An instant gasp escaped Emily's lips as realization struck her—she was drowning, and she couldn't swim.
Panic surged through her chest as she flailed her arms and legs, trying desperately to stay afloat. In that frantic moment, memories flooded back: she had been attacked by Rowan and other malicious sirens while on her way to Golden Gate. They'd demanded to know Asher's whereabouts, but she couldn't give them any answers. In retaliation, they'd thrown her off a deadly cliff.
By some miracle—or perhaps divine intervention—she hadn't been dashed against jagged rocks. Instead, she'd landed in a river.
Unfortunately for Emily, she had forgotten one crucial fact: she couldn't swim and had always hated going near water. But right now, she had no choice. If she didn't find a way to get herself out, she was as good as dead. Worse still, no one would ever find her body, and she'd end up as a meal for some monstrous sea creature.
No matter how hard she struggled, the water kept pulling her under, stealing her breath. Exhaustion dragged at her limbs, and as despair seeped into her bones, she came to a bitter realization: nothing would save her from this cruel fate.
Maybe dying would be easier, she thought. After everything she'd done—not just once, but twice—perhaps she wasn't meant to be alive. Not after what had happened back at Ivory High…and now here, at Paradise High. She deserved this end.
Her vision began to blur, eyelids growing heavy. But just before darkness claimed her, she saw a figure slicing through the water toward her. It looked ethereal, almost blindingly bright. She tried to keep her eyes open, but she was too far gone. She surrendered, slipping into the bitter embrace of eternal sleep.
With a violent jerk, Emily coughed up a torrent of water, gasping for air as it poured from her lungs.
Wait…was she alive?
No—that couldn't be possible. Maybe she was in heaven. But someone like her didn't belong in heaven. She belonged in hell.
She had accepted that she was gone, yet here she was, sprawled on a riverbank in the middle of God-knows-where.
"Finally, someone's awake."
A soft, masculine voice reverberated through the air, startling her. She turned her head—and froze, wishing she hadn't.
What she saw made her swallow hard.
Walking toward her was a figure who looked like a work of art carved from marble. He was breathtaking, with strange blue hair and eyes as piercing and deep as the ocean. His skin seemed to glow faintly, putting the shine of models and celebrities to shame.
And those abs…they were sinfully tempting. Why the hell was he half-naked? Realizing where her thoughts were headed, she pulled herself together and forced a smile.
"Hello…were you the one who saved my life?" Emily asked, curiosity burning in her chest.
The stunning stranger nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing in a strangely mesmerizing rhythm.
Oh, God. Why was her hand aching to touch him so badly?
"My name is Eden, and I live close by," the man purred.
Emily blinked and looked around in confusion. He lived nearby? How was that even possible? Except for the massive stretch of water surrounding them, she couldn't see a single sign of civilization.
Wait…that wasn't a river. It was an ocean.
Fuck her life. Sharks could have eaten her.
But something about this wasn't normal. Not only was he impossibly gorgeous, he'd rescued her from drowning—and now he was claiming to live here?
What had she gotten herself into?
"Okay, Eden. My name is Emily. But we both know there's nothing here except the ocean. So where exactly do you live?" Emily demanded, praying her instincts were wrong.
Unfortunately, Eden just stared at her with so much intensity that she snapped.
"Answer me, please," she pressed, her voice firm.
"I'm a siren," Eden said finally. "And I saved you from becoming my pack's meal. So…you're welcome."
Emily felt a chill run down her spine.
Had she offended him? That hadn't been her intention. She was just curious—and come to think of it, she hadn't even thanked him properly.
"I'm sorry for my manners. Thank you so much for rescuing me. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't arrived when you did," Emily exclaimed, her words tumbling out in a rush.
Eden deadpanned, though his lips twitched into a faint smile.
"You'd have been dead. Dead and eaten alive."
Emily wasn't offended. Fair enough. She deserved that for being a bitch earlier.
"It's fine. You're one of a kind, human. I'm surprised you didn't freak out when you learned what I am." Eden's tone was dry but tinged with curiosity.
Emily shrugged.
"With what I've seen—and what I've done—I'm pretty sure I'm not in any position to judge anyone. And besides, you saved me. Why should I react negatively?"
Her boldness made Eden's smile deepen.
"Well, enough chit-chat. What are you doing so far from home?" he asked. For a stranger, Eden seemed far too interested in her personal life—something Emily found suspicious.
She wasn't about to spill all her secrets. Who knew what this guy might be hiding under that handsome exterior? But she remembered she had a mission to complete. She pushed herself to her feet.
"I have to be on my way, Eden. I have a message to deliver, and my friends are waiting for me," Emily lied through her teeth. She didn't have much choice.
Eden didn't protest. He simply smiled, a glimmer of something unreadable in his eyes. He wasn't done with her, that much was certain.
The future was calling—and it was time for him to start searching for his mate.
"So…do you know how to help me get back to my town?" Emily asked, trying to sound casual.
"With pleasure, my lady," Eden replied, rising gracefully and offering his hand.
And together, they set off along the shore.