Page 73 of Rise of the Siren Queen
Kieran shot Sienna a quick glance before turning back to me, his expression hardening. “You’re not just some random hybrid, Adrian. There’s a deeper connection between you two, goes beyond what you understand.”
A connection. That, I already knew. But something further than attraction, something beyond understanding, that was what I couldn’t piece together. I thought it was because she saved me, that maybe I felt some sense of obligation. But now, standing here, after yesterday and what they were saying, I know it was there all along. Like a thread woven into my very soul, pulling me toward her before I even knew who she was.
Ronan snorted, clearly enjoying my confusion. “Oh, he really doesn’t know. Poor human.”
Elora glanced at me with pity in her eyes, her lips parting as if she was about to speak. “It’s the—”
“Red,” Ronan interrupted, his voice cutting her off sharply, “It’s not our place to tell.”
My patience snapped.
“What is it you can’t mention?” I bit out, anger bubbling beneath the surface. “She just left me in the dark, while all of you know?”
Ronan’s smirk widened. “Oh, trust me,human, it’s better that way.” He leaned in slightly, his gray eyes gleaming with mischief.
“Ronan,” Sienna’s voice was soft but firm, a quiet warning.
He backed off, his hands up in mock surrender, but the amusement in his expression didn’t fade.
“Alright, alright, I’ll play nice.” He shot me a look, as if sharing some inside joke with himself. “For now.”
I glared at him. Everyone seemed to know something I didn’t, and Iryen keeping me in the dark made me snap.
“I’m tired of the riddles,” I said, my voice low, fists clenched at my sides. “If there’s something more, then I deserve to know.”
“What you need to know, you’ll learn when Her Highness is ready to share.” Kieran glanced toward Sienna, who met his gaze briefly before nodding.
“Her Highness doesn’t trust easily, Adrian,” Sienna added, her lavender eyes steady on mine.
“Trust?” I scoffed, shaking my head. “All I’m asking for are answers about myself. And if I remember correctly, she made a bargain with me, truths for these training sessions, which were supposed to be with her.”
Elora’s eyes flashed, and before I could react, she snapped, “You don’t get it, do you?”
“Red,” Ronan interrupted sharply, his smirk gone, replaced with a stern seriousness that startled me. “Don’t.”
But Elora wasn’t having it. “No, I’m going to tell him.” She took a step toward me, her turquoise eyes blazing with emotion. “He doesn’t see that all of this is to keep him safe, to make sure he returns unharmed.”
“Elora—” Kieran’s warning died as she continued, undeterred.
“The bargain she made with you? It was to give you an easy way out. You don’t understand, do you? She could’ve erased your memories, dumped you on the shore of your city without a second thought.” Elora’s voice wavered with intensity. “But no, she couldn’t do that to you. So she came up with this. She’s even performing the Azure Spell, to keep you and her kingdom safe. So stop whining and demanding answers, and accept what she’s offering you. A way out. Before—”
“That’s enough, Elora,” Ronan growled, his voice low and dangerous. His usually playful tone had completely vanished.
Elora glared at him, but her words had already left their mark. “Fine. I said what I wanted, anyway.”
With an exasperated look, she turned and dove into the dark waters, disappearing into the ocean’s depths without a trace.
I stood there, watching the ripples in the water where she vanished, my mind racing.
Ronan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
“She’s got a point, you know,” he muttered, his gaze drifting to the water. “But you’ll have to hear the rest from Iryen.” He met my eyes, and for the first time, there was no mockery or taunt in his expression. Just something close to understanding.
16
Azure Oath
Iryen
