Siren

Copyright © 2023 by R.J. Lewis | A.R. Rose All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the authors, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, products, events, incidents, and locales are either products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or true events, is purely coincidental. Edited By: Virgina Carey Proofread By: Nicole Bucciarelli & Amal Hawaz eBook ISBN: 979-8-9862673-7-1 Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9862673-9-5 Authors Note Siren is a fantasy romance reimagining created for adults. It is not a retelling, or a heartwarming love story straight out the gate. If morally gray villains aren’t your forte, this story may not be for you. Reader discretion is advised. Siren contains content that may be triggering for some, as well as sexually explicit content. Your mental health matters. For a full list of content warnings, please visit www.authorarrose.com/content-warnings. For those of you who can stomach anything and are ready to dive right in, we hope you enjoy the journey. Contents 1. James 2. James 3. Aria 4. Aria 5. James 6. Aria 7. James 8. Aria 9. James 10. Aria 11. Aria 12. James 13. James 14. Aria 15. James 16. Aria 17. James 18. James 19. Aria 20. James 21. James 22. Aria 23. Aria 24. James 25. Aria 26. Aria 27. Aria 28. James 29. Aria 30. Aria 31. Aria 32. James 33. Aria 34. James 35. Aria 36. James 37. Aria 38. James 39. Aria 40. Aria 41. James 42. Aria 43. James 44. Aria 45. Aria 46. Aria 47. James 48. James 49. Aria 50. Aria 51. James 52. Aria 53. James 54. Aria 55. James 56. Aria Epilogue Acknowledgments Other Titles by R.J. Lewis Other Titles by A.R. Rose About the Author About the Author A mermaid has not an immortal soul, nor can she obtain one unless she wins the love of a human being. On the power of another hangs her destiny. HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON To all the girls who loved playing mermaids as a child, who now wouldn't mind being on their knees for a pirate. This book is for you. CHAPTER 1 James Chaos. Screams of agony in the Black Sea. The long strands of colorful hair and sparkling eyes that speak of purity and sin. A heart beating raucously, desire like liquid heat in my veins as she swims gracefully to me, her bare breasts teasingly visible above the waterline. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Cock thickening, lust clouding my thoughts as she draws near to me, her skin glimmering even in the darkness. She’s so beautiful, it physically puts an ache in my center. And I know it’s not real—she’s an illusion. A murderous little fish, hardly human. I know I must kill her—she knows she must kill me. Yet she stops right before me, those innocent eyes growing blacker, her skin greyer, her teeth sharpening as she bares them to me. She’s playing with me. Taking her time. Her instincts ache to rip my heart out. As her beauty fades into the sea, the monstrous-looking siren swims before me, omnipotent. My body instantly grows rigid, the lust dissipating from my body. But before I can fight, an enchanting sound falls from her lips. It’s so riveting, my being softens, though my mind is screaming—screaming so loud, I feel like a trapped prey in my own body! She nears, drawing so close, I feel the ripples in the water surrounding her. Surrounding us. A sudden burn radiates from my chest as she carves into it with her long claws, and then I hear it—a piercing of flesh and bone, followed by a pain so great, I lose complete mobility. I stare wide-eyed into the black eyes of this demonic woman as she holds my heart in her tight grip. And crushes it. * * * Stirring from my dream, I hear him before he’s even entered my quarters. His stench—cigar smoke and misery—permeates the air the moment the door opens. His quiet footsteps are so light—that of a frail old man—even my fucking dog, Rex, doesn’t stir at my side. My eyes open, but I remain still. His silhouette disturbs the darkness as he approaches my side. On reflex, my hand curls around my switchblade beneath the pillow. Years of engrained training to be ready at any unexpected threat, you’d think I wouldn’t be set off so quickly, being in the comfort of my own fucking ship. But, alas, that is not the case. Bloodshed is like water to me now. It’s everywhere. I need it to live, to survive, to rule. And just like water, I might drown in it one day. Because all it takes is for one enemy to outsmart me, and as I’ve learned with a dead family behind me, an enemy will always find a way to get to you. It’s why I clench my blade tight; it’s why I stare up at Grimy and know that, despite his loyal servitude, he might be the one to plunge a dagger into my chest when I least expect it. Even the one I trust the most, I question. I’m crazy. Those dreams are getting inside my head… He doesn’t reach out to touch me. Instead, his voice wafts to me in a hesitant whisper. “We are fogged, your—Captain.” Not a rarity. I flare my nose, growling, “If all you’ve come here to do is tell me we’ve been fogged, I swear to fucking God, you’ll be walking the plank within the hour, Grimy.” He pauses in his response, and I stare at his face intently, waiting for more. “We should be nearing the Isle of Morda—” “If it’s reefs you’re concerned with, have Martin at the bow of the ship with