I SWIM FOR HOURS, LOOKING for the island that I know is nearby. He can't stay with me in the ocean. Our love is condemned to failure. He can't breathe underwater.

He's quiet as I swim in the direction that he wants me to.

From afar, I see a castle on the top of a hill. Not far from it, there's a beach with no boats or signs of living creatures.

I take him to the shore, fighting against the waves that push me into the shallow waters where my tail is at a disadvantage. When I know he can use his feet, I let him go. The force of the tide throws me against his chest. His arms surround my waist, and we stay face to face.

My mouth opens only to close again. I don't want to hurt his sensitive ears. I need to return to the ocean. Yet the pull between us is strong, and I have no will to let him go.

He speaks. Pointless. I have no idea what he says.

The waves keep splashing their foam against our bodies. I need to go. My sister must have warned Father by now. Soon enough, an army of the mermen will be scouting the sea for me.

He talks again. I point at the horizon.

Shaking his head, he walks backward with me in his arms. 

My pulse races as I shriek and try to break free of his embrace. “Please, don't. I need to get back. Please. Don't kill me. I saved you.”

He covers my mouth and secures me against his chest as he leaves the water. My breathing narrows, and I fight for air. Our eyes lock as his incomprehensible words soothe my fear. Shutting up, I place my arms around his neck. His lips curl into a smile.

The young man sits on the sand with me in his lap. His fingers caress my cheek and, for a moment, I forget that I don't know what will happen to me out of the water.

I feel the icy breeze on my skin as I dry. He's wet, though.

Raising me and placing me on the sand, he moves his hands up and down in a sign that I don't understand. He gets up, removes his heavy coat, and wrings the water out of it. Then, he lifts his white shirt and does the same, showing his sculpted torso with abs that ripple down his stomach like waves.

Mermen are often uncovered, yet none have been as appealing to me as this human male.

Placing his coat on the sand, he crouches and reaches for me. I recoil. His movements are slow, and I eventually move toward him, and I'm taken to rest on his coat.

He sits beside me, points at the castle, and talks. His eyes fall on my fishtail and trail up my body until our eyes meet.

I speak lower this time. “I have no idea what will happen if I stay away from the ocean.”

My fingers run through my hair. It feels heavy and stiff. His dark, curly hair is falling over his hooded gaze. Beautiful. If only we could understand each other.

My father isn't going to be happy. He speaks the human language, though. Maybe he could teach me. Nevertheless, if I don't go home, he will raise the tides and flood everything until he finds me. He will send his warriors to look for me. He will kill anyone who dares to harm me. After all, I'm the daughter of the King of the Oceans.

My inner thoughts are disturbed by the sharp pain that I feel in my lower body. Balling my hands, I gasp and bounce forward as extreme heat and pain envelop my fishtail. I fall on the sand and hide my face against it. My body keeps spasming and I whimper. A hand touches my back. I can't look back. It burns so much that I can barely breathe. Curling my body into a ball, I realize that my fishtail is gone, and I now have two legs.

Stretching, I look at the man I saved who is staring at my brand new pair of legs.

***

THE MERMAID TAKES ME to shore where I can see my castle on the top of the cliff. The beach is deserted. My ships are on the other side of the island, near the village. This is my private beach. I had ordered my men to retreat when we were ambushed by the vampires. They should be getting back.

My army is stationed outside the castle, and I have other ships docked and ready for war. My most trusty nobleman was with me. I hope Julian fled with his boat. Leonard is guarding my kingdom. He's my beta, the captain of my troops and my best friend. I'll send ships to look for survivors. Surely, someone else besides me escaped.

As soon as my feet touch the sand, I grab my savior and lead her to the beach. My clothes need to dry. Still, I have no idea what to do with the mermaid. She seems scared now that she's away from the water. She's gorgeous with ebony hair and moonlight eyes. Her beauty would convince a man to jump overboard with the promise of a kiss from those lips. I can't stop staring at her. Her full breasts are covered with purple seashells knit together by what seems to be seaweed rope, her pale and almost translucent skin glows as if it has a light of its own, and her silvery-blue tail sways gently. I want her to feel safe beside me. I motion for her to calm down.

Abruptly, everything changes. She gasps forward in pain. Her laments pierce my heart with anguish, and I have no idea if I'm the one causing her suffering. Maybe she needs to stay in the water. I rub her back as her fingers dig into the sand. Then her tail begins to change. Her scales ripple and shine as her tail transforms into two elegant, human legs. Her hair covers her back and her bottom. Raising her head from the sand, she looks confused at her legs. Taking notice of her naked state, I grab my shirt and give it to her as any gentleman would do. Turning my back to her, I let her cover herself before looking again.

We can't communicate. I shouldn't keep her with me. Yet I don't want to let her go.

When I turn around, I see that she's trying to stand. Her legs shake as she attempts to move forward with her arms reaching for the ocean. I grab her by her waist and turn her around. She's crying. My thumb wipes her tears. Pushing me back, I understand that she wants to return to the sea. I take her in my arms, noticing her sexy feminine curves glued to the cotton fabric of my shirt. My blood boils as my stomach flutters with the attraction. I'm going to regret this, but I can't keep her with me against her will. So, I return her to the salty water and watch her transform into a mermaid again and sway her tail back and forth as she swims away. Diving, she disappears, leaving behind the bittersweet melody of the sea caressing the sand.