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“No, in fact you would hardly believe how she came to be with us.” Isla laughed and gestured toward the ocean. “The sea gives, and it takes. It took my father but blessed me with a daughter.”

“How did the sea give you Coven?”

“One morning my husband went out to fish and there in the surf sat Coven. She was only two years old.” Isla blew a strand of graying black hair from her face. “We tried to find her parents, but there’s no village close by. It would have been impossible for a toddler to travel so far.”

“Was she hurt?”

“No. Not even a scratch. She didn’t speak for five years. It was only with kindness and patience that she began to speak at seven years old.”

Raziel was stunned. “How do you think she got on that beach?”

“My best guess is that she fell off a fishing vessel. All the villages along the coast fish. Even at two, she was an extraordinary swimmer. It seems bizarre but I think she swam to our village. The poor thing slept for almost two days once we’d discovered her.”

Raziel smiled. “You’re fortunate to have such a daughter. She’s a hard worker.” He slapped his thighs and stood with a groan. “Do you want help looking for her?”

Isla pulled a face and glanced at the sun that had almost completely set. “The girl is always running around. I’m sure she’ll show up soon.” She wrung her hands and the skin around her eyes was a little too pinched.

A worried mother.

“I need to take a walk and work out the kinks in my back. I’ll keep an eye out for her.”

“Thank you, my king.” A relieved smile touched her lips. “Please let Mer know that I’ll drop supper off in a little bit.”

Raziel nodded. “You know you don’t have to cook for us.”

Isla gasped. “And not be hospitable to my king and queen who risk so much each day for our home? I’ll not hear of it.”

“As you say.”

He waved and meandered through the village, hating all the blue slashes of paint along doors. A sign of sickness. It was the ones without any light glowing from the inside that made his heart ache.

Raziel found himself pulled toward the cottage he shared with a mercurial Sirenidae. It surprised him how much he’d enjoyed the mundaneness of their evenings. Bathing, eating, speaking a little about their days, and then sleeping. Although, he would love a real bed. Sleeping on the hard, cold floor left him aching.

The thunder of waves hitting the sand grew louder as the ground sloped to the beach, the sunset leaving only the tiniest hint of light. Raz turned to the west and strolled down the beach, his boots sinking into the black sand with each step.

Their little home rested at the end of the beach, nestled near the curved outcropping of rocks that stretched into the ocean like a crooked finger. It was odd Mer hadn’t met at the village fire tonight. Those who were still strong and not ill started meeting there to boost morale.

The Sirenidae seemed to take great pleasure in joining in. Asking questions about Methian legends, telling stories of her home, or just listening empathetically to the villagers’ struggles.

It was a whole different side of his feral wife that he was experiencing.

And he… liked it.

His steps sped up just thinking about Mer. Raziel kicked the sand and physically forced himself to slow down. Too many obstacles were between them for him to start forming any real attachment to her. At least that was what he kept telling himself.

Each day more of her personality began to show and she intrigued him.

It was an unhealthy addiction… wondering what she’d say next.

Raziel scanned the sea and spotted her floating in the distance, her pale skin a beacon in the dark water. A wry smile pulled up his lips. She was probably searching for more herbs, speaking with sharks, or charming the creatures of the sea.

Like she has you.

Raziel huffed at the thought.

Even though he didn’t like it, it made it no less true. During their time in the village, he’d softened towards her. It was a problem. A real problem.

As he drew closer to their cottage, he frowned at Mer. She lay face down in the water, not moving a muscle. A tread of alarm tugged in his chest.