Page 101 of Siren in the Rain

Emma and Ruby get ready to test samples on some slides and in test tubes, using a lot of high-tech equipment I don’t have a clue about. Although I was able to finish high school online with some help from private tutors, I wasn’t able to expand my education much beyond that once I was restrained by Margaret’s collar. For the first time, I start to seriously consider my goal of going to college when this is all over.

Holy shit. Look at me thinking about my future again.

I’ve come a long way in a short amount of time.

Cal studies the jar of lotion, his eyes glowing briefly. “There’s definitely traces of magic here. Once we’ve gotten all the samples we need, I’ll assess what’s left and see what I can discover. They might be working with a Potion Master to activate different ingredients.”

What follows is a long night of waiting.

Evidently, lab analysis on movies and TV shows happens much faster than it does in real time.

Dallas keeps pumping us full of coffee and snacks while Emma and Ruby work with focused determination, bringing a blend of scientific and magical investigation to their work. I knew they were both amazing women, but I’m even more impressed with them as I see them in action.

Around dawn, they hit the jackpot.

Emma and Ruby gather us around to share their findings. “Okay, folks. We still need further testing, of course, but we have enough data now to definitively say there are traces of at least siren scales, dryad hair, and vampire blood.”

Harper’s eyes flare red. “I’ll need to share this with the Vampiric Council, then. They’ll almost certainly sign on in support of our proposal to the greater Otherkind Council.”

“I’m sorry for the reason, but that’ll honestly be a big help. If we have more folks in our corner who can persuade the Otherkind Council to push the human authorities to act, all the better,” Dallas says.

“Yeah, and there’s no time to waste.” Cal scrubs a hand over his tired face. “These Divine Beauty fuckers are even worse than we imagined. And believe me, we’ve imagined a lot.”

“They’ve clearly been sampling from multiple species,” I agree.

“Just further evidence of the probable trafficking connection,” Harper says.

Dallas crosses his big arms, his face deadly serious. “Harper, we need you to meet with the Vampiric Council.”

“Most of them have probably just gone to bed, but I can be at their door when night falls.”

Dallas makes a rumbling noise, his face screwed up in thought. “Getting the vampires on our side is a critical first step. We still need to find Divine Beauty’s secret laboratory, but for now, we can take this evidence to the Otherkind Council to get the ball rolling.”

“Let’s hope they can get their heads out of their asses fast enough to be useful,” Cal drawls sarcastically.

Harper flashes his fangs, a wicked glint in his dark eyes. “One of my minions is helping me comb through all of Margaret and Bryce’s secret property holdings. We’ve narrowed the list down to five viable possibilities and I have people out surveilling each location even as we speak. We should know very soon.”

I blink at Harper. “You have minions?” I don’t know why that’s what I ask, but it is. Maybe I’m just too overwhelmed by everything else.

Harper arches an eyebrow. “Of course, darling. All powerful vampires do.”

Griffin shakes his head in wonder. “So freaking cool.”

I kind of have to agree.

Cal and Harper grin at one another.

“Looks like we’re going to get to enjoy a delightful raid soon. It’s been far too long since I got to use my parasol sword,” Harper says.

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Cal’s got a zealous gleam in his eyes that says he’s ready to rumble.

“Simmer down, boys. There’s way too much testosterone all up in here,” Ruby says.

“Seriously,” Emma agrees.

They look at each other and giggle.

Then they yawn and it starts a chain effect among us all. Haku doesn’t even notice. He’s been asleep, snoring softly on my shoulder in the nest he’s made from my hair for a while now.

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