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“You’re ruining the dress,” Aurelia commented, rising to her feet, decked out in a glitzy purple dress and stilettos.
Thalasia cocked an eyebrow and glanced down at the glimmering tiny blue dress she had on, which barely peeked through the cloak over her shoulders. It looked fine to her. “How? Am I wearing it wrong?”
Aurelia gestured vaguely to the cloak. “It can’t be helped unless you can play off those wings as part of the costume. Let’s just hope your troll doesn’t decide to get a case of the midnight munchies and go for a bite out of my regent while we’re gone.”
It wasn’t her first choice either, but they had to blend in as much as possible. Not that she was positive the cloak helped or hindered them in any way. Thalasia snickered. “There isn’t enough fabric in this dress to even make that possible. And the troll will be fine. He was instructed not to enter and not to let anyone in until my return.”
“That’s kinda the point. Learn to show some skin,” Aurelia said, turning to follow the fading light back into the city streets, which were now painted a brilliant shade of orange.
“I’m not the kind to show skin.” Even though that dress she’d chosen earlier would show plenty. It was common among sirens ... or so she’d been told.
Thalasia strode along the town streets, grateful it was a little less crowded this late in the day. Her gaze flicked from the emptier vendor stalls to Aurelia. The girl was obviously comfortable in the tiny dress, almost as if it had been made for her.
Aurelia wandered the maze of side streets until they came to the main strip. A crowd had begun to coalesce on the karaoke bar. A few villagers sauntered past on their way home.
Wow. She hadn’t expected so many species hanging around the doors, eagerly awaiting the bar’s opening. Satyrs, a handful of half-breed sirens, mermaids, and a few others she presumed were shapeshifters, but she couldn’t say for sure. They could be hard to decipher in their humanoid form. Nearly all of them dressed for a night out.
The doors flew open as the final rays of the sun set below the horizon. A young woman with bright amber eyes and long crimson hair cascading down her back in waves stepped out with a troll directly behind her. She flashed a thousand-watt smile. “Let’s get this party started!”
Aurelia bit her bottom lip as she rolled her shoulders, swaying from side to side, eventually bumping shoulders with the gawking Thalasia. “Loosen up. It’s a party, not a death sentence. You heard the cardinal lady.”
“I’m as loose as I can be given the situation.” Her heart wasn’t racing. Her pulse hadn’t accelerated, despite the growing number of people. Thalasia stayed by Aurelia’s side as they made their way inside past the puke-green troll. She scanned over the high-top tables and located an empty one. Grabbing Aurelia’s hand, she dragged her over to the table made from blue agate before anyone else had a chance to claim it. The dark wooden stools served as a perfect contrast to all the various shades of blue surrounding them.
Music filled the large cavern-like building. The woman who had greeted the crowd earlier stood in a box to the right of the stage. “All right you beautiful creatures, you know how this works. I got my sexy on, so come whisper in my ear what you’d like to sing.”
“That’d be your cue.” Aurelia clapped Thalasia on the shoulder. “I don’t sing. Go use your siren wiles so we can get our answers. Feel free to knock out all the rest. I’m going to hit up the bar for drinks ...” she faltered. “Or at least whatever swill these earthbound pawn off as drinks.”
“I’m sorry. You want me to go up on stage? Are you out of your mind?” Her gaze narrowed. It would be a sure-fire way to get them discovered. She couldn’t imagine a siren had stepped foot in this establishment before now. Thalasia adjusted the cloak a bit as she climbed on the stool. It was starting to get stuffy.
Aurelia skittered to a halt, leaning on the tabletop to keep their conversation private. “You charmed the troll at the inn. Charming the crowd shouldn’t be too difficult with all the fancy amplification equipment they’ve loaded this place with. That’s the upside of being a pure-blood over a half-breed. We have all the power.”
“You do realize the second I open my mouth they’re going to know I’m a siren, which will make this cloak pointless.” She didn’t plan on singing. Thalasia glanced past Aurelia. Not to mention it looked like a couple of satyrs were already fighting over the stage.
“So, you just wanna sit here and listen to that?” Aurelia jerked a thumb in the direction of the satyr pair, the disbelief and irritation in her voice obvious.
Thalasia stifled a laugh at the pair who had settled in on the back-lit blue stone stage and crooned out a horrible melody. “Do I want to listen to it? No, but it is kind of amusing.”
“It also doesn’t give us answers.”
Damn. Aurelia was right. Thalasia’s gaze flicked from the stage and back again. She didn’t want to get on stage, but she might not have a choice either. They needed answers ... a lot of them. “Go get some drinks and I’ll think about it. See if you can order some food too.”
Aurelia rolled her eyes dramatically as she turned on her heel, marching up to the bar.
Sitting there, Thalasia stared at the stage and half-listened to the mermaid that had taken the spotlight. Her voice was okay. Better than the prior option. She could go up there. She even knew what song she’d sing. But all eyes would be on her. It was different when she handled creatures one on one or went into defense mode.
Setting one of the glasses with clear liquid in front of her with an audible thud, Aurelia narrowed her eyes. “Well? Made up your mind yet? Or should I just torch the place?”
“You realize the risk that goes with it?” She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip. Thalasia frowned. “I thought you were getting us drinks.”
Aurelia gave her a confused tilt of her head before taking a swig herself. “What the fuck is this shit? Water?” She turned and faced the bar in a fury.
The barkeep stood one table over with a tray of shot glasses in her hand.
“Hey barkeep! I ordered drinks, not water,” Aurelia hollered.
Coming over to their table, the barkeep snickered. “No need to get violent. Every newcomer gets Safe Juice until I decide if you’re gonna cause trouble in my bar.”
Thalasia raised a hand and pushed the glass of water aside. “We’re not here to cause problems.”
“Then tell me what you’re here for.” The barkeeper set the tray of drinks on their table.
She stole a quick glance at Aurelia. How much did they reveal? Other species may have seen the broken barrier by now. Thalasia interlaced her fingers together. “Information. You got any of that? If not, leave the drinks and we’ll be good.”
“Lucky for you, I’m the best source of information in this bar. I’d say town, but sometimes the fae know things I don’t.” Her lips curled at the corners. “Tell ya what. I’ll make you ladies a deal.”
Aurelia’s hand constricted around the glass of water until it fractured in her grip. “Your deal best involve answers... and a way to those fae.” the dragon grumbled.
“In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a bunch of them in here. But I’ve heard most of their tales. As for answers ... yeah, sure. You just have to get songbird here on stage.” Bearing a wide grin, she set a shot glass of black liquid in front of each of them. “Cheers, ladies.” The last shot she lifted in the air, knocked it back, and walked back to the bar, empty tray in hand.
Hanging her head, Thalasia rubbed her temples with a groan. Whose brilliant idea had this been again? Oh, right. Hers. She was the idiot with all the bright ideas. Maybe she just needed to stop having them.
“I’m not drinking that.” Aurelia pointed at the black drink, brushing the shard of glass from her palm. “I don’t trust these people. If you’ve got concerns I should know about before we proceed, now’s the time. She’s clearly fucking with us. What’s you getting on stage give her?”
“She’s a half-breed. Of course she’s fucking with us, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t get something out of the deal. It could be ...” Her words trailed off as a satyr came up to the table with several plates of food. He set out platters of lizard kabobs, fish fillets, moth-rings, and fried plums. Thalasia waited until he left before speaking again. “... a number of things. Mutual information, the fact that we’re down here, more control over the crowd ... there’s a long-standing history between half-breeds and full-breeds, but that doesn’t mean I know how it would impact us.”
Eyeing the shot, she picked up one of the fried plums and took a bite.
Aurelia thrust a hand through her golden waves in frustration. She turned to face the stage, eyes reassessing the rowdy crowd. Surveying the room, she conducted a headcount of potential fae.
Screw it. Things couldn’t get worse. Not after what happened in the store. Thalasia wrapped her hand around the shot glass and tossed the black liquid back. It was sweet, yet it still burned down the back of her throat. For a moment she even felt a little lighter almost as if she was soaring through the sky with the sun at her back. A small smile made its way across her lips as she took another bite of the plum. “You were the one telling me to get up there. What if her challenge is just to keep me off the stage?”
Aurelia offered a suspicious glance at her. “And what if it’s specifically to get you up there and expose your power—or something you don’t know you have? Like that catalyst.” She held up a hand before Thalasia could protest. “I know you said you had no such thing. Whatever. Say I believe you. If we’re wrong and you expose that kind of artifact to another, who’s to say they won’t add to our growing list of problems and enemies? My guards can hold the barrier, but I’m not looking to reignite a war among the earthbound and the dragons.”
Swallowing the last bite of plum, Thalasia leaned forward on the agate table and picked up a lizard kabob. She wasn’t positive her so-called artifact had anything to do with opening the bridge, but she definitely didn’t plan on taking any chances with someone getting their hands on it. Her gaze flicked to the stage. She could get up there, and belt out a single song without touching a quarter of her power, even with a crowd this size. “I’m able to control my power. And if I did have an artifact of any kind, don’t you think I would’ve been smart enough to hide it with the way Enoch kept eyeing the hell out of me? Or do you really think I’m that stupid?”
Aurelia grinned. “I think you just admitted to hiding something. But seeing as you’re a notch above this lot, I’m willing to let it go a little longer. That said, I did notice the prisoner eyeing your shiny neck charm. He’s been a recluse since the war with very few visitors—beside my predecessor and myself. He’s a far cry from stupid, but he’s a bit out of practice when it comes to social cues. And seeing as he’s ... him, I doubt he was staring at your rack. His unspoken interest in your necklace didn’t escape me—nor its sudden lack of weight since then.”
With a sigh, Aurelia spotted her target at a table in the corner of the room. “What if the stage isn’t what it seems? What if it’s spelled? Not unlike the skinchanger’s store. The half-breeds have a natural advantage here. Even if you think you’re being clever, we shouldn’t underestimate them. The first rule of war is to never underestimate your opponent. Desperation can push anyone to their limits and beyond. Envision the worst and assume that’s the outcome.”
Aurelia resigned, pushing off the table to make her way toward the fairy hiding in the corner. “You and Seru are better versed in siren tricks and half-breeds. Just don’t overplay your hand, Thalasia. I’ve no choice but to save you, if you do. But setbacks aren’t in our best interest here. Announcing to the world that a full-blooded siren and dragon have come down to play isn’t going to set anyone’s mind at ease.”
“You think I’ve been sitting here staring at the stage for my health? Obviously it’s imbued with magic, but I don’t think it’s as bad as we’re thinking.” Thalasia glanced from the jockey to the barkeep, paying attention to the looks they kept giving one another and them. “Of course, we could be completely overthinking this. But you go do what you’re gonna do and I’ll happily sit here and eat.” She ripped a hunk of leg from the lizard on the kabob stick.
Aurelia sashayed her way to a table near the fairy, helping herself to a seat with a less obvious pair—a fox and fire spirit of some sort.
Thalasia snagged the shot that had been left behind and drank it in one swallow, then continued to munch on the food at the table. It had been hours since she’d eaten. She glanced across the room at Aurelia. She didn’t appear to be having much luck with the two women she’d sat with. Rolling her eyes, Thalasia bit off another hunk of lizard.
The dragon-girl still thought for sure her charm had been responsible for opening the barrier. She couldn’t dispute it, but she couldn’t confirm it either. Her gaze flitted to the stage as one of the half-breed sirens they’d seen earlier took it. Thalasia narrowed her eyes and stared.
The half-breed had selected something upbeat and fun. She moved in sync to the music, her voice much better than the mermaid. Still nothing compared to her own. Not to mention, there was no power behind the attempted vocal range. And a slight lack of control. Thalasia grinned. She could sing this half-siren under the sky and back again.
Why had she pushed so hard against this? If she’d been by herself she would’ve found the perfect moment, like now, and gotten up there to charm the crowd without question. But she wasn’t by herself. And over the last few days her emotions had gone unchecked. Her time with Seru had reacquainted her with holes in her heart she’d forgotten about over the years.
Despite that, she was still a siren. One who could charm the hell out of these creatures. And it was high-time she acted like it. She’d been raised better than this. Thalasia glanced back to Aurelia. Just maybe it would help the dragon-shifter out in the process.
Setting her food aside, Thalasia stood and made her way through the crowd. When she got to the box where the KJ worked, she ascended the short flight of stairs and whispered her song selection to the woman.
The karaoke jockey smiled. “Good choice.”
Of course it was. When she’d decided on a song earlier, only one had come to mind— “Carry Me” by Eurielle. It was something she’d come across in one of her many times around a humanoid town. She suspected a lot of that music had been heard in Prisma Isle too, although maybe not all of it.
Thalasia climbed onto the blue stone slab and took her place center stage. As the soft orchestral began, she thought once more of Seru and opened her mouth. She vocalized the first verse low and deep, allowing her voice to naturally transition through the words, her aria easily heard above the music.
The entire bar fell into a mellow silence as the power behind the tune hit their ears. Every set of eyes turned and faced her. The ache of her loneliness came across as she sang to her love, telling him she’d keep their memories close until they could be together once again.
Belting out the chorus of the song, the melody of her voice lifted as if hope carried her across the sky to where her love awaited her. She thought back to her parents and how they cherished one another. It had been a sight to see them dance by the fire tenderly serenading each other without a care in the world. The day they were killed left her empty, a shell of who she could have been.
Whether he meant to, Seru mended some of the holes in her heart with his kindness, the way he protected her, and how he continuously reached out even when she tried to push him away. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she continued into the second verse. He was the light in a dark world that had swallowed her years ago.
Her hands danced across the air as she weaved the notes together with her movements. Each perfectly harmonized word sent a deep-rooted sense of peace and willingness to please through the hushed crowd. The lyrics of the chorus left her mouth again. She noted the ongoing scene between Aurelia and a leprechaun, but didn’t pay it too much mind. If she did, she’d risk losing control of her charm with a crowd this size.
The gentle trill of her voice carried around the bar as her gaze met each individual pair of eyes. Thalasia connected temporarily with the soul of every creature there as though she serenaded them alone. It was the best way to ensure they remembered nothing but her song. Her silver eyes sparkled as she concluded the last chorus, her fingers caressing the air as if she had been made whole because she and her love had found their way home to each other.
As she hummed along with the last of the orchestral music, she thought of Seru and her face shined for a brief moment. She didn’t know if any of the tranquility had made its way to him, but she hoped it had.
The song ended. Before the mass of creatures erupted in applause, Thalasia stepped down from the stage and headed back to her and Aurelia’s corner table. She glanced around the bar and sat up straighter. Where was Aurelia? She didn’t see her anywhere.
The barkeep came over and set another shot of the black liquid on the table. “Looking for you friend?”
“Yes.”
“She left a couple of minutes ago, which is a good thing since she can’t seem to keep her power in check. Tell her next time to leave it at the door or she isn’t welcome back.”
Thalasia frowned. She left her alone for all of five minutes. Had the scene gotten that out of hand? Drawn that much attention? “Noted. Now, how about you share the information you promised.”
“Open up, it’s me.”
The door to Seru’s room swept inward, an unseen wind welcoming the siren inside. Seru sat at the edge of the bed, huddled in a blanket. His dark hair was a tousled mess, but his gray eyes appeared refreshed and clear. He greeted Thalasia with a sheepish smile and nod.
Aurelia leaned forward from where she’d been holding up the far wall. In an instant, she seized the opportunity proffered by his distraction to snatch the object from his grasp.
Stepping inside, Thalasia offered a small nod back to Seru. She closed the door behind her and tossed the cloak on the opposite bed. “What was that?”
“A prize.”—Seru drew out the word, inciting a snort from Aurelia— “the matriarch lifted from the friend she made at the bar.” The barest hints of amusement tinted his tone. “I hope your quest fared better.”
Shaking her head, Thalasia stepped further into the room and cringed. “Aside from Aurelia’s scene, yes, I managed to get the information promised.”
Aurelia turned the thing over in her hands, inspecting every crevice in the flickering candle light. The long wooden object’s smooth surface contained a number of carved intricacies. Painstakingly beautiful craftsmanship. But still, nothing more than a pipe.
“It appears the leprechaun smokes.” The corner of Seru’s mouth twitched as he beheld Aurelia’s continued inspection of the simple everyday object.
She cast him a nasty glare, her lips unfurling to reveal her pointed fangs. “Who conceals a pipe?” Aurelia asked him, not for the first time.
Seru managed to return to a more neutral demeanor before rising to his feet, albeit a bit unsteady. Both women shot him concerned glances. He waved them off, securing the blanket around his shoulders to conceal his still—bare chest. “An old man seeking relief from his maladies, perhaps?”
Thalasia groaned and dragged a hand through her blue locks. She tugged at the hem of the too-short blue dress. “You stole that from the leprechaun. Great, just great.”
Noting Thalasia’s sudden discomfort, Seru offered her the blanket and averted his gaze in hopes of keeping Aurelia’s commentary to a minimum. He had little doubt as to who’d selected the night’s attire.
“He had his grubby mitts all over my dress, so don’t go feeling too sorry for him. I even paid that frigid wench manning the bar while leaving that ridiculous establishment fully intact. I call that generous.”
Hesitantly, Thalasia sought the comfort Seru offered.
“Yes,” Seru turned toward Aurelia, his words dripping with sarcasm, “Generous is by far the most apt choice for exposing your powers while simultaneously agitating the townspeople, whom—in case you’ve forgotten—we need on our side.”
“And what did you find in that glorious black abyss behind your eyelids while we were gone?” Aurelia challenged. “Nothing, that’s what!”
Seru offered a weary sigh in response. He rested his head in his hand, shaking it in disbelief. Would she ever learn?
“Yeah, well, the barkeep made it clear if you can’t keep your powers in check, we aren’t welcome back.” Thalasia smirked.
Aurelia turned to Thalasia, her fists finding her hips. “My powers were in check. Besides, who wants to go back to that trash heap anyway?”
Holding out a hand to Thalasia, Seru sighed. “Perhaps we should take our leave. Allow the matriarch to cool her temper.”
Thalasia opened her mouth and snapped it shut. Sliding her hand in Seru’s, she nodded. “Yeah. Tomorrow is going to be another long day.”
Seru poked his head out to check that the hall was empty before quietly escorting Thalasia to her room. Aurelia continued her rant in the background, her back to the pair as they made their escape. He allowed Thalasia to enter first, sure to secure the door behind them. He kept his back to her as he spoke. “I’m sorry for your unfortunate selection of ... attire for the evening. Aurelia doesn’t understand that other species are more self-conscious or select different garments out of modesty. If you wish to change into something more comfortable, I’ll gladly keep my back turned while you ...”
He leaned his forehead against the wooden slab. Words shouldn’t be this hard. They never had been before. Why am I suddenly feeling so self-conscious? She probably thinks my concern for her clothing in the face of more pressing issues is utterly ridiculous.
“Yes, thank you.” There was a soft rustling sound as clothes got replaced. “You can turn around now.”
“You’re welcome.” His eyes immediately shifted from her face to the tank top to the makeshift skirt. “I think you may have uncovered the latest fashion trend in addition to proving yourself a master sleuth.” He pushed away from the door to claim a seat on the bare mattress.
Her cheeks flushed with a small chuckle. She strode over and sat next to him. “As long as I don’t trip, I might be the model of the century.”
“You’re an absolute vision,” Seru responded. “No matter what you wear. It’s what’s inside that makes the woman, not the clothes she wears—or even the identities she takes on.”
“Thank you.” A small smile settled on her lips. “And I wouldn’t discount Aurelia entirely. She played right into the half-breed’s hands and pushed me into a challenge I couldn’t refuse.”
He shook his head at Aurelia’s predictable nature, though he was glad the pair had managed to work together effectively enough to obtain information. “Pushy and demanding are her strengths. She plays them well. However, I hope she didn’t cause you too much trouble with her little ... outburst.”
Thalasia’s fingers tightened their grasp on the blanket as her neck flushed with heat. She blinked. It subsided as quickly as it had appeared. “Um ... no. After she left, my charm calmed most of the crowd. And the half-breed settled the leprechaun. Then came to me as promised.”
Seru gave her his full attention, watching curiously as she reacted. His expression fell. “I’m sorry if what happened on the docks earlier made you uncomfortable,” he offered. “I was afraid what little grip remained would slip. I didn’t want to hurt you. Didn’t want to allow my beast to ...”
Words failing him seemed to be the night’s theme. But he felt obligated to give her something. He certainly couldn’t take back his earlier behavior resulting from their encounter with the skinchanger. It made sense for Thalasia to feel uncomfortable and afraid. His beast inspired nothing but fear. He felt silly straying from their objective to offer such a feeble attempt at reconciliation instead of maintaining a keen focus and allowing her to divulge her newly discovered clues.
She reached out and grasped his arm. “It isn’t your fault. I blame myself. I could’ve gone somewhere else ... or we could’ve left when you first felt off. I didn’t help with any of that. And then after ...” Thalasia sighed. “I hated seeing you like that and not being able to help.”
Resting his hand atop hers, Seru gave it a firm squeeze. “Please, don’t blame yourself, Thalasia. No one—and I mean no one, myself included—can predict the way in which and when my beast is going to rear its ugly head. The degradation of the magic binding the collar doesn’t aid in that. If anything, it makes me all the more dangerous to be around. You came out of concern, not to make things worse. You were brave.”
He offered her the best smile he could muster. “There’s little you could have done to soothe me in that moment. The skinchanger and his unexpected prowess caught us both off guard. I’m just thankful you didn’t take off afterward. I can’t imagine how upset and frightened you must have been after all that.”
Readjusting on the bed, she turned to him, tilted her head, and cupped his cheek. “I wasn’t scared. Not of you. I could never ...”
He was touched by her sentiment. The smile faltered, replaced by more of a grimace as he took her hands in his. How could he explain? “My beast is me ... a part of me. But it’s also ... not me,” he tried, struggling to articulate his turmoil. “Under normal circumstances, you have nothing to fear of me. But when the beast rises, I’m not sure I’m much more than a spectator to its actions. I have no control or influence. I can’t stop it. And that’s what I want you to fear.”
As he continued, his grip tightened and his voice became more beseeching. “If you ever lose me to it, I want you to be afraid. I want you to flee and get as far away from me as you possibly can.”
She stared at him in disbelief. Her eyebrows knitted together as tears prickled the corners of her silver eyes. “I can’t promise you that. I can’t promise I won’t do everything in my power to help. To bring you back, to make you whole—”
“I cherish your pure heart and desire to help, Thalasia, I do, truly. But, what happens when you can’t bring me back once I’m lost?”
“I can’t think like that.”
“I don’t want to see you injured or killed.” he pleaded.
Thalasia stood, clutching the blanket around her waist as she paced the room. After a minute, she stopped, knelt down in front of him, and lifted her eyes to his. “A few days ago, you asked me to consider the idea of a future. To reconsider my plans. I have, but if you’re not in them, then nothing else matters. Whether I have you as a friend, or this becomes more ... if I lost you, then I’m lost too.”
Seru startled at her admission, eyes wide and mouth agape. He blinked a few times, unsure what to say. He cleared his throat to buy himself some time. “Thalasia, I ... You think too much of me. You deserve so much better than what my twisted existence could ever give you. I’m as likely to eat you as I am to—”
A strong pounding came at the door. “Seru! I don’t know what you two snuck off to conspire about this time, but—”
Seru jumped to his feet and yanked open the door, pulling Aurelia inside before she could wake the entire inn. She allowed herself to be escorted in, his vice grip on her arm readying her for a second argument. Her words caught in her throat as she noticed Thalasia. “Why is she half naked?” she demanded, her nose wrinkled in disgust.
He blew out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, raking a hand through his mane as he paced the short distance between Aurelia and the bed.
Before either had a chance to speak, Aurelia cut in. “If her newfound secrets involve anything hidden under that blanket, you two are officially on your own.”
Thalasia’s shoulders slumped. She swallowed and got to her feet. Wrapping her arms around herself, she sat on the edge of the bed and dropped her eyes to the floor. “There’s a trail just outside of town, Crow Skull Trail. It isn’t a road like what we used to get into the market, but she said we’d know it. We’ll take that to Diminutive Beach, where we’ll find Chicane Village. There’s a green-winged siren there who knows about the bridge ... and the prophecy. It’ll take us most of the day to get there.”
“Crow Skull. I like the sounds of that.” Aurelia grinned.
Seru frowned, allowing his limbs to drop, deflated. “Green-winged siren ...” he attempted to process in spite of his churning emotions. “I thought you said there weren’t any others with feathers as vibrant as yours?”
“Seru! I’m sorry you didn’t get laid, but stop dropping the pressure in the room.” Aurelia rubbed her bare arms. “You’re creating a draft.”
His face flushed a fiery crimson. “Aurelia, not every opportunity yields sex. We were just talking!” he thundered. His hand flew to his mouth. He hadn’t meant to shout.
Aurelia gave him a surprised raise of her brow, but nothing more. She pursed her lips, unable to stop herself. “I thought jealousy was his color, not yours.”
A bolt of lightning shot across the room and a loud crack followed by a crash. A blackened portrait, the frame splintered, and shattered glass rained to the floor.
Aurelia cringed. “Sensitive much?”
Thalasia’s cheeks tinged pink as her shoulders tensed. She rested a hand at the base of her neck as her eyebrows squished together. Standing, she walked over to the window and stared out. “As far as I’ve known, I am the only one. I haven’t exactly been around another siren in eight years. I know what I’ve been taught and what I saw as a child. I didn’t look anything like any of the others. Not even my parents. They were all various shades of brown. I didn’t know another existed with bright colors ... until I got here.”
Seru did his best to quiet his heartache, turning it to anger at Aurelia’s petty provocations did little good.
“We aren’t as fond of rainbows as you might think,” Aurelia said, crossing her arms and pointing her nose in the air.
“Sirens aren’t either,” Thalasia replied.
Seru strode across the room, hesitating before laying a hand softly on Thalasia’s shoulder. “I’m sure whoever this green siren is must be equally afraid of being discovered.” He gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. Minuscule jolts of electricity lanced down her arms. Seru gnawed on the inside of his lip until he tasted the coppery tang of blood.
Thalasia turned and faced him. Her gaze softened as she cupped his cheek. Her touch tingled ever so gently as the skin he’d broken inside his mouth mended itself.
He offered her a tight smile, his eyes clouding with an unspoken apology. He allowed himself to lean into her touch ever so slightly.
“I’m sorry, too,” Thalasia mouthed. Stroking his cheek with her thumb, she gave him a tender smile. “There are other rumors, but they’re all specific to each species ... nothing about the bridge. They may not yet realize it’s been compromised.”
Aurelia curled her finger, causing Seru to double over as she manipulated the magic in his collar. “Focus.”
He stumbled but managed to catch himself, pulling the connection taut as he resisted her pull on his invisible tether. He raised his darkening eyes to meet hers. The slight glow they gave off only furthered his irritation at her sudden change in mood. “As you command, All-Mother,” he growled through bared teeth.
Aurelia’s frown deepened at the response, but she received the message enough to release her hold on him. “All the better,” she replied to Thalasia. “The less they know, the better off we are. I’d rather we find a solution and seal that barrier up before they do take notice.”
“Or before our friends from the other side decide to try again,” Seru finished for her, massaging his throat beneath the metal band as he righted himself.
Thalasia frowned. Crossing her arms, she glared at Aurelia. “Are you done? If so, then maybe we should rest for a few hours before we leave. We’ll be traveling close to the fairies’ forest and I highly doubt you want them to realize you’ve stolen something that belongs to them. After all, you don’t want to start a war.”
“Me? You’re the ones getting sidetracked!” Aurelia shot back, rolling her eyes. “You two lovebirds get some rest. I’m going for a walk.” She was up and out the door before Seru could call after her. The door slammed behind her with such force the room shook.
Seru sighed heavily and settled for massaging his temples. He didn’t have the energy to chase after her. “How do we always end up like this?” he asked, not really expecting an answer. “At this rate, they’ll invade and rip our island apart before we puzzle out these cryptic clues.”
A thought occurred to him. Aurelia hadn’t taken the knapsack with her when she left, so perhaps all wasn’t lost. He might still have access to his library. He moved to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. “Goodnight, Thalasia.” He smiled at her. “I have some things I’d like to look into before we resume our journey tomorrow. I’ll be next door. Should you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to come over.”
Thalasia flashed a smile at him. “Goodnight, Seru. I’m just going to rest.”
“Good choice,” he said, softly bringing the door to a close behind him.