“No, he didn’t,” I replied. “He just looked…curious?” And horny. But maybe I was just projecting. My fear was present in that moment, that I knew for sure. But, thanks to Drustan, something purely visceral rose in me during those heated stares, too.
“I’m glad we got to you, Van,” Liam spoke up, before sitting next to Audrey against the table. “Sirens are already dangerous, but he…”
“Will rip my heart out?” I tried to joke, but I couldn’t lift my lips into a smile. I couldn’t laugh or giggle. What was funny about a very real threat like that?
Liam nodded once. “That, but also never forget that sirens can weaponize your emotions. Some have a weaker ability to do so than others but based on the wide pupils you had when we found you—” I lifted my eyebrows at that, because I hadn’t realized. “—We need to remember that heispowerful. Anyone who can survive the Gravhune should be feared.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
“You’ll be better prepared if you see him again,” Audrey assured me, squeezing my shoulder. “Thankfully, Fergus took the knowledge of me officially slaying an ‘ancient beast’ well, and he seemed convinced that his parents would start to question the Siren King’s title as the Chosen One on their own once they heard about it, too.”
I nodded again. “And if we can keep the idea of a halfling like you being the Chosen One positive, then the Mellhawn Gates are more likely to stay open for everyone else.”
“I reached out to Hush to let her know how our visit in Vanhirra went, but she hasn’t had time to meet. I assume she’s busy following a lead on the missing siren mothers and children,” Liam added.
Shit. Right. There was so much going on in this other realm.
“What do you think is happening to those missing sirens?” I asked, wanting to change the subject from how dangerous Drustan’s raw animal magnetism was for a human like me.
Liam and Audrey shared a look before Audrey replied, “I wish I knew. If they’re alive, I want to help them. It would be easier if Hyvenmere officially deemed me as the Chosen One. If they’re not alive…I want to stop whoever is hunting them down.” A dark look flickered across Audrey’s face, which was very unlike her. Or, maybe, thiswaslike her now, and I was still getting to know the Hyvenmerian side of her.
“I want to know why they’d be hunted down in the first place,” Liam added.
It was one of those rare moments when Liam and I agreed on something.
If the missing siren women and children were being targeted—which, let’s face it, would be the only explanation for such a large number of missing persons—what was the motive? A hate group of some kind?
I was wrapping my mind around all of this, the significant amount of danger I was in, when Audrey stood up and clapped her hands together once.
“Alright. Let’s work on some basics for today to get you warmed up.” Audrey pointed toward the knife I was still fiddling with in my hands before she and Liam strode toward the exercise mats.
“What are you reading?” I asked Shane as I stretched my back out against the counter of my coffee shop. I started training with Liam and Audrey three days a week, and I was very much out ofshape. I was getting better, though. I also managed to get a hit on Liam yesterday, which made my day.
I made sure not to stare at Shane as I asked him my question, because he conversed better without direct eye contact, so I focused on the parts of the espresso machine I had taken apart and was washing out before I took a stretching break.
“Sorry—I’ll stop and help you.” Shane rose from his seat at the table, closed his book, and tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans. He trimmed his hair recently and let his stubble grow into a thicker beard.
He looked handsome. I was curious what inspired the new look, if anything.
“I’m not asking because I’m annoyed that you’re reading,” I clarified. Shane shrugged, stepping behind the counter to pick up a nozzle to rinse. “I’m genuinely curious about what you’re reading.”
Shane hummed, “A historical.”
I nodded. “What’s it about?”
Shane gave me his back and lifted his shoulder as his response. I would bet his next paycheck that it was a bodice ripper, if it was small enough to fit in the back pocket of his jeans and everything.
I ducked under the counter to glance for replacement parts right when the chime over the door to the coffee shop rang. Shane turned to attach the clean nozzle and raised his voice as he asked, “What can I get you?”
He must be in a good mood today if he is speaking in fuller sentences with the customers.Where the hell is that box?I got on my knees and started shifting boxes around next to him.
A woman’s voice answered, “A coffee.”
Shane replied, and I could hear the smile in his voice as he asked, “What kind?”What the hell? Was Shane flirting with a customer?
“Get whatever you want,” another man’s voice said. Awareness tickled my spine.Oh, he sounded attractive.
I scrambled out from underneath the counter, which probably wasn’t the sexiest thing to do, but I didn’t want to miss out on this opportunity. I popped up right next to Shane, tucking stray curls behind my ears, and smiled brightly.
