Chapter 1

Natasha

Most days, I'm trapped inside my head and stuck on remembering the past before the apocalypse happened. I miss my childhood, when people had regular jobs, and when schools mattered.

Ten years ago, I had parents, friends, and neighbors. I was a carefree little girl who rarely worried about tomorrow—that changed when monsters rose from the sea and destroyed our cities.

Humans are no longer safe. Most people are bound to live in cities heavily guarded by the military, and others, like me, are forced to steal to survive the next day.

And my poverty is all because of Scylla, the monstrous mermaid, who destroyed my entire city and ate my parents. She is a beast, and I have sworn to murder her once I have enough money to buy myself a crew ready to tackle anything.

I pick up a photograph. "Ugh," there is a picture of an old woman holding a cat, but the frame is made of silver—I throw it into my black XXL garbage bag that I've slung over my bony shoulder. "It might sell for a couple of pennies at the black market."

Laughter bounces between the walls, and I step back into the shadows with a pounding heart. Honestly, I'm not supposed to be here. I infiltrated some wealthy CEO gala, and now I'm bitterly glancing down at two nicely dressed girls.

They are smiling and heading down the stairs leading to the dancefloor as if dragons aren't tearing down buildings as they drink champagne. I press my back further into the wall.

"Oh, Michaela," the blonde girl pats the other one's shoulder with a bright smile taking her lips. "I'm so sorry that cheapskate spoke to you—to think that poor man from earlier thought he had a chance on you when he was driving a VOLVO."

Michaela, I assume, laughs out loud. "Right?!"

The two girls disappear out of my sight, their voices fading into the background music.

When I dare it safe, I mutter. "Snobs."

A chuckle comes from behind me. "Agreed."

I mechanically turn around with a forced smile. It's never pleasant to be found stealing things, and I'm already planning to run for the nearest escape route. The stranger behind me probably wishes to throw me out, but surprisingly I find him eating an apple?

"Uh?"

I eye the man and do a double-take—Woah, he is gorgeous but dressed way too fancily to win my heart. I don't date suits, especially those with shoulders so broad they rival the person's height.

Then again, this man is also tall, which forces me to lift my chin uncomfortably. I get nervous around large men, and this one smiles faintly, as if it amuses him to see me standing on my tip-toes.

He is beautiful. His cheekbones are a sculptor's dream, but his lips are cruel, and although his features appear nearly perfect under his jaw-dropper blonde hair, I experience a row of shivers.

Those eyes of his shelter a million secrets, bad ones, and my heart awaken in response.

I know a bad guy once I see one.

The man takes another bite, leaning over the railing to the staircase with his dark gaze kept on mine. "Hayden."

I blink. "What?"

"That's my name, in case that's what you were wondering while you were busy staring at me."

My cheeks turn molten. "I wasn't staring."

I wasn't staring—I was gawking, which is worse. But come on, hot guys in suits are hard to ignore.

"Is that why you're blushing?" He teases.

I will be damned, but I laugh. "Okay, so maybe I was... Staring at you... Happy?"

Hayden smiles without meeting my gaze and moves as smoothly as water over to a table with a flower vase. He throws away his apple, then picks up the ancient artifact.

"You should take this too—I heard they sell for a good amount of coins since elderly people like to collect them. Hoarders are common these days."

I grab the vase when Hayden hurls it at me, and his lips curl higher before he also tosses me an expensive-looking picture frame. I'm not sure what his deal is, but I tuck everything inside my bag.

Hayden breathes a laugh upon seeing my greed. "You should be able to buy a few nice dinners with the money."

My breaths turn labored. I'm suspicious of Hayden's helpfulness, yet I find something about him so inviting.

"Yeah..." I grimace and curse my female hormones for becoming nervous in this man's presence. "I haven't eaten a good meal in forever..."

Hayden's face seems to grow thoughtful, and although he still isn't facing me, I can imagine him with furrowed eyebrows. "Even though you're a thief, I admire you. It takes guts to sneak into a party where there are countless men standing watch—you're a brave woman."

My lips part. "Thank you..."

He seems to be smiling in the dark. "What is your name?"

Realizing I probably should at least introduce myself after he has helped me steal things, I'm about to hand him my fake name. But my lips move by themselves as if put under a spell.

My voice is barely above a whisper. "I'm Natasha."

Hayden finally makes eye contact with his bronzed skin lit by the dim light. And I swear an aneurysm immediately hits me—his peculiar beauty does weird things to my entire nervous system!

Suddenly it's as if I'm on narcotics. I find it harder to stand straight as the entire world is tilting, and then time stops before finally, my heart crashes into my chest like a bird hitting a window.

The tall man, Hayden—whatever—gives me this curious look that shoots heat between my legs, and I panic.

A second ago, I didn't give a rat's shit about Hayden, and now I'm noticing all kinds of things, like the muscles hiding underneath his suit and the dimple in his cheek!

Natasha, I hiss at myself. Stop looking at his stark eyes and avert your gaze somewhere lower!

My eyes bulge.

Okay, shit, not that low!

Hayden seems out of breath, and he comes closer. "Wait, you're my-..."

He stops speaking with a smile gracing his kissable lips, and I panic as he approaches me. I literally can't take my eyes off him. He is the sexiest man I have ever seen—his face must have been personally sculpted by angels, and as I face him I experience this strange rush of warmth coursing through my veins.

"What the actual-..." I'm gripping the wall for support and skitter away from Hayden, who seems as shocked as me. His face is rapidly turning pale as if he doesn't like my freaked-out reaction, and I yell at him, convinced I'm allergic to his expensive aftershave since I can't get it out of my head. "Whoever you are—stay away from me!"

Hayden stares at me like I'm an exotic bird he wishes to snap a photograph of, but my voice wakes him up from whatever fantasy he is playing in his head. Without a word, he disappears into the shadows like a ghost, allowing me to breathe.

I place my hand over my beating heart. "Holy cheese—what was that reaction?"

Deciding I better leave, I head down the stairs to escape from this shit show of an evening. Who was that guy?!

A headache builds up in my temples, and I squint at the bright lights downstairs. It seems everyone is waiting for something to happen, or they wouldn't flock around the stage.

Suddenly, a host clears his throat into the microphone standing on the stage, and the pompous guests turn silent.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, the man who you all have been waiting for—Hayden Archer!"

I lift my chin to the stage, bored until I spot the apple guy on stage.

What in the world is going on?!

Hayden takes the microphone, and his gaze drifts through the room. People whisper their gossip but quiet down once Hayden introduces himself.

"That CEO is hot—too bad I'm already married," an older woman fans herself with a pamphlet. "Our children would be beautiful."

"I've heard Hayden Archer is loaded too!"

I glare at Hayden with a tight-lipped smile, disliking him already. Figures—the guy who helped me steal valuable stuff is the freaking star of the evening—the CEO himself.

I walk for the exit, but the bastard with the microphone addresses me with an overly teary voice.

"And I would especially like to say thank you to Natasha, my dear friend, for coming here tonight!"

The lights from the stage drop where I'm standing, causing me to freeze in mid-step with the bag with stolen goods slung over my shoulder.

Gasps echo throughout the room, and my heart ceases to beat.

"Is that Natasha?!"

"What on earth is that girl wearing—her clothes are dirty, and there are holes in them!"

"What is in that bag?!"

All at once, I feel like the villain of a movie—bad Santa making a jailbreak. I'm standing there, breaking out into a cold sweat like a fool, while people are staring at me.

I know everyone must think: she is a thief, isn't she? Which makes me take a deep breath. Hayden must be laughing his head off—the thought alone delivers me bitterness.

I lift my chin to the stage, narrowing my gaze when I see the handsome CEO stifling a chuckle with the palm of his hand.

Bastard.

But, strangely enough, I'm more amused than angry—I will teach the rich fool not to underestimate me.

"Hello, everyone!" I chirp and plaster on a friendly poker face. "Lovely evening, isn't it—especially since Hayden Archer himself has decided to donate all of these items to the children's hospital!"

People make the "Oooo" sound, and I smile in satisfaction—this will be a piece of cake!

I continue my speech by talking about kids with cancer and how Hayden's donations are helping us give them proper treatment. I curse the gods with a shaking fist for making children endure so many hardships and shed a couple of tears while telling everyone that guardian angels are real—Hayden Archer is one!

After I'm done talking, I pant loudly to a silent audience. Anxiety breaks out, and droplets of sweat form on my skin. Wasn't I able to sell my story to these rich snobs?

Worry settles in, but not a fraction of a second later, the crowd breaks out into cheers and tears, buying my excuse for stealing. One woman dries her tears with a tissue, and plenty more are clapping their hands.

I smile and raise my attention to Hayden. I'm curious about his expression after finding out two can play the same game. The man must be a pouting, sore loser.

Surprisingly, I find him watching me with wide eyes and a growing smile speaking of his admiration. He appears proud of me, impressed even—what the actual fork?

I keep staring at him, too mesmerized by Hayden to move from my spot even as he approaches me. It's like my feet have grown gnarled roots and stuck them in the ground.

People crowd the dancefloor, some trying to get to the bastard CEO, but he only has eyes for me. He is smiling and coming closer but gets stopped by a group of men.

I furrow my eyebrows: what are the police doing here?

"Hayden Archer," one policeman addresses Hayden with eyes conveying his inner bitterness. I notice that he also seems nervous—his fingers are touching his electric gun—a new invention the humans had to create since our world is filled with monsters. "You're under arrest."

Hayden appears amused. "On what grounds exactly?"

Another policeman steps forward, raising his gun. "Hands behind your head, merman, or I will shoot you!"

Wait, what?!

Hayden is a merman, one of those monsters from the abyss whose bodies can sink entire ships into the ocean?

Fear claws at my throat, and I try but fail to blink away the memories from my past haunting me.

Mermaids are what I fear the most in this world—a merman can't be any less scary. But while I know I should leave the building as fast as possible, my feet won't budge.

All the guests scream at the mentioning of a merman, and I stand there, entirely frozen, while Hayden places his hands behind his neck.

"I haven't done anything!"

The police don't answer, and Hayden's reserved expression brings my thoughts to natural disasters or the calm before the storm. Those eyes of his, stunningly beautiful, are locked on mine, and I immediately remember Scylla's piercing gaze.

"FREEZE!"

Hayden doesn't move a muscle, yet one policeman fires their electrical gun at him. I shriek in surprise, expecting the man to die, but the aftermath only confirms the policemen's suspicions.

An ordinary man would die from the electrical charge, but Hayden falls to the ground with a sullen expression. He doesn't even appear injured, only pissed off at the policemen.

"I hate cops," Hayden mutters, then turns to me with hope written into his features. "Aren't you going to do something?"

I'm not sure what he means. Hayden is a stranger, and I'm not here to help him, especially not if he is a man-eating monster. My heart does flip-flops whenever he looks at me, yet I take a step back.

I press my lips together, and Hayden's smile falters along with his mood. All friendliness disappears from his face when he notices my shaking legs, and the man sighs as if I've let him down.

"Who needs a human mate, anyway?" Hayden grunts, and although his voice is mean, his eyes are glistening. "You are all the same—rude and predictable. I can't understand why I assumed you would differ from the rest of your kind!"

Mate?

What is a mate?

"Enough talk!"

The policeman steps forward, shooting Hayden one more time, and the man finally blackouts.