Sea Witch: Children of the Waves Read online

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, or other status is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright 2015 by LaVerne Thompson

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever known, not known or hereafter invented, or stored in any storage or retrieval system, is forbidden and punishable by the fullest extent of the law without written permission of the author. LaVerne Thompson. [email protected]

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  Editor- Wicked Muse Productions

  Line editor- Lara Parker

  Cover Art Fiona Jayde

  http://fionajaydemedia.com

  Photographer- Golden Czermak

  http://www.onefuriousfotog.com/

  Cover Model- Adam Fletcher

  https://www.facebook.com/ADFofficial

  Dedication

  This one’s for all the girls and boys who are in a rush to grow up. Don’t be.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you my purple, green or orange pen wielder, Leanore Elliott, otherwise known as my chief editor for helping me with this one, and Lara Parker for polishing it off. Fiona Jayde, what can I say? Artist extraordinaire. You use those brush strokes to create works of cover art worthy of hanging in art galleries, and to which I will be forever grateful. Thank you Golden Czermak for taking such an awesome shot. And Adam Fletcher for being—well, so perfect for this cover. Last but not least, my beta reader Katara for taking the time to read the first two books and being a beta reader for this third one. *hugs* And thank you to all of my fans who love a good cliff hanger. This one is no different. So, hold on. Hehehehehe. And yes there is a book 4. There’s a snippet at the end of this story.

  Prologue

  “What do you mean I can’t claim you?”

  They sat side by side upon the rocks, with their knees drawn up toward their chests, bodies tense, but not touching. Anyone on the beach observing them would only see what appeared to be two thirteen or fifteen year olds, a boy and a girl who seemed a little shy around each other. Nothing could be further from the truth.

  For one thing, while they were male and female, regardless of how old they seemed, the male was some two hundred years old, and the girl, a bit more. A hundred more in fact. She’d known when her mate had been born, she was a viewer, someone who viewed events not yet come to pass. A witch amongst their people, the Children of the Waves. It’s also why she stayed out of the path of this particular male from the day of his birth.

  The time, however, was nearing when her people would need her more, and she had to warn him, try to make him understand so he wouldn’t hate her. The simple truth, she couldn’t stay away from him. The lure became too great, even for one as powerful as she. The sea witch could not evade the mating bonds. Just this one time.

  So, when she’d woken up that morning and swam to this shore, she knew he would come to her. As a precaution and to ensure her resolve, she drew him from the depths and went to a beach where she knew humans would be present, not that there were many out and about this early in the morning. The sun just barely kissed the water’s lips.

  The sea witch needed a place where he couldn’t get very angry or try to take her by force, or where they could be observed by their own kind. She didn’t want to hurt him if he tried to do that. Safe neutral ground, only a few landwalkers were running and walking their dogs along the shore. Farther up the beach, the resort staff were setting up their umbrellas. He would do nothing to her in front of so many witnesses.

  She’d chosen a spot on the outcrops of rock, not easy to reach, and sat upon the sunny surface. Just as she imagined, the mermaids in human lore were said to have done, but unlike those legends, she had no tail. She did, however, have long burnt orange tresses for hair, hanging in thick locks to her waist. Given she was on land and anyone might see them, she used her powers to change her hair to a reddish brown. At least she, unlike others of their kind, didn’t have to change the color of her skin to blend in with the landwalkers. Like the colors of anything living in the oceans, her people came in many shades and hues. Her skin reflected the color of a coconut husk. She could easily pass for a girl from one of the Caribbean islands wearing body oil that made her skin glimmer slightly in the sun. Even the lilt in her voice suggested a hint of the islands from the depths that spawned her.

  Sienna didn’t have long to wait.

  The swimmer approached several yards from where she sat. He angled, so he headed straight for her. He had to get out of the water a dozen yards from where she sat and walk over to her.

  She knew him on sight, yet she’d never directly laid eyes on him. Never allowed herself to get this close, too much temptation. Yet, she could stay away no longer. Openly staring at him, she couldn’t help but appreciate his built.

  Tall and lanky, the definition of the muscle he would grow into already there. He wore his blond hair, like many of their males, long enough to brush against his ass. Wet droplets on it gleamed golden in the sunlight.

  Her female heart rejoiced such a male belonged to her, yet also filled with such sorrow for what she was about to do. Ask him to do. However, like her, he had a sworn duty to their people as their future king’s guard and best friend.

  “I’ve come for you.”

  “Tabatha is with child,” she’d said, without preamble. She watched as the light of awe and excitement dimmed from his sea green gaze. Her words were shocking enough she knew to stop him in his tracks.

  “By Poseidon’s balls, how?”

  She grinned even though this was not funny. Introductions between them were unnecessary. He already knew who she was, ever since she’d reached out to him. All of their people were telepathic underwater; it was how they communicated with each other. However, mates had a special bond. She simply opened up the bond they shared. One, until that moment, he had not been aware even existed, but she did. Once used, she would have to close it back off. It could not be helped. Even the import of her words he couldn’t deny. “The usual way, I expect.”

  He shook his head, then sat down beside her. “That’s not what I meant. But how? I thought her mate was dead.”

  “Perhaps. I believe she used her powers to do this. As far as who the father is, I’m not sure. I suspect, he’s part human, but one with witch blood. However, what I do know is her daughter will be a powerful witch. More powerful than her mother. And after the child is born, Tabatha will kill her to take her powers unto herself in order to claim Poseidon’s throne and control the Trident.”

  “What madness is this? Her own child.”

  “But conceived for one purpose.”

  He frowned. “She can’t be that powerful. No one is more powerful than Poseidon himself, except perhaps one of the old gods, and they are long gone as is Poseidon. And as heir, Xavior commands the Trident, the embodiment of his remaining powers.”

  “Yes, all true, perhaps. But the child’s powers combined with my sister’s will be sufficient to command the Trident. It will be enough for her to sit the King’s Chair and force its acceptance.” Ev
en though they didn’t touch, she felt the tenseness of his body at her words.

  “I have to warn Xavior.”

  “Xavior isn’t powerful enough to stop her yet, he has not matured into all of his powers. He has not found his bride and is not yet king, nor would he harm an innocent life. But there is another way, and it’s why I cannot allow you to claim me. It is also why you must swear to me, you will not tell anyone who your bride is, nor can they know you have found her.”

  He frowned. “Then why come to me now? Why call me to you? Once I begin to age, everyone will know I’ve found my mate, same for you.”

  “I must continue to make it seem as though I have not found my mate yet. I can and will go into seclusion. Most people have never seen me anyway. Those in need, always come to me and will continue to do so. I will only be seen in my home, and I can ensure those who do, only see me as I appear now. You will be the only one able to see me as I am. Because if Tabatha knows I have begun to age, she will also know my powers could develop to be strong enough to counter hers. She can’t afford for such a thing to happen. And they will grow as I age, but not yet.”

  “You forget. I will also begin to age. Everyone will wonder why I don’t claim my bride.”

  She wore a whole shell, less than an inch wide and long, tied with black woven seaweed around her neck. It looked much like leather, but Aaron would know it wasn’t. Removing it, she placed it over his neck. “Wear this until you are sure Xavior begins to age. At that time remove it, so you will appear to age at a rate he does. It is bespelled and tied to me, it will prevent you from appearing to age.”

  He touched the shell hanging around his neck, then shook his head. “I still don’t understand.” Hurt laced his words.

  The pain in his voice hurt her heart. She glanced away from him and out to sea, her gaze resting on the porpoises playing on the surface. Sadly, even their antics couldn’t ease her sorrow or his. “I will lose my power of viewing, foresight, if I am no longer virgin and I must help Xavior find his mate, so he can become king and secure the throne. Our people need their king on a safe throne.”

  “Witch, what you ask is very hard.” He inhaled deeply.

  “Sienna, my true name is Sienna.” Very few living knew her true name, but she needed her mate to know it.

  He smiled. “Sienna.”

  She took his hand, allowing herself to touch him. The contact between them so electric, her powers hummed like a current through her veins. Yes, she was his bride, he her mate. Finally, she turned to look through tear-filled eyes upon the face of her dreams. “Do this for me. Your bride asks it of you.”

  He seemed to be searching her face, the anguish clear upon his own. “How long?”

  “Once the child comes of age. Do not worry, mate mine, she will find her mate shortly after being born. There are things I have seen that will all happen then. I must be able to ‘view’ to help, to ensure the future unfolds as it must.”

  He hung his head. One hand still entwined in hers, the other hand remained clasped to his knee. Then he squeezed her fingers and lifted his head to gaze at her. “I will wait for you. As long as it takes. I so swear to my bride. What do you need me to do?”

  She told him.

  One of the hardest things she’d ever done was to leave him alone on the rocks. Other than the brief touch of hands, she didn’t dare touch him more, nor did he try to kiss her, as she’d wanted him to. As though both of them knew if it were to happen, they wouldn’t be able to part.

  The sea witch walked out into the water and did not look back. Tears left tracks upon her youthful features as she dove into the ocean, uncaring of the rocks. With each stroke away from him, her tears fell faster to be absorbed by the sea.

  There were still more difficult things to come. Tabatha would have her child, she would be the midwife, and she would have to convince her sister the babe was stillborn. Even if she needed to kill it herself. This babe could very well be the destruction of the Children of the Waves. Sienna would do whatever she must to prevent such a thing from happening to her people. Something she didn’t tell her mate. As she dove deeper into the water of life, it calmed her. The call of the waves like a promise from the sea. They would be together again.

  Chapter One

  Once his king and queen were safely returned to the depths in King’s City within their palace, Aaron finally breathed a sigh of relief. He’d sent for two other warriors to accompany them back to the depths from Zek’s island home. He would let nothing harm them. Thank Poseidon nothing more happened on their journey back. The dolphins ringed them for miles, ready to give warning and help defend, if they saw or sensed anything. Thank fuck, just an easy journey. If Aaron never saw another one of those damn demons again, it would be too soon.

  “Did you have any luck, son?” Balen moved beside him back to his home.

  Aaron smiled at his father’s question.

  Being a strong telepath, he could have just gone into his mind and found the answer. His father’s real question was obvious as well. Balen knew if he had any luck, he would have brought his bride home with him.

  What he couldn’t tell his father, what he blocked from him and not even his best friend knew, he’d already found her. Had known for almost several decades who and where she was. She never left the depths or rarely, these last few years.

  While everyone knew at some point, he’d met her, since his people began aging once they found their brides or mates. He’d seemingly begun to age about the same time as Xavior, the then heir, but since he had yet to claim her, most were beginning to assume he didn’t know who she was, so perhaps she was a landwalker. Aaron continued to let his family and friends…everyone believe that. However, she wasn’t. He just couldn’t reveal her identity…and each day, it got harder and harder to maintain the façade of looking for her.

  Watching his best friends, Xavior and his brother Ezekiel find their brides, along with the contentment, love and satisfaction surrounding the couples—well, it created an ache in his heart. He wanted what they had, with everything in him. What killed him, was the fact, he could have had it to for years now. Except, it wasn’t so simple. Nothing ever was. Instead, he had been condemned to this lonely existence. Only half alive, because he had to deny his other half.

  Each day he missed her, a part of him was missing. He’d only seen her one other time, since the first time they’d met. The day Xav sought her out to help him find his own bride. While Xav saw the witch as still a child, as did all others, he alone saw her as she truly appeared. A fully grown adult, one who’d found her mate. And his heart ached.

  He must have been quiet for too long, because his father asked his question again.

  “I’m sorry, Father. I’m tired. It’s been a long week. A lot has happened, but no, she wasn’t on land. Not this time.” He hated lying to his father, but at least what he’d said was the truth, just not all of it. Such had been his life, lying to his family and friends. All the women everyone thought he’d been with, something he cultivated, not a soul didn’t believe he truly didn’t know who his mate was. They all believed he actively and aggressively searched for her. As was custom for their kind. Everyone believed—except one. The only one who knew the truth. The only one who mattered.

  He could never be unfaithful to her. Impossible to be. Not once, since he’d met her, knowing who she was and what she meant to him. He might have flirted and kissed other women, but he’d never fucked them or touched them beyond a casual meeting of lips, not even close. One woman owned him. Heart, body, and soul.

  Balen squeezed his shoulder as they halted in front of his home.

  Aaron usually stayed in the palace. In his own section near the king’s chambers, but a long time ago, he had this place built next to the palace and moved in. Spending time there when he needed to be alone, now Xav had a queen in residence, he might be spending more to give them privacy.

  A cylinder shape, in landwalker terms about two stories high and three thousand rounde
d feet. The entrance to his dwelling looked much like quite a few of the structures down below. An arch cut out of the side of the sandy textured walls, their version of a door. None were necessary there. Upon entering, instead of stairs, everyone swam up into the living levels, as though in an upside down well, until you came to a few stone steps. Aaron stood on the first one and walked up out of the small pool of water into his home. He entered the open great area, sort of like a foyer in a human house, but one with a pool at its center. Four separate hallways took you to various parts of his dwelling and always, with a view of the sea.

  His house wasn’t as grand as the king’s palace, but still a large dwelling, large enough to share with a mate and raise a family. Someday. He prayed to Poseidon it would be so.

  Balen followed him out of the water. His parents had their own wing in the palace. His father, as the king’s advisor, ran the place when the king wasn’t in attendance and his mother was the queen’s lady. She would probably be the next most excited person in King’s City after the king, once the Chair accepted Cori as queen.

  Chapter Two

  The sea witch stared into the mirror of water before her. The images flashing across it were clear to see. The time was near. The child was grown now, beautiful like her mother, as was her mate. Sienna made sure they met when the child was young, so the girl would never stop aging, would not suspect what she truly was. And neither would anyone else. Yet, the man who would be her mate was half human, but carried the blood of a son of Poseidon, making him a fit mate for a powerful witch.

  Yes, she knew who he would be and while he might have been born of the land, like all their people been drawn to the sea. There, he found his own kind and the secrets to his linage. While the girl remained ignorant of her heritage. She would come into her gifts soon; she may have some of them already. Unlike Sienna, she would not have the limitations her aunt did.