Sea God's Siren (The Brother's Keep) by Tessa Stockton Read Free Book Online Page B

her threatened to drag her under. She clamored and gasped, trying to pull herself back up. And then she felt gentle yet firm arms enfold her torso from behind.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispered into her ear.
    She turned in his arms, staring nose-to-nose with him. “I don’t care. I just want you back.”
    “I never left.”
    She kissed him full on the mouth.
    He cleared her tears.
    “Teach me, then, about your world. Teach me how to use this thing,” she tittered, while jiggling the end of her tail.
    Dagon’s smile was soft, apologetic, loving. He began unbuttoning the front of her dress, slipping it back from her shoulders. Then he rolled the fabric into a ball and flung it onto the stone floor of the cave.
    He caressed her. She moaned at his tender touch.
    “Come with me. I’ll show you everything,” he said.
    Syrena took his hands as he guided them out of their coral cave.
    With patient guidance, Dagon showed her how to use her tail to propel forward, turn, move back, spring. They explored the Pink Coral, swam with schools of fish, and consumed various forms of seaweed and other plants—all of which began tasting good. And she couldn’t believe her eyes of the amazing beauty of Dagon’s undersea world. Syrena could see everything! And she found it breathtaking; most especially her mate, who both dazzled and adored.
    They swam like a bolt of lightning. Then they lingered, hovering in front of each other, tails twisting together into a multihued braid. He stroked his hand downward from her waist, until he touched a spot with a sensitivity that made her quiver. There, he pressed his entire form against hers and in a prolonged moment of instant gratification, they writhed in ecstasy.
    Afterward, Syrena swept her floating hair back in awe of Dagon and the pleasure he brought her. She almost forgot the need to breathe. In a single motion, she thrust to the ocean’s surface and gulped a giant amount of air. Dagon appeared by her side. For the first time, she noticed sprays of water spouting from behind his ears and pushed aside his hair to get a better look. A set of diagonal slits like gills.
    “It is how I breathe underwater,” he said, matter of fact.
    She nodded, absent of speech.
    Dagon smoothed the strands away from her ears. “You have them, too.”
    Syrena’s hand flew to her neck. She fumbled until she located them, one on each side. Anxiety caused by the sudden changes flittered through her bosom. “Do mine work?”
    He chuckled. “It will feel like you’re drowning when you first use them. But then . . .”
    She could tell he wanted her to go through with the transformation, but the idea scared her.
    He softly squeezed her shoulder. “When you’re ready, I’ll hold you.”
    “To die in your arms?” She didn’t mean to sound so hysterical, but couldn’t help it.
    “No.” He shook his head, his expression exuding assurance. “It’ll only feel like it. Then the sensation will amaze you, the freedom and ability to reside in this kingdom, my realm.”
    “You’re a Lodian. I’m not. How do you know for sure?”
    “I have . . . friends who knew my parents.” He smiled. “Shimmery Blue, for one.” Then he cupped her face. “My real mother was a mortal who fell in love with my father, a Lodian, but their history is rather unclear, I admit.”
    Stunned, Syrena said, “Then you truly aren’t the offspring of a witch and a serpent?”
    “No. They fill me with lies still. I don’t think they know that I’ve learned the truth.”
    “And your brothers?”
    “I’m not sure what blood it is we share, if any.”
    “Then you’re only half Lodian.” Syrena tucked Dagon’s hair behind his ears.
    “Because you accepted my seed, wife, you are as well.” He matched her gesture.
    “It’s all so confusing.” She stumbled on her next words, but then they came forth in a forced sounding confidence. “Then I shall learn to breathe underwater.”
    Syrena filled her lungs with air and went under