I rubbed at my chest, attempting to soothe the burning anger I felt from the memory. The fact that my well-being was being debated between two seven-foot-tall men was disgusting.
“Interesting.” Ada frowned, her gaze shifting to the side. “Did you consider listening to them?”
“Absolutely not,” I snorted with my reply. “I can usually keep a level head when men try to push me around,” (or attack me, tomayto-tomahto). “But then Leon said something, and I suddenly felt stuck.”
“Stuck?” Ada pressed.
“Yeah.” I curled in on myself. “What he said wasn’t even that much more threatening, but for some reason, my fear just…” I paused, not sure how to describe the reaction I had, “…took over. I think I may have considered going with them for half a second, because I was so terrified.” I glanced up, making brief eye contact with all four people in the room, finding comfort in Audrey’s empathetic gaze and Ada’s respectful one. “I don’t usually let my fear of men control me like that. It caught me off guard.”
Liam released a deep, heavy sigh from his spot on the recliner. “Sounds like he used his sinndra on her.”
I perked up at that and pointed at Liam. “Yeah, I think they said that word.”
“Theysaidthey were using their sinndra on you?” Audrey asked, scooting closer so that her thigh was against mine.
“No.” I shook my head, dropping my gaze to my lap to try to remember. “…the brunet, uh…” I looked to Audrey.
“Sergei,” she filled in for me.
“Yeah, Sergei,” I nodded and continued. “He scolded Leon. Called him a prick for, what was it…usinghis sinndra on me.”
“Huh.” Ada frowned in thought. “What an odd interaction. He was allegedly willing to steal a human but had a moral code when it came to the unlawful use of sinndra.”
“You’re telling me.” I sighed, then lifted a finger. “Also. What is sinndra?”
Ada was about to speak up before Audrey beat her to the punch.
“All sirens have sinndra to some extent,” Audrey explained. “In the simplest of terms, it’s their ability to sense your emotions and amplify them to their liking. Some sirens have a stronger sinndra than others. Leon’s must have been strong, but not strong enough to fully manipulate you, since you were still willing to fight back anyway.”
“Good job.” Ada gave me a smile and a thumbs-up, which didn’t feelqueenlyat all, but I appreciated the praise.
“Thank you.” I gave her a thumbs-up back, and she grinned wider.
Then I thought about Audrey’s explanation and asked, “Sirens?” I glanced around the room, “I thought you were all fae?”
“We are,” Liam muttered. “Leon and Sergei are sirens, though. Known to do the Siren King, Ilia’s, bidding.”
“And this Siren King, he’s claiming he had nothing to do with my attack?” I pointed to Ada, who nodded as I tried to piece all of this together. “So how are sirens different from fae?”
“We’re not pricks, for one,” Liam grunted.
Audrey and Ada both turned to Liam to scold him.
“Enough,” Ada snapped.
“Liam,” Audrey groaned, before turning to me. “Biologically, they’re very similar. But sirens are shapeshifters, whereas fae are not.”
I stared at Audrey before shrugging my shoulders and shaking my head in defeat.
“Yeah. Sure. Of course they are.” This was all so insane. What else was I to do, besides go along with all of the crazy shit flowing out of everyone’s mouths?
Ada gave me a bright smile, as if sensing my overwhelm at her world, before pulling a more oval cellphone out of the pockets of her gown and frowning at it.
“I need to take this.” She nodded to the room, and the healer at my side dipped her chin again, so I followed suit. “I’m glad you’re doing well, Vanessa.”
“Me too,” I replied. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” With that, Ada pinched Liam’s arm in passing, avoiding his swatting hand yet again, and let herself out.
