“Okay then. What else do you want to know?” She seemed to finally relax.
“This one is really serious. Do you think I’m still drawing men to me? Achelous claimed I was. Putting them under my Siren’s spell.” I looked out over the water until I got the urge to cry under control. “I think that Jerry, Rafe, and even Ray only love me because I’ve enchanted them.”
“Achelous is a freaking liar, Glo.” Aggie sat up straight and grabbed my hand. “Listen to me and listen good. A Siren draws men to her with her song. Since you lost yours when Achy threw you away, you have never, since that day, been able to enchant anyone. Got it?”
I shook my head. “Are you sure? I mean how does that explain…?”
“I know my business, Gloriana. I’ve been doing it for over a thousand years. I can walk the streets anywhere and men might look twice because, honey, I am hot. But they are not enchanted by any stretch. Not until I sing my song. Got it?” She squeezed my hand then let it go.
“I, I don’t know. I have evidence. Jerry’s stayed with me for centuries. And Rafe. He won’t give up on me, even though I begged him to take off and find someone else.”
Aggie looked me up and down. “Men are funny creatures. Sometimes I even hesitate to kill them.” She waved a hand. “Oh, I get over it and do my duty, but honestly, Glo, you must have something special that they love.” She shuddered. “Hate that word.”
“You don’t ever love anyone?” I focused on her, not trying to read her mind, but her emotions. I realized there was a deep core of sadness inside that shell of bravado and kick-ass Aglaophonos.
“No point. The guy’s gonna bite it. Can’t get attached. Tried it a time or two and it didn’t end well. You remember when you met me?” Aggie gave me a lopsided grin. “Circe had cursed me, made me look like a monster. And it was over a man, Glo. Lesson learned. I won’t go through that again. Fun and games only for me from now on. Unless I’m working of course.”
“Okay, I get it. And I’m sorry.” I really was, even though for myself I was struggling not to laugh and dance along the shore I was so relieved. I hadn’t whammied my guys! How about that?
Aggie picked up a rock and tossed it into the water, staring at the ripples it made. “Are we done now?”
“No, not yet.” I waited until I had her complete attention. “You and the sisters have served Achelous all these years because you’re afraid of him. Right?”
Aggie plucked at a loose string in the blanket. “I guess you could say that. We needed a leader and he’s it. He offers us protection.”
“From what, Aggie? You look pretty self-sufficient to me.” I saw I’d hit a nerve.
“You don’t remember how it is on Olympus, Gloriana. Sirens… We aren’t part of your world. We’re…” Aggie shook her head. “Never mind. You can’t come back to us. He did make you mortal somehow and now you’re vampire. There are some things I can’t share with you.”
“Olympus stuff?”
“Maybe.” Aggie stared out at the lake, like she was about to leave me where I sat.
“Just listen for a minute. Achelous’s protection seems to come at too high a price. I’m a prime example of how he treats women who don’t fall in line with his policies.” I waited until she looked at me again. “You want to chance losing your song and your love of the sea?”
“No, hell no.” Aggie’s face told the story. She was appalled.
“Then you need to get away from him. Instead of being in his harem, where you have to do God knows what when he calls for you, why not defect? I bet Circe wouldn’t mind being in charge of the Sirens. If you really feel like you need a god or goddess to protect you.”
“What a radical thought. Circe shares the man-hater thing so our mission statements align. But she has her own issues—remember me as a sea monster? Still, another woman… Yeah, I like it.” Aggie jumped to her feet. “If Achelous got wind of a plot like this though? I can’t imagine…”
“If you band together, all of you, what can he do? Destroy the sisterhood? Surely he wouldn’t do that. How would that play on Olympus?”
“Not too well. We have something of a reputation up there. And ties to some pretty important people. The sisters have always spread our favors around where it counts if you know what I mean.” Aggie winked at me. “It’s just good politics. But if Achy’s listening in right now…” Aggie bowed her head, obviously doing some listening of her own. “No, he’s still up there with Circe in front of Zeus. I heard they’ve got a battle royal going. But he’ll be back soon.” She grinned at me. “Clever girl. Now I’ve got a going-away present for you. One more power for you to try from your Siren arsenal. Let’s see if your vampire body can manage this one. It’s what they call mind over matter.”
“Seriously? What is it?” I was up and ready for anything.
“You ever dematerialize?” Aggie said just before she disappeared.
“No. You mean I could?” I jumped when Aggie suddenly appeared behind me.
“Possibly. Achy brainwashed you. I’m pretty sure, with a good shrink, you could actually get back some memories. Like your love of the sea and your song.” Aggie’s hand landed on my back. “Go see Ian. He’s a genius at that kind of thing. We didn’t just have pillow talk. He’s a brilliant psychiatrist.”
“Good to know. But I think Ian has been lying to me about something big.” Did I want my song back? No way in hell. I glanced at the water a few feet away and felt a sudden longing. It would be wonderful to be able to swim again, to cut through the water and feel the sea claim me as one of her own. “Now about this dematerializing thing. Tell me how. And I wouldn’t mind being able to create outfits and dry hair either.”
“That, my sister, I’m afraid might be beyond you.” But Aggie did share secrets and they were remarkably simple. Then she took off, obviously eager to discuss her thoughts on rebellion with her sisters. I sat back on the blanket and stared at the lake. So the men in my life were there because they chose to be. I knew what I needed to do next. I gathered up the blanket and skipped to my car. I’d love to sing my joy but knew better. And that was okay.
I could hear the music as soon as I drove up to Ray’s front door. Laurie was on duty and took my keys from me.
“I’ll put it in the garage if you’re staying the day.” She grinned at me.
“No, leave it out front. I’m not sure how this is going to go.” I leaned against the trunk. “I met with Aggie. Ray’s going to be disappointed by what I found out. He’s not getting anything from his Siren blood.”
“I don’t think that matters. He’s got a connection to you anyway, Glory.” Laurie tossed my keys back to me. “He’s been singing about you all evening. Or at least that’s what it sounds like to me.”
I cocked my head and listened. Ray’s song was about a woman who couldn’t make music. It was a ballad with a refrain that made you want to cry into your Bloody Mary. I hoped I could cheer him up and out of that mood.
“That won’t do. Too much of that angst and he’ll be ordering alcohol again.” I tucked my keys into my purse. “Any sign of trouble tonight?”
“No more than usual. A paparazzo climbed up from the lake and got a picture of Ray strutting around the living room in his black silk boxers. I had fun smashing that guy’s camera and tossing him in the water. Then a couple of thirtysomething housewives tried to climb the fence for an autograph. Ray came out and obliged before we ran them off.” Laurie’s smile was tigerish.
“You look like you’re enjoying this job.” I headed for the front door.
“I am. And it doesn’t hurt my feelings that Ray does parade around in a little bit of nothing most of the time.” She fanned her face. “The man has quite a body. But I don’t need to tell you that.”
“No, you don’t.” I was grinning as I walked in the house and dropped my purse on the entry table. Ray kept playing though I knew he saw me enter the living room. The drapes were closed for a change. Probably because of that incident with the photographer.
“Nice tune.” I settled on the couch. “But I’m not feeling it.”
He stopped playing. “You have news for me?” He jumped up and strode to the couch. He’d put on jeans, probably when he’d made the housewives’ night. Now he sat beside me and pulled me in for a quick kiss.
“Maybe, but you’ll have to do better than that to worm it out of me.” I brushed my thumb across his lips.
“I can handle that.” He lowered his head and took my mouth in a leisurely way that curled my toes. Before I knew it I was stretched out on that long leather sofa and he was on top of me.
“Mmm. Ray, I think I’m ready to talk.” I ran my hands over his bare back, savoring the ripple of muscle there. He’d worked out before he’d been turned and it showed.
“Forget it. Talk can wait.” He pushed up my sweater and smiled when he saw my leopard print bra. “I like this. You came ready to play.”
“Maybe.” I sighed when he licked the edges of the demicups then nosed them down to circle my aching nipples. “You are very good at this. I’m happy to tell you that it’s not the Siren blood that’s doing it’s magic. You can take total credit in the seduction department.”
“Really?” Ray didn’t even bother to look up, too intent on unfastening my jeans and easing them down. I had worn a scrap of black lace that made him growl. “Been talking to Aggie without me?”
“Yeah, woman to woman. Oh, Ray.” He’d kissed his way down to delve into my navel, then slipped my panties down along with my jeans. They got hung up on my thighs. Ray didn’t push them farther, just used them to hold me while he kissed and licked me with a master’s expertise.