Page 28 of Song For His Siren
"Hello," he said with a slight nod of his head.
"My set just finished. I was wondering where you went."
He looked down at the ground. It was like there was something right beneath the surface she couldn't quite grasp, something he wasn't telling her. Maybe that was still just the surprise of learning magic was real.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It is nothing. You sang very well. Have you ever had one of these? The woman told me it's called a funnel cake," he said, picking up the plate next to him mounded with fried dough and powdered sugar.
"Ummm...yes, I have. And they’re a personal favorite," she said as she ripped a small piece of the dough and popped it into her mouth.
He did the same, ripping himself off a piece before popping it into his mouth leaving his lips covered in powdered sugar. Calli cocked an eyebrow and went in for a kiss, allowing her tongue to trace his lips, licking off the sugary goodness. A low rumble from deep in his chest vibrated her hand resting there as he deepened the kiss.
After another moment of mind-shattering kissing, Callie pulled back and looked up at him. "I'm glad you ended up here, but I guess I'm still not clear on why."
"I told you, the magic has been leaving our land. I’m here to try and bring it back."
"I don't understand," she said, ripping off a piece of the dough. "How could visiting here help bring back the magic to your people?"
Dru tensed next to her and would not meet her eye.
"What is it?" she asked, trying not to be suspicious. He had appeared out of nowhere, and while she did feel a ridiculous pull to him and was unnaturally comfortable around him, she could tell there was still something he wasn't telling her.
"There ye two are," said a friendly Scottish brogue.
Dru stood quickly, powdered sugar falling from him like snow. "Bridget," he answered quickly with a nod. "If you'll excuse me."
And just like that, he walked into the crowd, leaving Bridget and Calli with puzzled expressions covering their faces.
"What on earth was that about?" Bridget asked, sounding amused.
"I don't know," answered Calli, only she seemed less than amused. "Why do I still feel like there is something I don't know? Why is he here?"
Bridget turned to her. "I'm afraid it is not my place to share, but I’ll find out what's going on with the big lunk."
And as quickly as she had come, she was gone.
"Calli, we go again in fifteen minutes," she heard Michael call from the tent.
"Coming," she answered, heading over to their stage.
"What's up with that guy? Is he why you were late this morning?" he asked as he wagged his eyebrows.
Calli walked past him, shaking her head.
15
KHULDRUK
Khuldruk walked through the crowd of people. He wasn't sure what his plan was. He was still stuck where he was this morning, finding his mate and wanting to save his people. The situation before him felt impossible. He wished he could split himself in two and be both here with his mate and restore the magic to his people. Maybe completing the bond would be enough to save his people. If he completed the bond and then chose to live without his mate, he would wither away, he knew that. Either choice would kill a part of him.
"There ye are. What's going on with ye, ye silly thing?" Bridget scolded him.
He turned, and he could see her expression change from that of irritation to sympathy. "What's going on?"
"She is truly my mate," he said solemnly.
"Aye," she answered, still not quite following him.
