Page 13 of Rock of Stages (Moonlight Siren #4)

CALEB

T he next day, I brought Naiya to meet Carina, a siren who was the head of entertainment.

When I’d told her about a mermaid with a voice like silky moonlight, she’d been curious to meet Naiya.

We stepped into the rehearsal space while the performers were in the middle of a number from Moulin Rouge.

Naiya’s gaze darted everywhere—stage lights, sequins, soaring voices—and awe bloomed across her face, like she’d walked into a dream.

When Carina asked to hear her sing, Naiya’s eyes widened with fear, like she’d rather dive overboard instead. Then she took a deep breath, stepped onstage, and began. Her voice was low and shaky from her nerves at first, but soon, she let her incredible voice soar. Pure magic.

After she sang the final note, she fidgeted with the seam of her dress before daring to gaze at Carina.

“Well done.” Carina gave a thoughtful nod. “I’ll see what I can do,” she said, then motioned around the theater. “Feel free to hang around during rehearsals.”

“I’d love to.” Naiya nodded with enthusiasm.

“Enjoy.” I kissed her cheek. “See you tonight.”

After my show, we met up to eat at the buffet upstairs and Naiya gushed about the performance.

“It was simply magical. The performers—so vibrant. The music, the dancing, the lights—the costumes …” She paused to take a breath, eyes bright.

“Everything is so sparkly and bright and I loved every second! I volunteered to help however I could. Carina said I could come back tomorrow.” Naiya’s eyes sparked with wonder.

“Do you think, Caleb…” Her voice trailed off.

“What?”

“Do you think it’s possible for a mermaid like me—to be—part of this world?”

I chuckled. “Now that sounds like a song I’ve heard an animated mermaid sing.”

She tipped her head at me and her brows narrowed with confusion.

I’d save my pop culture references for another time. Funny how she knew a rock song but not “The Little Mermaid” movie.

“Yes, of course, Naiya,” I confirmed. “Carina is a siren, and there are other mermaids. Probably some who are currently sailing or currently work on this ship. Thousands onboard so I don’t know who everyone is. But yes, of course you’d fit in perfectly on here.” With me.

Her lips spread into a smile as she gazed up at me. “Thanks for bringing me there.”

“You’re welcome.” I caressed her soft cheek.

Introducing her to Carina had been step one, an attempt to move more boulder aside in the obstacles between our worlds. But we still had many mountains to go.

Naiya spent her time with the production team over the next few days. She helped with props and costumes. When we met up each night, she shared stories about that night’s performance, her eyes bright with excitement.

One night, my band and their mates all met up near the dragon pool outside on a top deck. Van’s mate, Celeste, joined us and I introduced her to Naiya.

While Naiya chatted with the vampire, Piper nudged me and whispered, “You better not screw this up. We see how happy you are around her.”

“And less of a curmudgeon around us,” Rex chimed in.

I grunted. “I’m trying to make it work, but it’s not easy—considering she lives under the sea.”

“If Kylie and Van managed with creatures of the night, you’ll find a way,” Piper declared. “Besides, we’ll help you however we can if— she’s the one, ” she added with emphasis.

Piper and Kylie had teased both Van and me about finding our mates, saying they’d place a bet on it. Both of us had denied it would ever happened, but Van was now blissfully with Celeste. And me—could I have a stone’s throw of a chance with my beautiful mermaid?

I swallowed and admitted, “She is.”

Piper leaned back with a nod and then sipped her drink. She exchanged a glance with Kylie, as if confirming what they’d suspected.

“No betting on anything,” I grumbled.

Naiya and I talked about everything as we got to know each other better. We discussed ideas for our future—if we could live here on the ship, or find an island that gave us access to both sea and sky.

When I told her about the mating bite, she leaned forward, perking up even brighter than her already curious nature.

“I’m familiar with a bond between mates,” she said. “For me, it felt a tether to you when I found you in the ocean.”

My chest filled with warmth. She felt our bond since the beginning, reaffirming my belief that we were destined to be together. I’d do whatever it took to be with her.

“Tell me how it works with gargoyles.” She tilted her head.

“The urge usually comes when we’re in bed,” I explained and her eyes grew as wide as twin moons. “The pressure to mark you will grow strong. But I’d never do it unless you’re okay with it, Naiya. It’s a permanent bond. It will connect us, even when we’re apart.”

“Even if I’m in the ocean?”

I shrugged. “That I don’t know.” I smiled. “Since I don’t know of any gargoyle/mermaid matings.”

A gleam of uncertainly flashed in her eyes. “What if that means it won’t work for us?”

“It will,” I assured her. “I know it—because you’re the one.”

We were happy. I was the happiest I’d ever been, and time didn’t just fly by, it rocketed past at warp speed. All too soon, the ship neared her pod—and with it came the parting I’d dreaded.

She was swimming back to them in the morning.

My fears surged forth as we stretched out on my bed in my tiny cabin.

Her silvery-blond hair splayed across my pillow like sea foam.

There were so many threats in the sea, from predators, such as sharks, to slimebags, like Angus, and I voiced my worries about them all.

The underwater world left me incapacitated—it was one place where I couldn’t protect her.

And that disturbed me more than anything else.

“The ocean is far more full of wonder than danger,” she assured me.

“What about Angus?” I asked, the name bitter on my tongue.

She touched my cheek. “Miles away. We’ve sailed far since then and he’s probably still near the island.”

I worked my jaw. “And…the merman your father wants you to marry?”

Her face tightened—I’d clearly struck a nerve. “That will never happen.” Her eyes burned with determination and then she fixed them on me. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

She glanced at me with those ocean-deep eyes, and I reached for her, yearning to feel her one more time and carve her deeper into memory.

Our lips met, slow and deep. I slid my hands over her soft skin, down her smooth legs, incredulous that it would soon shift back to a long tail when she returned to the sea.

I kissed down her throat, her breasts, and lower still.

She arched toward me as I played with her with my fingers and tongue.

She ran her fingers through my hair and then cried out as she shattered on my tongue.

How I loved feeling her unravel for me. My beast stirred beneath my skin, desperate for more.

I buried myself inside her, rocking in and out with greater demand as something primal uncoiled deep within.

“Naiya,” I rasped, mouth trailing down her neck, to the spot where instinct pulled me like a magnet. “It’s here… I need to…need…to…” I struggled to speak, my voice strained and gravelly. “Mark you.”

Her lips parted, her breath catching. “The mating bite?”

I nodded, no longer able to speak as I fought the overwhelming urge to bite.

One pounding heartbeat followed another as I waited, desperately waited for her response. If she said no, I might never recover.

“Yes,” she said, barely audible, and turned her head. “I’m ready.”

My beast surged forward, urging, and my fangs extended. I kissed the curve of her neck and moved toward her shoulder, where her flesh pulsed like a beacon, drawing me to it. I bent down and pierced her skin. She gasped and tightened around me.

The second her blood touched my tongue, magic flared inside me.

Her essence—light and sea—dancing with mine.

A connection spun, wild and fierce and—eternal.

My heart thundered, senses flooded, and I drifted to a place beyond.

I pulled back and carefully sealed the wound.

She released a wondrous sigh and then clutched my shoulders.

“The tether,” she whispered. “Deeper.” She wrapped her legs around me and encouraged me to move. “I feel you.”

I growled as my beast rose, invigorated, after I’d claimed Naiya. The pressure intensified and I drove into her, relentless, until I exploded inside my mate with a guttural cry.

“Mine.” She was truly mine now. And I was hers. As eternal as the rocks and sky and sea.

Forever entwined.

The next day, Naiya and I stood on a lower deck, preparing for her departure.

While we were docked, a barrier was open with a diving board extended so seafaring supernaturals could go for a swim right off the ship.

A soft breeze tugged at Naiya’s dress, and the sunlight gilded her hair with a warm glow.

My chest ached, as if weighed with boulders.

I tried to project calm and strength, but a maelstrom of dread brewed in my head.

Naiya turned to me, her jade-green eyes appearing almost ethereal.

She brushed her fingers over my cheek. “I’ll meet up with you when the ship sails near my pod next week.”

I gulped as I pulled her into my arms. Her leaving felt wrong, gnawing at me. My beast growled inside, unwilling to let her go. I yearned to be able to protect her, and my wings unfurled. I snapped them back. They were useless beneath the sea.

Was this the mate bond, or was something wrong? An unsettling sensation gnawed at me that I couldn’t shake off.

“Come back to me, Naiya.” My voice was rough.

She trembled, but smiled through it. “I promise.”

I didn’t let go until I had to.

Naiya kissed my lips and stepped back. “Don’t miss me too much,” she said with a cheeky smile.

Before I could answer, she dove into the ocean, sliced through the waves, and disappearing beneath them.

I watched, frozen, until she resurfaced.

She turned and blew a kiss at me and my heart panged with longing.

She dove under, her silver and teal tail emerging as it gleamed beneath the sunlight.

I didn’t blink until it, too, disappeared.

And my waiting began.

I’d wait. However long it took. Or I’d go search every inch of the sea to find her.

She was mine.