If those damn vampires gave her any problems, I didn’t care how much trouble I caused, I was going to go full bear on them. And even vampires were smart enough to be scared of a bear shifter. Hell, everyone was.
It took Emma a second to recognize me, but as soon as she did, her entire demeanor relaxed and she leaned into me. “My brother’s been taken by the sirens!”
I stiffened as my mind started working. “Sirens?” That could only mean one thing. “They’re going to use him in their Ancestral Waters ceremony.”
Her eyes went wide. “What does that mean?”
I hesitated, an image of her brother’s familiar face popping into my mind. “It means they’re going to sacrifice him for a ceremony. It’s something the sirens do.”
The horror in her expression made my heart ache. “We have to get to him. Now. This second.”
If only it was that easy, but the sirens were easily the most powerful group of supernaturals in Mystic Hollow. I’d do everything in my power to save Emma’s brother, but this wasn’t something we could just run out and do. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to take her with me when I faced them. I was willing to risk my life. That wasn’t something that came naturally to me, even after I retired, but I wouldn’t risk hers.
I shook my head. “No can do. I’m sorry.”
She thumped her hand against my chest, her brows drawing together. “What do you mean no can do? Like you’re just going to decide to leave my brother to die, and I’m just going to sit here and let it happen?”
“That’s not what I--”
She didn’t seem to hear me. “Maybe I’m not the same Emma Foxx from back in the day, but I’m not a pushover either. Rick might have thought…no, it doesn’t matter what my ex thought, because I’m not that woman. I will save my brother, even if you won’t help us.”
I felt so many confusing things in that moment. Rick? That was the name of the man she’d married. Apparently, a man who thought she was a pushover. Was he insane? This proud woman was strong and fearless, diving into shifter territory and vampire clubs. But the last thing I wanted was for her to think I was anything like her ex, or that I saw her as anything but the amazing woman that she was.
“I only meant that your brother will be taken care of until their Ancestral Waters ceremony andthenkilled. He’s safe until then. And the other good news is that they do that on the mainland. We might not be able to get him wherever they’re keeping him right now, but they’ll have to come to town to do their ceremony, which means I’ll have a chance to rescue him then. Hopefully.”
The hand that had thumped my chest seemed to relax. “Okay, as long as you know that sirens or boogie men, I’m getting my brother back.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I told her, this time unable to hide my smile.
She drew back from me a little, tucking her dark hair behind one ear in an endearing way. “Good. And also, don’t think I didn’t notice you mentioning you’d be saving him. I’ll be right there with you.”
I felt my smile widen. Man, it felt like I’d smiled more since Emma came back to town than I had in years. But then, she’d always had that effect on me, even when I was just watching her from afar. She had a way of making me enjoy life.
“What now?” Beth asked, and I felt my smile fade away.
Right. I was here for a reason. I couldn’t let myself be distracted by a pretty lady.
Pointing toward the door, I nodded. “I was just going in to ask where Henry was.”
“Don’t bother,” Emma said bitterly. “They were no help, other than telling me about the sirens.”
“That’s a pretty big help.” I scratched my jaw. “It’s too bad we don’t know an alchemist.”
Emma gave me a puzzled look, but Beth’s eyes lit up. “Oh, my gosh I totally forgot about that.”
“What?” Emma asked. “Forgot about what?”
“Alchemists provide the sirens with their offerings to their ancestors. Along with the traditional stuff like fish, shells, anything that honors the ocean and water, they also bring different soaps, purifiers, and other things that are spelled by an alchemist to try and get the waters to flow again.”
Emma nodded in understanding. “So, they could get us near the sirens?”
“It’s possible, but at the very least I could try to get the information from one,” I said.
Beth snorted. “No. You will not. I know you’re all shifty and all that, but you’re not a witch. If anyone stands a chance at getting that info, it’s me.”
She checked her watch. “We have to go back in there, and you two have to act like you’re not with me, because the alchemist I know is in there, selling potions to idiotic young witches who think they’re buying love potions, when they’re really buying lust potion.”
“I think we should take more of an official route,” I said. “And that you two should let me handle this.” None of this sat right with me. They were putting themselves in danger and it made my protective instincts that much harder to control.
