Page 63 of Rise of the Siren Queen
“Maybe physically,” she said with a tilt of her head. “But mentally? Emotionally? If you want to have any choice at all, you need to turn this anger into something else, human.”
I scoffed, feeling the frustration rising again. “Turn to what? Easy for you to say. You’re not the one trapped in this.”
“You think I don’t know what it’s like to be bound by some bond? I’ve been bound to this kingdom, to protect Iryen, since the day I was born and later I was bound by the same bond you are now. We all have chains, hybrid. It’s how you handle them that matters.”
Her words cut deep, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could, another ripple appeared on the water’s surface.
I turned, expecting another surprise guest, and found a pair of lavender eyes staring back at me.
Another Siren. Fucking perfect.
I shouldn’t be surprised by now, but it was still unbelievable seeing such different creatures up close, each one more surreal than the last. The new siren moved with the grace of someone used to being unseen until noticed, her clear white tail contrasting seamlessly with the dark water. Her calm presence brought a quiet energy to the space, and despite the tension gripping me moments ago, I felt mypulse slow, as if her mere presence had soothed some of the chaos inside me.
“Adrian,” she greeted softly, her voice like the sound of the ocean at night, deep, melodic, and endlessly vast. “It seems you’ve attracted quite the audience.”
I stared at her, unsure of what to say. She carried wisdom in her eyes for her age. Or what I assume was her age.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice sounding rougher than I intended, suspicion creeping into my tone.
Her lips curved slightly, almost like my awareness amused her. She didn’t answer right away, her eyes studying me as if she could see straight through the confusion tangled up inside me. For a moment, the only sound was the soft lapping of water against the pond’s edge.
“Oh my, where are my manners? I’m Sienna Kallias,” she finally replied, her tone gentle but firm. “Iryen’s advisor. And a friend.”
Friend.The word felt loaded, but I didn’t press it.
Her gaze remained steady, and I had the strange feeling she could sense exactly what I was thinking. Something about her presence reminded me of the stillness of deep water, calm, yet holding the potential for something far more powerful beneath the surface.
“I’m not here to cause you any discomfort,” she added, her voice low, soothing.
“So, why are you both here?” I asked, trying to mask the irritation that boiled beneath my skin.
“We’re here to make sure you hold up your end of the bargain with our princess,” Elora responded coolly, her turquoise eyes cutting like a sharp knife.
“She sent you to train me rather than do it herself?” I scoffed, the disdain clear in my voice. “Please remember her that the bargain has two ends.”
Sienna glided beside Elora, her calm presence contrasting withElora’s fiery demeanor.
“You are a prisoner. Don’t think that changed because you made a deal with our princess.” The red-tailed siren argues, her voice vicious.
I clenched my fists but said nothing. She wasn’t wrong.
“What’s first?” I muttered through gritted teeth.
Without a word, Sienna and Elora glanced at each other. Then, before my eyes, both of their tails shimmered, glowing briefly with iridescent light. The shift was seamless and fluid, as if they were shedding one skin and slipping into another.
Water swirled around them, enveloping them in a blurred haze. Their tails had disappeared, transforming into long, human legs that broke the surface of the water. Their clothes clung to their skin.
Elora stood tall, her form exuding both elegance and power. She wore a sleek, black armored gown. The bodice sculpted to her frame, adorned with intricate metallic designs that flickered in the morning light, highlighting her curves while maintaining a warrior’s grace. Spiked pauldrons protected her shoulders, adding a menacing touch to her otherwise rebel appearance. A long slit ran up the side of the skirt, revealing her toned legs as she stepped forward, her every movement both fluid and commanding.
Sienna rose next. Her clothes were a stark difference from Elora, while the redhead’s dress resemble to a warrior’s. Sienna wore a long-sleeved blue top adorned with pearls and gold thread, and a mid-thigh skirt. Her outfit created a serene look. Her violet hair, still damp from the water, framed her features, and her pale eyes held a mysterious glow. She moved with the same grace as before, but now there was something more human about her.
“You need to learn control in both forms,” Sienna explained, as if their seamless transformation was the most natural thing in the world. “Your powers will feel different when you’re in human form.And that’s what we’ll focus on today.”
I blinked, still processing the change. Even after everything I had seen, the fluidity of their transformations caught me off guard. Their effortless bridging of the gap between siren and human struck me, while I struggled to control anything at all.
“Fine,” I said, my voice hardening. “What’s the first step?”
Elora crossed her arms, her eyes still glowing with that fiery intensity. “You need to stop fighting the connection with your hybrid side.”
