Page 13 of The Bonds of Nyx

“You’re going to be the Queen,” she cried, finally settling into my arms. “Why can’t you save her?”

“Because she isn’t like us.” I ran a hand down her back. “What they gave us wasn’t meant for humans.”

Eloise sniffled and pulled away. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to hide anything from you, okay? But this should stay between us. The girls are too young to fully understand what I’m telling you. Okay?” El gave me a soft nod, and I sighed. “You aren’t human. Your dad wasn’t human. He was part of the supernatural world.”

Eloise frowned and completely pulled away, wiping her eyes. “What was he?”

“Siren, according to the team. Half-mermaid, half-demon. I don’t know much about them, but you and the girls are half-siren.”

“I—I don’tfeeldifferent, or weird, orsupernatural. I can’t even swim well. Aren’t mermaids supposed to have tails?” she asked, brows raised incredulously.

I shrugged, offering her a half smile. “I don’t know. You can ask someone. Elias would know more than me.”

Eloise narrowed her eyes, and her lips pulled back into a grimace. “What ishe?”

“Elias is a shifter. He turns into a wolf.”

“Like Jacob inTwilight?” she asked, eyes alight with mirth.

I snickered and pulled her back into my side. “Sort of, yes, but don’t say that in front of him. I don’t think he knows whatTwilightis, and I’d like to keep it that way, especially because Thea called them theCullensuntil we found out the truth.”

My sister stiffened. “Is Thea here too?”

I nodded. “Yeah, she’s here. She’s different too, but no one knows how.”

“Is she like you?” Eloise asked, pulling back, though not enough to remove herself from my grip.

I shrugged. “No, only the current Queen is like me. Thea is something else, which we’ll ask about when we get to Avalon. For now, she’s happy not knowing, I think.”

Eloise sat silently for a few moments, so I let her go through the information I’d dumped on her. It was a lot, more than what she should be allowed to handle. But Eloise was a lot like me: she needed to have some semblance of control over her situation, and if giving her the truth gave her the control she needed, then I’d give it to her.

Finally, she slumped against me. “So, Mom’s really going to die?”

I nodded, pressing a kiss to her temple. “The woman in the other room is making her comfortable. I don’t think Mom’s going to make it. I’m so sorry.”

“How do we tell Ginny and Maisie?”

I squeezed my little sister tight. “You don’t worry about that. I’ll figure it out. I need you to know that I’m not going anywhere. Neither is Thea. And this isn’t permanent. We’ll be leaving soon.”

“Somewhere we’ll be safe?” she asked quietly.

“I hope so,” I replied honestly, squeezing her against me once more. “I just need to make sure you guys are protected, and if that means becoming Queen and making sure you have twenty-four-seven bodyguards, then that’s what’s going to happen, okay?”

Eloise snorted. “Bodyguards? Really?”

“Absolutely.” I nodded, meeting her stare. “You’re going to be followed around by men in suits with sunglasses and earpieces. That, I’ll make sure of.”

Eloise snorted again and laughed. “Ugh, that’s going to suck.” She was quiet for a few moments, sighing. “I didn’t get to say goodbye to my friends. Ginny probably won’t ever get to dance with her team again. And Maisie…”

“I know. I’m sorry. I know you’ll make new friends because that’s the kind of girl you are, Eloise. Sometimes you’re a little prickly and maybe a little mean, but you’re so outgoing you tend to make people like you.”

“Maybe that’s my superpower,” she snarked, grinning. “Being mean and making people like me anyway.”

“Sirens in mythology sang and dragged sailors to their deaths. But I don’t think that works for you because I’ve heard you sing, and it’sawful.”

Eloise smacked my arm, and her smile faltered. “Like you can talk.”

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