“Send it to me.”
“We should go together.”
“No, I’m going now.”
“Lucas, you can’t go alone. Their dark magic is too dangerous.”
“Nova,” I seethed through clenched teeth. “Zoe’s alone, and I’m going to find her. Forward her locationnow!”
“Okay. Please don’t do anything rash, Lucas. I know you have feelings for her. We’re stronger together.”
I was only half listening when I ended the call. My dragon itched to fly to our mate. I paced in the sand waiting for the text to come through. It was a map pinpointing Zoe’s location—right near the club. If I hadn’t quit, I would have been working tonight. I’d be able to run out and help her. Regret churned, but I shoved it away. There wasn’t time to dwell.
Nor was there time to go back to the house and fly. I ran back toward a tree line and cloaked myself before stripping my phone and stashing my belongings. We would fly.
My dragon approved of this plan. Once I shifted, I ran out onto the sand, flapping my wings before I reached the shore. We ascended higher into the sky and turned south, the eerie glow cast from the moonlight reflected along the water’s surface.
I flapped my wings harder, yearning to fly faster. Why had I spent the last couple of days moping? I could have continued to help with this case, instead of feeling sorry for my ass. Now Zoe was in danger, bravely going after demons and sirens alone.
She shouldn’t be alone. I should have been with her. We were a team.
If something happened to her, I’d never forgive myself.
But she’d rejected me.
It didn’t matter. I had to do anything I could to protect her. Even if she didn’t return my feelings, she was my partner, my mate.
Zoe
What were they up to?
I climbed out of my car and crept behind any object en route to keep track of the demons and sirens. Hiding behind parked cars was easy, but once they walked down the beach, the coverage was sparse. I ran behind a tree, a trash can, and then a placard, using my short stature to my advantage.
The ocean scent grew stronger as I followed them down. The beach wasn’t well lit as it was far from streetlights. All we had was the light of the full moon casting an eerie glow over this unearthly situation.
The evil horde descended toward the shore and began to strip. Were they going in? Shit, if they did, it would be near impossible for me to follow them. We needed someone with strong swimming skills like Gianna.
I texted the group.They’re going into the ocean.
Stark naked, the demons and sirens entered the sea and dove under. They’d vanished from view. Damn, we were screwed.
I pulled out my phone to text an update when the sound of a splash arrested me. One of the women broke through the surface, and her long hair floated around her. She dove back under, revealing a sleek, massive tail. Others bobbed up and followed the same action. Jakob and Sven emerged from the dark water as well. When they submerged once more, the telling tails indicated they’d also transformed.
My stomach plummeted. How long would it be until they swam away, and I lost sight of them forever?
Maybe I should run out to attempt to stop them. Against so many of them, it was a clear suicide mission—but would it have slowed them down long enough for others from the Network to arrive?
Not likely.
These sea creatures surfaced. They swam out from each other and formed a circle. What in the what?
A haunting, beautiful woman’s hum crept up the beach. I tipped my head to listened closer. Oh shit, no.
I slammed my hands over my heart. It was the sirens singing a song.
The water within the circle bubbled and churned. The surface of the ocean glowed with a bright orange reflective of the moon. My heart thumped like a wildfire raging through a dry forest.
The waves tumbled in and over themselves in this chaotic circle. The sirens raised their hands toward the sky. The turbulent surf followed their motions, joining together to form a whirlpool.
