Chapter 12

TWELVE

Merrick

I knew little about human females and even less about siren-born females, but I suspected that Jesse voiding the contents of her stomach into the water wasn’t a good reaction after offering her my cock. They taught us as guppies how to sex human females with our human cock because we couldn’t do it with our tails.

Either way, it shouldn’t make Jessie sick.

Though perhaps it was the information that there was a group of hungry mermen who wanted to plant a baby in her that made her feel ill.

The thought made me feel better about my cock.

I rubbed her back as she finished, her arms trembling as her hair hung over her face. I swept it back with one arm, quickly braiding it and sealing the bottom with a special knot that would keep the hairstyle in place until I released it.

Jesse leaned back against me, patting her hair. “You know a lot of neat skills. Merman and all …”

Her voice sounded dazed and not at all like her usual self.

This worried me.

“And just what the fuck is a siren born?” she asked.

How to explain thousands of years of history in a way she’d quickly understand?

“You are descendants of our mermaids. They are gone from the oceans. We don’t know why. You are a human with siren blood.”

I paused, but she said nothing. Her jaw dropped.

“I’m sorry to drag you into this,” I continued. “I never—”

I stopped as Jesse jerked immediately away from me. “Is that why you met me in the waterway? You could sense I was this … whatever I am! Oh god, I fell for your stupid ‘tangled in the nets’ trap. God, I’m such an idiot.”

Alarm coursed through me. “Jesse, no! I had not planned on meeting you at all! I was trapped or I would have swum away!” I argued, pleading with her to understand. “I don’t run into human females often! When I smelled you, I just … I wanted to make sure you got home safe,” I finished lamely, knowing how bad it sounded.

Jesse laughed, but the sound held no amusement. “Right. Like I believe that.”

I wanted to reassure her, but I was wasting time. I had to get back before the stories spread to the other clans—to my father.

“I’m sorry, Jesse, but you’re in serious danger. We haven’t found a siren born in decades, and even now hundreds of mers are descending on your shores. I must return to calm the situation. They all know about you. I am not sure what scares me more: the fact they know you exist now or me leaving you alone for any amount of time. I know they will eventually track you here.”

I took a breath, knowing she would not like what I was about to say, but I didn’t know what else to do.

“Regardless, I’m going to leave you here until I can figure out a way to get you back on land, where it’s safest. Please don’t leave through the underground caverns; you will drown. I will prepare your food before I leave.”

A large drop of water landed on my head. I shook it off.

Jesse shot up. “Exfuckingscuse me?!”

I didn’t know what that word meant. “I—”

She stood and glared at me. “You are not leaving me here, fish boy. And I want another shot at those assholes who attacked me! Don’t think you can just shove this baby in a corner and … are you even listening to me?”

I glanced up from where I was already breaking open a few mussels and clams I kept for situations like this in a shallow pool a few feet away.

“No, not really,” I replied glibly. If I hit the clam just right, the best parts of the meat would stay stuck to the shell.

Jesse made a choking sound. I would have to explain myself further or she would become more upset.

“If it makes you feel better to keep yelling at me, continue. I think it is more important to ensure you will eat well while I’m gone.”

Jesse stared at me in shocked silence, her mouth hanging open as I rearranged a few things around the cave, and made up the small bed in the corner with old nets and canvas.

I stood, happy that she had enough fresh shrimp, clams, and mussels to tide her over, and a bed to sleep. I didn’t have any jelly juice packs for her. Which need was more deadly: fresh liquids or the horde of mers hunting her ?

Whatever we were doing, it had to be done quickly.

“I will return soon,” I promised and went to dive into the water.

“Merrick! Don’t you dare—”

I never got to find out what. I dove into the water and straight down into the underwater cave, praying she wouldn’t follow. My body writhed as I fought the instinctual urge to breathe through my mouth. My gills appeared with my tail and fins moments later, and I knew instant, glorious relief as they opened along my neck and started filtering air.

I hoped Jesse wouldn’t be angry with me for trapping her there, even though she had every right to be. The holes in the cavern had grown bigger since last time, and that made me nervous. She had no access to fresh liquids, which also made me nervous. All of the hunters were likely scouring the ocean this moment, tracking her blood.

Fuck, as Jesse would say.

Just do your best to protect her.

The thought felt like a spear going through my chest, but I shoved it away. I would do what I had to in order to protect her. I recognized that what I felt for her was more than protectiveness—there was an instinctual possessiveness that had already come out frequently.

And I think Jesse liked it.

But if she didn’t want any more kisses or didn’t want to have my children, I would not force her.

Nor would I let any other mer force her.

The darkness swallowed me as I swam hard, relishing the burn in my muscles as I pushed myself harder. I emerged from the cave into the open ocean, adjusting my tail to rise. I would sniff out the surrounding area, and wait until the hunting party returned back home. That would be the time for Jesse and I to escape back to land .

Hopefully, the blood was too diluted through the water, and the hunters too stunned and injured to immediately follow the trail.

It wasn’t much of a hope, but it was the only one we had.