Page 84 of The Seer

Narissa sauntered forward. “He’s gifted you a third chance, Fin. Don’t waste it, sugar.”

She was right.

Here Fintan stood, quibbling over details when Taryn was in what constituted a coma down the hall. He raced to his bedroom and rushed through the door to find her exactly as Ardghal described—in a stasis. Perhaps he’d hoped she’d woken during his confrontation and would greet him with open arms the instant he stepped across the opening.

But she didn’t.

Her too-still form was unnatural, as it had been stories below in the cave. Searching the room, he didn’t see her spirit, and could only assume she was clinging to her physical self.

Fintan climbed on the bed and stretched out beside her. Resting his head on the pillow, he stared at her profile, as he’d done countless nights when they’d first hooked up. Whenever he was too wired to sleep, he’d watch her, unable to believe his good fortune. Worried that one day his happiness would crumble like an unstable house of cards. And it had.

He wanted to yell at the unfairness of life. But his voice still held power, and he checked the urge.

“It seems I’ve cursed you just by lovin’ ya,aoibhneas mo croí.” His vision blurred, and he angrily swiped at his eyes. “The life of a Siren isn’t what I’d have wished for you, love. If I can reverse it, I will.”

“Like Ardghal said, it isn’t the Siren, Fintan. It’s those with evil intent.”

He rolled to his feet, prepared to fight the newcomer before his conscience registered who it was.

“Jaysus, Dethridge! You gave me a feckin’ heart attack, ya did.”

“You didn’t think to call me when all this began?” Damian asked from the foot of the bed. His tone was chilly and disapproving, making Fintan uneasy.

“It happened too fast, man. And Ardghal—” The Aether’s sharp glance stopped him. “Did you know he was me Siren?”

The rigidness left Damian’s expression, and he nodded. “I suspected, yes. But I also hoped I was wrong.”

“Sure, and that’s why you didn’t want anythin’ to do with Bloodstone’s necklace, yeah?”

“I couldn’t touch it. He warded it against Aethers.”

“Why, if it doesn’t work for any but him?” Fintan asked, curious why Ardghal would do such a thing.

“We have the power to gift or remove abilities, and part of them remain with us. Aethers are comprised of all bloodlines, even Sirens, to achieve this.”

“He’s the original hybrid. How is it you have Siren blood?”

“The Goddess. It doesn’t make me a hybrid, though, just as it doesn’t make me a Guardian or Traveler by possessing some of their power.”

“Sure, and it’s a migraine I’m gettin’ from all this information,” Fintan confessed.

“Or perhaps you need sleep,” Damian said dryly. “But to answer your original question, I don’t believe Ardghal wanted to take any chances after discovering my mother had absorbed the Darkness, which was born of a rogue Incubus.”

Fintan sat heavily on the mattress beside Taryn. “Can you wake her?”

“I can try, but it will take Ardghal’s trust in Beastie and me.”

CHAPTER26

Fintan didn’t want to leave Taryn, not for one second of one minute. But he needed to broker the peace between the Aether and the Siren prince. Damian had to have unwavering faith in his skills if he intended to bring his beloved daughter into the mix. But then again, Taryn was Sabrina’s aunt, and as her father, Damian would want to save her the pain of loss.

Fintan shoved aside the image of her grave, praying to the Goddess, the Fates, or anyone willing to listen that his vision had been wrong. It begged the question: once seen, was the outcome set in stone? He had avoided Taryn for fear she’d be his downfall, as predicted. Yet Ardghal and Peter believed the ancestors fed him a load of shite. Did it mean he wasn’t a true Seer? During many situations in the past, he hadn’t relied on them, and only when they hijacked his mind were the truly horrendous predictions imparted.

“Fin?”

He glanced up to find Brenna lingering in the doorway.

“Dinner is ready. I thought I’d sit with Taryn while you confer with Damian and Ardghal.”

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