Once more I had to leave Brooke when I really didn’t want to, but I didn’t see any other option. One, I had to investigate with the other hunters. And two, she needed space.

I understood why she was so reluctant in accepting my feelings for her were genuine, but it hurt that she didn’t believe me. I knew she would though, once she started taking the potion Anna was making for her. Damn, that potion couldn’t come fast enough.

“Ready?” Aidan asked after we geared up in the main weaponry underground.

I had made sure my guns were working, that I had enough bullets for all of them, that my daggers and swords were sharp, and I also got special bullets—salt rocks and red bullets—in case we encounter some surprise ghost or demon.

I threw the extra weapons in the trunk of my car and closed it with a loud thump. “Ready.”

Douglas appeared at the garage entrance. “Cole is at the police station. He’ll monitor things from there. Caleb and Ash went out about fifteen minutes ago. Landon and I will be going soon too.”

I didn’t like leaving the girls alone at the manor, although I knew that this place was the most secure house in all Willow Harbor. Amber, Tessa, and Sophia knew how to fight and to wield the weapons hidden around the manor. They would protect the house and Brooke if it came to it.

With a tight heart, I jumped into my car and left the manor behind.

The guys and I had assigned spots to check in town, then we would rotate and check them again. What we were looking for, we weren’t sure. Anything suspicious, I guess. Nagas walking around town late at night. Maybe someone monitoring the inn or the manor who could be after Brooke. Or maybe any other sea creature who could have an interest in Brooke.

Why, though? Besides a naga, why would someone else have an interest in Brooke? Why would a triton or a selkie be after Brooke?

Maybe … maybe it was another siren. Maybe this siren wanted to find other sirens to work with her. It wasn’t uncommon for sirens to work together. What if it was Selena? She seemed reformed and ready to help, but she was still a siren and had lived in greed and luxury for hundreds of years. Nobody changed that fast.

I was grasping at straws, but right now, I would consider any ideas.

Before I could drive to Selena’s mansion outside town, the gas light came on in my car’s dashboard.

“Shit,” I muttered, turning a corner and driving toward the nearest gas station.

I parked the car beside the pump and shot a quick text to the guys.

Me: Had to stop to fill the tank. Be back on the hunt in five.

I received lots of “okay” as replies, then left my phone inside the car and went out to fill it up. The time dragged on and each gallon seemed to take an hour to complete. I was going out of my mind, thinking of all the possibilities surrounding the theory that Selena could be behind this.

Finally, when it was done, I slipped inside my car and I stilled.

A folded paper was under one of the window wipers.

I shot out of the car and glanced around. Besides the guy working inside the convenience store, I didn’t see anyone around. Nothing. Not a trail, no shadows, no cars around.

Frowning, I picked up the note. It was the same beige paper from Brooke’s letter. Holding my breath, I unfolded it and read it.

---

For my daughter’s sake, I want to help. I can answer all your questions and tell you everything. Meet me at the beach right off Central Avenue at midnight. Come alone.

---

I glanced around some more, but still didn’t see anyone.

Shit.

This could be a trap, but what other choice did I have? I had to know. I had to meet with Brooke’s father—or whoever had left the note—and get some answers.

I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was eleven thirty. Shit, what would I do for the next thirty minutes?

Without dwelling on it, I started my car and drove to the beach.

---

I arrived early. I left my car on a side street just off Central Avenue and walked to the beach. In the freezing cold, I paced the boardwalk, waiting for my mysterious guest.

Midnight came and I stopped, looking around. The beach was dark, except for a few lampposts spread over the boardwalk that reached toward the ocean.

Ten minutes later, I was ready to punch someone, run around screaming, or plain leave, when a movement cut through my peripheral vision. The tall figure of a person stood by the edge of the water, out of the light’s reach.

Eager to end this mystery, I stepped onto the sand and marched to the ocean.

I halted four feet from a tall man with bronze skin and short, dark hair. He was wearing a heavy jacket, the collar turned up, covering his ears.

“You’re Nathan,” he said, his voice deep.

“And you’re Brooke’s father.”

He nodded. “I am.”

“Did you send the letter to her? Did you place the note in her pocket?” I had more questions but decided to go slowly.

Visibly tense, he looked around before he finally said, “Yes, I did. I … I didn’t sign the first letter, or put an address so she wouldn’t find out about me. I just … I needed her to know I think about her, that I care for her. I honestly didn’t realize there would be a stamp on the envelop saying it had come from Willow Harbor until it was too late.”

“Why, though? Why did you want her to know you care about her? Why was it so important?” I studied him. He was a naga all right, and he was using the potion that allowed him to transform into human form at will. “Do you live in town? How come I haven’t seen you around before?”

He raised his hands and nodded. “I’m sure you have many questions. Just … hear me out. I don’t have a lot of time and I’ll try to tell you as much as I can before I have to leave.”

I wanted to know why he had to leave, but I would give him the benefit of doubt, at least for a moment longer. I folded my arms. “Go ahead.”

“My name is Strom. Many years ago, my brother and I used to come to the beach during summer solstice. Once, about twenty-one years ago, I was able to sneak around the hunters and impregnated a human. Brooke’s mother. I didn’t think about it much at the time, just that I had done what I was supposed to do. Male nagas need to procreate, and that was just what I had done. I never thought of Brooke or her mother until her powers manifested when she was fifteen. I came to Willow Harbor as fast as I could, but Brooke and her mother were already gone. It was then that I met Jennings. He worked for Selena and he was hiring anyone who want to work with her. I decided to stay in town, so I talked to my brother, Nerom, and he was in even before I finished telling him about it. So, Jennings had potions made for us so we could have a human form, and we started coming and going, working for Selena’s potions operation.”

He paused and I urged him, “And?”

“And I met Edna. I don’t know what happened to me, but the moment I met her, everything changed.”

“I know her. She’s a lesser fae and she has a little boy.”

“Yes, Eddie. He’s two and he’s mine.” My jaw fell open. Strom continued, “Edna knows what I am and accepts me, but my brother would never accept her and Eddie, so no one knows about our relationship. I think loving Edna and Eddie changed me. It made me think of Brooke and realize I had another daughter out there. For months, I’ve wanted to contact her. I wanted us to have a normal father and daughter relationship, but I knew that was crazy for several reasons, so I settled for sending an anonymous letter to her. Like I said, I didn’t expect her to show up here, looking for me. Not that I didn’t want to see her.” He placed a hand on his chest. “I first saw her at the Dark Horse Diner. I was there with my brother and Karl. I heard her talking to Angela about coming to look for her father. I saw my letter in her hands. I swear, it took everything in me not to tell her I was right there, and all I wanted was to hug her. But Nerom was there and he wouldn’t understand.”

“All right, that’s all understandable,” I said, even though I was still processing everything he had told me. “But I want to know about the second note. The one that said she’s in danger. Do you know about the deaths and why she’s being blamed for them?”

He nodded. “The first one was coincidence. Robbie Doyle worked for Nerom. He did odd jobs for us. He wanted more responsibility, but Nerom was testing him. Robbie had stolen a few potions and Nerom was pissed. To show the others he wouldn’t tolerate any shit like that, he killed Robbie right after he ran into Brooke outside the diner. It was a coincidence, but Nerom noticed how you and the other hunters got off our backs for the entire day, trying to defend Brooke and find out why that death was linked to her. So, he planned the next one. He sent Karl to find her after drinking a potion to make him more pliable. Karl was instantly under her spell, and it happened right in front Mrs. Ackerman, which Nerom planned too. Then, once Brooke and that other hunter were gone, Nerom killed Karl. And it worked. All day, you have been worried about trying to find me and the reasons behind the deaths, while Nerom is, right at this moment, smuggling more potions to the kingdoms underwater.”

Shit, shit, shit.

So the enchantments and the deaths were connected to the potions operations after all. It was all one big case.

“So, you’re now gonna tell me where to find Nerom so I can go there right now and stop him.”

“Yes, but first I want your promise.”

I frowned. “What?”

“I want you to promise me that after you take down Nerom and the network and me, you will take care of my family. Edna, Eddie, and Brooke. I know I can’t ask for forgiveness. I am involved in this and should answer for my crimes, but before I do, I need to make sure the people I love will be all right.”

A pang cut through my chest. Here was a naga who had found love all by himself. He had turned around and was doing what was right for his family. Right now, I admired his courage and guts.

“I promise,” I said, not an inch of doubt in me. He didn’t even need to ask about Brooke. Eddie was her half-brother and Edna was his mother. I would make sure they were okay. “I promise,” I repeated.

A small smile appeared on his tight face. “Thank y—” Strom went rigid. His eyes bugged and he shouted, “Run!”

Suprised by the sudden change, it took me a minute to move. Nagas jumped out of the ocean and charged us. Two of them grabbed Strom’s arms and dragged him to the water, while another one came at me with his razor-like teeth and sharp claws.

I stepped back and grabbed the gun from the holster at my back.

I aimed, but the naga was too fast and snaked out of my way. He swiped his claws toward me and I spun to the side. I felt the wind swoosh by me as his claws drew down, less than an inch from my chest.

I hooked my arm underneath the naga’s and held tight, then I buried my gun into his gut and shot.

The naga let out a raging roar. Thick, dark green blood oozed from the wound on his stomach. I let go and aimed again.

The naga hissed at me and slithered back to the ocean. I shot three more times, but the naga disappeared under the water.