MERMADMEN (The Mermen Trilogy #2) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Page A

women had lucked out. Big time. They’d all go home, see their families, forget about this place—or not—and move on.
    Some of the women disappeared to their cabins, while others gathered on the deck to quietly stare at the island, looking confused as hell. Maybe they wondered where they were or why the last week or so felt like a strange dream.
    Liv, on the other hand, felt nothing but pain in her chest. She might never see Roen again, and their final words hadn’t been nice ones. She didn’t want it to end like that, but she’d be damned to be talked down to and told “what was best” for her. The final slap was that no one delivered the books Roen mentioned. He didn’t want her help. He didn’t want anything to do with her.
    Fine. I’m done begging. I’m done pining for him. And if I go crazy, well, then…that’s that. Of course, it was a fat lie because what came next would be restless nights and days filled with heartache. Being apart from Roen mentally and physically pained her.
    Did she believe Roen would find a way to change that? No. Only she could decide when she’d be ready to let go. And that wouldn’t be for a very, very long time. Maybe never. She genuinely loved him.
    The ship slowly pulled away from the harbor, and Liv and Dana stood at the railing, gazing out at the island while more and more came into view.
    What the hell? Liv could scarcely believe her eyes. These men don’t wear shoes or clothes half the time, yet they have a fancy communication tower? The metal structure was loaded with satellite dishes and stood right next to a giant green water tower. That explains the fantastic water pressure. And on top of all those beautifully modern bungalows peppering the forest, solar panels covered every roof. And that explains all of their electricity.
    This place is too damned weird for words.
    The boat pulled out of the marina, and Liv turned her back, taking a deep breath and praying she’d be strong enough to get through whatever came next.
    One hurdle at a time, Liv, she said in her head, mocking Roen’s deep, cocky tone.
    All of a sudden, a woman’s scream filled the air. As Liv turned her head, looking for the source, someone shoved her over the railing into the water.
    Oh God. Oh God. There wasn’t enough time to feel the cold water or care about who’d pushed her over. Because when Liv’s head made it to the surface, the scene of horror was worse than anything she could imagine. Hundreds of coalmine black bodies with long tails scaled the sides of the ship, digging their powerful claws right into the steel. From her angle in the water, she couldn’t see what was happening atop, but the bloodcurdling yells were enough.
    “Dana!” Liv screamed, and bloody bodies began raining down as mermaids tossed them over.
    “Dana!” Liv screamed again. She had no way up to the boat to get Dana. “You fucking bitches! I’ll kill you! You hear me! Don’t you fucking touch her!”
    Ohmygod. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening . Liv had said those words to herself too many times, and now she knew better. This was happening. It was the island’s doing.
    “You can’t have her,” Liv screamed.
    “Liv!” Dana’s voice called out from behind her.
    Treading water, Liv spun and spotted Dana. A huge, hungry-looking mermaid gripped Dana by a big clump of her long dark hair. It opened its mouth, displaying sharp white teeth, and reached for Dana’s neck.
    Liv yelled, “Let her go or I will kill you! Do you hear me? I will hunt you and kill you. I swear it!”
    The maid blinked her big yellow eyes at Liv, freezing mid-bite.
    “Let her go,” Liv growled protectively.
    The maid released its prize and slowly sank into the water, its gaze fixed on Liv the entire way.
    Oh shit . Was that thing coming after her now?
    Liv didn’t care. As long as Dana got out, that was all that mattered.
    “Liv! Liv! Help!” Dana fought to keep her head above water.
    Liv swam to Dana and started