J.M. Snyder

Derek Meredith lost his lover of ten years, Tad Archer, in a boating accident. Four months later, anonymous phone calls lead him to a weathered bar on the coast, where he runs into an old friend named Kellen who has, in his own words, found something Derek has lost. Kellen and Derek are both members of a mythical race of sea creatures known as merrows. Friends earlier in life, Kellen had loved Derek from childhood, but a wanderlust filled Derek's heart, leading him to seek life on the shore among humans. Tad was the reason he'd left the ocean behind, and Kellen has never managed to move beyond that rejection. Back in Derek's life again, Kellen offers him an "indecent proposal" -- a night of passion between the merrows for the return of his lover. But complications arise, among them the fact that without his talisman, an item linking his blood with the sea, Derek is unable to return to the ocean and rescue Tad. His talisman was given to his lover on their tenth anniversary as a symbol of his love; in exchange, Tad gave him a gold ring. The metal holds mystical properties for those with merrish blood, and Derek hopes that the power of love that resides in the band might be enough to help him rescue his lover ... without having to succumb to Kellen's sordid desires in the process.

Undertow

Derek swam a few yards away,distancing himself,as confusion clouded his mind.Those words had stopped Kellen in mid-attack,freezing him in place,but had no effect on Merla.Were they not imbued with the gold that flowed through him now?Why would they work on one but not the other?


As if reading his mind,Merla gave a short,derisive snort designed to make him feel stupid.It worked.“Who the hell do you think you are?”she asked,her voice haughty and cold.“Don’t you know only the one who holds my heart can command my body?”


Tears of frustration pricked Derek’s eyes.Tad was so close and yet still so far away.“My heart lies in there,”he said,pointing to the soul cage in the hopes of reasoning with her.Merla bristled with anger but didn’t renew her attack.“Please.I need him back.”


“No.”Merla turned,flipping her tails at him in disdain.“And if you come any closer,I’ll tear you apart and leave you for the sharks.You’re not getting him.”


Chapter 22