A scorching heat surged through Asher's body as he stirred from the soft texture beneath him. His head throbbed with pain, and though he could feel the sun's presence, the room around him was cloaked in darkness.
Jerking upright, he instantly realized he wasn't in a familiar place. His instincts switched to attack mode as he scanned his surroundings, trying to make sense of where he was. Carefully placing his feet on the cold, stone-like floor, he moved stealthily, attempting to sneak out.
Then came a voice.
"Are you gonna sneak out without saying hi?"
The flirtatious tone made Asher flinch. It was familiar—painfully so. His head began to pound harder as a flood of memories surged back like crashing waves.
Sirens.
He had been attacked by them. Ripped open from neck to chest by those oceanic abominations. He raised a trembling hand to his neck—but the wounds were gone. He was completely healed.
How?
Had it all been a dream? But no—dreams didn't feel that vivid, that agonizingly real.
Asher's eyes were drawn to the shadowed figure moving toward the curtains. Without warning, the figure flung them wide, allowing sunlight to pour into the room like a golden flood.
Momentarily blinded, Asher shielded his eyes, adjusting to the brightness. When his emerald eyes finally focused, he gasped.
The room screamed luxury—elegant to a royal level. Everything gleamed: from the gold-carved bedstand to the marbled stone floor beneath his feet that pulsed with a strange, silent energy. Paintings covered the walls—each one depicting serene underwater scenes of sirens swimming in harmony.
The realization hit him like a slap.
He was in the domain of the most vicious, cunning, and bloodthirsty species to ever exist.
Sirens.
"I hope you're rested. If not, feel free to lie back down. We'll head to breakfast after," the voice called again, calm and smooth.
Asher turned slowly, dread pooling in his chest—and then the color drained from his face.
Rowan Gonzalez.
The walking nightmare who had murdered both him and Jeremy. The same one who had attacked him at the garden, sinking his fangs so deep he couldn't even move.
Rowan smirked as their eyes met, then turned his back, walking over to the window to gaze out.
"You don't have to look at me like I'm some kind of monster," he said. "Yeah, I killed you—blame me all you want. But something strange happened that day. When I bit you… it felt like I was hurting myself."
Asher remained silent, frozen in place. He watched Rowan's figure at the window, and for a second, his mind short-circuited.
Rowan wore nothing but a loose linen trouser, and it did nothing to hide his dangerously sculpted frame. His back was chiseled, his muscles tense and defined, the faint glow of the morning sun outlining every hard angle. And his v-line—it looked like it was carved by the gods themselves, dangerously descending beneath the linen waistband. The outline of his bulge made Asher's face flush with heat.
What the hell?
Was he actually drooling over this psychopath? Who gave a killer a body like this?
"I know you're the Divine Being, Asher."
The statement made Asher freeze in terror. He looked toward the door, weighing his chances of escape. He couldn't stay here. Not with Rowan. Not with the man who murdered him and possibly knew his secret.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about," Asher stuttered. "You must have me confused with someone else."
"Is that so?" Rowan replied, still staring out the window. "Funny. I was almost certain you were the last child of light. But maybe I was wrong."
He finally turned away from the window and began to approach.
Asher instinctively took a step back, inching toward a nearby table. His hand brushed against a small dagger lying on its surface. He gripped it slowly behind his back.
"You know what, Asher? I hated you. You and that sister of yours. Every time I saw you both, I wanted to slit your throats. Killing you wasn't the plan—but I paid for it. Oh, I paid dearly when Rose attacked me."
He was closing in now. Asher's back hit the wall, and Rowan placed one hand beside his head, pinning him in.
"Your lovely sister," Rowan sneered, "beat the hell out of me. Chained me down. Then—get this—sliced off my dick."
Asher paled, horrified.
"She's more vicious than I gave her credit for," Rowan went on, voice filled with twisted admiration. "Then she dumped me and Simon in a fridge. I nearly died."
Rowan's eyes morphed, becoming slits, his fangs extending as fury laced his words.
"I was starving. My body was healing. And she didn't even know I was a siren. Do you know what we sirens do to those who attack royal blood?"
Asher's body trembled.
He was going to die.
This was revenge—and he would pay for what Rose had done.
"But," Rowan said, voice suddenly lighter, "what's more delicious than making your enemy your sister-in-law?"
Asher's panic surged. What was he saying?
No. No. It couldn't be Rose. That was impossible. Then that only meant—
He meant him.
"What are you talking about?" Asher shouted, rage mixing with fear. "You hurt me and my friend! You bullied us—killed us! And didn't you try to rape my sister?! What do you want from us, you monster?!"
Rowan laughed darkly, his voice echoing through the grand chamber.
"Oh please. Don't flatter yourself—I don't love you. This isn't about love. It's about fate," he said, eyes gleaming. "You're my mate, Asher. A siren paired with a Divine Being—do you know what that means? Power. Immortality. Invisibility. If we're joined, your magic becomes mine. And no one has figured that out. Not yet."
Asher clenched his fists, boiling with rage.
"You barbaric creature," he hissed. "You think I'll bond with you? You're an animal! A predator that belongs in a damn zoo!"
Rowan's smile vanished. With a sudden growl, he raised a hand and slapped Asher hard across the face. Blood sprayed from his nose and lips as he crumpled to the floor.
Pain blurred his vision.
"You're so stupid," Rowan snarled. "I'm not even gay. Hell, my father doesn't know about any of this. But I'm out of options. My throne is slipping away. And you, Asher, are the only path left."
He leaned closer, whispering like venom. "From now on, you belong to me. You're mine—to control, to use, to break if I want."
Asher stared up at him, heart pounding in horror. His mother had always warned him. Being a Divine Being was a curse in disguise. And now… now everyone wanted a piece of him.
"And don't even think about using your powers," Rowan added coldly. "I injected you with a serum. Try anything, and the pain you'll experience… it'll be beyond human understanding. And you, Asher, are far too fragile to survive it."
Asher's body sagged in despair.
Rowan knelt beside him, offering a hand.
"Come on. Breakfast is ready," he said with a sickening smirk. "Let's get this over with."
Tears welled in Asher's eyes as he stood shakily, reluctantly placing his hand in Rowan's.
His worst nightmare was only just beginning.