Hook's Pan by Marie Hall Page A

swayed, lost in the movement and rhythm of the music. Her feet started tapping, and then her hips began to move until finally her arms and head joined in. She was dancing, completely entranced and lost to it.
     
    Her movements almost seemed to anticipate each crescendo. Talia had never danced to her music, her voice had crafted something to make an angel weep, but she’d never seemed to appreciate the dulcet quality of it.
     
    The sound of siren song could be deadly to those caught unawares, especially to males, that was why he’d forced his men to become immune to the pull. He could appreciate it, but not become entranced by it.
     
    Trishelle was not entranced.
     
    Entrancement meant you could not move, blink, speak, or do a thing other than lean over and listen. Strain so hard to hear it that eventually you’d fall off the ship to your death, embraced within Calypso’s bosom for all eternity.
     
    She was becoming one with it and he could not pull his eyes off her. He’d have watched her for the rest of his life, but once the music ended, so did she.
     
    Her cheeks were rosy, her skin flushed as she finally opened liquid green eyes and stared at him. “That was the most beautiful thing ever.”
     
    “Agreed.”
     
    She fought a smile. “Thank you.”
     
    Turning back to the rail, he cleared his throat. “Isle of Seren.”
     
    A large castle built of coral and sea stone stood before them. Maids swam everywhere, their shimmering tails flicking behind them as they twittered and pointed at his passing ship. Some faces he recognized.
     
    The fiery red hair of Maiven, trailing behind her like flame, caught his eye. Of course she’d see him first. Of all the maidens, he’d dreaded seeing Talia’s grandmother most. Within the sea realm, none aged. Maiven’s skin was as firm and tight as a nubile youth, but her memory was ancient and her love for her granddaughter unswerving. Her orangey red tail flicked behind her in agitation as she swam off, headed toward the castle gates. Clearly going to warn the twins of his arrival.
     
    He sighed.
     
    Soon a crowd of maidens began to gather, and with them a few of their mates. It was rare for a maiden to give birth to a male, which was why most sought their mates in the upper realm. Those who’d known him were in the front, watching their ship with a mixture of curiosity and pain.
     
    Amani and her mate Kai of the eastern Maji Kingdom. Amani’s large doe eyes roamed the length of Hook’s face, a question burned in their depths: What are you doing here?
     
    Kai seemed perplexed, his swarthy good looks screwed into a tight frown as he stared between his mate and her flickering robin blue tail and him. Finally, he turned and headed back to the hutch they shared.
     
    But Hook knew, and even understood the source of Amani’s animosity. She’d never forgiven him for taking Talia away. A part of him wished he never had, if he’d not asked her to join him that day she’d still be alive.
     
    Amidst the crowd he spotted another group he recognized, and couldn’t stop his answering grin. Talia had called them the furious four.
     
    Nixie, with her flowing white tresses and blood red tail. Aolani, dusky skinned, black hair and ebony pearl tail. Gabriella, blue hair, blue eyes, aquamarine tail and Viz, hair so blonde it almost appeared white with a golden tail.
     
    He’d always had a particular fondness for the quartet, they were the hellions of their realm, a characteristic he’d always related to. Laughing and twirling, the girls threw him air kisses before swimming off with a gleeful song in their wake.
     
    “Was that a man I saw?” Trishelle broke into his thoughts.
     
    He nodded. “Yes.”
     
    “But, how? We’re underwater and I didn’t see a bubble around him.”
     
    Turning to her, he leaned against the railing. “Soon we will disembark. The monarchs will demand an audience. If they agree to our being here, they’ll share their magic so that we