Page 34 of The Lost Siren

We went down the hall marked with two lines.

“To answer your question, yes. We are the eldest remaining Drakens who were fighting in the war yet didn’t perish in the eruption on Lyoness.”

“For all the good it did us; no one listens to us anyway,” Wyrren snorted.

The concept of Elders was fascinating to me; I had never seen any elderly humans before, and the Vampyres had immortal, un-aging bodies. Lykosdidage, but I’d never seen any in person to make any judgements.

“We simply wish to warn you about those who would seek power for themselves.”

I frowned.

“You seem like a strong young woman. I want to encourage you not to let anyone push you around.Includinga certain king.”

They all chuckled as if sharing some secret joke. My lips thinned.

“Thatcertainking seems to regret ever bringing me here.” The ground beneath me began to slope, so I knew we were close to the arena. Gelf gave a soft laugh, pushing me gently ahead.

“He onlywantsyou to think that. I’ve never seen him so distracted or riled in all our years here.Youare the cause. Do not underestimate your strength.”

He grasped my hands again, letting go with regret. I bowed to the other two Drakens, and they bowed back. I couldn’t shake the image of Benedict’s tortured face above me, his fangs bared in a snarl as he thrusted in my body. I shook my head.

“Enjoy the Games,” I said, and they went off down a separate corridor.

Benedict barely even shot me a glance as I took my seat, his eyes trained on the pit. Not that I blamed him; there were much more interesting things on display in front of me. My days of never having seen a Lykos were over: three of them were staked down in the corners of the pit, heavy chains leading to rough iron collars around their necks. I couldn’t help but grab Benedict’s forearm in alarm.

“They won’t touch you,” his voice rumbled, even as I frowned.

“It isn’t that.” I argued, as the Drakens in the bleachers sneered and catcalled the trapped creatures in the pit.

“You missed the introduction. D’Arcy was in his element.”

“I’m sure he was,” I said darkly, as one of the Lykos howled and yanked his chain, foam flying from his mouth. They were in their wolven forms, large hulking beasts covered in fur and rippling muscles. D’Arcy must have planned this in advance to line it up with the Lykos’ moon cycles, or he knew where to get three Lykos on extremely short notice. Neither of those options brought me any source of comfort.

“Let me guess, the Drakens get to kill them even though they’re already chained and captured?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“You object?”

“Ofcourse,I object!” I yelled. “The small one looks like achild!” I gestured to the smaller bundle of fur on the far left. It didn’t fight back like the other two Lykos did, instead quivering and pulling itself as far into the corner as it could. Benedict shifted uncomfortably.

“D’Arcy would never—"

I silenced him with a glare, and Benedict waved a hand carelessly.

“If you protest it that much, then stop it. How many times must I tell you? All this is foryou. If you don’t like it,stop it.”

He made it sound so easy, didn’t he? I had to at least try.

I stood as D’Arcy approached the small Lykos with a sadistic grin on his face, moving to the edge of the balcony and flipping a dagger into my hand. The two adult Lykos howled in fury and fear, injuring themselves as they struggled uselessly against the chains that held them. I wasn’t overly confident of my abilities, but I had been practicing. I could do this if it were needed. And it was very much needed.

“Wren.” I ignored Benedict’s irritated growl. He rarely used my name, but now wasn’t the time to revel in such luxuries.

Just as D’Arcy bore down on the young Lykos I let my dagger fly. It soared through the air, and cleanly hit the pin that held the collar on the young Lykos. The small ball of fur pulled free, running desperately towards the direction of the balcony, and the black Lykos chained directly beneath me. I jumped over the edge as D’Arcy lunged, careful of my sword as I tucked and rolled, disbursing the momentum of my landing. My blade was in my hand as I popped up, standing directly between D’Arcy and the two Lykos. I pointed my sword at his chest.

D’Arcy towered over me, and I was struck with the reminder that I was one puny, human woman in a pit with three Lykos and one blood thirsty Draken. My courage wavered, and for a moment I considered backing away. D’Arcy smirked, as if he could read my thoughts. I wouldn’t let him win, Icouldn’t,not while I stood here with the ability to dosomething. I could choose fear, or I could choose something else.

If I’m alive, there’s hope.

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