Page 16 of Siren in the Rain

Maybe dying is better than living if I have to keep suffering.

To my utter shock, Wolf Boy lets out a sad, mournful howl and bursts into tears. “H-how c-could they?” he sobs.

It makes something strange ache in my chest.

Dallas pulls him into a hug. “Your soft heart is one of your greatest qualities, Griffin. But you need to be strong right now. For your mate.”

Part of me wonders if I’m trapped in a dream. I’m so lost and confused right now, but I’m also oddly touched by Wolf Boy’s sorrow on my behalf.

But that still doesn’t make me want to entertain any of this fated-mates bullshit.

Wolf Boy sniffs and wipes away tears, then takes a fortifying breath and straightens. “Will you let me hold your hand again while Cal does his thing? I can use my powers to give you some emotional and physical relief.”

I study him for a long moment.

Oh, who the fuck am I kidding? I’m scared as shit right now and I’ll take whatever the fuck I can get. After all, this could backfire and I’ll die. Might as well feel good while it happens.

“Whatever,” I say, but hold out my hand.

He takes it eagerly and kneels by the bed again. His scent fills my nostrils and my skin warms as tranquility washes over me.

“Everyone except Griff stand back,” Cal orders. “I’m going to remove this atrocity of a magical torture device. It never should have existed in the first place.”

I clear my throat. “Not to belittle your talents right out the gate, pal, but I’d really rather not die today.” The skepticism in my sarcasm is on point but also legit. I’ve tried to get this collar off for years with no luck, and I’m not sure how much I trust my life in the hands of a stranger right now, no matter how badly I want the damn thing off.

Callum strips off his jacket to reveal bare forearms covered in black swirling magic sigils. “I’m no ordinary mage, cutie. My talent’s a bit… unique.”

Seriously, who the fuck are these MEOW Squad people?

I flinch and stare in shock as he pulls out a folding knife that he uses to casually slice open his thumb. He swipes a wet trail of crimson up the length of his forearm, and I can’t hold back my amazement as I watch the sigils turn a glowing silver color that’s also mirrored in his eyes.

Blood-activated magic is some of the most powerful there is.

An ember of hope sparks inside me. Maybe this guy isn’t all talk.

“Cal’s currently the only known magic hacker in existence,” Harper explains. “He’s one of the strongest mages on this continent.”

Magic hacker?

“That’s right. Cal’s the best around,” Wolf Boy adds, his furry ears flicking. “He’ll be able to get the collar off you safely. I promise, my mate.”

I’m not sure why, but for some reason I start to believe him.

And I kind of want to rub his ears to see if they’re as soft as they look, but I tamp down that impulse.

“Shut your pie hole, Griff, before I start blushing,” Cal grouches, but he can’t quite hold back a small smile before he focuses on me. “Now, let me concentrate while I overwrite the enchantment on this collar.”

I try to relax while he does his thing. Although my anxiety amps up since I can’t see what he’s actually doing, Wolf Boy’s scent keeps me from tipping over into a full-blown panic attack. Cal’s concentration is intense, however, and I focus my gaze on the sigils on his arms that continue to glow silver as he works.

I wait, preparing myself for freedom or death any moment now.

Just a typical day for me, I suppose.

I have to swallow back a hysterical laugh.

It isn’t long before I sense an odd energy in the air around us, a building storm of sorts, and I tense.

“Heh, piece of cake,” Cal says triumphantly.

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