Descending (The Rising Series) by Holly Kelly Read Free Book Online

Theia. And it had been within her reach all these years. If only…
    N o, she wouldn’t regret. Now was a time for celebration.
    After fifteen years, she had a chance. The fates had finally showed her favor. They were giving her the opportunity to right a wrong she’d perpetrated years ago. She could finally rectify her mistake.
    She spoke in a commanding voice . “Show me the one who would destroy me.”
    Her reflection shimmered as a nother beautiful face came into view—a woman. Dark hair framed her delicate features; her eyes glimmered—filled with deep secrets and regret. And she was near. The gods were undoubtedly on Aella’s side this day.
    She gingerly placed the mirror on a carved, wooden chest. Sprinting to the water’s edge, she dove into the sea. Her legs changed as the sea enveloped them.
    She relished the change. She hated playing the part of a human, hated her exile. She was a mermaid. A mythical being with power humans could only dream of. The humans were rodents, soiling and polluting the land everywhere they went. They were lower than the lowest of creatures. But still, they served her purpose.
    Aella surfaced at the side of a sleek, oceanic yacht , with a ladder hanging down. She pulled herself out of the water—her mermaid’s tail changing to legs the moment they left the sea. She stepped her bare feet up the rungs and onto the deck. Her favorite blue dress clung to her wet body. The breeze had a refreshing bite to it.
    A large , muscular human stepped up at her approach—his eyes lingering over her body. “Aella! Where did you come from? I thought you’d take your treasure and run.”
    “Oh Robert, you know me better than that.”
    “Do I?” he asked, frowning at her.
    “Of course you do.” She ran her fi ngertips over his chest as she smiled. “I’m going to need you to stay a while. I have another task for you.”
    “Sorry, babe. I’ve already spent too much time here. I’ve got a job to do, and it has nothing to do with looting and treasure hunting. There are a few pirates that need their throats slit.”
    Aella added just the right amount of singsong in her voice to gain his attention. “No. You’re not going to kill pirates. You have someone much closer you need to kill.”
    His scowl melted away as he drew near her. “I do?”
    She turned up the tone of her voice. “Yes, and you will do everything I ask.”
    Adoration filled his eyes as he repeated, “Yes, I’ll do everything you ask.” He reached out to touch her face.
    She fisted his shirt in her hands and pulled him close. “I know you will.”
    And then their lips touched.

    Kyros watched the second hand of the clock twitch its way around the face. Sara’s back was to him, but he could hear her fingers fly over the keyboard of her laptop. Her hand shot out, grabbed the mouse, and made a few clicks. “You know, Kyros, despite being on duty, you don’t have to watch me every second. I’m sure you have other things you’d rather be doing.”
    Kyros jumped at her tone of voice. This was the first time she’d spoken harshly to him. Before, she had always used a sickeningly sweet tone. Maybe her true colors were emerging.
    “I’m not watching you,” he answered.
    “Yes, you are. I can feel your eyes boring into my back.”
    He didn’t respond. Xanthus made him swear not to upset her. Keeping silent was the only way to guarantee he wouldn’t say something he would later regret.
    Sara turned toward him, and he was taken back. She was livid. “Listen, I have no idea why you don’t like me, but your glares are getting on my nerves. Now I know you’re Xanthus’s best friend, and I’d hoped to win you over by being nice, but it looks like that’s not working.”
    “I’ve never said an unkind word to you,” he said.
    “You didn’t need to. Your expressions say it all. I would like to know what I did to deserve this animosity.”
    Kyros narrowed his eyes and didn’t say a word.
    “See what I mean? You’re