“Many of my people have seen a disturbing imbalance on the horizon.” She surveyed the room with her milky white gaze.
Those eyes always unnerved me, and I sunk into my chair in relief when they stopped on another. The middle-aged man sat almost directly across from me. His hair was stark white, but not from age. His kind always had vibrant hair colors, much like the fish they conversed with beneath the waves. Sirens.
The oracle continued, “A rogue band of your people have been causing a nuisance to the human world. Their actions, if not corrected, threaten exposure for us all.”
The siren’s fists tightened on the table, causing the scattered scales on his knuckles to reflect the light of the room. Beside him, his heir remained quiet, but I saw the same fury building behind his impartial mask.
“I have made our grievances known for years, and still, you have done nothing to aid us,” the siren spoke, his tenor strong and clear in the room. “My people are tired of being silenced, both in this tribunal and out in the world. This rogue band, as you call them, is but a group of the newest generation fighting to make their voices heard. To make Her voice heard.”
“Here we go,” mouthed the dark-haired vampire on his right.
“Yes, here we go. Might I remind you that I am only in this position of power because I am the head of the oldest known line of my people.” The siren glared down at his neighbor. “Your kind are not the only faction that can bemade. AndIdon’t choose who is tapped for that gift.”
Most of us—witches, djinn, oracles, and nightmares—were born. Our numbers increased and decreased like any other population of living beings. But the vampires and sirens? They could add to their ranks in other ways. Classically, vampirescould turn humans, but that was a strictly controlled process voted on by this very tribunal.
Sirens could also be made, but they had no say or control over who or when that happened. They claimed the ocean made Her choice. The fucking ocean. The thought of a cognizant body of water made me never want to go to a beach ever again. Honestly, we didn’t know what was true or not. Most sirens chose to live in the sea or on isolated islands speckled around the globe. They were extremely secretive and powerful when they wanted to be.
“Are you saying you can’t control your people?”
My head snapped to the right as the head of the djinn voiced his question. Kol smiled as he watched his father, and I didn’t like the look of it.
“I don’t even knowwhatrogue band the oracles are referring to or where. My people are spread far and wide. Through every ocean, on every continent. The exact count isn’t—”
“Yes, yes,” the djinn interrupted. “We know the extent of your lack of leadership. That is precisely my point. An uncontrolled populace of sirens is dangerous. Your powers of compulsion alone rival that of the nightmares, I’ve always said, and left unchecked you risk the destruction of our entire society.”
The siren’s eyes widened just as the room erupted, exactly as the djinn intended. He poked at the fear the others had of losing control. Of exposure to humans, which was our greatest threat besides one another. A faction growing too powerful to be checked by the others was exactly what started the hunt and near extinction of the nightmares.
Sirens were deeply involved in the environment and human affairs. More than any other faction besides the vampires, whose food source required them to be involved in more medical matters. Sirens were always trying to save the world, and theirsofthearted, hippie attitude allowed them to go overlooked by the tribunal.
But their powers were some of the strongest among us. Their voices could sing you to sleep, lure you from near or far, or put you under a compulsion so strong you would willingly kill yourself. An out-of-control populace with that much power? The tribunal wouldn’t stand for it. Was the djinn trying to eradicate yet another faction in their quest to take over? I wouldn't put it past them.
The meeting dragged on with nothing being decided. The head of the siren faction promised to find those causing problems and get them under control, but the threat had been delivered. If he couldn't do it, someone else would.
I dodged my mother’s attempts to rekindle our argument and strolled out of the meeting chamber at a casual pace. Any longer away from my bond, and I was liable to snap, but I couldn’t let them see that. Kol waited for me at the end of the hall, where I had no choice but to engage with him.
His pleased smirk had my hackles rising. “I’m surprised you were able to drag yourself away from that tight little bond of yours.” My growl of warning made him step back with his hands raised. “Touch a nerve?”
“What are you up to?” I asked, a band of shadows building over my hands. I couldn't attack him, not here with witnesses, but the silent threat to Eryn couldn’t go unanswered.
“Me?” If possible, Kol’s smile grew. “How can I be up to something from all the way over here? You give me too much credit, Alantes.”
Eryn was safe, I told myself. Far from here, with my cousin, and locked behind a boundary of strong wards. He couldn’t reach her, and his minions were no match for Ez. She would be okay until I got home. He was only trying to rile me.
“Half a credit. For trying,” I taunted, moving past him and out into the late afternoon sun.
That fucking meeting took all day. With some luck, I could be back home before midnight. I’d run on less sleep than this before, and resting was inconceivable until I had Eryn tucked into my side and squirming on my fingers. Kol’s presence didn’t fade as I walked toward the family compound and my awaiting truck.
“I didn’t take you for one to pant after my attention, Von Bauer,” I called to him. “Share some traits with that drooling illusion of yours?”
“You mean the illusion your little bond wet herself over? Must have hurt to not be her favorite in that encounter.”
I spun and found him invading my space, far closer to me than I thought he was. At this distance, I risked more than just physical damage, but being within eyesight of the guards around my faction’s property allotted me some protection. Then again, this dick was on his last marble.
“Whatever you’re planning, whatever sick plots keep you up at night, they’re not going to work. You won’t get to her.” I vibrated with rage, but that only pleased him more. He soaked it in and grew stronger in its presence.
“I already told you;I’mnot doing anything. Not from all the way over here.” I forced myself to step back, but he wouldn’t shut up. “I wouldn’t dream of testing your wards anyway, Alantes. Breaking them isn’t within my wheelhouse. But my pets are known for their many talents and your bond appears fond of dogs, so…”
Dear gods. Shadows exploded around us, a move that signaled to the watching guards, and allowed me to disappear amid the soundtrack of Kol’s maniacal laughter. That fucker. My hands shook as I started my truck and tore out of there, my cell already at my ear and calling Ez.
