Silence falls. Lights from the streetlights sweep through the car. Over and over again. I watch his profile fall into light and then shadow, and then light again. I try to imagine him cocky and confident. Strutting around on a stage in front of screaming fans. And actually, it’s not hard to picture at all.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly. It’s awful how much has been taken from him.
He shrugs as if it is no big deal.
“Are you going to go back to the ocean?” I blurt because it is the first thing that pops into my mind as a much needed change of topic.
But now a strange dull ache is spreading through my chest at the thought. Like I’m some sort of Victorian lady and I’m going to pine away if he leaves. What the hell is wrong with me tonight? This is some strange stomach bug.
“I can’t,” he says quietly.
And damn, does that make me feel happy.
“Why?” I ask, because shouting ‘Goodie!’ would be completely unhinged.
Blue sighs wearily. “Sirens can sense each other. They’d sense me as soon as I set foot in the ocean.”
He pauses and I wait with bated breath.
“They’d also sense what was done to me in the harem. It would be weakness in their eyes.”
My mouth falls open.
“So they’d eat me,” finishes Blue, far too calmly.
“What the hell!” I shriek in sheer and utter outrage.
It feels like my actual blood is boiling and I always thought that was just an expression.
“How dare they! Take me to the ocean and I’ll kneecap them all!”
Blue chuckles. The sound is like a splash of cold water. I was being deadly serious. But yeah, that’s a ridiculous idea. One mortal human with a baseball bat against all the sirens in the world.
But I’d try. I really would. I’d kill them all if I could.
Time to take a deep breath and calm the fuck down. I’ve always been a bit feisty and bloodthirsty, but this is a whole new level. Just what kind of stomach bug is this?
Or is it because I’ve never had a friend like Blue before?
It’s probably that. I like all the boys, but I feel strangely close to Blue. Closer than I’ve ever felt to anyone. Even boyfriends.
It’s a nice feeling. I like it. I just need to hope that Blue takes a while to get fed up with me. And who knows, maybe being paranormal and over two hundred years old gives him endless patience?
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Chapter nine
Blue
Sammy is terrible at swimming. I’ve never seen anything like it. It is as if he has no natural buoyancy. I swear stones sink slower. It’s a very good thing we are in the shallow end of my pool.
He thrashes and churns the water for a bit longer and then stands up. Water streams over him as he heaves in a lungful of air. He pushes his wet hair out of his eyes and grins at me.
“Better?”
“No,” I reply honestly.
Sammy laughs. A genuine peel of amusement. It thickens the air around me and for one ridiculous moment, I want to breathe it in.
