1. Siren Song
Demi
The rain came out of nowhere. One moment, it’d been all sunshine following me down the sidewalk. The next, roiling clouds bruised the sky, heavy with rain and thunder.
Lightning flashed as I reached for the front door to Creature Cafe, and I felt nothing but regret.
I was drenched all the way down to my panties, and not in the way I wanted to be.
The little bit of mascara I’d decided to throw on last minute?
That tube had to be at least five years old and was not waterproof, so now I looked like a raccoon.
I caught my reflection in the glass and winced. I’d braided my hair, and even that looked bad.
This was already turning out to be the worst first date.
Damn it.
I ran my thumb over the backside of the ring around my index finger, the metal smooth and soothing. It was a habit, and one that I’d had for at least fifteen years now. This was the last thing my mother gave me before she passed, and I always wore it. Always.
Even with her ring on though, I could barely quiet my nerves.
When I’d gotten the call two days ago, I’d thought it was spam at first. It’d been very “Congrats, you’ve been chosen!
” and I’d been absolutely sure it was a mistake.
But then I was called fifteen times in a row, and when I finally picked up, I was greeted by a cheerful woman named Layla.
I’d barely gotten in a word after that other than “Sure, I’ll go on a date with a monster. ”
Monsters weren’t new to me. Two of my exes were monsters, and not in a haha she was so toxic way.
I’d dated a gorgon and a werewolf, and both relationships had ended messily.
Well, I’d sort of kept a friendship with Rhea, my werewolf ex.
I was suspicious that was how Layla got my number to begin with, given Rhea was close with the family that ran Creature Cafe.
Regardless, my dating history was kind of a nightmare, which I shared with Layla.
But, she’d insisted I had a fated mate.
I knew all about fated mates. Well, as much as a human could. It sounded mysterious and fictional to me. But then again, monsters were real. There were stranger things in the world than the idea that I could be The One for a monster.
Did I think I really was, though? Absolutely not. I’d all but ruled out finding love for myself at this point. But I wasn’t too bitter not to give this impromptu date a shot.
The scent of coffee beans made me sigh as I stepped into the cafe.
This place was notorious for matching humans and monsters.
This was the second location though, and from what I could tell, it was run by the Barista’s kids.
Honestly, I wasn’t really sure. I didn’t know much about that family aside from what Rhea told me.
It was slow for a Friday morning, with a few empty tables ready to be snagged.
I spotted a couple dragon shifters with their flaming coffee cups in one booth .
. . a human with tattoos and a sexy, stoic vampire at another table .
. . then a demon lounging with her laptop and drinking a bright red cold brew that was probably mixed with arsenic.
“Demi!”
I jumped as a gorgeous woman appeared in front of me. Her copper red hair was pulled back into a bun, and a thousand freckles dusted her fair skin. I recognized her bright, eager voice from our phone call.
“Layla,” I said. “Right?”
She beamed at me. “Yes! So glad you’re here. Welcome to Creature Cafe. What kind of coffee do you want? I can take you back to your date.”
Fuck, suddenly my palms were clammy. Was I really doing this? Did I even believe in this fated mates stuff? Hell, did I even believe in love?
“Uh . . . Okay . . .” I could hardly even remember what kind of coffee I liked. Layla stared at me, offering a slightly strained smile until I finally said something. “A latte would be great.” I didn’t even like lattes, but fuck it.
“Got it. Luca will make it for you.”
A sullen, dark-haired man behind the counter arched a brow at us, then wordlessly went to the espresso machine. What the hell is his problem?
Whatever. I side-stepped to get out of the way of the front door, and was reminded of how wet I was. Again, not in a fun way.
“Do you happen to have a blow dryer?” I whispered, gesturing down at my clothes. I was in denim overalls and a short sleeve T-shirt that showed off my arms, and then my combat boots.
At least my socks weren’t wet, otherwise I’d be ghosting my monster date.
“Ummm, I don’t.” Layla winced as thunder rattled the windows.
I turned, frowning as the sky darkened even more outside. Layla frowned at it too, her arms crossing as if she’d gotten a chill. The storm was blowing in so fast. Almost unnaturally so.
Layla cleared her throat. “I don’t think she’ll care that you’re wet, honestly. Come with me. I promise we won't bite.”
Internally, I started screaming. I was going to go out of my mind if I actually went on this date wet—
Layla looped her arm in mine and didn’t really give me a choice as she dragged me back behind the coffee counter. She was shockingly strong for someone so small. I nearly broke my neck looking back at a painting on the brick wall above a booth.
Did my eyes deceive me or was that a painting of a monster orgy?
I didn’t have a chance to look longer though, because Layla whisked me through the kitchen to a giant silver door.
“What . . . the hell is this?” I asked.
She grabbed the latch and hauled it open. The heavy door squealed on its hinges as the inside of the cooler was revealed.
Countless bags of coffee beans sat on the floor next to industrial shelves of milk and containers of mysterious ingredients. A clear jar with eyeballs, a bottle of “Dragon’s Fire,” a jug of minotaur milk. I frowned at that. I didn’t even want to know where that came from.
At the center of the cooler was a glowing portal that looked like it opened to the depths of the ocean. Salt water lapped at the edges of the portal, sea-foam sticking to the checkered floor.
Silver-white hair tucked behind webbed, pointed ears emerged from the water.
Gorgeous iridescent scales shimmered on bluish-gray skin.
Violet eyes met mine with curiosity, and my mouth dropped as her face became visible the more she rose up.
Her long hair dripped, sticking to her collarbone, draping down over her breasts.
She stopped at her torso, and I could see the larger scales that marked the start of what had to be her tail.
My date was with a mermaid.
An eerily beautiful mermaid.
I swallowed hard. I was less reluctant to run away now, drenched from the rain or not.
“Here’s your coffee,” a gruff voice said.
I turned as the man from up front handed Layla a tray with two steaming mugs and a croissant. Layla beamed as she placed it on the floor next to the portal.
“Okay, you two,” she said cheerfully. “I’m gonna close the door so you have privacy. If you need anything, let me know.”
“Leave us,” the mermaid demanded, shooting her a glare.
Layla winced as she slowly shut the heavy cooler door behind me.
Silence settled between me and the mermaid, only interrupted by the hum of the refrigerator fans and the pounding of my heart. My thumb mindlessly traced over my ring as I stared.
She was gorgeous. Possibly the most gorgeous person I’d ever seen in my life.
“You’re wet.” Her voice was musical, and every fiber of my being seemed to reach for her. Yearn for her. One look, and I would do almost anything for her.
“So are you,” I said.
Was it true what they said about sirens? That they could lure you to your death with just a song? Because I felt like she was already luring my heart with just two words.
She let out a melodic laugh, her head tossing back. “My name is Marina.”
All my nerves slammed back into me. “I’m Demi,” I said quickly, rushing over to shake her hand. My boots hit the water on the floor and I gasped as I slid, losing my footing and falling flat on my ass.
Are you fucking kidding me right now? First the rain, and now wiping out in front of my beautiful date?
Marina was giggling as I sat up in a daze. My cheeks flamed as I looked at her.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“My ego is bruised,” I mumbled.
“Want me to kiss it better?”
Smooth. Really smooth. I shook my head at her as I crossed my legs, sitting across from her. It was cold, I was still drenched from head to toe, but looking at her made me feel happy.
Marina smirked and moved to the edge of the portal hole, propping her elbows on the floor. She cradled her head in her hands, studying me. “Tell me about yourself, Demi.”
I cleared my throat, not sure where to start. “Well, I’m human.”
Needle-like teeth glistened with her smile. “That’s painfully obvious.”
I reached for my cup of coffee, the warmth of the ceramic seeping into my palms and calming me.
“I work as a deckhand on a fishing boat four days out of the week. I play rugby in my spare time. I love hiking and swimming. I don’t actually live in the city—I’m about an hour away, in an old lighthouse that used to belong to my grandparents. ”
Her eyes lit up. “I know of that lighthouse. It’s yours?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“And you’re a seawoman.”
I smiled at her. “I do love the sea.”
“So you’re perfect for me then.”
“Maybe.” Perfect wasn’t exactly a word I’d use to describe myself. “Hopefully. I don’t know how to feel about this fated mates stuff.”
“I think you’ll find you enjoy it once you’re riding my face.”
Oh gods. My mouth dropped, earning another giggle from her.
Her lips parted and my eyes widened as the tip of her tongue pressed against a sharp tooth. Her entire mouth was full of sharp teeth, I realized. She could shred me apart like a piranha, and I was possibly already gone enough that I’d let her.
“Tell me, Demi. What do you like?”
My mind started to buzz with static as I stared into her eyes. Up close, they reminded me of the inside of an abalone shell.
“What do I like?” I rasped.
She smirked. “I mean sexually. I think you call it kink? BDSM? I just call it good sex.”