Page 17 of Rise of the Siren Queen
Hybrids were powerful and unpredictable, often seen as a threat to us. Their cunning and ability to move between the land and sea were well known. To the council, they were treacherous. Untrustworthy.
It was that fear of the unknown, that prejudice ingrained in our society, that could get him killed. And I couldn’t let that fate befall him. I don’t understand why, but I couldn’t bear the thought.
My grandmother studied me for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly, as though she could sense the lie radiating off me. I held my breath, praying she wouldn’t press further. I had to keep Adrian safe, no matter how much it hurt to lie.
“Very well,” she drawled, her voice tinged with doubt. “But if there’s even the slightest chance he poses a danger to our world, you must tell me, Iryen. The safety of our people comes first.”
I nodded, forcing my expression to remain calm, though inside I was crumbling. “I understand,” I whispered, though the impact of my words made it feel like I was suffocating.
How could I tell her the truth when it would mean his death?
I felt a wave of shame washed over me, threatening to drown me inits depths. I had always been honest with her and always trusted her guidance. But now, I was keeping the most important secret I’d ever held, and it felt like a crack in the foundation of our relationship.
I had no choice.
Adrian did not know what he was, had no idea of the danger he was in. If the council ever discovered his true nature, they wouldn’t hesitate to see him as a threat.
They wouldn’t care about his ignorance or confusion. To them, hybrids were a race that needed to be eradicated, and history was full of cautionary tales to reinforce that belief.
Untrustworthy. Dangerous.
But none of it applied to the human I met.
He didn’t deserve to be condemned just for existing, for something he didn’t even understand about himself.
I couldn’t let him be another casualty of fear.
But the lie I had just told, it felt like a rope around my neck, and I knew it would only grow tighter as time went on. How long could I keep this from her? From the council? How long before Adrian’s presence in my life became too serious to hide?
I had just risen to leave when her voice, sharp and unyielding, hit my head.
“Tomorrow at dawn, we will report to the council your findings and decide his future.”
Gone was the gentle warmth of my grandmother. In her place stood the command of a queen, unyielding, decisive, and bound by duty. The finality in her tone sent a chill down my spine. There was no more room for hesitation or delay.
I turned slowly, the burden of her proclamation sinking in like a stone in my chest. My heart raced, but my face remained composed. She had drawn a line, one I couldn’t easily escape.
“Yes, Grandmother,” I said, my voice steady, though inside I wastrembling. “I’ll be ready.”
As I left her chambers, I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding with the enormity of what I had just done. The lie I’d spoken might have saved him for now, but it had also put us on a perilous path. One wrong move, one slip, and everything would unravel.
I just hoped I was strong enough to handle the consequences when that time comes.
5
The Defiant
In every age, some rise against the tide. Among the sirens, not all embraced the Decree of Peaceful Waters. To some, it was not protection, but betrayal. They are called the Defiant.
Whispered off in fear, they reject peace, clinging to the old ways, when sirens ruled the seas, and none dared resist their song. To them, the decree is a chain forged in fear of mankind. They see themselves not as rebels, but as keepers of true power. In their eyes, the sea is not sanctuary—it is judgment. And they, its executioners.
Hidden in the ocean’s depths, they act in secret, knowing the price of defiance is severe. But they are patient. And the tide always turns.
* * *
Adrian
I couldn’t wrap my mind around what I had just discovered. Everything was a jumbled mess in my head, a whirlwind of disbelief, fear, and anger. Nothing made sense, yet it all clicked into place atonce. Her disdain when she called me human, her cryptic warnings about the council and threats. I was in deep shit.
