Page 169 of A Mysterious Slave for the Lycan Prince

I nod. Makes sense. It would be easier if I was already in the water because I would already be in the correct element then.

“The thing is, you did it already,” my cousin points out. “When you jumped out of the water, you shifted while you jumped. Remember?”

I blink. “You’re right. I didn’t even think about it…”

“You’re used to walking on land,” Aenon points out. “So, it’s easier for you to shift from your siren form to your human one. For Nen and I, it’s the other way around. We need to concentrate more when jumping out of the water, while jumping into it while shifting in the air is like breathing to us.”

I nod thoughtfully, watching how Nen jumps into the water and out of it and in again. Every time he shifts before his body meets the water. It looks so easy. When it’s my turn to try it, I fall with my clothes into the water, cursing slightly. So much for keeping them dry.

“Don’t worry,” Aenon encourages me warmly. “Shift a few times in the water. Get the hang of it.”

I follow his advice, shifting to my siren form and back to my human form. Aenon is right. It’s easier for me to shift to my human body. I can easily do it while in water, which amazes Nen to no end.

“I can’t do that,” he admits. “I need to be out of the water to shift.”

Aenon encourages me to try it again. I nod and easily jump out of the water, shifting in midair.

“Good thing the cold doesn’t get to me,” I mutter when I’m out of the water. “You’re right, though, Aenon; it’s just in my head. It feels awkward to shift while I’m not in the water yet.”

I’ll give you some room,Sereia says.I think, at the moment, my instincts are blocking you. Don’t worry; the moment you are diving, I’ll be back.

Okay.I nod.Thanks, Sereia.

After Sereia retreats to the back of my mind, the shifting feels slightly more natural to me. Soon my imagination and instincts are getting stronger, and I can see and feel my fin without it being there yet. I try to embrace this feeling, closing my eyes and just going for it. When my body meets the water and I swim up again to eye my mentor, Aenon beams at me. “Look at you, Freya! You shifted!”

I blink in confusion first before I notice that I indeed did. Aenon grins and follows me easily. Soon the three of us dive through the lake and then take the flooded underground passage to the ocean. Swimming through this narrow and dark path should feel scary, but it isn’t. With Aenon and Nen leading me and explaining things to me, I soon learn to listen to the different sounds coming towards me, to the echoes and vibrations. When we reach the ocean, it’s like this vast, endless open area in front of me. Every inch of it is new and exciting.

True to his promise, Aenon starts slow. He teaches me how he and Nen find their way underwater, helping me focus on my ears and nose instead of my eyes. This part is easier for me than shifting because wolf senses work similarly. And because Sereia is with me again, my hearing is probably even more enhanced. Soon I can tell the difference between the sound of the waves against the rock and shore and the sound of movements in the ocean.

“Depending on the direction we go, the water and the waves feel differently on our skin. You can also feel different people like this,” Aenon explains. “Try to feel it.”

Nen takes my hand and leads me away from the shore and back again while Aenon hides somewhere for us to find him. He is right; there is a difference in how the water feels the closer we are to the shore. It’s not only the water but also the sun on our skin reaching us through the surface of the water.

Trust your instincts.An inner voice whispers to me, and I know it’s not Sereia. It’s something else. It sounds like the Goddess of the Ocean. Maybe it’s the part of my mind that Sereia and I were never able to reach. I try to focus more on this part of my mind to combine it with Sereia’s senses and my own.

For a moment, it feels like I can hear with my skin. I can feel Aenon’s breath, the water moving around his body and breaking its natural flow. “I found him,” I mutter towards Nen and take the lead until I find Aenon behind a rock.

“I told you, you’re a natural.” He smiles brightly at me. “You were born a siren, just like you were born a wolf. It’s in you.”

It’s in me. Warmth fills me. Mom and Dad loved each other despite all odds, and they made this miracle happen. It finally feels like I found my connection to both of them.

Even Sereia starts to feel a bit more comfortable in the water, and it feels like her instincts are getting sharper too. I hope this means she is merging with my siren powers. I make a mental note to let her take over my body as much as possible so she can have fun with Max and Finn. We might be unable to shift into a wolf, but she can take over my body. Thinking about Finn takes me to another topic. “Say, is it possible for me to mark my mate?”

“We normally don’t do it,” Aenon says. “But technically, you can do it. It works like a werewolf’s bite, just with your nails. There is venom in them, and it doesn’t matter where you mark him.”

I blink. I can with my nails?

Maybe we could add a tattoo to his collection,Sereia suddenly suggests. As usual, she has the best ideas.

This is fantastic! If Finn and Max agree, you could do it!I offer.

Are you sure?Sereia asks, and I can see how she beams at me in my mind.

I will my possessive feelings down and nod. Sereia won’t be able to mark him like wolves do, but she can take over and mark our mate with the help of my body. It’s not so different from how werewolves usually do it!

Thank you, Freya,Sereia says, sounding touched.Marking our mates would mean everything to me.

On our way back, Aenon let me lead the way, and again I allow my instincts to take over, leading us to the brimming sound of the pack. The steps on the ground send vibrations through the water, making it easy to find. And I could swear I can also sense Finn’s presence.

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