Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 8. Hypnotizing Spell

Gabriel and Crystal didn’t know that Christian had quietly followed them into the forest and heard every part of their conversation. He stayed hidden behind the thick trees, watching the two from a distance while the moonlight filtered through the swaying branches above them. At first, he was ready to interrupt them the moment Gabriel said something wrong or made his daughter uncomfortable, but instead, the young man surprised him.

There was confusion in Gabriel’s voice, but not fear.

And when he spoke about protecting Crystal rather than exposing her, Christian found himself slowly relaxing.

Maybe the young man truly cared.

With one final glance toward his daughter, whose eyes sparkled while talking to Gabriel, Christian quietly turned around and made his way back to the cabin.

The wooden floor creaked softly beneath his feet as he entered the house.

Aya immediately stood from the table the moment she saw him return alone.

“Christian?” she exclaimed in disbelief. “You left our daughter alone with that stranger!?”

Her beautiful face was filled with worry while her arms crossed tightly against her chest.

Christian calmly closed the door behind him before facing his anxious wife.

“Don’t worry, sweetie,” he assured gently. “Our daughter is safe.”

Aya frowned deeply.

“How can you say that?” she complained worriedly. “What if he plans to hurt her? What if he takes her away from us?”

Christian suddenly laughed softly, causing Aya to narrow her eyes at him in annoyance.

“What’s so funny, human?” she asked irritably.

Christian stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulling her gently against his chest.

“Oh, my beautiful siren wife,” he murmured teasingly. “Haven’t you noticed the way Gabriel looks at our daughter?”

Aya blinked in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

Christian smiled knowingly as his hands slowly caressed her waist.

“Crystal is turning eighteen tomorrow,” he whispered. “Just like you were when I first met you. Tell me honestly, Aya… were you able to resist the hypnotizing charm sirens naturally possess?”

Aya opened her mouth to respond, but her breath hitched softly when Christian suddenly leaned down and kissed the sensitive skin beneath her ear.

“Christian…” she whispered weakly.

But her husband only smirked against her neck and continued planting slow kisses there.

“What?” he asked innocently while his lips traveled lower. “I’m only speaking the truth.”

Aya shivered when his warm hands slid down to the curve of her hips.

“Christian, not here,” she protested softly, glancing nervously toward the door. “They might come back and see us.”

“Then where do you want to do it?” he asked playfully.

Aya bit her lower lip when Christian’s hand suddenly brushed teasingly over her aching core through the thin fabric of her cotton sundress.

“Somewhere else,” she breathed out shakily.

Christian chuckled darkly at her response.

“Then let’s go somewhere else.”

Without wasting another second, he grabbed Aya’s hand and pulled her outside the cabin toward the shore where their yacht was docked.

Aya stumbled slightly while trying to keep up with her excited husband.

“Christian,” she called between breaths, “what did you mean earlier about Gabriel’s look? Do you really think he could love our daughter the same way you loved me?”

Christian groaned softly in frustration.

“Aya,” he complained dramatically, “please stop talking for a second and walk faster before I lose my mind.”

Aya blushed deeply.

Even after eighteen years together, her husband still looked at her with the same hunger and devotion as the day they first fell in love.

Their life would have been perfect if not for Crystal’s curse.

Before Crystal was born, they believed Aya’s punishment alone was enough—that she simply could never return to the sea without the saltwater burning her skin. But the moment their daughter experienced her first sunset transformation as a child, they realized the Spirits had cursed Crystal as well. And since then, every sunset had become painful for their daughter.

Christian tightened his grip around Aya’s hand as they finally reached the shore.

The moonlight reflected beautifully across the calm seawater while their yacht rocked gently beside the wooden dock.

Carefully, Christian guided Aya across the narrow bridge leading toward the yacht, making sure not a single drop of seawater splashed onto her skin.

The moment they entered the yacht’s interior, Christian locked the door behind them.

Aya barely had time to gasp before he pushed her gently onto the leather couch.

“Christian!” she whispered in surprise.

But her husband was already above her, capturing her lips hungrily with his own.

Years of love, longing, and desire poured into the passionate kiss. Christian’s rough hands slid beneath her dress, caressing the warm softness of her thighs while Aya whimpered softly against his mouth.

He pulled the fabric of her sundress higher until it rested around her waist, exposing more of her smooth skin beneath the dim golden lights of the yacht.

Christian trailed desperate kisses down her neck, between her breasts, and lower toward her stomach while Aya tangled her fingers into his hair.

He circled his tongue teasingly around her navel before gripping her waist firmly to keep her from squirming away.

Once satisfied, he moved lower between her thighs and inhaled sharply.

“I swear,” he groaned huskily, “I could spend forever addicted to your scent.”

Aya bit down on her lower lip hard to suppress the loud moan threatening to escape when Christian teased her through the thin fabric covering her most sensitive spot.

“Christian…” she cried weakly.

“Damn it, Aya,” he cursed breathlessly. “You are driving me insane.”

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Christian quickly unbuckled his pants while Aya’s cheeks flushed crimson.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, Gabriel and Crystal remained sitting together on the sand near the seashore.

The moon reflected beautifully across the ocean while cool night air brushed against their skin.

“You know what?” Gabriel suddenly said while staring at the waves. “I’m still confused about how your legs turn into a tail. It honestly feels like magic.”

Crystal hugged her knees and rested her chin on them.

“I’m cursed,” she answered quietly.

Gabriel nodded slowly.

“So fairy tales are actually real.”

“My mother said our kind lives deep beneath the ocean,” Crystal explained softly. “Far below where humans could ever reach.”

Gabriel turned toward her.

“Your mother… She's a siren too?”

Crystal nodded.

“Yes.”

Gabriel listened carefully while she continued.

“Sirens are forbidden from going above the surface where humans can see us. But my mother was curious about the world. She wanted to discover new things.” Crystal smiled faintly. “Then she met my father and fell in love.”

“And the Spirits punished her?”

Crystal’s expression saddened.

“The Ocean Spirit and Moon Spirit are guardians of our kind,” she explained. “To warn the other sirens from following my mother’s actions, they cursed me.”

Gabriel frowned slightly.

“But if they were protecting your kind… why punish your mother and you?”

Crystal looked toward the ocean again unable to find the answer.

Gabriel stayed quiet for a moment before asking another question.

“How long does the curse last?”

Crystal sighed deeply.

“Forever, I guess. Unless we find the Bloody Pearl.”

Gabriel raised an eyebrow.

“Bloody Pearl?”

“It’s a mystical red pearl said to cure every sickness and curse,” she explained. “My parents have been searching for it for years.”

Gabriel stared at her thoughtfully.

“What if you finally find it?” he asked. “Will you keep your legs?”

Crystal smiled weakly.

“That’s exactly what I keep asking.”

Gabriel smiled softly and gently took both her hands into his.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I’ll help you find it.

”

Crystal’s eyes widened slightly.

“You would?”

“Of course.”

A shy smile spread across her lips.

“Thank you, Gabe.”

Gabriel chuckled softly before changing the topic.

“So,” he asked, “what do you want to do for your birthday besides visiting your grandfather?”

Crystal’s expression instantly fell.

“We were supposed to go to Creekwood City tomorrow night,” she mumbled sadly. “But my parents canceled it because of my wounds.”

Gabriel gently lifted her chin.

“Hey,” he whispered. “Don’t be sad.”

Crystal looked at him silently.

“One day,” Gabriel continued seriously, “I’ll take you anywhere you want. I’ll show you cities, beaches, lights, adventures… everything.”

Crystal blinked.

“When?”

“After I settle things with my family,” he admitted quietly. “And after I know I can protect you.”

Crystal smiled softly.

“Alright,” she whispered. “I’ll wait.”

Then she hesitated.

“Can I ask for one favor?”

Gabriel laughed quietly.

“What is it?”

“Stay longer on the island.”

Gabriel smirked immediately.

“You don’t even have to beg. I already love that idea.”

Crystal giggled softly.

Gabriel glanced down at the bracelet around her wrist.

“It looks beautiful on you.”

Crystal grinned proudly.

“Of course. It’s from my first and only friend.”

They stayed by the shore a little longer before finally deciding to head back to the cabin.

But when they arrived, the house was empty.

Crystal blinked in confusion.

“Where are your parents?” Gabriel asked.

Crystal shrugged.

“I have no idea.”

A few moments later, footsteps approached from outside.

Christian and Aya finally returned together.

“Where were you guys?” Crystal asked curiously.

“Just at the yacht, dear,” Aya answered calmly.

Crystal’s eyes brightened immediately.

“Wait… are we finally going to Grandpa’s place tomorrow?”

Aya smiled warmly.

“No,” she answered. “But we decided we should still celebrate your birthday properly.”

Christian crossed his arms before adding,

“And Gabriel can come with us if he wants.”

Crystal gasped excitedly and immediately grabbed Gabriel’s arm.

“Yes! Of course he’ll come!” she exclaimed happily. “I already invited him to stay here tonight anyway.”

Christian and Aya exchanged a glance after noticing the sparkling excitement in their daughter’s eyes and the bright smile she couldn’t hide anymore.