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Chapter Thirty One
"No!" Zalo sobbed. Fighting his firm hold, she reached out to the male intruder, who now waded through the breakers at a frantic pace. Zalo punched Darghelm in the side of his head, and for a brief moment, she was free and wading towards the distraught stranger. Both Miro and Darghelm transformed at the same time—their tails took shape, and Darghelm darted towards Zalo.
And then something bizarre occurred. The man transformed, doubling in size and sprouting fur. The otherworldly creature snarled, and Miro let out a siren scream. A primitive warning sounded in her brain as her spores sprung from her neck, and she unsheathed her barb.
She caught a glimpse of claws and teeth before diving toward her sister. Darghelm had Zalo back in his hold, and he pulled her out of the shallows as the furry monster closed in. Miro struck out with
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Tidal Souls Chapter Thirty Two
"Well, this is awkward," Cleona grunted as she sat at the picnic table in the now deserted park.They all cradled coffee cups at one o clock in the morning, and Galene needed the caffeine to keep her upright. The events of the evening had her feeling drained. Her head pounded, and her wrist ached. She couldn't imagine how Stralath must be feeling. He'd been hit by a car—because of her. She eyes his side for the millionth time as she sank to a seat."Stop." He stood close but didn't even look her way. "I'm fine. Mesaphineans heal quickly.""You were bleeding—badly.""And now I'm not."When he'd transformed into a massive furry creature, he'd looked fearsome—with terrifying fangs and alien claws—a horror she'd never fathomed. But, when Galene had met his dark, panicked gaze, she'd recognized the honorable man who'd stuck by her side. And she'd clung to him instead of shrinking away. Her reaction had surprised even her, but there was a familiarity—a connectio
Tidal Souls Chapter Thirty Three
"Six missed calls from Coco." Cleona handed Stralath her phone. He walked away from the picnic table, cursing as he called the NIRL agent. He'd lost his phone in the water when he'd transformed. He didn't care about the communication device, but the K-pop BTS autographs scribbled on the back were now lost forever. A slight loss compared to Galene losing her life.Glancing back, Stralath watched as Darghelm paced. Galene gestured with her hands as she spoke with her sister."What's up? I'm busy." Stralath rolled a sore shoulder."Apparently, you are." Coco sounded annoyed. "Cleona briefed me. You're now breaking NIRL protocol?""Write a report. I had no choice—I wasn't spotted by humans.""We have a bigger issue on our hands. Three bodies—were all found in a rental cabin in Echo Park. One of the victims is a well-known model, and there will be heavy media coverage."Stralath knew where this was heading and rubbed his forehead. "Cause of
Tidal Souls Chapter Thirty Four
Kalder pulled down the roller door, shutting them inside the warehouse. The industrial neighborhood lay quiet before dawn—just how he liked it. He needed to focus on his business, not the pretty fisheri princess who took up most of his thoughts. Galene was a mystery he couldn't solve, and unlike any pod members he'd ever met. She now hung out with a large human who hovered by her side like a feral guard dog. Except there was something more to the large man that Kalder couldn't pin down. He wasn't a fisheri, and he almost didn't seem human. Who was Galene's champion defender? And why did he get on Kalder's last nerve?Setting aside his frustrations, Kalder turned to his vibrio business partner, who sat on a crate, texting on his damn phone. The smooth asshole had screwed up their first orders and now needed to pay. Kalder looked down at his expensive jeans and rubbed a hand on his designer t-shirt. He didn't want to get it soiled with vibrio blood, but he had no choi
Tidal Souls Chapter Thirty Five
Galene squeezed the starched pillow in her lap as she stared at a white wall in the private room. The clinic seemed more like a retreat instead of a military facility. She'd expected to be treated like a captive lab rat, but rather, her medical team seemed kind and considerate.The surgeon and anesthetist had just stopped by to explain her procedure, and Galene now felt reassured. Her MRI and x-ray results showed an impingement on her nerves and spine—from her trapped spores. The inflammation at the base of her skull was the reason for her pain.Did Galene want a fisheri restoration? Or could she go on pretending that she was human? Biting her bottom lip, she tried to process her changing world—a new reality that made her head spin. "We found your purse." Stralath strode into the room, and Galene jumped.He frowned at her response before eyeing her IV stand. "How are you feeling?""Fine. Um. Is anything missing?""I don't
Tidal Souls Chapter Thirty Six
Five hours. Gale had been in surgery for five damn hours. What was taking so long? Stralath's foot tapped as he folded his arms and stared at the ceiling. He now sat outside the operating theater and kept glancing at the doors. Galene had seemed tired and impassive before the procedure, and Stralath knew the last few weeks had taken a toll on the feisty mermaid. She'd looked adrift as they'd wheeled her down the passage. Had he made the wrong decision in encouraging the surgery? Did they have a choice?Stralath swiped a hand over his face as heeled footsteps neared, echoing in the empty corridor. "Can I take a seat?" Coco's low voice asked.Stralath dropped his hand and glanced her way. "Yes, boss—this is your facility.""Our NIRL facility and you outrank me." She nudged his arm with her shoulder. She watched the theater doors. "And the first NIRL earth surgical unit to operate on a fisheri." Stralath shifted in his seat. He didn't care about any firsts—he cared about the patient.
Tidal Souls Chapter Thirty Seven
Galene wanted to remain in an anesthetized state. The localized agony in her neck and spine felt indescribable, and she clutched at a warm and soft blanket against her skin. She moaned and pulled in a shaking breath. A hand covered hers, and Galene focused on the touch. Was it Stralath? Aside from her mother, she wanted him by her side. Her mom had no idea what her adopted daughter was going through, and Galene refused to pull Violet into her chaos. Who else could she turn to? A sister she barely knew? Her foggy brain decided not to tackle her lonely existence. Instead, she focused on ignoring the screaming pain. "She's hurting!"Miro's voice sounded so close, and Galene jerked in response. "She's hooked up to morphine," Coco replied. "It might not be strong enough for an injured fisheri."Galene cracked open her eyes, and the room swung. Her sister held her hand, looking concerned. "We use our own mix of neuro-opiates in the water," Miro squeezed Galene's fingers. "I should've re
Tidal Souls Chapter Thirty Eight
"I can do it myself.""Sit your butt down and leave it to me." Miro balanced the heavy canvas, hanging it carefully on the pristine wall. "This painting is fly. I like that word—fly. English is such an expressive language." She wiped her brow as she stepped away, and they both cocked their heads, staring at the mounted artwork. "I mean, fisheri communication skills are way more advanced and sound celestial in comparison, but I dig English.""You 'dig' it. My painting is 'fly?'" Galene snorted. "This is what happens when you watch those nineties shows to learn English?""I was stuck in motel rooms while looking for you. I do like that series, 'Full House.' Ooh—and 'Friends.'"Galene laughed, and Miro's tension eased. She'd barely slept in five days as her sister had slowly recovered. She had to force herself to think of Zalo as "Galene." When her sister finally remembered her past, she'd reclaim her birth name—hopefully. "It's leaning towards the left." Galene pointed at the artwork a
Tidal Souls Chapter Thirty Nine
Galene needed a moment to think. Spending so much time with her siren sister was making her crazy. As a loner who usually avoided intimacy, Galene needed an escape. They'd even shared the bed in the tiny apartment, and between Miro's fussing and Harper's sulky attitude, Galene had chosen to sneak away in the early morning hours. She'd headed to the only place she found sanctuary—her studio. The now-empty space highlighted her hard work throughout her time in college. All of her paintings were now hanging in a gallery, and all that remained in the college studio was an unfinished canvas depicting a desolate sea bed. The scene was the first canvas she'd ever painted for her professors, and it had received criticisms—a lukewarm response compared to her later abstract works. Standing in front of the painting, Galene knew now why she'd painted the stark yet lonely scene. The ocean floor must've been a memory that held significance, and the way it stretched into desolate darkness indicate
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