13. Bree
Everyone around me was in danger. Dodging pedestrians and cars as though their lives depended on it—because they did—I didn’t stop running until I reached the river. My lungs burned as much from the run as from holding back my magic, and my ragged gasps did little to ease the pain.
Fully clothed, I dove into the murky river without hesitation. The cool water embraced me, wrapping around my body like a protective shell and soothing my frayed nerves. It wasn’t the salty ocean water my skin craved, but it would suffice for now.
When I was deep enough beneath the surface and sure no passing boats would see me, I released my pent-up wail. The blast of magic surged out and away from me with the force of a tsunami. The massive explosion served as a stark reminder of the burden I carried.
The fear of killing someone again would haunt me forever.
Immediately, I sucked the water’s force back toward me, halting an actual tsunami from forming on the surface. With any luck, boaters and sightseers wouldn’t notice anything but a minor disturbance.
My siren scream was deadly to human ears, which meant I could only release it in places like this where the sound would be muffled, or in the mountains where no one was around. It was also the reason my mother was dead.
My heart continued to race, reeling from the adrenaline and confusion that led me to this point—now and in life in general. Closing my eyes and heart against the torrent of memories and emotions, I gave myself another minute to calm down. I couldn’t breathe underwater in this form, but I could hold my breath longer than any human.
As I relaxed and floated beneath the river’s surface, my mind drifted back to the fight. I couldn’t believe I’d just fought the Red Dragon. Fought and won. Sure, I’d caught him off guard with my unique type of magic, which is the real reason I won, but still. I’d won.
But as much as I wanted to be thrilled, I was more disappointed than anything. Maybe it was proof I’d gone mad, but I didn’t want him to leave me alone. Not truly. Except dating anyone, let alone a playboy and lethal fighter like Dominic Sato, wasn’t feasible in my life.
Not now, maybe never.
I’d accepted that fate when I’d made my deal with the sea witch, and for the most part, I’d never regretted it.
Until now.
I groaned and a stream of bubbles rose in front of me. I gripped the amulet around my neck tight, its edges digging into my palm painfully. The magical charm that kept me looking human also meant I could only stay under for another few moments unless I removed it.
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 fa?ade—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 timeI 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.
“I need all the deets,” Marissa’s voice chirped as she jumped out of Frankie’s office and into my path. She’d pulled her red hair up into a messy bun, making her blue eyes pop with her added excitement. “I can’t believe you got to touch Dominic Sato instead of me.”
Her cherubic, freckled face gawked at me in equal parts horror and amazement, and I almost laughed.
“That’ll teach you not to miss your VIP appointments.” I stepped around her. My bare, dirty feet ached as I walked, reminding me that shoes would have been nice on my impromptu jaunt through the city.
“Why do you look like a drowned squirrel?” her voice followed after me. “Did you go for a swim without me?”
I knew it was useless to try to ignore her, but exhaustion was creeping in fast. “No, I just needed a release.”
“Ew, that sounds like you orgasmed.”
Rolling my eyes, I descended the few steps into our underground haven. “All good there, thanks.”
“Ugh, I did not need to know that. But also, you’re a filthy liar. You haven’t had sex since…” her voice trailed off. “Wait, have you ever had sex?”
Finley swam to the front of his aquarium and blinked. Seeing us both walking around here at the same time was probably unusual. My sister and I were awake at completely different times of day, or night, in her case.
I stripped off my soggy clothes and dropped them on the ground before heading to the bathroom. “Yes, Riss, I have. Not that that’s any of your business.”
“Aren’t sisters supposed to be able to talk about this kind of stuff?”
“Not if you keep saying ‘ew’ and ‘ugh’ like a guppy.” I pulled the bathroom curtain closed in her face. I didn’t even have time to turn the shower on before she stomped her way in.
“That was rude, but whatever. Tell me about Dominic.” Marissa folded her arms across her voluptuous chest and leaned against the pedestal sink.
I would’ve been envious of her curves if I wanted the kind of attention she received. But I didn’t, so I was fine with the handful I had. More wasn’t always better.
“He came, we talked, he left. Now, can I shower in peace?” I tested the water with my hand. Perfectly cold.
“You’re wasting time delaying the inevitable, Bree. Give me the specifics.”
Sliding the shower curtain closed behind me, I stepped under the cold flow of water and breathed a sigh of relief. It would never get as cold as the depths I grew up in, but if this was the best I could get for now, I’d take it.
“Fine. He asked me out on a date. I said no, and he agreed to leave me alone. End of story.” There was only so much I could share with the oath-keeper binding me.
As the silence stretched on, I assumed she’d left, disappointed in one of my decisions yet again. Instead, the shower curtain flew to the side, and I stared at my sister’s shocked face with equally wide eyes.
“You did what?”
“You heard me. I’m not explaining it again.” I reached for the shampoo and started scrubbing it into my hair. The lavender scent was divine. This was one small benefit to the human world, though I’d never had to worry about my hair beneath the waves. In our true forms, salt water was more than enough.
“How can you be such an idiot?” she asked.
I blinked at her as bubbles ran down my cheeks. “Excuse me?”
“You know who he is, right? Like, not just Dominic Sato, but who the Satos are?”
Besides a family of billionaires? “Why would that even matter? I know enough to stay away.”
She shook her head, her expression incredulous. “The fact that you asked that means you have no idea.”
Unease crept through me, raising goosebumps. I closed my eyes and rinsed the bubbles out of my hair. “Again, why would I care? Nothing else is happening.”
Her chuckle echoed through the bathroom. “Sure it’s not. Do me a favor and Google him.”
The bathroom curtain slid shut.
She didn’t mean to use Google literally since most of the Gifted kind didn’t show up in human world searches. We made sure of that. But we did have our own forums and sites online, hidden like the dark web only with magic. Using non-Gifted terms made it easier to discuss these things in public.
My curiosity got the best of me as I finished showering and turned off the water. Letting my hair air dry, I wrapped the towel around my body and padded out of the bathroom. Besides Finley, who was happily burping out bubbles in his tank, our room was empty.
Since the gym would be closed for another hour or so, as it was every weekday afternoon, I sat cross-legged on my bed and unlocked my phone. This siesta-like time provided Frankie and me with a much-needed break before the evening frenzy.
I typed Dominic’s name into the search bar but paused before hitting enter. Did I really want to know what Marissa was referring to? I was never going to see him again, so who he was didn’t matter.
But my curiosity was raring to go, and I wanted to know what she’d meant. Needed to know.
I tapped the search key.
Article after article appeared about the Sato family. My eyes widened as I read about the dragon family that ruled the supernatural underworld with an iron fist. A clawed iron fist. Multiple stories explained how Gifted authorities never had enough evidence to convict any of them.
Dominic’s name and picture flashed across the screen time and again, some writers predicting he’d one day take over the Sato empire, while others were scathing in their judgment of his alleged crimes. He was the grandson of the most powerful, most brutal mob boss this city had ever seen.
He was also a murderer.
My heart thumped wildly as I clicked my phone off and clutched it to my chest.
How had I never known these things before? I glanced at the book next to me. Staying far away from the tabloids and gossip, that’s how. Perhaps to my detriment. Maybe it was time to start paying attention, if only to protect myself and Marissa better.
Wow. I’d dodged a bullet. A dragon-sized bullet. Having him out of my life was definitely the right thing to do.
Ignoring an odd sense of emptiness, I slid off the bed and got dressed.