Page 23 of Siren in the Rain

I dart a glance at Wolf Boy and he grins, those rather cheeky canines of his popping out over his bottom lip. “Awesome. I can even teach you to surf if you want.”

“Ahem. Let’s show Shae and Emma to their rooms,” Dallas says as he joins us. “I’m sure they’re both exhausted after their harrowing night. You can work on getting Shae into the water later.”

“Please,” Emma says with evident relief.

She looks wrung out from our ordeal. I know she had to have been scared out of her mind. Emma used to work for my stepmonster, crafting potions to ensure I could keep up with all the demands made on my abilities in order to develop Bella’s career. The collar used to enslave me also limited my access to my magic and drained me even faster than the grueling pace Margaret set, so using my powers was always incredibly taxing on my body. Emma hadn’t really known what she was getting into when Margaret hired her.

By the time she realized the sordid truth, she was bound by an airtight NDA and the threat of financial ruin or violence from Margaret’s hired goons. She was trapped.

Reaching over, I take her hand and squeeze it. “With everything that’s happened, I didn’t get a chance to say it.” I clear my throat awkwardly. “Thank you. I couldn’t have escaped without your help.”

Emma drops my hand and wraps me in a fierce hug. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

“You did well, tiny Potion Master,” Haku proclaims from his perch on my shoulder.

I nod. “You were very brave. Many have looked the other way over the years, happy to capitalize on my situation.” I pat her back awkwardly. “At great risk to yourself, you took a chance to help me. I’ll forever be in your debt.”

Emma pulls back and grins. “That just means you’re my bestie for life, ’kay?”

That makes me chuckle. “Absolutely.”

Haku huffs. “Master, I’m your best friend!”

Emma laughs. “You’re definitely his number one drake friend, and I’m his best Potion Master friend. Sound good?”

Haku thinks about it for a moment. “Acceptable.”

We both laugh while Haku trills in my ear and nuzzles me happily.

“We have a number of free rooms,” Dallas explains as he leads us up to the second floor. “The place was built to accommodate quite a few residents, so we still have room to grow our MEOW Squad family.”

Wolf Boy guffaws behind me. “You crack me up, Cap.”

Emma and I are given rooms next to each other, which pleases us both.

“Mine’s across the hall,” Wolf Boy offers.

I ignore that unnecessary tidbit of information and explore my room with Haku. It’s a simple setup with a double bed and some other basic furniture, along with an en suite bath. It looks like a nondescript guest room without any personality just yet, so I start to imagine what I can do to liven it up while I’m here. A space that I can truly make my own is still hard for me to conceive, but I want to hold on to the sense of promise the idea brings.

But what really makes my heart sing is the patio balcony that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Drawn forward as if by some invisible power, I open the sliding glass door and step outside. The scent of salt and sea fills my nostrils and the wind blows my hair. With my eyes closed, I bask in the sweet sunshine and taste the briny tang of the ocean breeze on my tongue. The water calls to me, its song ancient and powerful.

My magic pulses deep within me, resonating in sync with the lapping of the waves against the shore. It makes me think that, with time, I might actually be able to heal. To be myself again.

When I finally come back into the room, leaving the balcony doors open, Wolf Boy stands awkwardly in the doorway.

“This house is super safe,” he blurts out, fidgeting where he stands. “Uh, yeah. We have a hardcore security system and Cal’s warded the place against dangerous magic. You don’t have to worry while you’re here.”

I sit down on the bed, my brow furrowing. “Am I just exchanging one prison for another?”

There’s that worried whine again.

To his credit, Wolf Boy doesn’t come inside and I don’t invite him. He’s so much more than I can handle at this moment. Maybe ever.

“This is your home now, not a prison. I promise.”

I don’t even know what home means anymore. Have I ever really had a place where I belong?

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