Chapter Ten
Hearing Jenny’s life story, and, worse, seeing, even feeling, the emotions coursing through her at the news of her mother’s perfidy, struck at Felipe’s heart.
He couldn’t blame her for wanting to remain and confront the mermaid determined to mistreat her. So it was with more than a little shock that he watched as her grumpy aunt conked her on the head with the butt of the dagger she kept at her waist. Poor Jenny, practically mid sentence, her eyes rolled up in her head, and only his quick reflexes managed to catch her before she hit the floor.
“What the fuck was that for?” he yelled, doing his best to quell his snarling inner feline.
Thelxiope shrugged. “She was being stubborn, and I wasn’t in the mood to waste time arguing.”
That was her reasoning? “You hit her!”
“It was just a little tap, and she’ll heal quick enough.”
“But why?” Felipe asked, dividing his attention between the limp, vulnerable woman in his arms and the one his cat wanted to skin alive.
“Are you deaf? I wasn’t in the mood to waste another moment. We need to get her off this island.”
“You could have spent a few more minutes trying to convince her.”
“You know, I much prefer a man who does as he’s told instead of disagreeing with me,” grumbled Thelxiope.
“Then you’ve been missing out,” snarled Felipe. “Might as well invest in some vibrators if all you want is a well-behaved cock.”
Raidne stifled a giggle. Thelxiope glowered, and her dagger lifted in a menacing fashion.
“I think we all need to calm down,” Molpe said in an attempt to mediate.
Hackles raised and thoroughly irritated—less by the conversation and more by the injury done to Jenny—Felipe wasn’t in the mood to back down. “I’ll calm the fuck down when this psycho stops acting like such a bitch.”
“Thelxy, why don’t you just apologize? Poor Felipe here isn’t used to your ways.”
“You’re taking his side? Well, I never,” huffed Thelxiope. “And I am not apologizing to this animal.”
“Then why don’t you go work on our defenses in case the Undines come back? We’ll deal with our feline visitor and Jenny.”
With a sniff of disdain, the regal and irritable siren spun on her heel and stalked off, leaving Felipe alone with the other three. “What did you mean by deal with?” he asked. “Going to conk me over the head too?”
“Of course not. Anyone can tell your skull is too thick for that to work.” Raidne grinned. “You can stop looking like such a sour puss. While Thelxy’s methods are brash, you can’t deny they’re effective. What do you say we get you and Jenny out of here before she wakes and the mermaids realize their attack failed?”
“And how do you propose to do that? My boat was sunk, and Charon will take at least a day or more to get a new boat out here.”
Raidne laughed. “Oh please. Wait for one of those archaic pole barges? Silly kitty. We’ve had ships sailing into our waters from the interdimensional rip for centuries. Do you truly think we’ve let all of them crash on the rocks?”
Apparently, they hadn’t. It seemed sirens enjoyed collecting more than just treasures and seamen.
Felipe gaped at the two-hundred-plus-foot white yacht bobbing in yet another underground cavern, this one filled with water and ships of various sizes and eras. A wooden schooner with actual masts and rolled sails. A rugged-looking tug. A fishing vessel still decorated with a suspended net and mounted harpoon.
“This is incredible,” he complimented, impressed despite himself.
“Yes. Yes it is,” Teles agreed. “But the better question is, can you pilot one of these things?”
The masculine part of him urged him to lie and say yes. However, truth—an annoying habit Lucifer abhorred—wouldn’t let him. “No. If this were a car or motorcycle, we’d be okay. But when it comes to water, my skills are for fishing, not sailing.”
“No problem. I’ll drive.” Molpe hitched her skirts as she clambered the ladder bolted to the side of the towering white yacht, aptly named Wave Singer.
“Here’s a bag of Jenny’s things.” Raidne handed him a large knapsack. “I packed one while you were washing off the Undine goo.”
A shower he’d much needed and appreciated. “Thanks. What are you and the others going to do while I bring Jenny to the inner ring?”
“Batten down the hatches. Prepare our defenses and then call in some favors. Those fish-tailed bitches won’t be getting away with this attack. Before we’re done, the sea will run red with their blood. And all will remember why you never fuck with a siren—unless you’re a tall, handsome seaman. Those we screw with pleasure.” Raidne winked, and Felipe shook his head.
The sirens might seem ladylike on the outside. However, like all things residing on the Hellish plane, they were bloodthirsty, vengeful creatures. My kind of gals.
Tossing the knapsack overhand, he heard it land on deck with a thump. Then, with Jenny slung over his shoulder, Felipe clambered the ladder onto the giant yacht. In moments, they cast off, the rocking of the waves barely noticeable on deck. Not that he stayed above for long. He needed to get Jenny to safety.
Despite the sirens’ reassurances that the Styx monsters would now let her pass, their edict to keep her island-bound lifted, he didn’t trust them. Better to have her out of sight than accidentally snatched from the deck by some long-tentacled creature.
Below deck proved as luxurious as above with a living area covered in wall-to-wall cream carpeting and a curved sofa made of buttery-soft tan leather. He opted to place her on that couch rather than in one of the two bedrooms, figuring close at hand was better than the extra comfort—and temptation—of a bed.
Laying her out, he couldn’t help but brush her silky green hair, the backs of his knuckles stroking the smooth skin of her cheek.
He barely knew the girl, yet something about her called to him. Struck a chord. He didn’t understand what it was, or why, but, as a wild creature of Hell, and a man who lived by trusting his instincts, he didn’t fight it. If his gut said to protect her, he would. If his cat said to keep her close, he’d listen. And if his heart said she was the one…
Meowr! Where did that stray thought come from? The one? As if! Felipe wasn’t the type to settle down. He was a tomcat, a lover of many, not the boyfriend of one. It was just the excitement of the moment making him think that way. Perhaps even a touch of magic? No way was he changing his ways. No matter how cute and appealing Jenny was.
Still, reminding himself of that fact didn’t stop him from placing a soft kiss on her lips or drawing an afghan he found in the closet over her.
With her safely tucked away, he returned above deck to act as lookout. And to get more answers.
He joined Molpe, who handled the steering of the boat with ease.
“I’m surprised to see you. I thought you’d be keeping our girl company.”
“I’d rather be close by in case of trouble.”
“Probably a wise decision, but I’ll bet not your only reason for joining me.”
“Is my curiosity that obvious?”
“Yes, as is your interest in my niece.”
Purely professional and sexual interest, nothing more, no matter what his inner kitty seemed to think. “She’s intriguing.”
“Is that all?” Molpe asked, not even bothering to hide the lilting amusement in her voice.
“And sexy.”
“About time someone noticed.”
As if other men hadn’t noted Jenny’s beauty. Then again, on second thought, he was kind of glad they hadn’t. He quite enjoyed her somewhat innocent responses to his advances. Pink blushes and soft kisses purely for me.
Despite his lack of reply, Molpe continued to speak. “Although, I’ll wager she’ll get plenty of attention in Hell’s capital. I’m sure you won’t be the only male immune to her special brand of magic. Why in no time at all, she’ll probably have a bevy of suitors, and…” Molpe cast him a sly smirk. “Lovers.”
What? Like Hell. He couldn’t help the low growl that spilled from his lips. Mine. The possessive emotion didn’t just come from the cat. He couldn’t help but feel it too. The idea of Jenny sharing her smiles, her lips, her body—
No! I won’t share. Jealousy for something other than his adopted witch mother or food took him by surprise. Since when did he care what a woman did once they parted ways? He had no interest in settling down. Tomcats fucked. Tomcats roamed. Tomcats did not want to rip to shreds anyone who thought to make advances on a mermaid who wasn’t a mermaid.
Until now.
Uh-oh. Felipe didn’t like what this meant. Good thing this yacht could move because the quicker he got rid of his green-haired temptress, the better. Before he did something stupid. Something permanent. Something—ugh—domestic.