Page 68 of Siren's Kiss & Feral Beasts
“My crown. My blood,” I spit out, voice carrying sharp across the room. “Never forget that, Orion. I’m not some nameless woman you can command at your will, nor will I ever drop to my knees for you. Your biggest mistake is confusing manners for submission…you’re unworthy, egotistical, and blinded by a level of self-importance that astounds.”
His jaw ticks, eyes leaving me to look at the vampire holding his king. “Quit while you’re ahead.”
I snort at that, turning to the woman I once called my best friend, instead. “What do you see in him, Naia? What kind of a mate hurts his beloved, only to turn around and use her again and again?”
That had to sting more than one person, especially with how Atlas murdered Severus’s goddaughter for similar reasons.
“This is not why we’re here,” the vampire cuts in, his voice controlled. Low. “This is supposed to be a celebration between species, and my donor isn’t happy. That makes me even less agreeable to what you’ve asked of me, Atlas. Fix this.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask as renewed dread fills me. Especially as Severus, with his grip around my grandfather’s neck, walks him over and presents him to me. On his knees, the mermaid king looks up at me. “What did you do?”
“You’re to wed Orion tonight, under the new moon.”
“No.”
“You have no choice, Nerissa. It’s this, or your grandmother dies.” Six words, and they bring nothing but horror to me. Dread. I knew coming here they’d have plans to marry me and Orion, but not today. Certainly not when I have no idea just how close Kai is. “It’s the only way to keep her breathing, and you by her side, my child.” His gaze drops to the stone in my grip. I’d forgotten about it, my focus on keeping calm and stalling for as long as possible. “Don’t think of it as bad, but rather a joyous occasion. We’ll get the stench of wolf off you, perform the ceremony with the help of my wife, and then seal the bond with a bite. Nothing too hard, and think of it as an investment, versus squandering your legacy on that filth.”
Orion steps in when I don’t respond. My shock doesn’t allow it, his hand wrapping around me before I can pull away. His grip is iron tight, and I grimace, especially when his nails dig into my side. “It must be done, Neri. I promise to cherish this gift and remain faithful.”
A pain-filled sound comes from Naia, hurt laced with anger, but she doesn’t say a word.
Pain lances when his unoccupied hand covers mine and the stone. It burns, but not from heat—the outright refusal of a mating, and then nothing. It grows arctic cold, and for a second, I wonder if it’d shatter on its own rather than take what is not freely given?
Orion snarls and tries again, pressing his forehead against mine like a force can rewrite fate, but the stone remains still. “What did you do to it?”
“Nothing. Just standing here.”
“Or maybe you forgot a simple rule about magic.” It’s my grandmother’s voice that cuts through. “You’re trying to forceher, and magic, much like love, needs to be coaxed. Not taken, but freely given.”
Dusting himself off, her husband stands to his full height and narrows his eyes. The vampire has moved to stand against the back wall, almost blending in, while Orion paces. Mutters to himself.
“Tell me, Lucienne. What did I do wrong?”
“You perform the wedding first. A crimson union.”
26
KAI
Ibreak through the surface, feeling the contradicting cool breeze and the heavy scent of smoke infiltrate my senses. It’s overwhelming; thick and choking. Even with most of the ship swallowed by the sea, the smell clings to the area as I float in my human form.
My wolf is resting. Amused. Content. Relaxing. He’s all but taking a nap while the low, rhythmic pull of oars carries over the waves. Longboats move closer, my pack members staring as they pull up beside me.
They’re fighting back grins.
“Our Alpha rises from the deep,” Torren calls out, his tone laced with amusement. “Thought our luna might’ve drowned you.”
A chorus of chuckles rings out. Obnoxious and contagious; I flip them off. This causes them to laugh harder, the vessel rocking now, and I’m fighting back my own grin as I pull myself up. It’s made worse when my movements almost tip us over, and I’m half tempted to push my gamma and his brother overboard as I plant my bare feet on the slick wood.
“I’m kind of proud of her,” Otto interjects, lip curling at the corner. “She destroyed our alpha’s ship, tricked the mermaids, and pissed off their bitch of a general in the process. Fucking brilliant.”
“I second that.”
“Me too,” a chorus calls out in unison, and my beast goes from sleepy to ruffled. He growls low in my chest—the warning clear.Mine.
“Keep talking, and I’ll make you swim behind my ship.”
“What ship?” Maleth asks, brows furrowed. I point behind us. Our pack’s biggest ship looms on the horizon, flanked by twenty or so other ships.
