IT DOESN'T MATTER IF Mirella is the daughter of a powerful demi-god who rules the underwater world or not. She'll be my wife.

I enter my enormous bedroom with vaulted ceilings and a king-size, canopied bed. Red and white armchairs stand in various locations throughout the room, a huge wardrobe is near the entrance to the bathroom, while a marble fireplace with ornate vine-patterned ironwork faces the bed. I only use it to sleep and get dressed. I take care of all my business in the study not too far from the library but far away from the throne room.

After placing Mirella on my bed, I close the balcony doors and pull the curtains shut.

I grab the fur blanket at her feet and cover her legs to keep her warm.

She's moving her head as she's examining the room. “Is this where you sleep?”

“Yes.” I sit beside her. “Are you still cold?”

“No. I'm okay. Thank you.” She untangles her messy hair. “We don't need clothes underwater.” Her head lowers, and she brings her hands up to touch her arms. “My skin is different. It feels restrictive not being able to float.”

“You'll get used to it,” I mumble as I take in all of her beauty. “Do you mind waiting for me here? I'll order my housekeeper to bring one of my sister's dresses. You need to wear more appropriate clothes.”

“What's wrong with the ones I have?”

“They are too revealing... They aren't warm enough, either,” I add. The last thing I want is for her to be in my bed wearing clothes. Yet, I have to be patient and give her time to adjust.

Mirella stretches her legs and giggles. “I can move the small fingers on my feet.”

“They are called toes,” I clarify with a grin. “I'll need to find you some shoes. I don't want you getting hurt.”

“We have time for all of those things,” she whispers as she grabs my arm and stops me from leaving. “I came here to talk to you and know more about your life. The Sea Witch...”

I lean forward and stroke the hair away from her face. “The one who gave you the potion?”

“Yes. I struck a deal with her. But I don't have a lot of time. Soon enough, Dad will know that I'm gone, and he'll be looking for me. I need to make sure that I'm not making a mistake.”

“What mistake, my love?”

Mirella kneels in front of me. Her hand cups my face and she gazes into my eyes. “What's a Lycan?”

“Lycans are shape-shifters that can transform into big wolves, bigger than the normal wolves that exist in the wild.”

Mirella blinks several times. “What's a wolf?”

“Have you ever seen a dog?”

“Like Cerberus?”

“Yes, but with only one head.” Mirella grins, and my heart stops inside my chest. “Lycans can be violent. We only transform when we are feeling threatened. Some of us, like myself, can train on a daily basis to do it when we wish to. There are others who can't control the shifting on nights with a full moon, so they need to be shackled. Our wild side can be scary, that's why my clan lives on this island, far away from the humans.”

“Are the humans afraid of you? Do they hunt you?”

“We keep our existence hidden.”

“Like we do,” she whispers and sits back on her legs. “Is it dangerous for me to stay here if one of you transforms?”

“I have men to track down the rogue shifters and imprison them until they turn into humans. Also, my beast will keep you safe. It recognizes and loves you. It would never let anyone hurt you.”

She places her hand on my chest. “And you, Duncan, do you recognize me as yours?”

Holding her hand in mine, I bring her palm to my mouth. “I want you to be my queen and my companion.”

Her voice sighs my name. “Duncan, Dad won't let us be together if he thinks you can't keep me safe.”

I lean forward, feathering her skin with my breath. “Then we need to prove him wrong.”

My body tenses with desire. I need to hold and kiss her.

Mirella leans her head back before I can claim her lips. “Do Lycans kill mermaids?”

“We only attack if we are provoked. Until recently, I didn't even know that you truly existed.” I lean forward.

Mirella's hand stops me from kissing her. “Duncan, the witch said that mermaids with broken hearts die.”

“I'm not planning to break your heart, my love.” I grab her wrist and pull her to my chest. Slipping an arm around her waist, I speak closer to her lips. “You saved more than my life when you rescued me from the cold depths of the sea. I'll make you my wife and my queen. I'll show you happiness like you never thought existed.”

I lower my lips to hers, waiting for permission. Her eyes shut, and her chin raises as her mouth pouts to receive my kiss. That's all the incentive I need to crash my lips against hers and claim her gorgeous mouth.

Mirella moans and shivers. My tongue darts into her mouth and deepens the contact. Her breasts are trapped against my chest, and my erection is poking against her lower stomach. The fabric of her dress is so thin that it's almost as if there's nothing separating her from me. Yet, I know her skin is ten times softer. As aroused as I am, I recognize that I need to take things slower and prove that I'm serious about my intention to marry her.

***

ONE HOUR LATER, MIRELLA is dressed like a princess, wearing shoes, and one of my sister's winter dresses. She looks ravishing. The maids had braided her long and glossy black hair and decorated it with pearls. Her arm is entwined with mine as I show her my castle. When we step outside of the fortress, her eyes light up as she asks me the names of all the flowers and trees that decorate the gardens.

Everywhere we go, my subjects bow in respect, but I hear the whispers of surprise and curiosity.

Mirella stops walking. “I'm sorry, Duncan. I would love to see more of your kingdom, but my feet are hurting. I'm not used to walking, and if it weren't for your arm, I would probably be tripping.”

Standing before her, I grab her hands. “It's okay. We'll go to the stables, and I'll show you the horses. They are beautiful animals that we use for transportation. I want you to ride with me, and I'll show you the prairies and the village on the other side of the island.”

My mermaid smiles and leans forward, resting her head against my chest. “I wish I could bring you underwater and show you the place I live.”

“Are you missing home already?” I caress her back.

“No. My home is with you. But I wish I could show you my world like you are showing me yours.”

Kissing the top of her head, I appease her mind. “You can tell me all about it, and it will be as if I'm there.”

Mirella leans back. “Duncan, I'm feeling lightheaded and parched.”

My breathing stops when I notice her pale expression and her dry lips. “We've been outside far too long. I'll get you water, and you'll rest. We can ride to the village tomorrow. It's also time for lunch.”

Taking her in my arms, I walk back to my home. One of her arms circles my neck and her hand fists my coat. Her voice comes out weak when she talks, “The Sea Witch said I should constantly be drinking water, and I can't eat meat or anything else that came from the land. I should eat raw fish.”

“I will take good care of you, my love.” I stride faster, so I can tend to her needs. “Did she say how long your legs will last on the dry land?”

“I didn't ask her that. I assumed that when I'm dry my tail becomes legs. If I get wet, my legs become a tail. Before I saved you, I didn't even know that I could have legs like the humans do.”

“I've been in the library reading about your people, but there isn't much about it.”

“What's a library?”

Breathing deep, I explain, “Well, it's a place where we have all sorts of books. Do you know what a book is?”

“Yes, but we don't have paper. We keep important information carved in seashells. I have seen books, but they don't last long once they get wet.”

“What do you write in the seashells?”

Mirella lays her head against my shoulder. I look down and see her smile. “We write songs and important information about our family. The old seashell books have all the tales of our ancestors and talk about a time where there was just the sea and no dry land. The elders teach us about our god and warn us to stay away from the humans and their kingdoms. Yet, lately, there are more and more ships cruising the ocean and transporting humans. They fight. Like you were fighting when I rescued you. Why were you being attacked?”

I clench my jaw, reminding myself of the vampires. “My people are peaceful. I don't like war. Yet our boats transport expensive merchandise. The vampires don't normally leave their cold kingdom. Lately, they have been pillaging my boats and destroying them. I can't afford a war...”

“Did you attack them first?”

Shaking my head, I gaze into her silvery eyes. “I was returning home from my sister's wedding when I was attacked.”

Mirella purses her lips and gazes at my coat. Her nail scratches the fabric. “We have no need for gold and precious stones in my kingdom. Yet, the shipwrecks are filled with treasures that I can offer you, so you can build the ships you need to defeat the ones who are attacking you. Would you be pleased if I did that?”

Frowning, I question, “If you gave me gold?”

Mirella nods and gazes at me. “Isn't it custom for a princess to provide her husband with a dowry?”

“Yes. But you don't need any dowry for me to want to marry you. You are my fated mate.”

“My dowry will allow you to keep me safe. It's one of the witch's demands. I don't want to lose my voice... I like to talk to you.”

I halt in front of the castle entry and hover my face over hers. “It seems that a storm is coming. After you eat, we'll have a lot of time to talk about your kingdom and everything we have to do to stay together. All right?”

Instead of smiling, Mirella looks worried. “A storm? Can we go to a tower, so I can see where the storm is forming? Does it come from the sea? I thought I had more time.”

I let Mirella's feet touch the ground, and she rushes through the hall and up the staircase. “Honey, you'll get lost.”

Going after her, I make sure she doesn't stumble and fall down the stairs and guide her to a room with a view of the ocean.

***

WITH A VIEW OF THE ocean, I sit at a table watching the storm build over the sea. Duncan has requested a maid to bring us what he called tea and butter biscuits. All of this is new to me. Drinking warm flavored water seems odd. Still, my love says it’s good to calm me down. How can I calm down when my father wants to destroy Duncan’s kingdom?”

From the tower, I see the small houses, the village, the anchored ships, and the innocent people. Like zooplankton, they rush to keep their belongings safe from the wild waters coming their way.

“I need to return, or my father will destroy everything.”

Duncan’s hand holds mine. “I can go with you and explain to him that I wish you no harm, and we are meant to be together.”

I suck in a breath. “Are you willing to lose your kingdom because of me?”

Duncan frowns. “I want you to be my queen. Surely, we can reason with the Sea King.”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Marriages between mermaids and men are unheard of.”

He leans forward and takes my hand against his lips. “I’m not a man. I’m a Lycan, and you are my mate.”

I avert my gaze. “I need to go to the beach, so I can stop the storm from destroying your kingdom. I might be able to reason with my father.”

His hands hold me tighter and prevent me from getting up. “What if he takes you away, and I never see you again?”

I lean forward and cup his face. “I’ll be heartbroken if that happens.”

“Let me talk to your father. King to king. I’m sure he’ll see the benefits to both of our kingdoms if he’ll allow our marriage. There’s nothing more I want in life than you. He will understand our love.”

I smile. “It’s nice to understand your language and be able to talk to you. I wish we had more time to talk and share everything we’ve been feeling. But I have to calm my father down.”

Duncan nods and kisses the palm of my hand, leaving a tingling feeling throughout my body. My mouth searches his and consumes my desire against his lips. It might be the last time we kiss each other. Pain digs into my chest.

Stopping the kiss, I rise to my feet and fix my dress. I glance one last time at the storm on the horizon before I head to the beach.