MERMADMEN (The Mermen Trilogy #2) (22 page)

“Keep going,” he’d ordered. With so much water wasted, they’d run out anyway and have to face the problem of getting more. “At least a few more men will have their mates back today.” They’d proceeded to catch as many maids as possible until the shores were overrun. The beaches now looked like the mating grounds for sea lions, shiny black bodies with tails on every inch of shoreline. There was no way off the island.

Worse yet, Roen had confirmed hundreds of landlover ships sailing in their direction, looking for the “Fountain of Youth.” Liv’s doctor had sent a water sample to a laboratory in Ketchikan, and an employee leaked the news. With hard data. The part he couldn’t wrap his head around was how the island’s location had gotten out.

So now, the men were no longer being controlled, but they had no means to bring back the rest of the women without that goddamned water.
One more goddamned hurdle among an ocean of many.

He’d considered threatening the island with vacating, leaving her to live out her nightmare of being taken over by landlovers, but if anyone found this place and took it over, the mermen’s hopes of rescuing Liv or the remaining maids would be done. The humans would either contaminate the island—like the legends said—or they would destroy everything looking for the water. Either way, the island had once again put them in the position of protecting her. They needed her.

I bet she’s laughing her ass off right now.

Roen picked up his phone from the desk he’d brought into the library to be near Liv and dialed Phil, who picked up on the first ring. “Ro? Where the hell have you been? I’ve left twenty messages.”

Roen groaned. Phil only used his nickname when there was bad news coming.

“I’ve been tied up. What’s the matter?”

“I’ve done everything I can, Roen. I’ve called every senator, judge, I’ve filed petitions, I even tried to get a meeting with the goddamned president. No one will touch this territory thing.”

“Why not? It’s my foking land,” Roen barked.

“The United States can’t go around staking claims on properties in international waters without establishing who occupies it. What if there are bunch of Russians living there? Or French? The U.S. doesn’t want to get into a war over a damned island.”

Foke.
At this point, did it matter if he told Phil the location of the island? Within days, they’d be found out anyway. “It’s my island and the people who live here won’t contest that.”
Not entirely.
“I’ll email you the location.” Roen rubbed his forehead. “But please hurry. We’re about to be overrun by a lot of unwelcomed guests.”

“Roen, by coincidence, is this the same island everyone’s talking about in the news? The place with a Fountain of Youth?”

“Yes.” Roen sighed exasperatedly.

“Holy shit. No wonder you wanted to keep it secret.”

“There is no fountain, Phil. It’s only an island,” he lied. “With some rare species.”
The rarest.

“I’ll get to work, but it’ll take time.”

“We’re out of time. Do what you can, please.”
Before this turns into a bloodbath.

Roen hung up the phone and a light tapping sound caught his attention. He turned his head toward the tank, where the maid stared at him with her bright golden eyes. She flashed her set of sharp teeth.

Roen’s heart sank further into that deep hole. His beautiful Liv had been turned into this creature. If he managed to transform her back, she might not remember him.

He stood and placed his palms flat on the glass, staring longingly at the strange animal with sleek black skin and a long tail. “I miss you, Liv. I miss your smartass mouth. I miss your face. I miss holding you. Please, at least tell me you know who I am.”

She placed her palm against the glass, matching the splay of his fingers with hers. Then she licked her lips, her gaze turning hungry.

“You want to eat me. And not in a good way, I’m guessing,” he said.

She made a sour face and then shook her head.

He stepped back and dropped his hand. “I’ll try to get you some food.” They’d run out of that, too. Everything they had had been used for bait, and the men couldn’t get anywhere near the boats to fish—the shores of the island were completely overrun with hungry, snapping, hissing mermaids. If only he had a plane, but Edward—the pilot—wasn’t answering his cell. Worst of all, the plane carrying Dana never reached the airport in Wrangell. He’d already checked.

Roen ran his hands over his face. Everything was falling apart around him.
Why can’t I catch a foking break?
A punishment for his human sins, perhaps.

“Brother.” Lyle stood in the doorway of the library, his face void of real emotion.

Roen didn’t have to ask; he knew it meant more bad news.
An endless pile of shit.

“We’ve looked everywhere. There are no signs of the elders, so we can only assume they left the island,” Lyle said.

Like rats jumping ship.
This place really was about to sink, but at least he had his brother at his side. Without him, he wouldn’t have survived this long.

“Lyle, did you really believe I would kill you?” Roen asked.

Lyle shrugged his husky shoulders. “It was a strong possibility.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I caused you immeasurable suffering.” Lyle’s green eyes focused on the pile of papers sitting on Roen’s desk.

“Yes. You did. Fifteen years of it, to be exact.” Roen sat in his leather chair and leaned back.

“No. I meant failing to get Liv off the island.” His eyes flashed to the watchful mermaid in the tank. “But now that you mention the other point, I suppose that, too, is worthy of a little anger.” Pain and regret flourished in Lyle’s face. He was a large man—seven feet tall with enormous muscles and scar-covered skin—but the man standing before him looked like a child desperate for forgiveness.

“Shane and his men blindsided you, it’s not your fault Liv was taken,” Roen said. “All that other stuff is in the past now. Where it belongs. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

Lyle shook his head. “I owe you the truth.”

“You don’t owe me anything. You’re here by my side now, and that’s all I could ask for.”

“No. You need to know what happened. We may not get another chance.”

Roen released a breath and nodded his consent. He could see in Lyle’s eyes that his brother needed to get this off his chest.

Lyle walked toward the tank and began speaking to Roen, but his eyes were set on the maid, who seemed fixated by her own swishing tail. “When the previous leader died, father came to see me. He told me everything—about the island, about him and Mom, and about our bloodline. He said you were too weak to rule and that you wouldn’t stand a chance, so it was up to me to step in.”

Roen dropped his head. “Honestly, I already guessed it was something like that.”

Lyle’s deep voice quieted. “That wasn’t the part I’m ashamed of. I lied to you, Roen. I didn’t come here to spare you from having to lead. I came here because he told me that one day you might show up on this island, and if you did, I’d get the honor of killing you.”

Lyle’s words deeply wounded him. What man wouldn’t feel hurt knowing his own father thought him weak and his brother wanted to kill him?

Roen leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the desk while the heavy weight of Lyle’s words sank in.

“I agreed, Roen. I hated you for failing to protect me. I hated you since that day those kids put me in the hospital. I hated you for telling me our mother would live. I especially hated you for not protecting me from our father and this place. I felt like every time I needed you, you weren’t there, and I looked forward to the day I’d face you and squeeze the life from your body.”

Roen lifted his brows and blew out a breath. Lyle’s sharp words felt like a hundred little knives being shoved into his gut repeatedly. Only because he felt the same way. “Well, I did fail you. And I can’t go back and undo it, but I’ll never do it again. I promise.”

“No need for an apology, brother. I finally see things differently now that I’ve closed my heart to the island. You’ve made me realize she caused our pain. She told our father what to do.”

“Yes, but he listened,” Roen argued.

“Because he was the weak one, not you. He had the chance to save our mother with the island’s water, and he didn’t do it because the island told him not to. He already had two sons and couldn’t have more, so she was of no use—that’s what the island said to him.”

“How do you know all this?” Roen asked.

“I was there when he died. He killed himself—said the guilt was too much and threw himself to the maids.”

“Like the goddamned coward that he was.” Roen’s anger, resentment, and despair bubbled to the surface. How much more could he endure?

“Yes. He was a coward. And perhaps he feared your strength and what it might do to the way of life here. But the island… I think she was drawn to you. She’s drawn to strength and determination. It’s irresistible to her. Almost like she feeds off of it.”

The maid hit the glass with her knuckles and began swishing frantically back and forth in the tank, pointing to her throat.

“Sorry,” Roen said. “She’s hungry.”

“I know how she feels. I haven’t eaten in two days, but none of that matters now.” Lyle squared his shoulders. “Roen, whatever happens next, I want you to know I’m proud to have been your brother. And now you need to come outside,” he added.

“Why?” Roen asked hesitantly.

“I need to show you something.”

Goddammit, what now?
“Just tell me.”

“It’s better if you see for yourself.”

Roen ran his hands through his hair. Whatever it was couldn’t be worse than what they already faced.

“Stay in there.” Roen pointed to the maid. With his luck, he’d come back and find she’d eaten one of his men.

The maid popped her head from the top of the tank. “Eat! Eat! Island eat!” Her voice came out sounding like a cross between a wolf’s howl and seal’s bark.

Roen groaned. One more goddamned thing to worry about. A ravenous mermaid mate.

He followed Lyle out the front door, wondering what more could possibly go wrong.

Once outside, Roen immediately noticed how the late evening sky seemed flat, pale blue on one side and light gray on the other. No orange. No electric blue. Just a plain old sky.

Lyle pointed to the trees. “Look at them. Look at their tops.”

They’d browned, like old dried-out Christmas trees.

“What’s happening to them?” Roen asked.

“I think the island is dying. Now look at your hands, Roen.” Lyle held out his own palm, revealing patches of black skin.

Roen stuck out his right hand and noticed he too had pea-sized spots. When he looked closer, he saw a slight texture to them. “What is it?”

“I guess we’re dying, too.”

“Foking hell.” Roen dropped his hands. “Either that, or we’re changing into bloody mermen.”

~ ~ ~

Shane stared at the dark-haired beauty sleeping on the bed, fantasizing over every inch. Oh, the things he was going to do to that smart mouth and those heart-shaped lips, to that creamy skin and sweet-smelling body.

And I’m going to enjoy every moment.

He’d sold his goddamned soul and betrayed everyone who trusted him to finally get what he wanted. Fuck them all because his blackened heart wept with joy.

Liv groaned softly in the bed and stretched her arms over her head. “Mmmm…”

“Feeling well rested, landlover?” he said. “I had to give you quite a bit of sedatives while the sacred water healed your many wounds. It took a lot of time, and I’m sorry for that, but the maids had to make it look convincing.”

Liv sat up, her wide brown eyes darting around the room. “Shane? Where am I?”

He leaned forward, planting his elbows on his knees. “You’re in my home.
Your
home. On my private island.”

Her eyes continued surveying the well-appointed room—only the best of the best for his comfort. Lush, rich upholstery, gas fireplace, balcony overlooking the ocean. Oh, yes. And Liv. She would bring him endless nights of comfort.

“Shane?” she said with a shaky voice. “Where’s Roen?”

He stood and pushed up the sleeves of his thick cream-colored sweater. It felt good to wear clothes again, especially jeans. “Roen? Oh, he’s dead along with the rest of those weak, disloyal traitors.” At least, they would be soon. “But you and I have been given a great honor, Liv, one I think we’ll both enjoy.”

He could hear the frantic pounding of her heart inside her chest, but he’d anticipated this reaction. With time, however, she’d see this was meant to be.

“What are you talking about, Shane?”

“You and I will repopulate my race with men bigger, stronger, and far more loyal than those I left behind.” He sat next to her and ran the tip of his finger across her trembling jaw. “You,” he whispered, “are going to give me many sons. Any more questions?”

“Yeah,” she said, stabbing him with her angry eyes. “What’s the best way to kill a merman?”

TO BE CONTINUED…

NOTE FROM AUTHOR

Hi All!

So what do you think? Are they dying or becoming…mua-ha-ha-ha…mermen? And who the hell is inside Roen’s fish tank? And will Liv finally get to kill Shane? Hmmm…*crosses fingers.* LOL. While you’re thinking about it, here are some fun pics to check out of the characters and places in the book:

www.pinterest.com/mimijeanromance/mermen/

Anyway, I am SUPER-DUPER sorry to make everyone wait for part 3 (coming LATE NOV. 2015), but I needed to hit pause and finish up IMMORTAL MATCHMAKERS, INC. (my NEW Accidentally Yours spin off—yay CIMIL!!), and readers have been very patient for that. I’m also working on my next installment of the Happy Pants Café Series (Summer 2016—so excited!).

If you’d like to know exactly when MerCiless is coming, sign up for my monthly newsletter (exclusive sneak peeks and monthly giveaways!) so you don’t miss it:

http://goo.gl/0CrVMG
or go to www.mimijean.net.