Lucky me, Officer Cole had found a traffic camera that showed as I walked down a street, going toward my old house, far away from where Robbie had been found, not fifteen minutes after I was seen leaving the diner.

The chief didn’t seem too convinced by it, but seeing as they had no real evidence to hold me, I was let go.

But not before hearing a warning from the chief. “I’m keeping an eye on you, young lady.”

What the hell? Why was he so intent on framing me? A young woman incapable of hurting a fly? Just because I was new in town?

“Don’t sweat it,” Officer Cole said, escorting me out of the police station. “For the most part, Willow Harbor is a nice, quiet town. Murders aren’t common here. And since he doesn’t know anything about supernaturals, he has no idea about half of what happens in this town.”

I glanced at him. Was he a supernatural too?

Before I could ask, we walked through the front doors, and my heart lurched as I saw Nathan right there, seated on the hood of his car, waiting for me.

He shot to his feet and walked up to us.

“Thanks, Cole.”

He shrugged. “It’s all good, man.” He glanced at me. “Hope to not see you soon. At least, not in here.”

I gaped at him. Was that supposed to be funny?

After bumping fists with Officer Cole, Nathan put his hand on my back and guided me to his car. He opened the door for me and waited while I slid in. Once I was inside, he closed the door, ran to the other side, and sat behind the wheel.

Instead of starting the car, he turned to me and stared at me with sympathy in his eyes. I hated it. “Are you okay?” he asked.

I leaned on the door, away from him. He didn’t look dazed or in a trance, but I had to ask. “Are you sure you’re not affected by my powers right now?”

“I stopped by Anna’s before coming to the inn and had more of her potion.”

“A potion you’re not sure works.”

“I’m pretty sure it does. Anna hasn’t made a bad potion yet.”

That didn’t make me any less worried about it, but it brought another question to mind. “Why … why wasn’t the sheriff affected by me?”

“I don’t know.” One corner of his lips tugged up. “But I know someone who does.”

---

The Dark Horse Diner was full for lunchtime.

Nathan and I stood to the side, waiting for his to-go order. I squirmed every few seconds, thinking all eyes were on me. Maybe they were … because I was the new girl in town, or because they knew I had just been at the police station, accused of murdering one of their own.

Openly staring at Nathan, Angela brought the big paper bag out.

“Here you go,” she said, her voice gaining a sugary tone I hadn’t heard last evening.

“Put it on the manor’s tab, please.”

She smiled at him. “Sure.”

I almost rolled my eyes.

Back in his car, Nathan drove along Ocean Drive to the end of the street. From there, we walked along the boardwalk, past the docks, onto the patch of grass running along the beach.

“You’re taking me to the lighthouse? In this cold?”

He offered me a smile and my heart squeezed. Holy crap, he was even more striking when smiling. “I didn’t think you would want to stay at the diner for lunch or be out in public a lot, so I thought the lighthouse would be a good place. Besides, we can sit inside and hide from the cold.”

“I bet it’s cold inside too.”

“That’s why I’m bringing these.” He grabbed two thick blankets from the backseat of his car.

I frowned at him. “Your car looks like Hermione’s bag. You can find anything in it.”

He let out a soft chuckle. “Well, I’m a hunter. I have to be prepared for anything.” He beckoned to the path ahead. “Come on.”

After a few feet, I said, “I’ve never been to the lighthouse before.”

He glanced at me. “You haven’t?”

I shook my head. “No. Everyone said it was haunted.” I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at him with wide eyes. “Oh crap. Don’t tell me ghosts are real and the lighthouse is haunted?” He pressed his lips tight, not saying anything. “Oh crap.” I pivoted on my heels and started back to the car.

Another chuckle came from Nathan. He caught my wrist and pulled me back to the path. “You did ask me not to tell you.”

I went with him. “Because I thought it wasn’t true.”

“Don’t worry.” He let go of my arm. “Though it’s haunted, nobody has ever seen the ghost. He just likes to play with the light.”

“If nobody has ever seen him, how do you know it’s a him and not a her?”

He offered me an amused grin. “Full of sassy questions, aren’t we?”

“Sorry. There’s too much on my mind, and I become a little snappy when I feel this lost.”

He leaned into me and bumped his shoulder into mine. “I’m here and I’ll find you.”

My heart lurched at his sweet words. Here he was, doing it again. Didn’t he notice it? Was it my powers? It was the only explanation.

I stopped walking again. “I’m not sure you’re safe with me.”

He turned and looked at me. “What do you mean?”

“You already seem affected by my powers. What if I can’t control it? What if I end up harming you? Oh gosh, we’re close to the ocean. What if you jump in and drown? And—”

Nathan dropped the bag and the blankets he was carrying and cupped my face. His hands were surprisingly warm for someone who had been walking in the cold for the last five minutes. “Brooke, look at me.” I did and found his depthless dark eyes locked on mine. “Whatever you’re seeing, it’s not the effect of your magic. I can assure you that.”

Then what was it? Because, really, he couldn’t feel for me the same way I felt for him, right? I was a girl. Girls fell easily for hot, handsome men like him. Men were more precise and cold and calculating. They didn’t fall easily.

What was I saying? This was just attraction. What girl wouldn’t feel attracted to the brooding hero who came to her rescue? I hated being the damsel in distress, but right now, that was exactly how I felt.

He grabbed the bag and blanket from the ground, and laid a heavy arm over my shoulders. “Come on,” he said, walking down the path and taking me along with him.

It was hard not to think about his appeal when he was so close, when his spicy and woody scent flooded my senses and his body was warm and strong beside mine.

The lighthouse came into view, a tall tower of gray stone with a tiny balcony on top.

I hesitated, but Nathan charged inside, not one bit scared of the ghost who resided in here.

We went up the spiral stairs, and while Nathan spread one of the blankets on the rough landing floor, I opened the balcony door.

Chilly wind blew in, making me shiver, and I almost gave up my idea. But then one peek at the infinite ocean extending over the horizon and I was a goner. I stepped onto the balcony, hating the way the cold wind blasted at me, but loving the view. I opened my arms wide, lifted my chin, and inhaled deeply, enjoying the salty and fresh air rushing into my lungs.

The ocean was so beautiful, so peaceful.

If it wasn’t so cold, I would have jumped in it myself. I glanced down. But with the rocks surrounding the lighthouse, it wouldn’t be from here. Still, I wanted to.

“You feel attracted to it,” Nathan said from behind me.

I glanced at him. “It?”

He stepped out and stood by my side, gazing out. “The ocean. Sirens might not have tails like mermaids, but they are still linked to the ocean. Your magic is stronger when closer to the ocean.”

He had said that last night. I looked at him. “That means …”

Nathan turned his eyes to me. “That means yes, I feel a pull now. Right here.” He pointed to the middle of his chest. “But it’s teeny tiny, and I swear it wasn’t there a minute ago.”

What was he saying?

I took a step back. “Sorry. I can’t … I don’t know how to control it. If I could, I would stop it so you didn’t feel the pull.”

He reached to me and grabbed my hand. “It’s okay, Brooke. You can’t control it, but I can. At least while Anna’s potion is at work.” He gently pulled me closer. “I’m not like a zombie right now, am I?” I shook my head. One corner of his lips tugged up. “I know what I’m feeling and—”

“I’m here,” a new voice said.

I jumped back from Nathan, bumping on the archway, and he caught my elbow, steadying me. He held my arm until I was safely inside the lighthouse, then he gestured toward the beautiful blonde standing in the middle of the small room. “Brooke, this is Selena. She’s a siren.”