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Iwobbled my way down the tall, arching hallway, using the wall to steady myself. Deep male laughter came from the direction of the great dining hall. My legs threatened to give out beneath me. I sucked in a deep breath—and inhaled the aroma of food.
The loud rumbling growl from my stomach surprised me. I’d consumed a noteworthy amount of blood from all five of my mates last night and this morning, but perhaps a body with legs required more sustenance? Or maybe I had been far weaker than I had imagined.
Light radiated from the entryway as I neared it. Warmth washed the textured yellow walls in a golden glow. An unexpected pang of nostalgia sliced through me. I found myself equal parts annoyed and relieved at the return of my emotions. It had been a long time since I had walked on two legs, but it had been even longer since I had felt emotion.
Biting my bottom lip between my teeth, I thought about the work left to do. I needed to honor my vow to annihilate the Lure around the world, and now the realm of the Ancients needed me to help them stop the war that was destroying their divided world.
Would I be able to do what needed to be done, all while experiencing a full range of emotions?
Straightening my spine, I stepped around the corner and into the warm, inviting light. I took in the dining hall… or what used to be a dining hall. The long rectangular room that had once held a table nearly as long as the room itself was now full of shiny metal boxes and great slabs of stone.
“The metal boxes are appliances. The stone is granite, and the humans call it a countertop.” Lokene winked from behind the steam emanating from the cup he held.
“What are ‘appliances’, and how did this stuff come to be here?” I asked as I walked toward the men seated around the long countertop in the middle of the room. My gait was slow, but to my relief, it was steady. These men were my mates, but I was a warrior and hated appearing weak.
Kye cleared his throat, opening his mouth to speak. I assumed he planned to explain things to me, but Lokene cut him off.
“I have opened my mind to you, Soyale. Take the information.”
For a moment, I just stared at him, eyes wide and mouth hanging open like a whale collecting krill. Ancients did NOT open their minds, not to anyone. They were happy to read those around them, but they did not share their own thoughts. The information poured into my mind—stoves, cooking, refrigerators, cabinets, microwaves, and even a magikal thing called a dishwasher. What an era to be alive! People had been very busy in the last decades to have created such wonders.
Lokene spoke, his tone bored, “I blinked it here.” He waved his hand carelessly. “You were planning to find Atlantis, so I assumed this would be our home base. It was several centuries outdated and in dire need of a facelift. I took it upon myself to get everything prepared before bringing you five here.”
Unsure how to respond, I whispered softly, “Thank you.” There was still so much for me to learn about this world, and it was difficult to not feel overwhelmed.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against a hard chest. Eason’s scent, that of juniper and a warm sandy beach, swirled around me as he settled me into his lap. I breathed in the masculine scent and forced myself to relax against him. I needed to learn to control my body and mind because fighting against three sets of instincts and desires was exhausting. The Siren wanted to rip off his clothes and have her way with him. The girl in me, from so long ago, wanted to close her eyes and soak in every morsel of love and tenderness these men showed me. Meanwhile, the warrior wanted to scoff at his public display of affection.
“That’s called a PDA. Humans enjoy shortening phrases into initials in this era,” Lokene added helpfully. I narrowed my eyes in irritation at his invasion of my privacy.
Lokene’s eyes sparkled, and he licked his lips. “I’d like to invade your priv—”
“Enough!” It came out as more of a squeak than the command I had intended. Where was the confident Siren voice when I needed her? No doubt she was snickering in the back of my mind.
Eason kissed my cheek, his rough, stubbled jaw brushing against my skin. “Good morning, soldier.”
“Good morning, mate.” My voice was all silk and smoke. Exasperated, I rolled my eyes. The Siren had sat up, deciding to participate. As I adjusted myself in Eason’s lap, I realized she wasn’t the only one to sit up and take notice.
“Be still, or we will head right back down that hallway to bed.” His growl sent tingles of excitement racing through me. “Or maybe I will take you right here.”
For the first time that morning, my warrior and my Siren were in complete agreement about what they wanted. Memories of his body moving against mine the night before, unhurried and oh-so-gentle, caressed my mind.
“How about we feed her first?” Storm set a plate of food on the counter in front of me before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
The moment he stepped away, I lunged for the food, far hungrier than I’d thought. I froze. Instead of fish, or something from the ocean, there were eggs and strange bread with a large hole in the middle. It was sweet that they prepared food for me, but it was clear bread-making wasn’t a talent my mates possessed.
“Bagel,” Lokene helpfully provided out loud and then followed up by mentally sending more information about the circular bread.
I eyed my plate doubtfully. They meant for the bagel to have this appearance? How odd. Tentatively, I took a bite, and my stomach rebelled. I gagged down two bites before Eason yanked away my plate.
“Stop! Don’t eat it if you aren’t enjoying it. Is it the taste?” Eason asked.
I had eaten far worse during my travels as a soldier, and I’d learned to be thankful for all food. There had been countless meals I had gagged down without complaint.
Fynn answered before I could, “Just because she has two legs now doesn’t mean everything about her is fully human. It could be the taste, or maybe her body is rejecting something so different from her normal diet.” He directed his words toward the others and then turned to look fully at Lokene. “Am I right? Is she human, or still a mermaid?”
“Siren,” I corrected him automatically while picking at the edge of the bagel.
Lokene smirked at me. “No, she is not fully human. Zosi is not a fish either, although for now, her body is best suited for surf versus turf when it comes to her dining choices.”
