Page 13 of The Siren & the Sea

Maura woke with astart. The color of the lights outside made her think it was still the middle of the night, but it was hard for her to tell down here. Memories of what she and Ana had done came crashing back to her, and she looked to the side, expecting to find him sleeping next to her—but the bed was empty.

She sat up and glanced over to the pool—it was empty, too.

He left. After all of that, he just left. She had thought it had meant something to him, even if she wasn't his Chosen. If he’d felt something, he wouldn’t have just left her, though. The fragile hope she’d felt last night shattered within her.

Gods, what a mistake. If she hadn't given in, she never would have known he was her Còmhanam. Of all the cruel twists of fate. He wasn't a Tuanadair, though, so he wouldn’t feel the mate bond the way she did. She had been foolish to think it could be the same for him.

Maura decided right then that she couldn't do this anymore, couldn't stay. She knew she'd probably die trying to escape, but perhaps the old gods would be kind to her.

She didn't have anything to pack, so she slipped on the dress she'd been wearing when she arrived, and stepped out into the hall. She remembered the path to that door at the top of the tower they'd used when they first arrived and quickly made her way back there, willing her steps to be silent.

Gods, she was so stupid. She had learned in school that only a Còmhanam could talk with a shifted Tuanadair. She should have known the moment he first heard her thoughts.

Maura stepped into what Ana had called the sinking chamber, and she hoped it would start automatically. The door thudded shut behind her, and water began to rise. She summoned her magic to shift, trying to keep her racing heartbeat under control. It was so reckless to get her feelings involved in this; she should have known better, should have stayed distant until it was time to go. Her heart was breaking in a thousand different ways.

As the outer door opened, Maura darted out into the freezing depths. She swam straight up, hoping beyond hope that she could make it to the surface.

She was so focused on her escape that she barely noticed the flash of scales below her. Before she could fully register what was happening, strong hands circled her in a vice grip.

"I knew it was only a matter of time before you'd run, human." The voice was vicious, and Maura couldn't quite place it. She turned to try to get a look at her captor, and recognition dawned in her mind. It was one of the guards that had found her with Anatolius the day she fell.

"A Chosen would never run from her mate. You will be dealt with swiftly, outsider."

Maura struggled, trying to free herself from the siren's grasp, but it was no use. She curled her body inward and latched her teeth into the hand that held her, and the siren hissed in pain.

"Horrible creature," he said, but his grasp didn't loosen. He swam toward the palace, and for the first time since her arrival in Vathós, Maura felt truly afraid.

Chapter 13

Anatolius had left Mauraresting comfortably in her bed. He needed to think, and he always did so best in the peace of the garden. Gods, she was a revelation. He wanted to be hers for all of his days—but she wanted to go home, and he could never trap her here.

He was lost in his thoughts when Galana approached.

"My prince, you're…needed in the throne room." Galana's tone held a note of worry. Ana didn't blame her—he had never been summoned to the throne room in the middle of the night.

A sense of dread took hold in his chest, and Ana nodded, gesturing for Galana to lead the way. They made their way to the nearest entrance, and in a matter of moments, they were striding into the throne room. What Anatolius saw made his blood run cold.

His fathers sat on their thrones, expressions of disappointment and anger on their faces. Yiorgos, one of the siren guards who had found Ana with Maura that fateful day,stood before them, holding Maura by the scruff of her neck in her otter form.

The rage Ana felt as he beheld this siren handling his Chosen was overwhelming. "Get your hands off her!" he yelled, storming toward the other siren.

Yiorgos sneered and dropped Maura to the ground. She yelped, then turned to hiss and rushed at him, biting his ankle. Anatolius reached them and scooped Maura up in his arms. Ana registered the tingle of Maura’s magic, and then she was stepping away from him, a look of hurt and anger on her perfect face. He didn't understand.

"Enough!" Demitrios said sternly. "What is the meaning of all this, Anatolius? Yiorgos tells us your Chosen was trying to leave the city?"

Anatolius glanced over at Maura and, despite her angry expression, tears filled her eyes.

Before he could speak, Maura's voice rang out across the throne room. "Yes, your highness, I was trying to escape. Your son is very noble, and I beg you not to blame him for this deception. The day we met, I fell into your waters; Anatolius knew I had no ill intent, and so did what he could to save my life. I was always meant to leave when the time was right, but tonight I took my escape into my own hands, rather foolishly. I put myself at your mercy, but truly, my trespass was an accident."

Everyone stared at her in silence before Yiorgos scoffed and started to speak.

"Silence!" king Demitrios said, cutting Yiorgos off with an air of authority Maura had not yet heard from him.

King Xander spoke more softly, addressing Anatolius. "My son, why have you lied to us so? For the sake of a human you did not know?" Pain was written on his face, and Ana felt it like a punch to the gut.

He glanced over at Maura, who now had tears running down her beautiful face. Her eyes, too, told of her pain, and he understood. He had not meant to hurt her or make her think he had abandoned her after what they'd shared. The truth, he realized, was the only possible remedy to this situation.

"Father, I did not lie to you." The kings exchanged a confused look, but Anatolius pressed on before anyone had a moment to ask any questions. "Maura is my Chosen; only, I did not know that when our ruse began. Even she did not know. Because we are different species, she must not have felt our bond the way I have. Once I realized, I…I could not trap her here when I knew her wish was to return home."

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