Page 80 of Rise of the Siren Queen
When we finally reached my car, the sleek silhouette of the black Aston Martin Vantage gleamed under the soft streetlights. Its polished exterior reflected the vibrant colors of the sunset.
My assistant, Luke, approached me, keys in hand.
“Sir,” he greeted, but I noticed his gaze drifting toward Iryen, pausing and examining her unique features and striking eyes. Anicy dread seeped into my bones as I watched him turn away, and a guttural sound escaped my lips, drawing his attention back to me.
“I hope your vacation was relaxing,” he continued, though his eyes once again wandered toward her body.
“It was, thank you,” I replied sharply, dismissing him. “That’s all. You may take the rest of the evening off.” I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone prying into what was mine, and if he didn’t leave soon, I wasn’t sure I could contain myself.
Without another order, he left, and I turned toward Iryen, who stood frozen. Her lips parted in silent wonder, and her eyes were wide as she took in the car’s elegant lines and sporty design. My lips tugged upward as I watched her. Her surprise sparked a warm feeling spreading across my chest—pride. A woman’s reaction to my wealth has never affected me so deeply. Now, I’m grateful for the look of wonder it brought to her face.
“This is… impressive,” she breathed, eyes gleaming as if starlight had touched them.
I couldn’t help but smirk at her reaction. “You like it?” I asked, leaning against the car and crossing my ankles as I relaxed.
“It’s beautiful,” she replied, stepping closer to examine the intricate details, her fingers tracing the contours of the hood. “I’ve seen nothing like it.”
I stepped forward, standing beside her. “It’s more than just a car. It’s a piece of art. And it drives like a dream.”
She looked up at me, her jewels of eyes shining at mine with a mix of admiration and intrigue. “Art? You really think of it that way?”
“Absolutely,” I said, feeling a tender sense of joy course through my veins. “Just like the ocean, it has power and grace. It is an experience.”
Iryen nodded, her gaze returning to the car. “I’d love to experience it.”
“Then let’s not waste any more time,” I suggested, opening thepassenger door for her. “Buckle up, Princess. This ride will be unforgettable.”
As she slid into the plush cream leather passenger seat, I felt a thrill course through me, not just from the anticipation of the drive, but from the growing connection between us. With one last glance in her direction, I rounded the hood and slid into the driver’s seat, and the low growl of the engine beckoned to life as I turned to her with a grin.
“Ready?”
“Ready,” she echoed eagerly, a spark of excitement in her voice.
And with that, I pressed down on the gas, surging forward into the night. The engine roared, and the world blurred past us, vibrant lights dancing across the dashboard as the numbers got higher.
Silence stretched out between us, but I wasn’t having it. Something about being here, in this moment, made me want to know more about her, about the girl who had captivated me from the start. The hum of the road beneath us felt electric, and with every passing streetlight, I knew the walls between us were cracking.
“So,” I began, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “Tell me, have you ever ventured coming here to the city?”
Her gaze flickered to me, and I saw the gears turning in her mind. “Yes, I had,” she replied, her tone hard, lost in a distant memory. “For my parents. Five years ago, King Orion from Erythion told us about the possibility of the lost princess, his daughter, being located here, and since this city is part of our territory, he asked my parents for help.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, strained.
I glanced at her, noticing the trembling of her body, a subtle shiver, almost imperceptible. “Iryen…” I began, feeling a nagging surge of protectiveness wash over me.
She took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on her lap, the lights of thecity illuminating her features. “It was a long time ago,” she said, her tone low and cold.
It was hard for her to talk about her parents, and I could see the shadows of pain flickering across her features and in the way her skin was pale. As she spoke, the memory of the dream flashed once more in my mind—the haunting image of her witnessing something I couldn’t change. I wondered if it had anything to do with her parents and who the other triton was in the vision. I had seen it through her eyes, yet the words exchanged between them remained a mystery.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked softly, my gaze shifting to her as I navigated the roads of the city towards my penthouse.
She blinked, as if pulling herself back from the depths of her thoughts. “It’s okay. I’m… managing,” she replied, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
“Is it about that dream?” I pressed quietly, afraid my words could trigger her. “You witnessed something. They were your parents?”
I was curious about her, but I didn’t want her to close up again. I had just gotten her to open up, and I could feel the fragile thread of connection between us fraying.
Iryen looked away, staring out the window at the passing lights, her expression lost in thought. I wanted to reach out, to pull her back from whatever memory was drawing her in, but I also didn’t want to pressure her.
“Yes,” she replied after a while, her voice trembling. I noticed her body shiver, and a pang of worry shot through me.Was she crying?
