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Now wasn’t the time to play mermaid. I’d released the energy without killing anyone, and now I needed to head home, back to my duties.
Swirling my hand in the water, I created a small vortex with my magic and wrapped it around me. It lifted me toward the rippling sky until I surfaced with a gasp, dragging in deep breaths of warm air. The afternoon sun bounced off the multitude of buildings surrounding the river, their reflections creating a kaleidoscope of color across the inky water.
The fight with Dominic had been wholly unexpected, but I’d gone into it determined to force him out of my life and my fantasies for good. Instead, I’d caught a glimpse of the man behind the cocky façade—one who appealed to me far more than he should have.
He was direct, sometimes to the point of arrogance, but he wasn’t apologetic for going after something he wanted. His interest in me seemed genuine, though misplaced.
Add in the fact I’d used my siren abilities against another person other than Frankie for the first time in years, and it made for a potent cocktail of confusion, exhilaration, and no small amount of panic.
What a mess. I floated in the water while I tried to make sense of everything. The whirlwind of emotions continued to course through me, threatening to pull me under the surface just like the river’s current.
“Hey, you okay over there?” a voice called out from a nearby dock.
Startled, I glanced over to see an older fisherman casting his line into the water.
“Uh, yeah. Just taking a swim,” I called back, trying to sound casual despite my inner turmoil. Not many people swam in the Potomac thanks to the pollution. Come to think of it, swimming might be illegal. “Nice day for it.”
“Suit yourself.” He tipped his hat before returning to his fishing pole.
As I floated away in the gently rocking water, my thoughts wandered back to Dominic. Our bodies, locked in a fierce dance of power and desire, had blurred the lines between reality and fantasy. A part of me yearned for the excitement and connection that he offered. A big part of me.
But beneath the exhilarating surge of combat, my promise to protect Marissa lingered like an anchor. After years of hiding our true identities and struggling to keep us clothed and fed, indulging in romance wasn’t a luxury I could afford.
Despite my frustration with my sister for getting me into this pickle (Frankie would be proud), I chuckled. Marissa’s boundless energy and unwavering love had always been a source of strength for me, even when it led to chaos and danger, which sometimes felt like more often than not.
It was in moments like these that I realized just how much I was willing to give up for her happiness. Even if it meant sacrificing my own.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, relishing the silence. Relative silence in a bustling city like D.C., anyway. Here, away from prying eyes and worries, I could simply be.
No siren princess with expectations of marriage and offspring looming overhead.
No financial responsibilities tugging at me like a noose around my neck.
No disgusting toilets waiting to be scrubbed.
Just Bree.
“Stronger than the tide,” I whispered, my words carried away by the breeze.
Each sea kingdom had a royal coat of arms and motto, but our family’s was as old as time, stretching beyond our history’s memory. Knowing we came from such a long lineage had always been a source of pride, and I’d done my best to be stronger than the tide every day.
I would continue to do so until I took my last breath.
With a final, longing glance at the water behind me, I swam toward shore, feeling both lighter and heavier than before. I climbed out and wrung out my clothes, knowing that no matter what the future held, I wouldn’t fail my sister. And, in some strange way, that knowledge gave me the strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
At least now the fight was over and done. I could go back to avoiding Dominic and sticking to my routine. Keeping my distance was the smart, safe choice.
So, why did that thought leave such a bitter taste in my mouth?
By the time I made it back to the gym, my clothes and hair were damp but no longer a sopping mess thanks to the early spring heat. I headed for the basement, glancing around the open space and hoping Dominic was still there.
It was empty.
He’d left.
Not that I blamed him. I told him to leave me alone and ran away. He probably thought I was a coward or a weirdo. Probably both. Whatever. I didn’t care what he thought.
Well, I shouldn’t care what he thought.
