Hayden The wind bites my skin as I walk down the alley leading to New Tortuga's central street, and Zafira cuddles up to me, searching for warmth. "It's alright, girl," I tell the dragon in a voice I hope she finds soothing. My fingers brush her fluffy head, and I smile. "The weather is bad, but we will get to your mother." The dragon chirps. "Chup!" I'm about to take the gnarly pathway to my hotel standing on the cliffside, but the weather is slowing me down. Brochures fly past my face, and a vendor screams when his parasol snaps away. "No, come back!" I turn around, and my heart stops in my chest when a terrible song vibrates through the air. Thunderclouds are rolling in from a distance, and I can already determine the ocean wishing to climb up on land, enchanted to do so by the mystical voice. "SIREN!" "TO THE LIFEBOATS!" Confusion hits me when pirates and ordinary folks run for the beach, leaving everything

NatashaIn my favorite song carried out by the beautiful woman Lana Del Rey, she sings, "They say that the world was built for two," and that line in the lyrics never spoke to me before.Now, I can barely breathe without shattering like glass. It seems love isn't something slowly building up—it's there from the beginning without you realizing it.My heart sang for Hayden, and now the cruel gods have snatched him away from me. Melodies and colors have drained from my life and left dullness behind. Every corner of the planet feels like a black hole, wanting to suck my lonely soul inside. I'm slowly dying, but the worst part is the pain of not having told Hayden that I love him.I love him.Shit, I'm tearing up again.I sob the lyrics to the first song mentioned and have to blink away tears repeatedly.Inhaling, I press myself to Hayden's cold skin, stroking my hand over his jawline with Zafira sitting next to me. Her tiny, fluffy

Natasha Two days have passed, and Hayden is still recovering in the tent. Some lady told me to try finding healing seashells and pointed me in the right direction. I want to help Hayden by making him a necklace. So I'm at the beach, listening to the mutated, two-headed seagulls while I'm feeling the sand between my toes. So far, I've only found three healing seashells, but I'm having fun and hum to myself while my skirt dances in the wind. The locals gave me new clothes, and I'm eternally grateful to them since I don't need to wear my stinky, unwashed rags. I keep bending down to turn around seashells to see if there is a slight shimmer to them. The waves push up against my legs. Everything is peaceful, until suddenly something massive breaks through the waves, screeching like a demon. I slip and fall on my butt in the water, startled by the loud sound and the massive chest taking up my field of vision. My heart is beating a mile per second. What type

Natasha I watch the waves push up on the beach while smiling. Today, I'm a morning person enjoying the warm breeze, and I love every minute of squinting up at the sun. My toes curl in the sand, and an uncharacteristic giddiness enters my body. I want to leave this island behind since being here makes me restless. Zafira seems to enjoy playing in the waves, but I'm bored out of my mind on this island. I'm also worried about Roger. Did he die? I need to see New Tortuga and find out. Hayden is no longer injured, and although there is a scar on his body, I know he is powerful enough to swim. My heart picks up pace as images of Hayden in his enormous, scary merman form enter my mind. Is it safe to let him take me away from here? I'm not sure what we are—friends or lovers? Regardless of the answer, Hayden seems different after his recovery. We talk less, and it feels like there is some distance between, and yet, whene

Natasha The sun is about to set, and it's soon time for bed. I'm heading back to the village, pissed and tired of confusing, gorgeous men, such as Hayden and his twin, Aiden. They both keep calling me their mate, and honestly, I wouldn't mind if they treated me like it. But I'm not that lucky—Hayden can't promise me he won't eat anyone, and Aiden is purely annoying. Sighing, I clutch my Victoria's secret bag tighter and keep walking ahead with a clouded mind. Too many thoughts are circling my head, and my heart is heavy. I wish I had never fought with Hayden because I'm probably about to end up finding him drunk— "You smell like my brother." I stop dead in my tracks, staring up at Hayden, who is basking in the sun with his colossal tail splashing in the waves. He is lying on his stomach, arms crossed and his head resting over his arm to eye me. Everything beneath his torso is in the water. My eyes trail his muscular, tanned bic