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“Yesterday, I wanted to kill you,” I confessed, voice cold and lacking emotion. “Slowly—drawing out each moment of torment.”

Iris sank her teeth into another bite as she looked across her sun-filled room at me. There it was. A haunted cloud in her eyes.

“But then our enemy’s hired dogs found you first,” I sighed. “They robbed me of revenge.”

Iris swallowed the bite. “So this isn’t my last supper?”

“That, my dear fury, is up to you.”

Iris threw back her head and cackled. The laughter lacked mirth, filled with a terrible ominous threat. “Message received. Stay away from your wife.”

I flashed her a humorless smile. “Exactly.”

Iris set down the burrito and glided to the ensuite. The sound of the faucet filled the air, and then she stepped back out, holding up her wet hands.

“I don’t believe for a second Fate will be kind to you in this matter, Black Tide.” Droplets rolled off her palms, falling like a soft rain on the carpet. “You’re asking for trouble with that woman...butI’m done with her. With you.”

I turned on my heel; my work here was done.

“Markos,” Iris called. “Thank you for the food.”

I grunted. “And you’re wrong about Serena. She belongs in our world.”

That much I knew in my bones.

“Then don’t let her escape,” Iris murmured as I slipped away.

I have no intention to do that, Harpy.One good thing from this mess, those razor talons that would shred man or beast caught in her snare, were sheathed. Now I just had to convince the others. One by one, the Twelve would believe me. They would accept Serena as my queen.

Or I would bury them under the waves.

***

“And she said her grandson and wife were coming with their kids. They haven’t seen them in a year because they moved to Jacksonville. She was so excited, Markos.” Serena bit the cookie. “They have a new baby boy—four generations! I said I would go over and take family pictures so long as I could hold the baby.”

An idea, one so foreign and yet so intrinsic to human nature, bloomed in my mind. Fuck me, I would go with her, if only tosee my goddess holding a little child. Maybe that would be in the cards for us one day. But the Fates hadn’t seen to it yet—and we hadn’t been careful, not once using protection.

Maybe someday she’ll want our children.

Theos! I couldn’t get that thought out of my head. I took a second cookie from the container and walked to the anchor. “They’ll enjoy these then.”

Serena nodded eagerly. “Having neighbors and baking for them is really a novel concept. You don’t mind, do you?”

I shook my head and cranked the lever. The chain rattled and clanked as it unraveled as the anchor sank into the deep waters. “It’s what they do in the village. I’m glad you’ve found someone to talk to at the condo.”

Serena stopped beside me, arm crossed over her chest to clasp the opposite elbow as she held the half cookie, too busy watching me to eat it. “This might be the last time they come south. Her husband’s health isn’t the greatest.”

“Well, there will be new neighbors for you to win over,” I said and then plucked the cookie from her fingers.

Serena yelped, scrambling to take it back.

But I popped it into my mouth, chewed it in two bites, and gave her a wicked grin. “Have to be quicker than that, prinkípissa.”

Scowling, Serena pounded her fist against my chest. I caught her, a sudden rush of heat flaring from the contact. This was bliss. A gorgeous day on the water, a beautiful woman at my side—mine. Serena was mine.

She stilled, holding my gaze.

Bending down, I hovered near her. “I want to kiss you.”