His head bounces against my hand, and I rub his head. My wound stings, but it’s not deep.
Duncan’s claws reach my face, and his talons brush my cheek. Before I realize what’s happening, he’s taking me in his arms and walking to our home. He’s still in his Lycan form, and I wonder if he can shift back. Still, he’s not acting like a wild beast and seems in control.
“I’m sorry for leaving our home alone,” I sob, caressing his fur and hiding my face against his chest.
***
I WAS PACING OUTSIDE Mirella’s bedroom while the healer was checking her physical wounds. Vampires had entered my domains and tried to kidnap my wife. Unacceptable. I will rage war against the Vampire King.
“What happened?”
I look at the blonde woman coming my way and blink. “What are you doing here, Dana?”
“Her distress call reached my senses. The waves screamed in my head, and I knew that my sister was in danger.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “The Vampire King sent men to kidnap my wife. She fought back, and our bond allowed me to know she was in danger. I saved her in time, and my beast killed one of the humans helping the vampires. But the vampire got away.”
Mirella’s sister fists her hands. “I’ll kill that bastard before he tries to hurt my sister again.”
“They have been attacking my ships. We have no idea why. But this was the last straw. They hurt my queen!”
“Gather your men. We’ll attack together. He’ll be sorry that he harmed a mermaid princess.”
Before I could agree with Dana, the door cracks open and Mirella appears, jumping on one leg.
“There’ll be no war,” she states with a severe expression. “I’m alive, and I don’t want more destruction. We need to send an emissary to the Vampire King and demand an explanation. Duncan swears...”
“I’ll go,” Dana cuts her off. “I swim faster and can enter undetected. I shall talk with that reckless vampire.”
“Dana,” Mirella mumbles.
It’s too late. Dana marches down the corridor and disappears.
“She’ll start a war on her own. I’ve never seen her this mad.”
I look at my wife. “I’m mad, too!”
She grins. “I’m here and well.” Her arms wound around my neck. “My hero.”
I kiss her and hold her tight, the fear of losing her still gnaws at my heart. I would die without her. I know I would.
“Love of my life,” I whisper against her lips.
With a worried expression, she leans back. “Duncan, we need to talk about something.”
“What’s wrong, honey?”
“I was on the beach because...”
“You miss the ocean? I know I can’t hold you prisoner, but it’s not safe to descend on your own. You need an escort to prevent something like this from happening again. If you want to swim, ask me, and I’ll go with you or send guards.”
Mirella bites her lower lip. “It’s not that. I miss the ocean, but I made a deal with the Sea Witch. It’s time for me to keep my part of the deal. For that, I need to go to the sea and offer her my tail.”
“You’ll stop being a mermaid,” I mumble with mixed emotions fighting inside my heart.
She nods. “It’s a small price to pay for spending my life with you.”
I caress her cheek. “You won’t be able to...and your family... Do they know?”
“I don’t think so. But it’s okay. They can come and visit me here. All I want from life is to be your wife and bear your children.”
My heart swells with love. “I’ll make sure you never regret your decision.”
My wife smiles and kisses me.
Chapter 14—The Price of Happiness
THE NEXT MORNING, DUNCAN gathers a small army to escort us to the beach. In tight formation, the soldiers turn their back on us and wait for new orders as they surveil the forest.
Duncan places me on the sand. The waves wet my legs and stomach. My fishtail appears and my husband sits next to me.
“Are you sure you want to give up your tail?” His voice is sweet, and his hand caresses my scales.
“I’m sure. I just need to recite the spell, and I’ll have legs forever. She said I won’t lose my powers of manipulating water or my ability to communicate with the fish, but I won’t be able to breathe underwater anymore.”
Duncan kisses my cheek. “Your family will still be able to come here to visit you.”
I fight back the tears. “Yes.” I didn’t think it would be so hard to do this. The previous day, I had a lot more resolve.
“Do you want to go for a swim before you recite the spell?”
I shake my head. “I need to do this now. Just stay here with me while I calm down.”
My king circled his hand around my waist and leaned his head on my shoulder.
Breathing deeply, I faced the horizon. “A deal is a deal. I, Mirella, daughter of Tritan and queen of the Lycans hereby renounce my mermaid legacy and offer my tail to the Sea Witch. With seawater and blood, I sealed this deal. With this spell and seawater, I make it effective.”
I hold my breath as I wait for something to happen.
Nothing.
Then, a tingly feeling numbs my tail and the seafoam snakes around me until my tail disappears and all that remains are my legs.
Tears fall from my eyes, and I lean closer to Duncan’s embrace. “It’s gone. I’m like you now.”
His hand strokes my hair, and he kisses away my tears. “Not like me, my love, but you will be.”
Sniffing, I raise my face to look at him. “What do you mean?”
“Once we have our first child, I’ll bite you and infect you with lycanthropy. It will make you stronger, faster, and you’ll live as long as I will. Do you want that?”
“Why just after our first child? Why not today?”
Duncan presses his forehead against mine and closes his eyes. “I’m not going to lie. Biting you will cause you to have a fever. You could die. I need to secure an heir. If you die, I die. Many don’t bite their mates because they are afraid of losing them too soon. Do you still want this?”
“Why do you want to bite me?”
“To make you stronger.” His fingers touched her cheek. “The vampires are trying to start a war. My bite will give you the chance to fight and win against them.”
“Let’s go home, my love. We finished what we had to do here. Now, I need to rest. I’m feeling dizzy.”
Duncan gets up and lowers to take me in his arms. I don’t protest because I don’t think I can walk on my own. He’s still a bit paranoid about what happened the previous day. My encounter with the vampire was scary enough. Therefore, I don’t say a thing about the increase in security and his insistence on going everywhere I go.
Chapter 15—The Vampire King
IT’S BEEN A WEEK SINCE I’ve married Mirella. I can’t be happier. She’s all I’ve ever dreamed of and more. My wife is still adapting to her new life and world. Meanwhile, I’m working with my new family to keep Mirella safe and my kingdom and ships protected from the Vampire King.
Tonight, I’m hosting another ball at my castle. Mirella’s family is coming and so is the Vampire King and his entourage.
My servants walk around the ballroom with trays of drinks and food. My important guests chat and laugh, oblivious to my anxiety. There are several ways that the meeting with the Vampire King could go wrong. Yet, I need to know why he’s doing this and what we did to provoke the attacks.
My attention piques when my wife enters the ballroom with her sister, Dana. Dana has been crucial in arranging this meeting. King Tritan will escort the Vampire King to my lands and guarantee his safety.
Mirella glides to my side, wearing a beautiful sky-blue tulle dress that hugs her delicious curves. Her long hair is styled into a braid and she’s wearing a crown on her head. The music stops, people bow in awe, and I stride to her.
“You look ravishing, my queen,” I mumble as I grab and kiss her hand. “You look beautiful too, Princess Dana. Thank you for joining us.”