Page 42 of Siren in Love
A large paw stomped onto the walkway, the silvery fur ashen in the moonlight that filtered in through the age-dulled windows.The beast’s eyes were bright with intent, reinforced by that snarl and the bared fangs dripping with spit.
This, if Mike was any judge, was the leader of the group, and he’d claimed first blood, first kill.His mouth fell open, a red tongue lolling out and licking the air.The loup-garou was looking forward to the sound of bone shattering under the force of his teeth, of the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth.He wanted his prey to scream and plead, even as he tore into them and made them feel his might.
John’s fingers dug into Mike’s biceps.He whimpered.Mike heard the memories of pain in that single sound, heard the sheer fear of more of the same, of worse.
No more.Whatever they did to him, I won’t let it happen again.
Three more steps until the walkway took a ninety-degree turn.
The loup-garou in the lead was followed by two more monsters, eating up the distance with their strides.Their claws clicked against the metal, and the moonlight made their muscular backs stand out, gilding the sharp tips of their ears.
Two more steps.The lead loups-garous went low, crouched.He was going to jump them.
The last step.
“Down!”
Mike’s voice was pure song, irresistible force.John obeyed.
After that single word, Mike sang, sang like his ancestors had done everywhere—on the ocean, on the shore, to their lovers, to their enemies.
He sang seduction and abandonment, sang his will against the violence that the beast would have inflicted on them.His siren song was infinitely wide and deep, a well of melody so primal that it could seize any heart, make it beat, make it break, force it to stand still.
You can’t get past a siren with viciousness.Not when I am that siren.
Mike sang and didn’t stop when he heard the glass break.
19
Mike
~Mike
Mike’s song filled the air.He’d made the loup-garou jump farther than he needed to.The beast had gone through the window behind him and John, soaring over them without so much as nicking them.
Glass shards were still falling to the floor below, the sounds of impact not enough to break Mike’s concentration.He didn’t wait to hear a thud from outside, instead he wove his song into a rope to catch the other two and drag them toward him.
One after the other, they too jumped and didn’t care how far away the ground was.Only when the last of the remaining three was outside did Mike get back to his feet.He let the melody of his song fade away and leaned to look outside while John was still flattened to the walkway.
“Wow,” the werewolf said, his voice trembling with true awe.His eyes were wide, haunted, but there was relief in his voice.
Mike snorted.“Don’t mess with a siren, John.”
Outside, one loup-garou had broken his neck when he hit the ground.His body was human once more, death taking his vicious shifted form away from him.The other two were still alive, if not unharmed.Mike relaxed fully when he saw Peter’s icy blond hair and glacial eyes staring up at him.
“I see you had an interesting night,” the vampire said.Then, he walked toward the two loups-garous who still lived.He snapped their necks, evading their teeth with minimal effort.
Peter gave no indication that he was upset by his task, looking much the same as he might stapling paper.It should have disturbed Mike, but then again, he’d heard John’s fear and the evil desires in the loups-garous’ voices.The dead loups-garous turned back into humans, naked and bloody.
“There should be four?”the vampire said, not bothering to raise his voice.
“One’s out cold on the stairs leading up from the first floor,” Mike said.
Peter nodded and headed into the building.The echo of another snapped neck sounded moments later, like the final note of a song.
“I can smell your Corvin.”Peter still spoke quietly, knowing Mike would be able to pick it up.
“I had to bring him along.Don’t let him see the bodies, okay?”
