Page 48 of The Lost Siren

“Go find Kieran or Ronan.” Georg backed away; his face twisted in uncertainty.

“I promised them I wouldn’t leave you alone.” I was losing my battle with exhaustion, and it was difficult to focus on his face.

“Just...please.I don’t want to call for help...it’ll just make it worse.”

George reluctantly agreed and disappeared down the dark corridor. I curled my arms around my knees as I sat down. It was cold and slightly damp, but I didn’t care. Sitting up seemed likeso much work…

Footsteps echoed from the opposite direction Georg had gone. I could hear the scrape of claws against the stone and prayed whoever it was wouldn’t notice me. Unlikely with the Draken’s sense of smell, but I didn’t have the energy to come up with another plan. I looked up; Benedict’s figure was stopped in front of me. I forgot to breathe, rigid with fear as I was barely able to meet his eyes. We stared at each for long while, until I gave up. I made an odd, distressed sound in the back of my throat, and my arms reached out to him. He wordlessly bent and picked me up. As he cradled me against his chest, I noticed the dark rings under his eyes, which were nearly pitch black with none of his usual purple coloring.

“You haven’t been sleeping either,” I whispered. His grip on me tightened.

“I wonder why.” He shot back.

I flinched and shut my eyes. “Don’t wanna fight. Sleep.”

He exhaled a puff of air through his nose, and then the world dissolved into black. We landed in my bedroom, and he laid me down with a surprising amount of gentleness. He wiped his bloody nose, growling in irritation.

“It’s affecting you, isn’t it?”

Benedict whipped around, not noticing Kieran sitting in the corner of the room, one red eyebrow raised.

“Definitelyaffecting you if you didn't notice me.”

Benedict hissed, and I threw a pillow at him. Or at least, I tried to. It flopped uselessly off the bed, and onto the floor. I groaned, holding my hand out. Benedict rolled his eyes but picked it up and handed it back to me. Kieran’s eyes sharpened, his gaze serious.

“Spend time with her. You don’t have tolikeher, but don’t kill yourself in the process.”

The words hurt, but Kieran had a point.

“Ronan and I will stay away tonight. Make use of the time.”

“Or what?” Benedict’s wings flared. Kieran went nose-to-nose with him, unafraid.

“Or you risk killing her oryourself. You might not give a shit abouther, but Iknowyou won’t leave us with D’Arcy orSabienas king. Get your head out of your ass.”

Kieran dashed out of the room, dodging Benedict’s claws and fangs. I was quickly losing my battle with consciousness, but did register the bed dipping next to me, and a pair of strong arms wrapping around my chest.

“I still hate you,” he murmured. I drifted off and slept the entire night through.

FIFTEEN

Benedict was gone before I woke the next morning, though it was probably for the best. I had hoped maybe to get a moment to speak with him, but I knew it was unlikely. He clearly was still furious over Bair; not that I blamed him.

As I ate breakfast next to a watchful Ronan, I realized that the only way to get Benedict to trust me would be toprovemyself in some way to him. What good was having important information if no one would believe you? I had to come up with a plan.

“Ronan? Could you get D’Arcy for me?”

His head shot up, pleased to be able to do something for me, but suspicious of my reasons.

“I suppose. Why?”

Honestly was the best policy, right?

“I need to talk to him about Benedict.” Ronan’s face went stony, but he huffed and walked through the stone passageway. I finished up my breakfast in relative silence, happy to finally have what I felt was a normal appetite. I finished my eggs, a potato, and a few slices of toast before Ronan returned, D’Arcy in tow.

“Is it alright if this is a private conversation?”

Ronan looked hurt for only a fraction of a second before he wiped it away.

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