Page 21 of Siren’s Kiss & Feral Beasts

NERISSA

F ingers sweep up and down my back, getting lower with each pass.

It feels so good, and I’m pulled from a deep sleep by the touch.

The hand is strong and manly, the rough patches of skin from manual labor only adding to the erotic touch.

More so when he digs those fingertips in deep, working on tense areas.

Because the last few days have been rough. My eyes ache from tears that don’t fall. It’s why mermaids sing their lament to the open, endless sky. We release our troubles, weep for those who died at sea, and bless the waters with our essence.

And yet, everything fades away when warm lips kiss the base of my spine. When the scent of Guaiac wood and pineapples wraps around me. “Open those pretty eyes for me, little treasure.”

My lashes flutter open, my mind slow to process, but there he is. My Kai. My mate. It’s impossible. I know this is a dream, and yet a smile curves at my lips. “Hello, Alpha.”

“Sweet Nerissa.” His voice is tough and guttural, his wolf watching me through his human eyes, and I shiver. I’m happy and relieved, but then sadness slams into me from all sides. So much has happened, and I’m free-falling into an abyss that scares me.

“No, sweetheart. Don’t cry.” This command is laced with patience, and for some reason, it only makes me feel worse. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Everything, Wolf. Every freaking thing.” I let out a shuddering breath as the sky breaks with a torrential downpour.

It’s violent and strong, whipping against the outside of my home in Avaria.

How did I end up here? Before I can ask him just that, lightning strikes right outside my window, and I jump.

It surprises me.

My emotions have always affected the weather. Rain when I’m sad and sunny skies when I’m happy—a soft golden pink when I’m calm. Yet this feels different. More.

“Then let me in. Let me shoulder what’s made your heart heavy.” He leans down and nips my shoulder this time. “Let me soothe your ache and heart.”

“Can you make me forget? Just for a little while.”

“I’ll do and be anything you need, my female.” A quick pull and the blanket over me disappears, cool air greeting my skin. I shiver, still upset, but then I’m met with the force of a spank that pushes everything but him from my mind.

His scent. His hand. His lips.

I’m attacked by all three as Kai climbs over me, his strong body hovering over me while he explores and kneads, landing a few spanks in between.

And each time, my hiss becomes a moan when it’s followed by a nip to my shoulder. A kiss to my temple. The feel of those same fingers, my skin tingling from the strike, slipping between my thighs.

Spank. Stroke. Spank. Dip inside to the first knuckle and out again, dragging my slick from my clenching hole to rosebud to the swell of each heated cheek. Then again.

“Please, Kai,” I moan, shivering when his hand lands at the curve where thigh meets cheek. The sting lashes, then spreads from my toes to clit, I’m one sensitive pulse. “Oh my Gods!”

“Not Gods, little treasure. I’m your alpha and mate.

Yours.” The next slap lands closer to my slick inner thighs before his fingers finally slip inside.

First one and then two, stroking in deep and hard while his palm massages my clit.

“That’s it. Let me feel that pretty little cunt make a mess for me. ”

Lips drag across my shoulders, back and forth, leaving painful bites in between each peck. It’s a delicious contrast to the pleasure rising, and I whine for him.

That sound does something to him. From sexy to feral, and I’m pulled up by the waist onto my knees, spread wide with his mouth on my pussy before I can scream.

Alpha Kai Daire eats me like a man possessed, his lips sucking on my clit while his fangs drop and a pleasurable sting takes me under. I come for him while he growls, the taste of me and my blood driving his wolf to a near frenzy. I can’t do anything but accept.

I shake. I cry. I plead.

“One more, little treasure. Come for me again before I put you to bed.”

“Oh fuck,” It leaves me on a hiss when he nips my mound, paying extra attention to the sensitive flesh on either side of my clit. “Kai, please.”

My whimper is rewarded by his thumb tracing from my entrance to my rosebud, adding pressure against my untouched hole. And the second he slips just the tip of his finger inside, I’m slammed headfirst into another orgasm.

My body sags as small aftershocks course through me; I’m a mess. Sweaty and slick and satiated—my alpha mate likes it, if his rumbling purr is anything to go by. I’m surprised when he doesn’t use me to slake his need after, and instead, I’m shifted so he can lie beside me.

I’m engulfed in the warmest, most comforting hug. Kai’s arms fold around me, warm and heavy, with his chest pressed against my back. “Better?”

I nod, because it’s the truth. For the moment, I feel like I can breathe again. The proof of that is the pale blue sky outside my window, the edges of darker clouds creeping along the horizon. The sight is almost poetic. Like my emotions have temporarily calmed, but the storm lingers.

Just hangs there. Waiting.

Turning in his arms, I lay my head near his heart and listen to its beat. The sound is soothing, and I give myself permission to enjoy the reprieve because it won’t last. “Thank you.”

“Never thank me for taking care of you. That’s a privilege, my mate.”

“And to think I spent so many years hating you.” At that, he made an annoyed sound from the back of his throat, the sound not entirely human. “Don’t be mad at me, Wolf. I’m overwhelmed as it is and ? —”

“We’ll deal with that another day, Nerissa, and I will revisit this conversation in person, but right now, I want to know what made you cry.

Why are you sad, little treasure?” A flash of lightning, five seconds pass, and the ground beneath my home shakes.

Anger and grief are overwhelming on their own, but together they wreak havoc on you.

And that’s how I feel all over again. Run down and strung out—the rush of anguish crashes into me, and my tears fall onto his chest. My earlier orgasms are nothing but a pleasant memory, even if my thighs are still slick and my pussy a little sore. “Tell me. Let me be who you lean on.”

“It’s my father.” The words leave me on a low, choked whisper. “He was poisoned and has been unresponsive for days. Since the day after I left you.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Tight, he pulled me impossibly closer, his lips pressed against the crown of my head. “How did it happen? What have your doctors said?”

“The sea witch says it’s not a toxin she’s familiar with. Not from our waters or neighboring lands, but she’s reached out to others and is praying for good news soon. We’re hoping one of her connections knows ? —”

My eyes fly open, and I’m disoriented and confused for a second time. I’m not in my room in Avaria, and a warm wolf is definitely not beside me. Warm currents surround me, a gentle sway to them that helped me sleep and I look around, finding I’m in my father’s room.

“Gods, how tired do you need to be to have a dream within a dream?”

Surprised, I stand up and find I’m a little dizzy. Don’t remember how I got here, but then there’s another slam of something, like a strike of solid on stone.

The vibrations travel, creating a painful pulse that I flinch from. There are also voices, two of them, but I can’t discern what they’re saying.

Leaving the bed, I creep closer, keeping close to the wall. One male. One female. And I’m surprised by the latter.

“This is getting out of hand, Orion. You said no one would get hurt.” I’d expect some sadness in her tone, but all I hear is exasperation. Annoyance. She sounds nothing like my best friend.

“Do not question me, female. I do what must be done—she slept with that mutt. Gave him what should’ve been mine as her future king.”

The next sharp sound echoes like a smack.

“Am I not enough? I’m your?—”

“I’ll forgive you this one time, but know your place, Naia. Never question me again. Don’t insinuate you’re worth more when we both know you’re here to serve a purpose and nothing else.”

“As your personal assistant, or plaything?” Naia hisses at him, but I can hear the hurt. The utter betrayal.

What is she to him?

“You, my pretty little toy, are whatever I want you to be. So play your role, smile politely, and bend over when I need you to.” His tone is pompous and arrogant, almost challenging her to deny him. “Now go see if Nerissa is up yet. Maybe if she isn’t, we can…”

He trails off, and a moan—hers—greets my ears. The sound of kissing follows shortly after. I’m disgusted and fuming, but glide back toward the bed and lie down, my tail half-covered by sea-silk. My eyes close, and I will my breathing to calm, just the occasional bubble slipping out.

I feel her presence a few minutes later.

Naia doesn’t say anything, but lingers while testing how deeply I sleep.

First, by calling my name in a low voice and waving her hand in front of my face, then by giving me a gentle nudge.

Nothing hard, but enough that if I were coming to, I’d snap my eyes open and see my best friend there.

Not suspicious, with how many times she’s stayed over in my room for days on end.

This time, though, I’m a statue and refuse to move.

Unmovable. Unshakable.

And after a few minutes, the woman I once trusted wholeheartedly swims away, satisfied, but whispers a few words that change everything…

“Please forgive me, Neri, but he’s my mate.”

I’m back inside my father’s room an hour later.

I don’t speak to anyone or stop to visit with grandfather or grandmother—I distrust everyone right now. From the stone, to the lies, to the whispers, I feel surrounded by a family I no longer recognize.

My reality is different from the stories shared among mermaids.

The problem is, I’m not one hundred percent sure who it benefits more…

Our king, who’s tried to call me into the throne room a few times over the last few days, needing to discuss what happened and have me hand over his wife’s magic. Or said queen, who comes to visit my father every day with a sad look on her face, as if she saw this coming and couldn’t intervene.

I’ve thought about that, too. Took me a while inside this solitude, watching my father’s unconscious body getting weaker, for it to hit me.

I sent you to the surface for a reason, not to reclaim my gift to Ephraim.

Those words hit differently when you’ve had a few days of silence with nothing but your thoughts to guide you. I’ve dissected conversations, come up with theories…

Please forgive me, Neri, but he’s my mate.

Lifting my hand to the chain around my neck, I enclose the stone in my grip. It’s cold, yet there’s a faint comforting pulse that reminds me of my dream. The peace his heart beating beneath my ear brought me while Kai’s strong arms wrapped around me tight.

Was I truly wrong about him?

“But why would he lie to me?”

“Because what he wants is to cure his own sickness.” My head snaps toward the entryway, and I find my grandmother there.

She’s looking a bit stronger today, there’s more color on her cheeks, and I see no tremor in her hand.

“I’ll explain later, but right now we don’t have time to waste. You need to leave?—”

“What the hell is going on?” I demand, my eyes narrowing on her. “Why do you look so…”

At my trail off, Queen Lucienne smiles. Her face is soft. “I had a dream last night, my child. One that literally breathed life back into me.”

“You had a dream?” The implications are there, and I don’t know how to feel about it. My dream was anything but innocent. Did she…? Who did she…?

“I did,” she says as if I’d spoken out loud, head tilting to the side as she appraises me. “Much like you did, but judging by the blush on your face, mine wasn’t on the same level.”

“Grandmother, I truly do not understand.”

“You shared a dream with your mate, Nerissa. In your despair, you called out to him, and the alpha replied. But more importantly, you welcomed him into your space.” Her delicate finger taps mine, still wrapped around the stone.

“Unconsciously, you sought refuge where you knew you’d be safe.

With the one person in this world who will never hurt you. ”