Page 1 of Every Bite You Take (Midnight Siren Supernatural Cruises #1)

CHAPTER 1

KYLIE

T he itch for something new had been getting to me lately—unfortunately, like those vexing ones on your back you couldn’t reach despite numerous pretzel-like stretches. Maybe I was having a quarter-life crisis. Everyone around me seemed to be settling down in relationships or getting kick-ass promotions at work. Me? I was still bartending at the Danger Zone, a retro rock club north of Boston that I loved both for the music and the people, but I craved a change.

So I booked a vacation to crawl out of my doldrums, hoping to come back refreshed.

I entered the Danger Zone for my shift. Portishead’s “Sour Times” played at a low volume and it was otherwise quiet before opening. My boss Gianna sat at a table, working on her laptop. With her long dark hair streaked with red and her sleek black dress, she had a Morticia vibe, especially with the cemetery scene behind her.

“Hey, Gianna,” I said. “Guess who’s going to Alaska?”

“Let me see,” she said with a sly smile as she looked up from her laptop. She tapped her chin. “Who, pray tell, could it be?” Then she grinned. “When?”

“Next month. There’s a cruise sailing out of Seattle. It’s a new line that specializes in vacations for supernaturals.” I pulled a brochure out of my courier bag and showed it to her.

“No way.” She put down her clipboard on the polished bar and reached for the brochure. As she read over it, she said, “Nice!”

“Yup. The weather should still be warm in August.” I nodded like a genie. Although I had only a smidgeon of witch blood from my grandmother, I felt comfortable around supes, or anyone who felt like a misfit. I was in the messy middle—I wasn’t completely a human living a human life, and I wasn’t a supernatural with kick-ass powers, so that left me stuck in the awkward space in between.

Although Gianna was half-human and half-siren, her siren side shone through with her stunning looks and amazing voice. She had lush dark hair, amethyst eyes, and a killer body. So she didn’t appear to have any setbacks from having supernatural blood but lacking the benefits, unlike me.

“How did you find out about this cruise?” She raised her eyes from the brochure to meet mine.

“A friend who works in travel at the Network.” The Network being the Salem Supernatural Network, part of a global underground network to help supernaturals safely navigate a world dominated by humans—some of whom were extremely narrow-minded and opposed anyone who didn’t look or think like them.

“Fantastic. You’ll have to tell me how it is.” She cocked her head. “You know who’ll be thrilled about this—Nova and Diego. They’d booked a special room that was suitable for vampires when we sailed to Bermuda for my wedding, but look at this.” She pointed at the brochure. “Many areas of this ship are noted vampire safe. Stellar. Who are you going with?”

“No one,” I replied as she handed it back to me. “I asked a couple of friends, but they couldn’t commit because of job stuff or life stuff or blah-blah-blah, so I said screw it, I’ll go alone. Especially since I found a last-minute deal.” That made it affordable even for a single cabin. It had been far too long since I’d taken a vacation, and I’d never traveled this far or gone on a cruise. Besides, I didn’t mind doing things on my own. Sometimes it was just easier. When you had to coordinate with others, more logistics were involved. More decisions, more compromises. If I waited to fit things around other people’s schedules, I might miss my chance.

Gianna put her hand on her hip and chuckled. “Maybe you’ll meet a hot supe.”

“Ha!” I grunted. “If I’m not having much luck here in a club full of them, I doubt I’ll have more luck confined on a ship.”

“Perrr-haaps,” she said, drawing out the syllables. “I’m not saying anything serious. Just have fun. Have a hot night or two—maybe even a love bite.”

“Eww, no thanks. Especially from a bloodsucker,” I protested and mimicked gagging. We had vampire customers who ordered drinks spiked with blood. Although I was used to serving it by now, it wasn’t my favorite part of my job. It wasn’t as bad as seeing blood flow, which made me shudder. That had started when I’d found my dad?—

Nope, not going to go there. I shook my head to rid that image from my brain.

Gianna pulled her top aside to show her mark from when her wolf shifter mate marked her. “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it, Kylie.”

Maybe Gianna was a tad right. I saw the way Sebastian adored her. Nobody had ever looked at me that way, with such intensity, as if she were his entire world and he’d destroy anyone who tried to hurt her. Then again, I didn’t look like Gianna or have her siren mojo. Countless men gaped at her every night. I had more of the girl-next-door looks, which I jazzed up with my hair color—currently an electric blue shade.

“I’m not ready for any of that. After all, look what a little bite did to you,” I teased and motioned to her.

Sebastian had brought out a change in her as well. I’d never seen her devoted to anyone before she met him. She’d been happy to be single and independent, but then they’d fallen in love and everything had changed.

For better or worse? I’d never been in love like that, so I had nothing to compare it to.

“Oh, that was definitely a big bite, if you know what I mean.” She chuckled.

I didn’t want to get into any of the multitude of reasons behind her emphasis on big.

“Can’t go wrong with a smokin’ hot shifter,” Gianna said in a sing-song voice. She topped off her favorite beverage, a champagne cocktail. “At any rate, have fun. It’s been ages since you’ve gone on vacation.”

Fun would be a bonus. I was just hoping to shake off the blahs. I’d blamed it on the winter, but spring had passed and we were well into summer. Something had to change.

One month later

I had my new ID, which served as the key to my cabin and credit for purchases on the ship, and was on my way upstairs to the sail-away party. We were leaving Seattle in thirty minutes. I took the stairs up to the pool deck, leaving me semi-winded, but I recovered as I strolled toward the music. The pool was designed in colorful green and purple tiles with a dragon motif. Beside it, the cruise director led a group of middle-aged women in the “Cha-Cha Slide.”

No thanks. I avoided that and headed straight to the bar to order a cocktail.

“What can I get you?” a bartender asked. “Our sail-away special is a Spook-tacular Rum Runner.”

From the golden glint in his eyes and massive torso, I guessed him to be a shifter, most likely wolf. Whether it was from years of experience serving supernatural clientele or perhaps a slight innate sense from my witch blood, I tended to be able to differentiate humans from supernaturals.

“Sure, that sounds great.”

Another bartender farther down the bar added something that looked like blood to a row of cocktails. My nostrils flared as I turned away.

“Love your hair color. What a vibrant purple,” a woman said from my left.

I turned to see a pink-haired woman with large hazel eyes, practically vibrating with magical energy. Silver earrings dangled from her ears. She appeared to be in her early thirties and wore a white bohemian-style shirt.

“Thanks,” I said. “I changed it from my usual blue for this trip.”

“Looks gorgeous on you.” She appraised me with approval. “I’m Piper.”

“Kylie,” I replied.

When the bartender brought over my drink, she ordered the same. While he prepared her cocktail, she asked, “Have you cruised before?”

“No. First-timer. And on my own.”

“Ah.” She nodded. “A virgin.” The bartender slid over her drink, and she thanked him. “I hope that’s not the case with this drink.” She raised her glass. “Cheers.”

I raised mine and clinked it back. “Cheers.”

We each sipped our drinks. The rum rolled with the fruit over my tongue.

“That coven is having a lot of fun.” She motioned to the women on the deck, bumping into each other and laughing as they turned in the wrong direction for another line dance. “I had a drink with them earlier. One of the witches is celebrating their fiftieth birthday, so they decided to make it a witches-only trip, and they’re having a blast.”

I watched the women as they bumped into each other again and burst out laughing. “They certainly are.”

“So what do you plan to do for fun on this cruise?”

I scrunched my nose. “Not sure. I’m sailing alone and just winging it. Any suggestions?”

“Hmm.” Piper tapped her chin, and her silver rings gleamed beneath the sunlight. “I may be biased since I work at the art auctions, but I try to make them entertaining. You should stop by one of our events this week.”

“Ooh, wish I could but I don’t think that’s in my budget.” I took a sip of my drink.

She shooed my concern off with a wave. “No obligation whatsoever.” Then she leaned in closer and said in a lower tone, ”Just stop by for a free art print and glass of champagne.”

I chuckled. “Free stuff sounds more like my budget.”

A trio of hulking men strode out, and she let out a low, appreciative breath. They were a little too massive for my taste. One caught her eye and winked. After they passed, she turned back to me. “What do you like to do? Play games? Dance? Go to shows? Listen to music?”

Out of the options she gave, I chose the last one.

“All right, let’s see what’s going on tonight.” She pulled out a brochure of cruise ship happenings that day from a blue sparkly bag and scrolled down it, using her index finger as a guide. “Luna Blue Shadows is playing. It’s a welcome show with a sixties rock set.” She tapped the spot on the paper. “I’ll swing by after I’m done at the gallery. You should go.” She gestured in my direction. “Have a drink and listen to some good music.”

“Sounds good.” Since I didn’t know anyone onboard or know my way around this floating vessel, I appreciated her recommendation. Tomorrow was a day at sea while we sailed up to Alaska, so I’d have plenty of time to explore the ship.

“You should see these supes—three shifters and a vampire.” She fanned herself. “All smokin’.”

A shifter? Maybe. A vampire with their bloodplay fetish? No, thanks.