The next two days could simply be described as pure torture. Not only did Jeremiah push me until my brain couldn’t control a flea, but Graham hadn’t return when he was supposed to. I didn’t ask why. Not because I wasn’t curious, but because I could tell that Jeremiah was waiting for me to ask. He’d sensed some of the tension between the two of us and I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of butting into my love life.
Although, I will give credit where credit is due. Jeremiah Williams was a master at controlling his powers. The way he could pull on minds and tweak his commands to only a few while controlling the many was beyond impressive. His simple tricks and visualization techniques enabled me to not only take control from Jeremiah, but also hold that compulsion while he fought against me. When I earned my first smile from him, I knew I was making an impression. I was proud. Not that I wanted Jeremiah to take credit for all of it, but he’d definitely helped.
My phone was ringing when I entered my room just before sunset on the third night of my stay. With the way I was progressing, Jeremiah thought that I’d be able to leave by the end of the week. I felt a small sense of comradely with the man who’d utterly repulsed me just seventy-two hours ago. He was an arrogant and obsessive individual, but he taught me how to be a better leader and there would always be a part of me grateful for that. Even if it was buried very deep inside.
Almost missing the final ring, I breathed into the phone. “Hello?”
“Eviana? Oh good, I’m glad I caught you.” It was Kain and he sounded a little panicked. “Are you still at Jeremiah’s?”
“Yes, where else would I be?”
“Good, that’s good.” Something sounded off.
“Kain, what happened?” My stomach twisted in fear at the thought of another one of us being killed or shot or hurt. I didn’t think I could handle it.
“There’s been another attack.”
“What? Where?”
“A cruise ship off the coast. Actually it wasn’t too far away from your area. I think it was heading to Bermuda. Apparently a rogue wave capsized the ship and nearly everyone on board drowned.” That was horrible, but how was this linked to Lucian? I asked Kain as much. “He called the Council after it happened, claiming responsibility and warning this was only the beginning. He’s been making demands and one of them includes speaking with you.”
“Why me?” Surely I wasn’t that important.
“He’s not being clear. He just keeps demanding a face to face sit down with you and the Council.”
I swallowed hard. “Well are they going to give him that?”
“They don’t want to negotiate.” As much as that worried me, I tended to agree with their sentiments. No one should give Lucian what he wanted. It would only make him feel that much more powerful.
“So what do we do?”
“You need to come home and then we’ll work with Andre and Adele and try to figure something out. Actually, is Graham still there with you?”
“He’s supposed to be,” I grumbled, but Kain didn’t notice my sarcasm.
“Good. Well, maybe you can also talk to him and get a better idea about how the Council usually handles situations like this.”
I had a feeling they haven’t had to deal with someone like Lucian in their lifetime. But I agreed to try. We said goodbye with a promise I would check in with him in the morning and hopefully be on a flight by early afternoon.
Dinner had been scheduled a little later in the evening and when I walked into the dining room, my heart fluttered at the sight of Graham sitting down next to Jeremiah and sipping on his wine. He caught my eye and winked, forcing me to look away so no one would see me blush. I sat in my usual seat and begin picking at the cheese. I’d been working so hard the past few days that my appetite turned ferocious.
Jeremiah was busy discussing the recent attack with Graham, his arms flailing around dramatically like he was actually upset by this.
“That is not the way to get things done,” he was saying. “A cruise line? How idiotic. What could he possibly gain by attacking a ship full of humans?”
Graham cleared his throat. “It wasn’t just humans.” Both Jeremiah and I stopped moving.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“There was a clan gathering on board. I think a family reunion or something.” My heart plummeted.
“Do you know which clan?” A sinking feeling grew in the pit of my stomach. Lucian and his cronies had murdered an entire mermaid family.
“It was the Shannons,” Graham replied solemnly and I sucked in a breath.
The Shannons. Lily Shannon. I hadn’t known her long, but we met at Cotillion and she’d attended Kain’s inauguration. She was a fun girl who lived life to its fullest. And now she’d become another one of Lucian’s victims. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
Jeremiah was stunned by this information as well. “He has gone too far.” Shaking his head, he took a long drink of wine and seemed to be lost in deep thought.
“Why couldn’t they get away?” I asked, wondering what would’ve had to happen in order for an entire clan of mermaids to drown. We didn’t breathe underwater, so drowning was always possible, but they should’ve been able to save themselves.
“We don’t have all the details yet,” Graham began. “I’d guess they got trapped somehow. Either in their rooms or underwater.”
“What could possibly be capable of trapping them?” Graham and Jeremiah exchanged a look but before they spoke, I’d answered my own question. “The water sprites.”
Graham nodded. “That is one possibility.”
“What else could there be?”
Jeremiah answered this time. “Someone with the ability to control water.” I instantly looked at Graham. He was probably the most powerful water user I knew. His disappearance the last few days was perfectly timed with the attack, but he would never do something like this. It was too malicious and uncharacteristic of the guy I thought I knew.
“He must have somebody on his payroll now,” Graham continued. “I’ll check with Adele and see who the possible suspects are.”
“You guys keep a record of things like that?”
“Of course.”
“Oh.” I guess that made sense. I mean the Council was our governing body. Why wouldn’t they keep records of those who had an insane amount of power ready to be wielded?
Our dinner was served but I’d completely lost my appetite. Not wanting to be rude, I picked at my food until Graham and Jeremiah finished. I wanted to excuse myself right away, however there was one more topic to discuss.
“I need to go home tomorrow. Kain, Andre, and I need to work with the Council to decide whether or not to speak with Lucian.”
“They won’t negotiate with him,” Graham said stiffly.
“Well, we just might have to change the rules. I am tired of people senselessly dying because of Lucian’s delusional ideas.” As I said those words, I realized how much I believed them.
Jeremiah smiled. “And there she is.” I made a face at him. “There is the leader we’ve been waiting to see.”
“Being brave and defiant does not necessarily make for a good leader,” Graham scoffed.
“Well, you should know that better than anyone,” I shot back at him.
Jeremiah laughed. “Looks like she has you there.”
Graham and I fought in a staring match and I wasn’t going to back down. He may be a Council member, but that didn’t mean their minds couldn’t be changed. I needed to convince them to arrange this meeting with Lucian.
Graham finally looked away and I sat back in my chair with satisfaction. He poured himself another drink and stayed silent the rest of the time. Jeremiah and I talked about making arrangements for my flight home and once that was settled, he excused himself with a trail of human females following him out the door.
I didn’t really want to be in the same room as Graham for some reason. It was as if our brief friendly relationship had been replaced with a clan leader versus Council member one and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t disappointing.
“Are you going back to Seattle?” I finally asked, hating the awkward silence.
He sighed and brushed his hands over his face and head. “I don’t know. I guess I should check in with Adele and see where she wants me to go.” Something inside of me crumbled a bit at the thought this may be the last time I see Graham. I can’t really explain why, other than the physical attraction, but it was as if I’d be losing another friend.
“Have you been training?” he asked.
“With Jeremiah. I haven’t really had any time for the combat training.” Plus, I wanted to add, it wasn’t any fun if you weren’t doing it with me.
“Do you really want to talk to Lucian?” His quick change in topic threw me a little.
“If it will save lives, don’t you think I should?”
He seemed to ponder that for a few moments. “I honestly don’t know. I fear he’s already made up his mind and by making demands he’s just stalling until the ultimate attack.”
“What do you think he’ll do?” Although Lucian’s been threatening us all, he never once actually spelled out what he planned.
“I have no idea,” Graham said with a hint of fascination. “It seems that the possibilities are endless when it comes to Lucian Sutherland and his twisted mind.”
“Well, he shouldn’t be allowed to get away with all of this.”
Graham looked at me. It was uncomfortable yet exciting at the same time. I watched as several different expressions passed over his face, not quite knowing what each of them was about. When he didn’t say anything, I helped myself to another glass of wine.
“There is something so innocent yet wise about you, Eviana.”
“There’s something so annoying yet irresistible about you,” I returned. Graham laughed and leaned back in his chair far enough to rest his feet on the dining room table.
“Irresistible?”
“I meant irritable.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Well, I meant annoying.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Truth.”
“I know I’m telling the truth!” I paused, suddenly remembering something that Carissa had said to me on the beach just before I ran away from home. She knew what was going on with me and I’d tried to distract her with partial truths. “Do others have that ability to sense lies too?”
Graham raised his eyebrows. “Sure. I don’t think it’s as common as the compulsion or even the water control, but it’s like being a natural musician or an artist. It’s a talent we inherit.”
“I think I may know someone else who can sense lies.” He raised a brow asking the silent question. “You don’t know her. Or actually maybe you do. Carissa Nakamo?”
“Ah yes, Master Matthew’s new squeeze.”
“How do you…?” Graham cut me off with a wave of his hand.
“We know everything about our clan leaders. Every detail is important as it may influence the way they run their families.” The corner of his mouth tilted up in a smirk. “We’ve especially enjoyed the Eviana-Kain soap opera.” I glared at him. “Leaving the poor guy at the altar?” He shook his head before continuing. “So cruel and heartless. Remind me to never get on your bad side.”
“Too late.”
“Now, now. Don’t be angry, tart. I’m still convinced there’s more to this story. He is obviously still in love with you and I suspect it hasn’t played itself out yet.”
“And what would possibly make you say that?” I really didn’t like the way this conversation was going. Kain would barely tolerate me some days, and if he still cared for me in that way it was a different kind of love now. Our relationship wouldn’t go beyond a partnership. I’d ruined that for us.
“Well, the return of the selkie for one. And two…” he dropped his feet, placed his elbows on the table, and leaned forward to look directly into my eyes. “I may just have to throw myself into the running now.”
What? Did he just imply what I think he did? Graham Forrester was interested in me? “Really?” I asked sarcastically without allowing my voice to quiver like the rest of my body.
“You have intrigued me, Eviana.” He rested back in his chair again. “Not many people intrigue me.”
“Well, I’m so glad that I intrigue you, but my boyfriend is coming back to me. There is no soap opera and there never has been.” Although I wondered if I totally believed that.
“He’s coming back now, but what will happen when he leaves you again?” He rolled his head against the back of the chair to face me. “He will leave you. They can’t resist the call.”
I was really getting sick of people telling me that. If Brendan wanted to be with me, he would find a way to make that happen. End of story.
“I’m done talking about this with you,” I snapped. Standing, I walked toward the hallway acutely aware that Graham was following me.
“You don’t have to leave,” he said with amusement. “How about a night cap? Or a walk on the beach?”
I was tempted. No doubt. But spending another minute alone with Graham would only exacerbate the situation. My heart was being pulled in several different directions and it would do me no good to taunt fate anymore. I continued to walk up the stairs without acknowledging his presence.
“Come on. I’ll be good. Promise.” If I turned around I knew I wouldn’t be able to say no. So I kept on walking. We’d reached the top platform and I started to head toward my room. By the time I grabbed the door knob, I noticed his footsteps had stopped.
“Well, if you’re not going to entertain me, then I guess I’ll have to settle for one of those human girls. Or maybe two.”
A small wave of jealousy swept through my body, but I also knew if that’s what he really wanted, then he wouldn’t have spent the time with me downstairs.
“Knock yourself out,” I said. “I’m going to pack, take a long shower, and go to bed.” But just before I disappeared into the room, I leaned back out into the hallway and gave him my best flirtatious smile. “Sweet dreams.”
He grinned and shook his head. If Graham really wanted to pursue me, he was going to have to try much harder than that. Then I chastised myself. What was I thinking? Brendan. I needed to think about Brendan.
So for the next hour while I packed and cleaned up, I thought about how wonderful it was going to be to hold Brendan again. To sleep next to him. Wake up next to him. Share everything with him. I was hoping he’d stay with me at my house, now that I was in charge and no one could deny him that option. I knew my sister might be an issue, but she’d been better since Kain had started to stay in the guest house. Her schoolgirl crush hadn’t faded much even though Carissa was now a serious contender for Kain’s heart.
And Kain. I didn’t think he still had strong feelings for me, but I should probably let him know Brendan was going to be a regular fixture in my life now. Perhaps he wouldn’t want to stay at my house anymore. There was a part of me that was saddened by that thought. However, Kain and I were not a couple and I needed to approach this issue like a grownup.
I dreamt about my house and my friends. It was fun at first, with images of swimming and cookouts and bonfires. But then that atmosphere began to change. We were being attacked and I couldn’t save anyone.
There were vicious dogs, angry water sprites, and hoards of humans beating down the doors and crashing through our windows. I screamed as I watched one of them assault my sister and pull her through the front door and off into the darkness. I ran after her, pounding on the door that suddenly wouldn’t open for me. Someone grabbed me from behind and slammed me to the ground. When I tried to scream, a large hand clamped down over my mouth and I froze in terror. The hand squeezed so hard that I could barely breathe. Fear and panic forced me to open my eyes and leave this terrible nightmare.
But when I did, I realized this wasn’t a dream at all.
