To Seduce A Siren Read Free

escape plan.
    “So
you’re not here with anyone in particular?”  Alma enquired politely. 
“I’m only asking because I have several delightful young men who’d I love you
to meet.”
    “Oh,
I think I’ve already got more young men on my plate than I can handle right
now.”
    Alma
fiddled absently with the large diamond stud in her ear.    “I’m
talking about someone special darling girl.  Someone who’s right for you.”
    Charisse
glared at the bartender; of course she’d have to choose the one who moved
slower than molasses. “To be truthful Aunt Alma, I’m really not interested in
meeting anyone special right now… or
even in the future for that matter.  I like my life. I like being single.”
    Alma
reached over, patting Charisse’s hand affectionately.  “Everyone says
that, right up until they meet their match.  Trust me.   Just meet this gorgeous young man I know…”
    “Oh,
your champagne.   Here,” Charisse
thrust the glass into her Aunt’s hand and grabbed her own drink.  Turning
on the spot, she caught a glimpse of a black bobbed head over near the dance
floor.  “Oh look, there’s Darcy.  I know she’s been looking for me…
Special Council Liaison business you know.”
    “Oh
well.”  Alma gave a small regretful smile.  “You run a long then
darling girl, business before pleasure.”
    Charisse
felt Alma’s eyes trained on her as she made her way across the room, squeezing
and wriggling her way through the flock of warrior admirers she’d been using
for protection only a few minutes earlier.  To be brutally honest,
Great-Aunt Alma and her match making machinations scared her way more than
Darcy and her madcap schemes… and that was saying something.
    “Darcy…
Darcy.”  She went up on tip-toe, waving to get her cousin’s
attention.  She could still feel Alma’s gaze on her from across the room.
    Darcy
raced forward, grabbing her cousin by the upper arm.  “I’ve been looking
all over for you.”  Darcy sent a distracted ‘go on - I double dare you -
keep following us’ death look at the large group of Valhalla warriors
continuing to travel in Charisse’s wake.  The majority of warriors, the
older, more seasoned ones, sensibly stopped in their tracks.
    “So
someone just mentioned at the bar, of course I immediately came looking for
you.”  Charisse kept her green eyes wide, praying Darcy wouldn’t see
through her lie.
    A
few of the younger, less worldly, Valhalla warriors were still in pursuit,
Darcy arched a fine dark eyebrow studying Charisse’s straggling admirers
intently for a split second, a smile suddenly teasing the edges of her
mouth.   Even the most inexperienced and
dim-witted of warriors could interpret her new expression as one of happiness
that she’d finally found volunteer test subjects to test out her new filleting
knife.  Darcy didn’t even bother to watch the handful of youths scurry
away, too intent on getting Charisse alone to care how much she’d frightened
the youngster.
    Charisse
appreciated the rescue, phew, fresh air.  She tossed back half the
contents of her gin and tonic in celebration.   She’d made an effective escape from Great-Aunt Alma and her evil match
making machinations, dealing with Cousin Darcy, in comparison, would be a
breeze.  
    They
came to a halt under the shade of a large tree.  Hadleigh and Vaughn’s
meld party might have been held outdoors, but given the large number of party
guests, it was still quite the crowd.  But trust Darcy to find a nice
quiet out of the way spot.  She was about to open her mouth to express her
thanks but Darcy beat her to it.
    “I
need you to do me a favour.”
    Charisse
sent her cousin an incredulous look.  Damn, she should have remembered
that the lesser of two evils was still effectively evil.  She’d done
favours for Darcy in the past, had the scars to prove it… well, not physical
scars marring her perfect porcelain skin, but deep, deep