Free Siren's Serenade (The Wiccan Haus) by Dominique Eastwick Page B

the spell last?”
    “Not much longer now, I should think. But when he awakens, I cannot bear to see the hatred in his eyes.”
    “You can’t know that,” Sage offered, placing a gentle hand on Serena’s arm.
    “I can.” She looked at Cemil, somewhat hopeful and praying that he would contradict her, but he just shook his head. “Please, someone tell him I did—do love him. And always will.”
    Tears fell freely from her eyes, and Serena was unaware of Sarka standing before her until the woman lifted a handful of sea glass in an array of colors for her to see. “Perfect,” Sarka murmured.
    Sage, never one for anger, looked aghast. “Give those back.”
    “Why? She doesn’t need them.”
    “She’s right; I have no use for them at all. Keep them.”
    Serena turned and dove into the water, giving her friends one last wave with her tail before following her family through the caves that led from the lake to the ocean, pushing herself hard and fast, unsure where she would go. Unsure where she would be welcome.

Chapter Seven
    K ALEB’S H EAD F ELT like it had been ripped in two, and he wasn’t even about to think about what had just happened to his heart. The fog had yet to lift completely around the edges of his vision, making him feel as if he were walking in a dream. All he knew was he needed off this island—now. He would head back to Alaska and pretend none of this had happened. He would lie his way through his psych evals and get right back in that chopper. And he would hunt down and kill whatever mermaid crossed his path.
    Throwing his duffle bag over his shoulder, he stormed out of the cabin. Serena had not returned yet, but then he hadn’t expected her to. Walking to the water’s edge, he ripped the silver chain she had given him from his neck; the sea glass glimmered in the late afternoon light. He palmed it for a second. She was good, he would give her that: good at deception, good in bed, and good at making him look and feel like an ass. Pulling back, he let loose and threw the necklace as far as he could into the ocean.
    “Take your fucking tears, Serena. I neither want nor need them!” he yelled into the bay. When the stone hit the water, it was like someone had punched him in the gut. And if he didn’t already know he was crazy, Kaleb would have sworn he heard Serena cry out in the distance.
    “Are you okay?”
    Kaleb turned to see Dana a few feet from him, her look of concern almost too much to bear. “I don’t know,” he finally said.
    Dana took a tentative step toward him. She reached out to touch him, but refrained. “I do understand. I’m merely human too. When I first saw Rekkus shift, it was more than I could take. I didn’t handle it well.”
    Kaleb nodded and gave her what he hoped was a kind smile. He readjusted his sack and started toward the Haus. It isn’t the same, how could it be? He doubted Dana had watched her best friend be killed by a Were-monster. He couldn’t even begin to wrap his head around that piece of information.
    The island was quiet; not even the birds were chirping. It was as if everything was holding its breath. Somehow he knew the day wasn’t over and it was going to get worse before he could get his ass back to the mainland.
    When he walked into the lobby, Myron looked up. “You’re expected in the office.”
    “Did your damned cards tell you that?”
    Myron just smiled and shook her head. “No, Rekkus did.”
    Not sure which was worse, Kaleb dumped his bag in the lobby, not caring where it landed, and walked around the desk to the office. He didn’t even bother to knock; he was that done with the place.
    When Kaleb walked in, all conversation stopped. Five set of eyes looked at him, but no one said anything. Not that he expected they would.
    “I want off the island now, tonight. And don’t give me shit about the boat coming once a week, because I’ve seen the other dock.”
    Sarka raised her eyebrows and stood. “I think I’ll let you men