Authors: S. K. Munt
But like with Lux, his fondness for Sherri couldn’t sway his need for Ivyanne. It had to be sated, and soon, before he lost centuries, and his mind to a heartless siren, as Luca had. He could join forces with the man-but he couldn’t allow himself to
become
him. And already, the fire in Ardhi’s soul was fading to coals. If he didn’t get closure soon, only ashes would remain.
‘I’m grateful for the way you’ve all agreed to help, especially to you Sherri-but at the end of the day, I started this alone, and I must finish it alone.’
‘And Lincoln?’ Sherri asked.
‘I’ve written him a letter.’ Ardhi patted his pocket. ‘I’ll find somewhere to leave it for him. But I need to know that Tristan’s really given up on her before I drop this bombshell or it could send her running straight to his arms.’
Sherri exhaled. ‘I know I’m going to be a nervous wreck tomorrow night, but I also can’t wait to start again knowing that we taught that bitch a lesson!’ She furrowed her brow. ‘Though it’s going to hurt him, isn’t it?’
‘It’s going to kill him.’ Ardhi said cheerfully. But when he said that, he glanced at Dallas, noticing that the boy was looking more than a little concerned.
‘Are you okay with this?’
‘I am.’ Dallas stood. ‘Freaking out but...yeah. I can handle myself.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’m going to go call my parents okay? They keep a pretty good track of me and if I have to swim to another country well…best I give them some bullshit cover story now.’
‘That’s a good idea.’ Ardhi said, dismissing the boy with a wave of his hand. Silently, he was hoping Dallas said a decent good-bye. It might be the last conversation he ever had with his mum and dad.
20.
Tristan helped Sahori onto the boat on Friday evening before passing her gun up to her. He loved the way she moved-like the cross between a cat and a dancer and a snake, like she was boneless. She really would make a winning bride. Or a sexy ass geisha. He could certainly do worse, and only one better.
‘What is it we’re doing again?’ she asked, glancing around in confusion.
‘Garridan wants us to check the boat out nightly now given Ardhi’s tendency to hide in them.’ He glanced back towards the house and saw the other mers milling around the kitchen table, picking at Pintang’s gourmet nachos. No one was watching them.
Sahori shrugged. ‘But why
us
? We’re off duty now and those nachos smell
good
.’
Tristan smiled at her. ‘Because we’re the best,’ he hoisted himself onto the deck. ‘Wouldn’t you agree?’
Sahori smiled and helped him to his feet. ‘That we make a good couple? Yes, of course.’
Tristan laughed and stepped into her space. ‘Is that the full moon speaking?’ He’d gone to great pains to look good that night and had dabbed on extra cologne. He needed Sahori out of her wits to agree to break the rules for him. He felt bad for leading her astray, but he was getting desperate. And the more desperate he became, the more he felt like that marooned man again. His humanity was falling away, his inner demons rising to the surface. And those demons were demanding contact with a woman the way his wrecked body had needed food and shelter.
And closure. Which he’d only find by embracing his true nature.
Sahori smiled. ‘The moon, yes. What crazy things it does. I have been craving things I have not ever experienced…’ She touched his sleeve. ‘...A warm body on top of mine. Kisses to curl my toes….’
‘Sounds like you’re being easily distracted,’ he teased her quietly. ‘Perhaps we should continue this discussion below deck, hmm? I’ll give you a lecture about…’ he ran the back of his knuckle down the front of her black bodysuit. ‘... dedication to your job.’
Sahori’s eyebrows lifted. ‘Are you offering to..?’ an awestruck expression dominated her pretty face.
Tristan smiled. ‘A good guard needs a clear mind, and that’s something we can help each other out with here and now.’ He stepped around her and began to descend the stairs, smiling at her over his shoulder. ‘Come on down and let’s see if we can agree on a new arrangement to tide us over until the moon wanes.’
Sahori didn’t respond. But her light footfalls descended the stairs behind him-quickly. Tristan grinned. He’d forgotten how much fun it was to be the snake instead of the one resisting the forbidden fruit.
*
Ivyanne sat next to Lincoln at the dining table, reaching across and scooping a handful of delicious smelling nachos onto her plate with a trembling hand that didn’t know if it wanted to fondle or punch people. Tensions were high but aware that her attitude would decide whether they all killed each other by the end of the weekend, she’d pasted a fake smile on her face, and tried to look like a queen who had her head together.
‘Mmm Pintang this looks so good,’ Ivyanne said, watching the cheese separate into gooey strings between two corn chips. ‘Wicked even.’
‘I agree,’ Lincoln’s hand slipped onto her thigh under the table. It was hot and and heavenly against her bare skin. ‘I could devour every inch, right now…’
‘Don’t be greedy.’ Ivyanne looked at him sideways and smiled. ‘There’s a sharing rule in this house you know.’
His mouth came close to her ear. ‘I’m damn close to agreeing to that if it means I get a taste.’
Ivyanne glanced around the table, relieved to see that no one-aside from Grace-was paying them close attention. Her wounded puppy eyes were too much for Ivyanne to bear. Like it wasn’t bad enough that she was breaking two grown men’s hearts on a daily basis-but a teenage girl’s as well?
‘Hey did you make a version of this without mince?’ Ivyanne asked Pintang. ‘I’d hate for Tristan to miss out.’
‘The
vegetarian
passed on dinner.’ Pintang said. ‘Old grumpy bum said he had no appetite.’
Ivyanne bit her lip, feeling heartsick. ‘Oh.’
‘Yeah he
has
been in a foul mood lately hasn’t he?’ Adele remarked, pressing a corn chip into Price’s waiting mouth and then kissing his lips when they closed around it. Price moaned gently when Adele licked a dab of sour cream off her fingertip, and Ivyanne couldn’t help but wonder if Adele was well on the road to getting over Tristan and Lincoln. After all, the nauseating new couple were the only ones in the house who reserved the right to get into bed together without fall-out, aside from Bane and Marcus and Ivyanne had a feeling that that was already deal. The door to the theatre room had been locked the night before, music blaring from within.
And Ivyanne was so jealous of both couples that she wanted to weep. Dreams had been assaulting her for days. The sight of Lincoln’s skin showing through the artful rip in his jeans made her shift in her seat. Seeing Tristan shower off after a swim the day before by the pool had made her want to lick him dry. She was definitely losing it.
‘It’s not like him.’ Grace said quietly, her sombre tone drawing Ivyanne back before she could start panting.
‘I can’t say I blame him.’ Bane said. ‘Things around hear have settled into a bit of a routine lately….a routine he’s conveniently been left out of.’
Ivyanne flushed. Now it was her fault that Lincoln wasn’t on guard anymore too?
‘Yeah well he volunteered to split his free time between guard duty and managing a corporation via computer.’ Lincoln said swiftly. ‘He can resent the extra time I get with Ivyanne while
I
covet his bank account, but at the end of the day, we’re still chasing a tail that fluke-slaps us when we get too close. The fact that I’m closer just means that
I’m
getting slapped back more often.’
Grace giggled. ‘Poor Lincoln.When you need someone to kiss the bruises better…’
Ivyanne gave her a withering look. ‘I swear you’re as bad as your uncle.’
‘And probably as good too.’ Grace winked. ‘Just waiting for confirmation. Know anyone with some free time, Lincoln? The full moon can be a very valid scapegoat.’
‘Knock it off, Lolita-it’s a blue moon you’re waiting on, not full.’ Lincoln said, but he was bright red as he looked away. ‘Where is Tristan anyway?’
‘Down at the yacht with Sahori checking it over.’ Dalton said, leaning across the table and scooping a spoonful of guacamole onto his plate. The blonde highlights in is dark hair shone in the light. ‘They went down about twenty minutes ago.’
‘Must be doing a thorough check.’ Saraya commented.
‘Why’s he doing
that
?’ Garridan asked as he spooned guacamole onto his plate.
Ivyanne took a bite of her corn chip. Lincoln’s hand was now on the small of her back, rubbing it in small circles. It felt heavenly. Too good to tell him to stop.
‘What do you mean
why
?’ Dalton asked. ‘He told Sahori that
you
asked him to.’
‘What?’ Garridan scoffed. ‘No I didn’t. I told him I had Arulen and Ivor doing that daily. There’s no reason for him and Sahori to be down there, especially when they’re off-’ Garridan went silent.
Ivyanne’s head snapped up. ‘
Off
? They’re off duty and working anyway?’
‘On a task you didn’t
assign
?’ Adele repeated.
‘On a boat
alone
?’ Grace pointed out.
Ivyanne’s eyes met Garridan’s, but he looked away, his cheeks reddening slightly as he casually glanced out the window. ‘Hmm... maybe I
did
ask him to and I just…’
Ivyanne’s heart flipped in her chest. She stood up from her seat and flung her napkin down on her plate, staring at Dalton. ‘How long ago did they go down there on this
fake,
private task?’
Adele had a hand over her mouth as she craned her neck to look out into the night. Beside her, Pintang looked intrigued.
‘Uh... um.. ten minutes? Fifteen max?’ Dalton stammered, looking worriedly at his dad.
Lincoln snorted. ‘Well I’ll be-’
‘
King
.’ Grace whispered, her complexion wan. ‘Apparently.’
Adele’s head hit the table. ‘Oh man….’ she groaned. ‘Tristan….!’
Lincoln shot his ex a look of hurt to which she was oblivious.
Ivyanne pushed her chair back, feeling her teeth gnash against one another as she wove around the crowded table and headed straight for the open door. She didn’t have to look behind her to know that the rest of the diners had also leapt to their feet and were hot on her tail. She didn’t care. As she approached the darkened boat, she could see it rocking slightly on the water. Arulen and Ivor were visible about twenty meters away, and the gasps of pleasure resonating from within the hull were enough to wipe her mind free of skepticism.
Tristan Loveridge was a
dead
man.
*
This is it!
Lincoln thought as Ivyanne’s feet stomped along the dock towards the rocking boat and leapt onto the deck. He’d never been so enthralled in his life.
Tristan’s about to be benched for the next eight years, if not indefinitely! Game, set, match-Grey!
He stopped at the edge of the dock then flung out his arms, stopping anyone else from barging past him.
‘Wait,’ he commanded them. As good as this was for him, he knew that Ivyanne was going to be hurt and upset, and possibly humiliated. Now was not the time to crowd her.
‘What’s going on?’ Someone asked from behind him. Camus, who had been on the roof.
‘I’m not sure... but I think Tristan’s about to go down.’ Pintang whispered. ‘
Hard
.’
‘Oh.’ Camus said softly. ‘Who’s he in there with?’
‘Sahori.’
‘This is terrible.’ Price whispered to Adele beside him. ‘I was really praying that-’
Lincoln glanced over his shoulder and shot Price a dirty look. ‘Do you
mind
?’ he asked gruffly.
Price winced. ‘Sorry. But hey, looks like the best man wins after all.’
Lincoln was slightly mollified by that. He grunted and turned back in time to see Ivyanne fling the cabin door open with a crack. Lincoln grinned. The noises inside were unmistakable-either Tristan and Sahori were having a violent arm wrestle in there, or Tristan had allowed the Japanese beauty to drag him over the line in the sand.
Ivyanne’s expression was gruesome as she peered into the darkness.
‘Hey!’ She exclaimed. ‘Play time is over!’
Then there was a flurry of movement, followed by an indignant shriek and a shadow flying through the air- Sahori. Ivyanne had pulled her clear of the cabin and flung her onto the upper deck behind her!
There were gasps from behind Lincoln and he felt the sensation of being jostled, like someone was trying to get a look over his head, but he held them back. Ivyanne was about to kick Tristan’s ass-and
he
wasn’t going to be jockeying for a good view of it!
There was a curse-a foreign one Lincoln didn’t understand, and his heart skipped a beat when Sahori hit the ground, flipped feet over head, and emerged in a crouched position, eyes narrowed to slits-hands up in a defensive stance right out of a Kung Fu movie. She looked dangerous, with her hair coming unpinned, and her short, incredibly solicitous skirt hiked up to just under her hips.
If Ivyanne was concerned for her welfare, she didn’t show it. She stood, hands on hips, head cocked to the side. ‘That’s it Miss Saigon-just
try
it!’
‘Cool,’ Adele whispered. ‘I’ve been
waiting
for her to crack.’
Sahori’s eyes widened, and she dropped her hands, followed by her arms, straightening. ‘Your majesty!’ she exclaimed. ‘What is the meaning of this?!’
Ivyanne’s eyes bugged. ‘You need me to break it down for you?!’ she demanded, her expression incredulous. ‘I thought it was a Japanese custom to leave your
shoes
at the front door-not your
decency
!’
Sahori’s mouth fell open and she back at the darkened cabin. Angry cursing was resounding from within. ‘Oh!’ Her face paled. ‘I am sorry, Ivyanne. We just thought perhaps that outside would be more appropriate than under your roof! Tristan said that out here-’
‘
Nothing
about this situation is appropriate!’ Ivyanne snapped. ‘Now put your guard back up-you’re going to
need
it!’
‘
No!
I will
not
!’ Sahori stood taller, dropping her arms to her sides, but the lipstick smeared around her mouth made a mockery of her earnest expression. ‘I am here to protect you-not to cause you
harm
, my queen!’
Ivyanne sneered. ‘Let’s just see who harms
who
!’