Page 27 of Of Rime and Ruin (Sirens of Adria #2)

Chapter twenty-five

Beast

Panic.

Anger.

Chaos.

The king will know what I’ve done.

Her golden ass, pressed to my erection.

Cock swells, hidden beneath a sheath. Desperate to emerge. To feel her. This soft, golden female, with kind, warm eyes.

And she wants to escape.

The king might know already. I have been careless with her.

I have been desperate.

But she is my friend. A friend that smells of arousal.

She wriggles in my arms.

Freedom, she wanted. Freedom, I gave her.

But it’s only for tonight.

I will never let her go forever. Was I not obvious? Does she think I’m stupid?

Inferior?

Submissive?

I snort. I am not any of those things.

I am the Beast—the king’s Beast. Important. Essential.

Protector of the Rime.

This is the thanks she gives? Trying to escape?

No.

She cannot escape.

She’s mine.

This Sunfish, with the singing mind. She’s my only friend. I will never let her go.

I tighten my grip.

She squirms.

Damn this erection.

She taps at the edge of my mind, and I let her in.

Please! I can’t go back. I thought you would help me , she says.

Her voice is like sunshine on morning waters. Music in my mind. I could listen to her song forever.

But I do not speak to her. Only swim. I do not trust my thoughts. She reads them too well.

I thought we were friends.

Pain, through my chest. Like a sharp tooth.

Ignore her.

Take her.

Hide her.

Somewhere the king can’t find.

Somewhere the king will never know what I’ve done.

Is it the king? Are you under orders? I can take you with me. We can escape together.

Me? Escape?

Bah.

It’s nonsense.

I can never leave the Rime.

I could never leave the king.

The king’s an asshole. He’ll miss you, but not in the way you think.

Panic. I cover my thoughts. Hide them from her.

Sunfish can’t know the truth.

I raise a wall. Thick, cold ice around my thoughts.

She taps. Presses. Wriggles through the cracks.

Please, just turn around. Let me help you.

There is no help.

Only death.

Memories drift from my other form. Of bodies on the shore. Claws. Blood. Flesh.

He thinks I am to blame.

But I have no memory of the deaths.

Only guilt.

Cold, piercing guilt. Flaring in my chest.

Are these… Did you kill them?

I cover my thoughts again. Another wall of ice. How much did she see?

Shit.

It’s Sunfish’s favorite word: Shit.

She softens in my grip.

I scent her emotions. Surrender? Fear?

She wriggles. Close, now, to the center of my soul. Soon, I’ll have nowhere to hide.

You’re dangerous, I know.

Her voice is careful. Afraid of me?

No. No. Please, no.

I am safe.

I protect. I fix. All for my Sunfish.

But you wouldn’t hurt your Sunfish, would you?

Never.

I could never forgive myself if I did.

The shore is close.

I glide over the rocks.

But I do not exit the water. Do not transform.

She can’t know. She may suspect, but she must never know.

She is afraid of me. Because I am a Beast. Sunfish is never safe with me.

My heart breaks at the truth.

She will be safe there, with the king. He can protect her. He can bring her books and fish.

Romance books. With kissing. He will know what she needs.

Not me.

It will never be me.

I bury my face in her hair. One last time. Inhale. She is sunshine, softness. All the beautiful things.

But she must go now.

It’s for the best.

I push her ashore. Leave her on the beach. In the dry air.

I speak: Sunfish will stay.

She peers through the water. Mouth frowning. Confusion.

Then angry. She smacks the water.

Her tail flops. Bones crack. Tail splits into two legs.

Naked.

Pussy.

Warm pink flesh.

My heart races.

I stare.

She’s beautiful. So beautiful my heart aches.

I can’t look away. Can’t leave her like this. Can I?

Her arousal floods the water. Warm scent. Wanting.

I can’t deny what Sunfish wants. Her wish is my task.

And Sunfish wants me. I can smell it.

I lick my lips.