the wimpy little aspirin tablets that were all Bubba had on board, I was trying to think of
anything and everything else. One thing was certain. If I was going to keep running into the
demonic, I was going to need to take precautions.
A light tap on the door distracted me. I pulled the lightweight cotton sheet over me for
modesty‘s sake. A little late for it, all things considered. But hey, we were just going to pretend
I hadn‘t flashed Creede, Dahlmar, and the entire siren navy as they‘d come to the rescue.
Apparently, I‘d leapt right out of my bra when I went over the demon. Creede swears he didn‘t
notice.
Not even when he was handing me a towel to cover myself with.
―Come in.‖
I rolled over to see who it was and immediately wished that I hadn‘t. The burns were
healing. But it was slow going. I‘d had the last two shakes, to take the edge off of my hunger
and make sure the humans didn‘t look tasty, but my body apparently needed more. Less food,
slower healing. But there wasn‘t anything else on the boat I could digest unless I decided to go
fully vampire. So until they finished hauling the boat into the harbor and found something I
could drink, I was pretty much screwed.
―How are you doing?‖ Queen Lopaka stuck her head through the doorway. She wasn‘t
wearing anything ceremonial, just a pair of faded jeans and a white cotton button-down shirt
with the sleeves rolled up. She wore boat shoes, probably a good thing considering the
splinters and worse that littered the deck.
―Been better,‖ I admitted. I probably still looked like one of the lower rungs of hell. When
I‘d gone into the bathroom to take the aspirin I‘d scared myself. Second-degree burns on the
face were not pretty. I was just glad I hadn‘t burned my eyeballs. I didn‘t even want to think
how much that would have hurt. ―Be sure to thank Ren for me. I appreciate her calling in the
cavalry.‖
Lopaka smiled and I swear it lit up the room. Straight white teeth and dimples to die for.
―Yes, well, better late than never. You apparently did well enough all on your own. Although
at some cost.‖ She sighed and lowered herself onto the edge of the bed. ―You must be in pain.
And my condolences on the loss of—‖
I dipped my head and sighed. ―Ivan. He was King Dahlmar‘s bodyguard.‖ The king was
beside himself, though he wasn‘t showing it much. There‘s a point at which a bodyguard
becomes a member of the family.
―And he died in the line of duty.‖ She sighed again. ―How do you want to handle this?‖
―I don‘t know,‖ I admitted. ―It‘s a complete clusterfu—‖ I stopped in mid-syllable, horrified
at myself. You don‘t use language like that in front of a queen, no matter how appropriate or
how casual the situation.
She laughed, hard enough to shake the bed. Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, she
said, ―Yes, it is.‖ She looked thoughtful for a moment. ―All right. If you don‘t mind, I‘ll have
my people handle the questioning of the remaining pirate. I‘m also going to have them
investigate King Dahlmar‘s allegations of political tampering in Rusland. We have very
stringent laws forbidding political machinations of that type. If indeed that is what‘s
happening.‖
―You don‘t think it is?‖
She gave me a long look. ―It‘s a landlocked country.‖
I put two and two together. Sirens need oceans. Need them. But just because they couldn‘t
live in Rusland, that didn‘t mean they wouldn‘t want to control the power and the gas. I started
to open my mouth to say as much, but I didn‘t have to. She‘d been listening to my thoughts.
Which I hated. I tried to stifle that thought before it got me in trouble.
―We have hospital facilities on the island. Your injuries can be tended there.‖
I shook my head no. Hospitals had bleeding people. The smell of blood could make me very
dangerous—particularly when I was hungry and injured. ―I appreciate the offer, but I can‘t.‖ I
didn‘t explain further, but I didn‘t have to. Either she was still eavesdropping on my thoughts
or she was bright enough to figure it out on her own. She reached the right conclusion and
quickly.
She gave me a horrified look. ―It really is that much of a problem? I saw you looking at
―Oh, it‘s a problem. So far, I‘ve been able to deal with it. It‘s better, easier, if I have some
broth or baby food with meat. Or something with protein that‘s run through the blender. But no
hospital. That would just be a bad idea right now.‖
―I understand.‖ She gave me a speculative look. ―I can arrange for the food. And if you‘ll let
me, I can help with the pain and let you rest until it‘s ready.‖
―That would be lovely.‖
She reached forward, touching me on the forehead. I heard her voice inside my head. Sleep.
I slept.
I woke to the smell of food: beef broth, French onion soup, and other, more exotic things that I
couldn‘t name but that smelled of tropical fruits and banana. Opening my eyes, I discovered it
was night. I rolled over . . . and it didn‘t hurt. For just a moment I reveled in the fact that I
didn‘t hurt. The absence of pain was absolutely glorious.
The boat wasn‘t moving. Well, it was rocking gently, but not like it was out on the ocean.
We‘d apparently made harbor. Which explained why somebody‘d felt secure enough to leave
several open food containers on the nightstand next to my bed.
Vampires have terrific night vision. I didn‘t even need to turn on the light. I sat up in bed
and begin tearing into the food. I was ravenous and most of it tasted wonderful. I skipped the
fruit drink, though. I loathe bananas. I was just finishing the last drop of soup when I noticed a
slip of folded note paper that had been tucked under one of the bowls.
I unfolded it, to find a note.
We need to talk, but Queen L. said not to wake you.
We’re staying in her guesthouse. See you there.
Creede
I was glad they‘d let me sleep. Now that I‘d healed up and eaten, I was much safer to be
around. But I wanted to clean up before I went out in public. The shower in the head on the
boat was tiny but in working order. I dug up some toiletries and made myself presentable.
Thankfully, some kind soul had brought my things down from the deck. It would‘ve been nice
to have some fresh clothes, but unless I wanted to swipe something from Bubba, I‘d have to
make do. Since the lavalava didn‘t have any blood- or food stains, that was what I put on,
covering it once more with my jacket to protect my still red and somewhat tender skin.
I sighed as I laid the empty holster on top of the bed. No point in putting it on. The gun was
gone. That sucked. One of my knives was gone. That was even worse. But I was alive. Bubba,
Creede, and Dahlmar were all injured, but they had made it, too. I was sorry about Ivan. But
considering what we were up against, it was practically miraculous we‘d only had one
casualty.
I glanced at the clock built into the wall. One A.M. Most likely everybody else was in bed by
now, but maybe not. Besides, having rested and fed, I was wide awake. So I picked my way
through the disaste
r area where the mess used to be and made my way to the stairs and up top.
It was a beautiful night. Not too hot, with just enough of a breeze to flap the sails on the
boats that had them and rustle the leaves of the palm trees on the shore. Water lapped gently
against the hull of the boat, and the clear white moonlight made it easy to see but also made the
shadows seem that much darker.
As I stepped from the cabin doorway, I saw one of those shadows move ever so slightly.
Someone was trying very hard to remain unseen.
I pulled my knife and charged, using vampire strength and speed. Before my opponent knew
what was coming, I was on her and she was down, pinned to the deck with the edge of my
knife at her throat.
I felt magic building and I pressed down on the knife so that the tip dimpled her skin without
drawing blood. ―Don‘t even think about it.‖ I hissed and bared my teeth to make the . . . point
perfectly clear.
Then my vampire sight kicked in and I suddenly realized she was just a kid. She couldn‘t be
more than fifteen or sixteen. When I‘d hissed at her, she‘d let go of her power and lay still, her
eyes wide as dinner plates. Her entire body quivered with fear. I could hear her heart pounding
like a trip-hammer, her breath rasping. She was obviously terrified. But I didn‘t move the
knife.
I heard running footsteps and a voice called out from the dock, ―Princess, is something
wrong?‖
―I have company.‖
There was swearing and pounding feet. Three armed guards swarmed on board, shining
flashlights like spotlights onto us. The kid beneath me started to cry. She was pretty, with
exotic features—dark brown skin and hair that would‘ve been kinky-curly if it hadn‘t been
kept cropped close to her skull. She was wearing a black sports bra and matching jeans. A gold
belly button ring twinkled in the harsh light.
She looked up and around at the people behind the spotlights and whimpered, ―My mom is
going to kill me.‖
―Only if I don‘t do it first.‖ I smiled, deliberately letting her get another good look at the
fangs.
She swallowed hard and tears filled her eyes. ―Please don‘t kill me, Princess,‖ she
whispered.
―Give me one good reason not to.‖
The nearest guard was a tall woman. Her hair was cropped short in a buzz cut that should
have been very masculine. But it looked good with her chiseled features and the seriously buff
body encased in camo pants and an olive tank top. The loaded weapons belts were the perfect
accessories. A small, embroidered name tag was affixed to the shirt. Marks on the tag probably
signified rank. Her name was Baker.
―Okalani, what are you doing here?‖ she snapped.
The kid didn‘t answer. Tears were trailing from the corners of her eyes.
―How did you get past the guards?‖ I added.
―Oh, I know how she got past us,‖ Baker snarled. ―And her mother is going to hear about
it.‖ Baker gestured to an underling. ―Go to the kid‘s house and tell Laka what happened. Bring
her back here with you. And send Martin to notify the palace. We don‘t need this to go over
the airwaves.‖
The second guard took off at a trot. I still hadn‘t let the kid up. The knife was still at her
throat. I didn‘t figure she was out to kill me. She probably wasn‘t a threat. But I‘m not inclined
to take chances, and she needed to be taught a lesson.
Baker gestured and the rest of the guards left the boat, probably going to resume their
positions. ―Why are you here, Okalani?‖ she asked.
The kid blinked and snuffled. Tears were running freely now, but she didn‘t dare move to
wipe them away. ―I wanted to talk to the princess. I want to know about the mainland.‖
The guard shook her head. ―You had to know how dangerous it was. Word of what
happened to this boat is all over the island. The queen provided the princess with guards for a
reason.‖
The girl tensed beneath me and even through her tears I got a sense of stubborn anger. She
was determined. She had balls, too. More balls than brains, actually. Pinned to the ground,
knife at her neck, and she was still going to argue. ―I want to meet my father.‖ There was pain
in that simple statement, so much pain that I cringed. Because I have my own daddy issues. I
still have nightmares about him turning his back on me.
―Not going to happen,‖ Baker said. Her voice was a little more kindly. Well, not kind,
exactly, but less hostile. ―You know that.‖
The kid turned her head, not wanting to meet Baker‘s eyes, and I had to pull the knife back a
little or she would‘ve cut herself.
―Why not?‖ I asked as I climbed off of the kid and put the knife back in its sheath.
―Mom sent him away with my baby brother. I‘d be with them, but my mother thinks the
mainland is too dangerous.‖ The kid snuffled again as she scooted herself into a sitting position
and started digging in her pockets. She pulled out a tissue that looked a little worse for wear
and began blowing her nose noisily.
Baker squatted down so that she was eye-to-eye with the kid. I took a few steps back, giving
them room. It was obvious the guard knew the family. Maybe she could talk some sense into
this Okalani. Probably not. It was painfully obvious that the kid was stubborn and headstrong.
But it was worth a try and Baker was making the effort. ―She‘s not wrong, you know. If the
princess was a full vampire, you‘d have been dead before we could get to the boat.‖
―There aren‘t any vampires on the island.‖
―True,‖ Baker admitted. ―No werewolves, either. But there are on the mainland.‖
―I wouldn‘t be out after dark on the mainland,‖ the kid countered, her jaw jutting out
aggressively. ―I‘m not stupid.‖
―And yet you‘re here.‖ I flashed the fangs again.
My sarcasm was not well received. Well, not by the kid. Baker gave a snort of amusement.
―I don‘t belong here.‖ Wow, the despair those four words could hold. I felt her pain in my
own chest.
Baker shook her head. ―I get that. I do. Once you‘re an adult you can do what you want. But
you‘re not old enough. Not yet. It may seem like forever, but it‘s only a couple more years.‖
―My mother doesn‘t want me to leave at all,‖ Okalani said resentfully.
Baker gave a snort that might have been laughter. ―Of course not. She‘s your mother. Once
you‘re of age, she can‘t stop you. Until then . . .‖
―I‘m trapped.‖
God, she sounded bitter. Baker had been trying to be nice, but her patience was limited. I
watched as her expression hardened, her gray eyes darkening to the color of storm clouds.
―Yes. You are.‖
I turned away from the two of them, my attention attracted by movement on the island.
There was a lit path into the woods—probably the same one I‘d walked earlier today—and
someone was coming our way. I concentrated, deliberately getting my eyes to do the vampire
hyperfocus. It took a few seconds, but I finally got it to happen. A guard was approaching,
accompanied by a woman who bore a strong resemblance to Okalani. She had that scared-
frustrated-angry look on her face that you see so often on the mothers of teenagers.
The guard on the path gave a call sign. One of the two on the dock answered. Once they‘d
been given the all clear, the mother and her escort stepped onto the dock.
I‘d moved away to stand at the railing and was only half-listening to Baker explain that I‘d
thought I was being attacked. She told the siren that I‘d had a knife at her daughter‘s throat
when the guards came on board and that because Okalani had broken the law by boarding the
boat she was liable to be facing legal charges.
―She‘s very lucky to be alive,‖ Baker finished.
Okalani‘s mother tried to hide it, but I saw her give a tiny, full-body shudder at what might
have happened. Still, her voice was cold and controlled when she spoke to her daughter. ―You
should apologize to the princess.‖
―Yes, ma‘am.‖ Okalani stood. I watched her take a deep breath. Gathering her courage, she
walked past her mother, toward me. I turned and waited.
―I‘m sorry. I wanted—‖ She stopped, swallowing hard. The tears were perilously close to
returning, but she fought them back. ―I wanted to talk to you and I knew they wouldn‘t let me
see you. But I shouldn‘t have done it. I‘m sorry.‖
―I forgive you. But you need to be more careful. People have been trying to kill me. I
thought you were one of them. Normally I don‘t hesitate when I‘m defending myself. You
were really, really lucky tonight.‖
She shivered. I hoped she was remembering the cold, razor-edged blade against her throat,
the fangs, or both.
It was important she remember. But it was also important that she get a chance to talk to
someone about the mainland. Because if she didn‘t, she was liable to do something even more
stupid than sneaking onto Bubba‘s boat. She was desperate. I understood because I‘d felt
exactly the same way when I was only a little younger than she was now. I‘d gone looking for
my father. I‘d found him with his new family. He‘d turned his back on me. I hadn‘t believed
that was possible. I‘d believed that he loved me enough . . . and he hadn‘t. You can‘t protect
kids from everything. But I‘d spare anyone that kind of pain if I could. ―Look, I don‘t know
how long I‘m going to be here or what my schedule is going to be like. But if it‘s okay with