Page 72 of Siren's Kiss & Feral Beasts
“Ephraim, I’m—” She’s cut off by a low chuffing sound, almost a chuckle or maybe a chide, but Lucienne submits to the sound. The wolf, like my mate, can stand on his two hind legsand turn into something that’s the perfect balance between man and wolf. His features come forward, a handsome man with a few scars from age, but just as handsome as my mate.I’m a very lucky siren.
“Come to me, Lucienne. It’s been too long.” Her body moves, tries to shove Atlas away, but the latter only presses the knife deeper. My grandfather mumbles something, curses ever marrying her, but it’s the first drop of blood that signs his death warrant. Ephraim’s hand shoots out and yanks my grandmother into his arms, kisses her forehead, and then places her behind him.
It all happens so fast after that. Blood everywhere. Guttural cries.
He tears into him with claws and teeth, ripping chunks of flesh from his body, and I have to look away from the gruesome scene. I hear it, though. The anger. The utter brutality, until there’s nothing left but a mangled heap that soon after hits the water.
I should feel sad, but I’m not. I should demand they stop, but this is a necessary evil.
One by one, every merman, vampire, and siren left is made to kneel as wolves make quick work of the enemy. All but the vampire lord, who seems to have disappeared the moment the attack began. They’ve searched the boat, but he’s nowhere to be found. The same goes for Maleth…
My father and our family collect any flammable item on this ship they can find, while Magda and Elara step into view, lighting the pyre. They smile at me in my mate’s arms, the affection genuine in their eyes, until I feel something sharp slice into my arm.
Not deep, but it burns, and Naia is given no mercy as she screams her hate. “You don’t deserve to be happy, Neri. You took everything from me, like the selfish—” Kai’s hand punchesthrough her chest, tearing out her heart. Quick. Painless. A mercy kill for what an alpha wolf is capable of for his mate, and I’m thankful. A piece of me will always care for her, but she chose this path.
To take and take as long as it served her. No care for anyone but her, and I can’t blame it all on the mate bond. They were brainwashed into thinking everything they did was justified as good for the kingdom.
“She can follow him into the afterlife,” Kai spits out, grabbing my arm gently and turning it to see the cut. It’s small, red, but not really bleeding. “Does it hurt?”
“I’m more than fine, handsome.” He likes that, a slight pink crossing his cheeks, and I fall at that moment all over again. The past year has taught me a lot. Patience, trust—to enjoy the small moment because at the end of the day, those matter the most. This is one of those. “Let’s go home.”
“Only if you do me the honor of accepting my bite one week from today in front of our sirens and wolves.”
“It’s a date, Alpha Daire.” With both hands, I cup his cheeks and lay my forehead on his. Share my aura, breathe in his every exhale. “Now, kiss me. I’ve missed you.”
28
KAI
SEVEN DAYS LATER…
The beach burns with firelight, the sea alive with song.
Werewolves stand shoulder to shoulder with sirens, voices carrying into the night as the gods themselves have come to watch. It’s a knowing, this feeling of peace and rightness that fills every creature witnessing our union.
From her grandmother standing beside my grandfather, their fingers intertwined and smiles bright, to her father—my parents—and everyone who’s stood next to us. Those who fought to break the curse of greed and hate. This celebration is for all of them, to the end of a tradition that will no longer be practiced, my grandfather will keep the stone—we don’t want it.
But mostly, this is forher. Our glue. My Nerissa.
Everything starts and ends with her.
My female. My mate.
Nerissa walks barefoot toward me, a gauzy white skirt shimmering around the scales visible beneath her skin. Purples and blues with touches of pink, beautiful colors that contrast against the light, and she’s never looked more beautiful. Ethereal.
My chest strains with the need to meet her halfway, to throw her over my shoulder and stalk into the woods to claim what’s mine—but this is a sacred moment I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
Our vows. Our love.
Because I do love this woman. With everything I am and will be.
The high siren’s voice rises above the waves. “Before the gods of the sea and earth, wolf and mermaid, you stand to pledge your lives to each other. To walk this life together, never forsake the other, and come together as one when in crisis or hurt. She is yours. You are hers.”
“I do.”
“I do, too,” Nerissa whispers, her bottom lip trembling.
“Turn to look at each other and speak your vows.”
