Listen, you human bitch, he can’t hear you. The only thing you are accomplishing is giving me a fucking headache and pissing me off.”

“Ask me if I give a shit. Roen! Roen!”

Crazy Dirt pounded her fist so hard on the marble countertop that the pain made Liv gasp. “You miserable little cunt, keep behaving like an infant, but it will change nothing. If you behave nicely, however, I promise to bring Roen back from time to time for a visit so you can feel close to him again. Maybe I’ll even bring your children by for visits.” Crazy Dirt circled her hand over her stomach.

Children? “No.”
Liv wanted to cry.

“With the way your merman fucks and the strength of your body, I’m probably pregnant already.” She laughed.

“You—you can’t do that. You can’t—”

“Oh, but I can, and I will. We’ll have dozens of strong, healthy mermen who will serve me obediently for generations.”

No, no, no.
She couldn’t have babies with Roen! They’d be made with her body and her eggs and DNA, but…
they’ll have Crazy Dirt for a mother.

“I’ll fucking kill you. I swear to God, I will kill you.”
Liv was about to lose her mind. Once again, she found herself wondering how any of this was even possible. Her mind and soul now existed in this strange dark place outside her body. A body that she still felt connected to and breathed and walked with Crazy Dirt’s heart inside it.

Crazy Dirt shrugged. “You have no hands or real power, so I think I’m safe from you, Liv.” Crazy Dirt wiggled her fingers in the mirror. “Ta-ta, little human.”

Crazy Dirt walked out of the bathroom and went to find Roen. He was now in the enormous library downstairs, sorting through a pile of old dusty books. He’d already changed into his landlover clothes, a pair of jeans and a regular navy blue T-shirt. He was so beautiful, the way his gold-streaked hair hung to his jawline, the way the muscled contours of his chest and arms stretched his soft shirt. The broad shoulders and tall framework of his body screamed with raw masculinity.

Above all, though, it was his heart and sense of loyalty she loved the most.
And fucking Crazy Dirt is using those against him.
She loved him too much to let this happen.