Page 45 of Lured By the Siren

Yvette is gone in the blink of an eye.

The most powerful siren any of us will know in this lifetime or the next is nothing more than the grains of sand that make up the beaches of our home.

With a final burst of lightning, the rumbling storm clouds begin to part all around us. The ocean around Kafigda is finally clear as far as the eye can see. Is it finally over?

Just then, I hear a loud cough and see Florence limping her way over to us. I can’t help the tears that trail down my cheeks, and I race to grip her in a bone-crushing embrace. I was so worried she wouldn’t recover from Yvette’s spell. As hurt as I was for the secrets she kept, I understand now that she was only doing what she thought was right, and when the moment came, she was there to protect me and Kai.

“Thank you for trying to save me. I…I’m sorry for everything.”

She looks into my eyes, and the tears spill over as sobs rack her injured frame. We hold each other for several moments before I hear her whisper, “She would be so proud.”

20

Kai

The early tendrils of dawn reach across the horizon, turning the sky to soft shades of lavender and gold. No more storm clouds ominously looming in the distance, and no more dark waters promising death and destruction. As the sun crests, its light glow shimmers across the gentle waves, bathing them all in warmth.

They were all free.

Not only the men who have been trapped here so long, but the sirens, too. The world is open to them for the first time in centuries.

I watch as Evie and Florence embrace, noting the other Elders and how they also hug their loved ones. They were prisoners as much as the sailors were, forced to obey Yvette or meet the wrath of her power like Evelyn’s mother.

The gathered company of sirens and sailors part suddenly as Mathius makes his way toward Evie. There is a heavy sadness in his gaze, one that tells of centuries of regret and heartache.

Evie breaks free of her embrace with Florence and watches as he takes long strides toward her. He halts just a single step away from her, and they both stare at one another. Everyone stands silent, and the only sounds are that of the ocean’s current and the swift breeze rustling through the trees beyond the beach.

It is Mathius who speaks first, “You are so much like your mother.” He chokes out, and that is all Evie needs to hear, because she throws her arms around him, a fresh batch of tears trickling down her cheeks. Mathius’s large arms encircle her, and he lays his head atop hers. The sparkle of emotion in his eyes, and a warm smile spreads across his face.

“Kai?” A quiet voice says behind me, and I turn to find Dru standing there. “I remember.”

Relief washes over me, and a slow smile blooms across my face, “Welcome back, brother.”

He smirks back and then arches a brow, “You know you didn’t have to grab my leg out from under me. I busted my lip from that, see?”

He pulls down his bottom lip, where a small gash is present. I wince, “Sorry about that. I was sort of at the end of my rope. I didn’t know how to get you back.”

Dru sighs, putting an arm over my shoulder. “What are you even doing here? How are we both here on this strange island?”

I huff a laugh, “It’s a long story.”

“Well, I think I have time to listen.”

Dru and I leave the group of sirens and sailors, and I tell him everything that has happened over the past month that he’s been gone. I tell him of Father not doing well, that I didn’t want to take over the province, and that I came looking for him, to bring him home knowing he wasn’t dead. I tell him that my journey led me to this island, directly to him.

“Gods,” Dru runs a hand through his dark hair. “An entire month. I remember the storm and the shipwreck, but after that, it's all such a blur.”

“It’s okay, you’ll get it all back in time. Listen, Dru, there's something else.” He frowns at me, waiting for me to continue, “I’m not exactly sure how to say this, because… well, quite frankly, I can’t fully believe it myself, but the lost elven King of Halvendor is here.”

Dru choked, coughing, “W–what?”

“I know, I know. He’s been here this whole time, and I think we need to bring him back home. You know as well as I do that Halvendor suffers without a true ruler. There are all the pretender kings who can never hold the throne, playing dress-up, but without the true king, the entire kingdom has been suffering for far too long.”

“Halvendor needs its king,” Dru nods, agreeing.

A glimpse of pink and blue shimmers in the corner of my vision, and I turn to see Katarina sauntering towards us. Dru curses under his breath, and I smirk.

“Well, well, if I had known if you two were brothers here on the island, I would have tried to have a little extra fun.” She says.

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