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

light shined brightly at the end of the tunnel for them all.
    “This was a bad idea,” he grumbled. The man’s body buzzed like a giant bumblebee—something that happened when these mermen became aroused. “I should’ve asked Lyle to take you.”
    Liv snuggled her cheek against his bare, hot chest, feeling dopy. “I don’t think so.”
    “Well, I know so.” He set her down. “Here’s your cottage. I’ll have Dana brought shortly.” The faint outdoor lights of the cottage caught Roen’s handsome face. Those plump, sinful lips, that masculine jawline covered in a short growth of whiskers, those fierce… angry eyes?
    Of course he is. You were horrible to him.
    “Roen,” she reached for his hand and gave it a soft squeeze, “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m sorry for lying to you.”
    He stepped back a little, remaining silent for several long moments, his eyes fixed to the ground. Finally, he said, “You should’ve trusted me with the truth.”
    Maybe, but… “I didn’t want Shane to hurt you or Dana. I did what I thought was right.”
    “Lucky for me, you’re a terrible liar. Goodbye, Liv,” he said briskly and turned down the flagstone walkway away from the cottage.
    “Roen, wait.” She ran after him and grabbed his arm. “Is that it? Just goodbye?”
    “What else would it be? Welcome home? This island is not safe for you. It never was and it never will be. Especially now that the fight for control has begun, which is why I must go and see to it the island allows you all to leave.”
    “You’re going to ask the island’s permission? Isn’t she going to be a little upset with you right now?” Roen had incited a rebellion against her.
    “She may be upset, but letting the women leave is in her best interest since we’ve refused to claim them and there is a limit to how long humans can remain.”
    “Why? What happens to us?”
    “Not to you—to the island. This is a closed ecosystem. Your presence is disruptive, like a virus that weakens the body.”
    Ah yes. The wonderfully informative pamphlet had mentioned that. “So we make her sick.” Liv wanted to laugh.
    “Something like that.”
    “The feeling is mutual.”
    “I’m sure she’s aware. Which is why she’ll want you all gone as quickly as possible. It’s for the greater good.”
    Liv did not share Roen’s point of view. Because the island would do whatever the damned hell she pleased, when it damn well pleased her, despite the impact on the people. For Christ’s sake, look what the crazy bitch did to their women. Liv also didn’t believe for a moment that old Crazy Dirt would let Liv stroll out of there without Roen having to pay a price. Of course, Roen wouldn’t tell her that, because she wouldn’t approve.
    Liv swatted a giant bug circling near her face. “What are you going to give up this time?”
    “What do you mean?”
    Couldn’t they go inside and talk? The bugs were out in droves tonight, though they stayed clear of Roen. Probably too afraid. “I know how this works. She’ll want something from you to let me go.”
    “Allowing you to leave is in her best interest, too.”
    Astonished, Liv tilted her head. “Wait. You just delivered a scalding reprimand because I lied to you about Shane. So why don’t you be a true leader and set the example—cut the crap and tell me why she’s going to let me paddle away for a second time when all of the other mates are used as leverage against their men.”
    Roen ran both hands down his face.
    “Roen, there is absolutely no way for either of us to get through this if we don’t trust each other.”
    “This,” he dropped his hands, “is the issue: You don’t trust me. You push back and you snarl and you think you know what’s best, when you are a landlover incapable of understanding this world or its true importance.”
    Liv’s mouth fell wide open for several moments while she bit back her anger. “Okay. I’ve had about enough of the condescending mer-machismo,