Prologue
The sea was hot and rough. Blue sky extended in every direction. Choppy waves sprayed her storm-torn raft.
She’d survived.
Harmony’s mouth tasted sour, and gunk crusted her eyelashes. Salt powder? It stung. She hung her head over the side of the rotted wood, cupped a handful of seawater, and washed her face. Then she stared out.
The sun baked the ocean into a watery desert. Miles and miles of gummy, bleary, Caribbean desert.
She was alone.
Dread pooled in her stomach.
Harmony pulled herself back into the raft and ducked her head against the glaring sun. Her dry throat hurt. She tried to swallow.
She was alone in the middle of the ocean. No food. No water.
No protection.
So, she was vulnerable to the monstrous Sea Lords.
She had to—
What was that?
A shadow moved on the other side of the raft.
Shadow?
Harmony rubbed her eyes again. Her vision sharpened.
A humanoid creature crouched on the far side. Dark, wet hair obscured his face. Sloping shoulders betrayed a broad back and tough, muscular limbs. Purple marks slashed his rubbery skin.
Her blood ran cold.
Monster.
He halted and rose. Towering.
A dead fish hung in one knotted hand. Bare bones reflected white.
The monster tilted his head to profile. Torn flesh dangled from his teeth.
She sucked in an endless breath.
Between the wet locks of hair, a dark eye fixed on her, stopping her heart. Strange iris. Brown with mauve threads. Like fish scales, the mauve threads gleamed, mesmerizing.
Her belly tingled with warning. The monster had hunted. And now, she was his prey.
He dropped the dead fish and turned on her.
Harmony screamed.
