Page 26 of Siren in Love (In Love #1)

Mike

M ike lay awake after Corvin had passed out, a soft, well-fucked bundle of warmth in his arms. I can’t possibly not tell this man what I really am. He deserves to know me. And I want him to know me, every part and secret corner of me .

He tugged Corvin closer, but he hardly stirred. The day faded around them, and Mike watched the colors change to gray as night fell.

The resort was quiet. The season wasn’t quite in full swing yet, and only having to share the place with a few other people was nice. When night had fully fallen, the silence woven of the sounds of the distant ocean and cicadas singing was broken by an ugly, ragged moan.

Mike sat up. “What the…”

Corvin stirred, but turned and went back to sleeping peacefully. Mike got out of bed and followed the sound. He opened the door to the balcony that overlooked the resort and offered a beautiful view of the nightly illumination of the botanical gardens and the ocean lapping at the shore beyond it.

The resort was sprawling, but the hotel complex was only three stories, with the honeymoon suite on the top floor.

Mike had no trouble spotting the ambling, sluggish shape slouching through the darkness.

That right there, walking toward their balcony as if he were a lover coming to serenade Mike, was a zombie. A fucking zombie.

Mike ground his teeth. He looked around, and sure enough, he spotted Dominic standing behind the zombie like a prince overseeing a procession. Fucking Dominic and his delusion of love. After what, three months before I broke up with his sorry ass?

The necromancer looked up at Mike from the path that wound around a nicely landscaped area from the parking lot to the hotel. He had the audacity to smile and wave.

“Let’s see how you like your human when I turn him into one of these,” Dominic said into the silent darkness broken only by the moans of the hungry zombie eager to please his necromancer.

“Fucking bastard.” Mike turned on his heel and walked back inside.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Corvin still slept, the sound of his breathing in no way mirroring the terror that was coming for them. Zombies were easy enough to control for a necromancer, even if they were blunt instruments, more terror than finesse. Still, they could create a lot of chaos and harm fast.

Mike went through his options. He could stash Corvin with Peter and try to get to Dominic, but Dominic knew what Mike was.

Chances were he’d brought some noise canceling headphones or earplugs to prevent Mike’s siren song from overtaking him.

On top of that, my song can’t do anything to zombies.

All they will listen to is their master’s voice.

I need Peter. Maybe I can tell Corvin this is some client run amok, but…

Mike didn’t want to keep lying to Corvin; he just couldn’t do that anymore. Desperate, he walked over to the person he loved more than anything else in the world and shook him awake.

“Honey, wake up. You have to wake up.”

Corvin moaned. He shook off sleep slowly, but eventually, he focused on Mike in the darkness of the honeymoon suite.

“What?” Corvin said, his voice slurred.

Mike took a deep breath. “Corvin, listen to me. I love you. So much I wonder how it’s even possible.

” At that, Corvin blinked the sleep from his eyes.

Before he could say anything, Mike went on.

“I’ve never wanted to hide anything from you, but when we met, when I fell for you, things just always moved so fast, and the time was never right to tell you. ”

“Tell me what?” A cold edge of fear laced Corvin’s words, and it made Mike shudder.

“Corvin, hon, I’m a siren. Like in the myths. Peter’s a vampire, which is probably why he’s always seemed off to you. The supernatural is a real thing, and I’ve helped hide the truth from you all this time.”

There it is. I said it. There’s no taking it back now, no unseeing anything.

Mike watched Corvin’s face, its lines looking softer in the darkness. “Wait, what? Peter is what ?”

“A vampire.”

“No. Just…no. Are you making fun of me?”

“No, Corvin. This is real. I’m not human, but I love you. I could never not love you.” He caught Corvin’s hand in his, brushed his thumb across Corvin’s knuckles and his engagement ring. “Do you understand?”

“I…I’m dreaming, right? Oh, or is this some themed resort activity? A murder mystery or something?” He giggled, but Mike heard the confusion and disbelief in it.

“It’s real, Corvin. You know it’s real. You always knew something wasn’t quite right with Peter, deep down. You know no one hums or sings as much as I do. You know this is real.”

“Yeah, you like humming, but that’s just… You’re…you’re not some monster that wants to sing sailors to their death, are you? Do you want to—”

Corvin swallowed, and in that sound, Mike could just make out a drop of fear. Still, Corvin didn’t pull away from Mike.

“No, we don’t lure sailors, and no, I will never hurt you, ever.

Nor will I let anyone else touch you. Do you understand?

” Corvin nodded, but he didn’t say anything, so Mike couldn’t be sure what he was thinking.

“Listen, honey, we need to move. Now. Do you remember Dominic? Fuck. Of course you remember fucking Dominic. He’s a necromancer, apparently crazy and delusional, and he’s raised at least one zombie in a bid to win my love back.

Why the fuck he thinks that’s a good idea I can’t tell you.

I know this is a lot, but we have to move. ”

Corvin’s eyes went large in the darkness. “ What ?”

Mike pulled him to his feet. “Get dressed.” He switched on the lights, which had Corvin struggling to see for a moment, so Mike tossed clothes his way even as he found his own. “We need Peter for this. I’m no good with zombies.”

Corvin giggled as he struggled with his pants. “This is a murder mystery, and we’re the first people to die, right?” He wanted to believe that, Mike heard it in his voice.

Mike walked over and took Corvin’s face in his hands. “No, Corvin. I’m a siren, and I love you with all my heart. This is real. Do you trust me?”

“Yes, I trust you. Of course I trust you.” Mike could tell Corvin meant it, and for now, it had to be enough.