Page 16 of Losing My Siren Luna
His long hair is fanning about him in the water, the same golden color as Lira’s. The embedded crown around his head, signifying his status as king, shines in the waning sun. His broad body is massive, even in the water in this form. He is the reason I got a second chance, but also the reason Lira remembers everything.
“King Brennus,” I grit my teeth, knowing an outward display of my anger towards him would do me no good. “You never said she would keep her memories as well.”
“Why would I do you that favor? It was your mistreatment that led her to run away in the first place. I told you that I would give you a second chance. Nothing more. In all honesty, I hope for your failure. She deserves better, and if it were not for her locked magic, I would take her back with me now. I wish to,” his voice drops slightly, then he looks towards the castle as if he really wished to come on shore and retrieve her.
“She could have told me about the bond before. Told someone,” I murmured in defense. She never gave any indication that she was a hybrid to anyone, or that she was my mate.
“If she were to tell your people that she was your mate after your treatment of her, they would have called her crazy. And how do your pack members view the other races? I know it is the consequence of endless wars for your territory, but your kind does not view the fae races or demonic races favorably. If she said she was half siren, your own commanders might have killed her thinking she was truly a trap sent by heruncle. I know by the way he always refers to Wayne that his hate for the alpha of the West far outweighs his hate for me.
“She tried to tell you,” Killian tells me, coming forth again, “She tried requesting an audience with you multiple times, and you always turned her down. It wasn’t until she stopped trying to seek you out that you even bothered showing her your face, and by then she was probably set on rejecting us, so why would she try after that?”
He’s right. She may not have trusted my people with her secret, but she did try to reach out to me. I was the one that prevented her from telling me anything.
“I don’t want to hurt her again,” I whispered. “I will do anything to gain her trust.”
King Brennus must take pity on me, because his cold eyes softened. “Because of our agreement, and for your help in bringing her back to this point, you have 2 years. 2 years to gain back her trust and maybe even her love. I think I was more than generous to give you that. I have countless other means to keep her safe and secure until her 20th birthday. I am allowing you another chance. One you do not deserve.”
He lifts one of his hands from the water, a stunning necklace with glimmering jewels embedded in an intricate pendant, the pattern reminding me of a crashing wave in his palm. “This is my gift for my daughter on her birthday. Be sure she gets it.”
I lean down, taking the necklace gingerly from his palm, enamored by the way the last of the sunlight dances on the cut stones.
I’m so fixated on the necklace that I don’t notice the smirk that comes over King Brennus’s face before he reaches up and pulls me into the water. My wedding attire is ruined, and I’m a sopping mess.
I sputter as I pull myself back onto the dock, still gripping the necklace in my hand. King Brennus is laughing like a hyena, bellowing loudly and making me growl.
“That's my gift to you , my newson-in-law, on your wedding day.”
“Trying to drown me?!” I sputtered.
“No,” he chuckles one last time before his face turns serious, “Notdrowning you, though you deserve it.”
That’s the last he says before diving back into the sea. I will have to be on my guard. That man will be watching us closely over the next 2 years. I’m sure. If I step out of line once, he will waste no time in taking his daughter away from me.
Chapter 6
Elelira POV
Walking back to the reception hall, I tried to let the numbness overtake me again, taking a final swig of the wine before leaving the bottle on the pathway, not wanting to draw any more negative attention to myself by coming in with it.
There are already many differences in this second time marrying Lachlan already. Not just the kiss, which was unexpected and confusing enough, but Lachlan coming to look for me after.
Once he left the reception before, he never came back. I was on my own the rest of the evening until Mimi led me back to my room for the night.
What reason would he have to come search for me? I thought he and his subordinates would be readying themselves for their night out about now.
“Luna,” someone says, disturbing my thoughts. I looked around and saw Nilo and Cherum, Lachlan’s Beta and Delta watching me as I reentered the hall. I didn’t know which one addressed me, or why they would be calling me Luna, so I just stared at them in confusion.
“Pardon my late introduction,” Nilo says, smiling kindly, “I am the Beta here, Nilo Gossling. This is our Delta and your personal protection and aide from this day forth, Cherum Rosewood.”
“Luna,” Cherum bows his head respectfully. “I look forward to serving you from-”
“That’s alright,” I rushed to interject before he made a vow or anything of that sort to protect and serve me. In this strange second chance, I still do not wish to cause qualms or be the reason someone breaks a vow. “Like the Beta said during his speech, I have but 2 years, such a short time, that I will be in the care of this pack. After the contract is fulfilled, I have no desire to burden you any longer. If you will excuse me,” I bowed to both of them before hurrying off towards my seat.
I didn’t miss the way Nilo flinched when I mentioned his speech. I wonder why he cares, or why they would bother talking to me? They didn’t the first time. Cherum would always sneer or growl at me, not wanting anything to do with me before, and Nilo, though not as hostile, would be the one to turn me away every time I sought Lachlan out.
I don’t want to bear ill-will towards either of them, but those memories remain, so my bitterness does as well. I only want to live like the dead, the same as before, surviving until my 20th birthday.
I sat alone in my seat for quite a long time, watching the others around the room mingle and enjoy the celebration. People are dancing, and the wine is flowing at every table. Even my own. Alcohol doesn’t affect us the same as humans, but many in the room are starting to act drunkenly. I have a much higher tolerance, since I am a hybrid, I suppose. I used to try to use alcohol to numb the pain of Lachlan’s affairs, but it never fully worked.
