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Chapter Four

Waves lapped against the rocky cliffside, the white foamy crests left between the jagged boulders emitting an everlasting scent of salt. The soothing sound of the water smacking the rocks was a lullaby to him, an ancient song he yearned to experience, not simply hear. Every evening, when he visited this small haven, his secret little hideaway, his skin tingled with the familiar transformation of tiny scales, only to stop before the moonlight could flash off their iridescent surface.

Tonight was no different, but the weight of the past sat heavy on his shoulders. He thumbed the medallion around his neck, feeling the power resting in the unseen engravings he had locked between two circles soldered together. A protection spell, one that helped him keep his human form while warding away curious mortals who might catch onto his…gifts.

Magic in Alamari wasn’t looked upon with a smile or joy. In fact, it held a place in the ranks with merfolk.

Unless you counted the bastard magician-wannabe the king employed. A sly manipulator who knew the power of illusions.

Caspian sat on the edge of the cliffside opening, his booted feet dangling over the sheer drop to the rocks and swirling waters below. Dima wanted him to return, and chose to use Aria as her pawn. Smart demon. No matter how much time stretched between them, never could he cast Aria aside. Sure, he adopted a bluntness and taunting edge with her, but it didn’t change the very real fact that he could never hurt her. Never turn his back on her, not when she needed him most.

Dima wasn’t a demon to be challenged. She was a demon to be feared.Shewas a mermaid whose head the villagers might rightfully seek for some reward. He had escaped her once, but as always, the past had a humorless way of catching up with him.

Only now, he’d grown into his magic, his power. He knew his own capabilities.

“What are you planning, monster?” he whispered to the rippling waves with the shimmering surface and eternal wonder.

His thoughts were disrupted by the nearly imperceptible scrape of rock from the tunnel at his back. Allowing his aquatic sight to subsume the restrictions of his human vision, he tipped his head down and sideways, scanning the tunnel from the corner of his eye.

The scent hit him first.

The heat struck his blood next.

Casting his highly sensitive vision aside, he turned back to the ocean view. Unfortunately, not only did the hard, uneven surface beneath his ass make for an uncomfortable seat, but now the way his cock rose added to the tension burning over his skin.

“Always inquisitive,” he said quietly, letting the ocean breeze carry his voice. “I see you found my secret pathway.”

“It wasn’t hard.”

Caspian nodded once. No, it wasn’t hard, unless he cast an illusion spell over the trap door. Which, this evening, he hadn’t. He didn’t think Aria would care to explore. Sadly, his subconscious must have hoped otherwise, because he would have spelled the damn door if he really wanted to be left alone. Just like his subconscious didn’t want to leave her to the rats in this evil village after their encounter at his office. He would’ve left the tracking spell uncast, not twined it through her hair. He wouldn’t have left shortly after she stormed out, following her at a distance to ensure her safety.

Closing his eyes, he silently begged for a small measure of strength against the only weakness he’d ever suffered.

The scent of her freshly bathed skin and the heat of her presence curled around his back, embracing him in her dangerous presence as she came to a stop behind him. He’d learned his lesson. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

“May I sit?” Aria asked.

Caspian shifted over a few inches. He motioned with a flick of his wrist to invite her to seat herself on the ledge beside him. “I gather you have more covering your body now?”

“Your clothing options were generous. Thank you.”

The opening wasn’t wide, forcing them in close proximity. He stole a shaded glance as she sat, noting the deep blue gossamer skirt of the dress she’d chosen. There wasn’t much material to hide the shapely curve of her legs, and the bodice certainly did its job overly well when it came to tracing her narrow waist and full breasts.

As his inspection reached the silver-studded neckline, he turned his attention back to the waters. No need to sprinkle tinder onto the slow-burning fire of his desire.

“How did you find this place? Conveniently beneath your house.”

He chuckled. “I found this place first, and built on top of it. Worked some magic to make the pathway. A nice little spot.”

Aria leaned forward. “You’ve found a gem on the side of the cliff that can’t be seen from the village.” She pointed to the light-dotted coast about a mile away. “And surely no one there can see you.”

“I’ve cast this opening in a concealment spell. Even if someone used a telescope, they’d see nothing but a jagged cliff. Last thing I care to deal with is some explorer moseying into my home.”

“Do you miss it?” A forlorn sigh sounded from his left. “The ocean and the worlds beneath?”

Caspian braced his hands on his knees and tilted his head toward her.

He expected Aria to have healed some after the meal and bath. He hadn’t expected the magic to work so potently.