Page 85 of The Seer

After pressing a kiss to Taryn’s temple, he rolled to his feet. And in a spontaneous show of affection, he hugged Brenna. “Thank you. It’s a kind offer.”

“It’s my fault,” she whispered achingly. “I should’ve fought harder. Everyone believed I was stronger than Odessa but?—”

“Shh. Taryn wouldn’t blame you, love, and she sure as shite wouldn’t want ya to blame yourself.”

“She’ll appreciate becoming a Siren.” Brenna drew back and ran a shaky hand across her cheeks, wiping away her tears. “She always said it was a badass gift.”

“You always know the words to say to make me heart lighter,” he told her. “It’s blessed we were the day you walked through our doors, Brenna Sullivan.”

She grinned. “I bet you say that to all your cousins.”

“Only the beautiful ones.”

“All Sirens are beautiful,” she said with a frown.

Unbelievably, he laughed. “Aye, but I meant on the inside, love.”

“Okay, then, I’ll give you that one. Now go. Don’t keep them waiting. The sooner we wake Taryn, the better we’ll both feel.”

Fintan teleported to the hallway outside the dining room. The open doors revealed a lavish setting fit for a king.

Or a prince.

Normally, household chores were left to him as the caretaker, but Brenna had made sure to set out the finest china, light the candelabra tapers, and set out decanters of red and white wines, which he suspected came from his prized stash in the cellar. He couldn’t fault her for the care she’d taken. This meeting was too important to fail.

“Are you ready to discuss the next step in Taryn’s care?” Ardghal asked as Fintan entered.

“Aye. Are you willin’ to listen to the Aether and work together to bring her out of stasis?”

“I am. But if he breaks the truce, I’ll do what I must to save myself and my legacy.”

“I feel the same,” Damian said as he joined them. Summing up Ardghal, he held out his hand, “You’re taller than I imagined, Prince Ardghal.”

The Siren prince grinned and shook the proffered hand. “Just Ardghal or Bloodstone. And you’re shorter than I imagined.”

“I believe my height is fairly standard for a human.”

Ardghal’s gaze narrowed. “But you’re not human. Not fully. You’re the most formidable creature on this planet.”

“Close enough,” Damian agreed. “But there are others to watch. The Authority controls many of them.”

They chose their seats, surprising Fintan when neither selected the head of the table.

“Was it a test? To see if I’d react to your comment,” Ardghal asked as he poured them each wine.

“Perhaps.” Amusement brightened Damian’s obsidian eyes. “My daughter tells me you’ll be instrumental in dismantling the organization.”

Fintan halted in uncovering the vegetable medley Brenna had conjured. “Yeah, and what will that mean for the magical community?” he asked. “What are the consequences of such a thing?”

“It remains to be seen,” Ardghal replied as he filled his plate. “But I’ll not let them continue to manipulate you or Narissa, nor anyone else as they see fit.”

“Is that what you believe they are doing, Bloodstone?” Damian asked. His tone was neutral, but his expression held deep curiosity, as if he were peering into the Siren’s soul and attempting to figure out his true purpose.

“My wife’s family was instrumental in forming the Authority with the sole intent to control those like me. Hybrids from gods and mythical monsters terrified them.”

“How is it you were able to marry her if they knew what you were?”

“They didn’t at first.” Ardghal nodded at Fintan. “I looked exactly like him and passed for a full-blood. They had no objections to a human warlock. This form”—he waved a hand to indicate his body—“was the one wasting away in the grotto beneath the estate after my wife…” Looking uncomfortable, as if he’d said too much, he dropped his gaze to his plate. Elizabeth’s defection had hurt him, and though he forgave her long ago, erasing the pain of her actions wasn’t as easy.

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