Page 21 of Rise of the Siren Queen
What was it about her?
Not even Iryen’s green eyes could prevent the darkness from consuming me.
6
My mate
The Mate Bond, mystical, unbreakable, is fate’s most sacred thread. Forged long before drawing their breath, it binds two souls as one, etched in starlight and carved into the ocean’s depths.
When it awakens, it is an undeniable and overwhelming pull, not just of body, but of spirit. Heart to heart. Mind to mind. A connection deeper than desire, older than time. Strings connecting their soul. Those bound feel each other’s emotions, hear the unspoken, and know, without doubt, their fates entwined. The scrolls speak of signs: a whisper in a dream, a surge of magic, a call no will can resist. The bond shapes destiny, pulling the pair toward each other, even through danger, even through chaos. It is a blessing and a burden.
To resist is to defy the Deities itself. For once awakened, nothing can break the Mate Bond.
* **
Iryen
The waters felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just my nerves. The heavy stone walls of the council meeting room seemed to close in on me, making breathing hard. My grandmother sat on the throne, her posture as commanding as ever. But today, her gaze felt heavier, more critical, and the pressure of her stare made my stomach twist in knots.
I would have to report my findings and let them assume I had searched his mind, allowing them to believe he was just human. But that isn’t true. I didn’t search his mind, and I can’t confirm that he is human when I know for a fact he’s a hybrid. But I won’t tell them that.
I don’t mind lying to the council. I’ve done it before, strategic half-truths and omissions to protect Aetheria from their narrow view of the world. But lying to my grandmother? That pains me more than I can bear. She raised me to be a protector of our people, a leader, and I’ve always tried to live up to her expectations. But how could I tell her the truth without implicating her and jeopardizing her credibility?
“Iryen,” she began, her voice sharp and unwavering, cutting through the hushed murmurs of the council. “The council would like to hear your thoughts regarding the human.”
I swallowed, trying to keep my face composed, but inside, I was a tangle of emotions, fear, frustration, dread. My eyes flickered to Elora and Sienna, standing silently by my side. I silently thanked them for their loyalty, for keeping the truth about Adrian to themselves.
“He’s not a hybrid.” The lie flowed smoothly, my voice steady, devoid of any hint of the turmoil within.
Thalor’s voice, nasal and dripping with venom, pierced our mind. “How can you be sure?” His words held the same mocking challengethey always did, his eyes gleaming with an insufferable arrogance that made my blood boil. He relished every opportunity to undermine me, always testing my authority.
I hate you. One day, I’ll take your title.
I vowed silently, the thought simmering beneath my calm facade.
“I’m sure,” I snapped, letting my irritation slip just enough to sting him. “Unlike you, I’m capable enough to handle this. I searched his mind. He is human.”
The sarcasm dripped from my voice, and I could see Thalor stiffen, his jaw clenching. Good. Let him fume. Before he could retaliate, Sienna stepped in, her voice cutting through the tension.
“So, what do we do with him?” she asked, shifting the focus away from the brewing hostility.
“I still think we should drown him.” Ithra’s menacing tone followed, low and filled with dark satisfaction.
My insides recoiled at her words. I snapped my gaze toward her, catching that sickening grin on her face, the one that always made my skin crawl.
I also hated her. Ithra took too much joy in cruelty and violence. It was disgusting.
“No, we shouldn’t,” Elora interjected sharply, her voice a fierce contradiction to Ithra’s malice. “It’s forbidden to drown innocent humans. Our laws are clear.”
“Yes, Ithra. As a member of this council, you should know better.” Lady Thalia, with the same calmness Sienna portrayed, spoke in agreement. Like mother, like daughter.
But it was the silence from my grandmother that made my heart race. She hadn’t spoken yet, her silence louder than any of the bickering voices around me. I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my spine as the significance of the decision settled over us all.
When she finally spoke, her voice measured and firm.
“The intruder will remain here for one week,” she declared, her words slow and deliberate, like each carved from stone. “During that time, he will remain confined to the cave, and you, Iryen, will alter his memories to ensure he cannot expose our world. Once his memories no longer exist, you will release him back to his world with no memory of his time here.”
The words struck me like a wave crashing over my head, making it hard to breathe.Change his memories? Return him to his world?My pulse quickened as the realization hit me like a blow to the chest. That would require that I follow him to the human world.
