Page 132 of Rise of the Siren Queen
Now that they were near, I noticed their uncanny resemblance—triplets, identical in almost every way except for their hair and eyes.
One had silken locks the color of spun gold, shimmering like starlight. The second had cascading waves of cerulean, reminiscent of the ocean at twilight. The third had blush-pink hair, delicate yet radiant, as if the dawn had kissed it.
“Look, Neridea, he is wise, keeping his distance,” a soft, melodic voice echoed in my mind, its sweetness laced with an underlyingedge that made my skin prickle.
I immediately fortified my mental shields, unwilling to let any of them probe further than I allowed.
The one with cerulean hair stepped forward, her movements fluid and hypnotic. Different from the others in more than just her hair, her left eye shimmered in pink, while her right glowed a piercing blue.
The contrast was unsettling, yet it only added to her unnerving allure. Her gaze locked onto mine, her expression unreadable but undeniably calculating.
“No need to guard yourself in our presence, hybrid.” Her voice resonated in my mind, this one carrying a regal weight, wise and commanding, yet devoid of the teasing lilt the first voice held.
“He is certainly wise, Nyssa, but don’t go scaring him—we are not here for that,” the one with golden hair interjected, her voice calm. A serene smile graced her lips as she introduced herself. “I am Neridea, and these are my sisters.” She gestured gracefully to the one with soft pink hair, “Nyssa,” then to the cerulean-haired one whose mismatched eyes, “and Nayadine.”
“Why are you here?” I asked sharply, keeping my voice steady, refusing to let the warmth of her smile or the pleasant lilt of her words disarm me. Despite their beauty and composed demeanor, I wasn’t naïve enough to let my guard slip.
And I only had eyes for one woman, an even more mesmerizing creature.
“Careful, hybrid,” Nayadine’s mismatched eyes flared with intensity, her tone sharp enough to cut through the surrounding water. “We might not be here to harm you, but we still demand respect. Mind your tone.” Her words sent a ripple of unease through me, the weight of her warning prickling against my skin like the edge of a blade.
Fuck that.
They appear out of nowhere, and I just have to accept anything they tell me?
“Now, now, no need for that, Nayadine,” Neridea interrupted with a fond smile directed at her sister, her calm demeanor an anchor in the charged moment. She turned to me, her expression soft. “Pardon my sister. She is a bit protective of us. Understandable, of course, but we have orders to follow.” Her voice carried an undercurrent of urgency, and despite her composed exterior, I could sense the importance of their presence. “I know you have questions, but as you know, we don’t have the time for them.”
No shit. Finally, some sense coming from them.
I remained silent. The words caught in my throat as I tried to make sense of their sudden appearance. To my understanding, this was Aetherian territory, a domain ruled by sirens. Nymphs didn’t live here, at least not according to anything my mother had told me.
“As sea nymph spirits, it is our duty to guide those in distress,” Nyssa said, her melodic voice filling the void of silence, as if reading my thoughts. Her pink hair flowed in the faint light as she stepped closer. “The goddess has sent us to guide you.”
“And we are here to lead you to the one you seek,” Neridea continued, her words deliberate, her silver gaze fixed on me.
“Your mate,hybrid,” Nayadine interjected, her tone steady but grim, “is facing the wrath of the goddess. The destiny for those who defy her will… is worse than death.” Her words sent a chill through me, the thought of Iryen in danger settling deep in my chest.
I knew something was wrong.
I felt it deep in my bones.
“Then lead the way, please.” The words echo before I could second-guess myself. This might very well be a mistake, but something deep within me, some instinct, urged me to trust them. Or at least, trustthe path they were showing me.
Without waiting for another response, I followed as they glided forward, their movements fluid and elegant, as if they extended the currents themselves.
I trailed behind, my focus split between keeping up with their effortless speed and trying to memorize the labyrinthine path we took. The turns were disorienting, the dives deeper than I expected, and the water seemed to press heavier against me with each passing second.
My mind whirled, worry rising with every stroke of my tail.
What would I find once I saw her?
How much danger was she in?
Finally, a faint glow appeared ahead, piercing through the shadows like a beacon. The soft, ethereal lights grew brighter as we approached, illuminating the jagged edges of what I realized was the exit of the maze. The sight stirred a mix of relief and trepidation within me. Whatever the source of Iryen’s pain, I knew it had scarred her.
The Nymphs slowed as we approached the exit, gracefully turning to me.
“This is Hyrem, the capital of Aetheria,” Neridea said, her voice filled with pride as she motioned to the breathtaking city before us.
