Page 7 of Rise of the Siren Queen
Sienna moved closer, her pale lavender eyes wide with wisdom, the moonlight casting an almost unearthly glow on her skin.
“My princess.” She whispered, her voice laced with enchantment that made the water around us still. “We can’t let any harm happen to him or we’ll face the goddess’ wrath. There’s something…He is different.”
My curiosity flared instantly. Sienna’s gift for prophecy was renowned throughout Aetheria. She could foresee future events through cryptic visions from the ocean, interpret the tides and waves to reveal hidden truths, and even, when necessary, influence thecurrents of fate with her strategic insights. Her ability to channel the energy of the sea to predict outcomes made her an invaluable advisor. It was a powerful gift.
“Different how?” I asked, my heart pounding as I tried to conceal my rising apprehension. I took a deep breath, but my mind was already racing with possibilities I didn’t want to consider.
Sienna hesitated for a moment.
“When I saw him in the moonlight,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “I had a powerful vision. His presence here holds great significance. The tides themselves have spoken, showing me glimpses of your future, and he’s at the center of it all.”
Her words sent a shiver down my spine, and I fought to keep my composure. Sienna didn’t speak lightly, especially when it came to matters of visions and fate.
“There’s more,” she continued, her tone growing heavier. “He is a hybrid, Ry. Not a common one either, but powerful.”
Her revelation struck me like a wave crashing against the shore, a mix of disbelief and dread washing over me.
A hybrid?
My mind reeled at the implications. Hybrids were rare, nearly mythological, beings born of both merfolk and human, often possessing abilities that defied the natural order. They walked the fine line between two worlds, and those who lived long enough to master their gifts were forces to be reckoned with.
“Did you tell anyone about this, Sienna?” I asked, my voice tight with panic. My mind spun with the potential consequences of this revelation. The council can’t know, not yet.
Sienna shook her head slowly, her eyes filled with concern. “No, my princess. I wouldn’t speak of this without your permission.”
“Good. This stays between us,” I commanded, my tone sharp and uncompromising as the gravity of the situation pressed down on me. “That’s an order.”
Elora nodded in agreement, her expression grave, mirroring Sienna’s unease. She hadn’t spoken much during this conversation, but I could see her tactical mind working, already evaluating the risks and the next steps.
“You need to discover more about him,” Elora said quietly, her voice steady but tense. “His presence here, it’s not a coincidence.”
I clenched my jaw, my thoughts racing. Elora was right. So many unknowns, questions, and we swam blindly into something far bigger than we could comprehend.
“Alright,” I said, my decision forming as I spoke. “I’ll comply with the council’s decision, but for now, I won’t report what you told me.” My voice wavered slightly as I turned to move toward the door. I had no intention of alerting the council until I understood more, until I learned exactly what we were dealing with.
* * *
We swam through Aetheria, houses built from shimmering coral and crystal, its towers and domes glowing softly with fluorescent light. Surrounded by vibrant gardens and swaying kelp forests, the city was a breathtaking kingdom hidden in the depths of the Black Sea.
When we reached the cave entrance, I was not disappointed to see Ronan floating in the center.
Ronan Vitalis was a shadow made flesh. The captain of the east outpost was a creature of quiet menace and calculated grace. His steel-gray eyes, cold and unreadable, that seemed to see straight through you, dissecting every weakness before you even realized you had one. Framed by unruly black hair, his sharp, angular features carried a beauty that was more dangerous than alluring, like the edge of a blade, beautiful in its lethality.
His presence was unsettling, an aura of mystery and power clinging to him like the deep currents of the abyss. The faint glow of black scales, darker as the night itself, traced across his skin, a reminder of the beast lurking beneath his composed exterior. Even in stillness, he poised himself like a weapon, ready to strike.
Ronan wasn’t a man you trusted easily. He was the one you watched carefully, hoping he never decided you were in his way. Unless you were Elora.
Their dynamic was something else entirely, sharp-edged, volatile, an unspoken battle of wills that neither seemed willing to lose. The way they baited each other, pushing just far enough to draw blood without ever truly cutting, sent an uneasy prickle beneath my skin. Whatever history lay between them, it was tangled, knotted with something deeper than mere hatred. And that was what unsettled me most.
“Seriously,” Elora groaned, crossing her arms as she glared at Ronan. “You literally got the order, and you’re already here? Have you considered resting?”
Ronan leaned against the cave wall, his signature smirk playing on his lips. “Some of us take orders seriously, Elora. You should try it sometime.”
“And here we go,” Sienna whispered beside me, her lavender eyes flicking between Elora and Ronan. They bickered, itching for opportunities to provoke one another.
Wherever they were, whether on the brink of a battle or in a peaceful moment like now, they would always find reasons to quarrel about.
Elora took a step closer, her crimson tail gleaming in the dim light. “You’re lucky we’re on the same side, Ronan, or I’d love to show you how seriously I take orders.”
