Page 19 of A Siren of Beasts

“It is unwise to throw death magic around like that, Todesrabe. What if I hadn’t had a shield up? You could have hurt her,” Hisceas scolded. “Although, being of reckless nature is common for one such as yourself.”

“What did you say?” Imp snarled. “I would have never put Shiny in danger, my magic would never harm her. You, on the other hand, it might not kill, but I’m sure it would hurt like a bitch.”

Both Imp and the wolf looked a little disheveled, with singed feathers and claw marks that were healing before my eyes. The hell-wolf’s fire was extinguished but he still smelled of smoke and spice, making it known what he was.

“I think if we went after him together we might be able to take him down. All ancients have to have a weakness, and this one hasn’t been seen in almost two centuries,” the hell-wolf said as he crossed his arms. “Something must have kept him dormant. We just need to figure out what it is so we keep him away from my mate.”

Imp lashed out with his talons but the wolf twisted out of the way. “Mine!” Imp snarled.

“Forgive these younglings, they do not understand,” Hisceas murmured to me. “The madness has made them forget much in the time that the queen has been gone. I’m sure the more time they spend around you the faster it will return.”

Frowning at Hisceas, I asked the question lingering in the back of my mind. “How do you know what or who I am, when I didn’t even know that until a moment ago?”

“I will answer all your questions but first I think we need to get you cleaned up. Now that your magic has been released from its confines, your scent and power will draw more to you. Some will want to help while others are going to try and destroy you before fulfilling your purpose,” Hisceas said as his tentacle released me while he grew slightly larger, before scooping me up and settling me in the crook of his arm. “We will go to the shore where there will be fewer chances of someone sneaking up on us.”

Not even waiting for my agreement he started off, ignoring the sounds of the two monsters behind me.

“You put my Shiny down right now, Guardian,” Imp ordered as he darted in front of us, throwing his arms wide as black crackling magic glowed in his hands. “She is going nowhere with you.”

Hisceas just let out a rumbling chuckle as he kept moving, ignoring Imp’s threat. That sound made me shiver in a rather delightful way. That sound sent a thrill through my body, setting nerve endings on fire with excitement. It was strange to feel that sort of connection with a monster I barely knew, when I had never encountered it with the human men that fawned over me.

“You called me a siren, is that the type of monster I am?” I asked, watching Imp flitting through the trees doing his best to keep up with the large stride Hisceas had.

He cocked his head slightly to glance down at me then let out a sound that I assumed meant yes. “The last queen was a monster unlike anything we’d seen before. Like me, she’d been created from this very land, molded into being by the gods to watch over us monsters. I was created from the depths of the sea and given the purpose of guarding it. You have much of the old queen’s essence in you, but different in many ways, making you unique.”

“That didn’t really answer my question,” I countered.

Tentacles stroked over my head, arms, and any place they could reach, trying to comfort me in my frustration. “There are many things I know, but when it comes to the queen much is still a mystery. I will do my best to share what I can, while helping you discover that which I can’t. Your raven might be able to help as well, he was always far too curious about the world, gathering books and lore from all the different monster races.”

My mind instantly went back to the library that was in his nest. There were so many books and hardly any of them were close to any language I could read. Hope grew at the thought I might be able to get some answers to some of the many questions I had.

Movement off to the left caught my eye and I spotted the hell-wolf running alongside us as Hisceas moved purposely through the forest. Reaching up, I brushed a finger over the skin of my neck and it felt slightly raised skin where his teeth had bitten into me. Was this mark what he meant when he talked about being mates? Could a siren—if that’s what I was—be a mate to a hell-wolf? Then there was Imp, who was convinced I was his mate as well. Of course, I’d only thought he was a raven that could talk, but seeing he had a theoretically compatible form, that changed things.

Hisceas tucked me close to his chest as he shoved a tree out of his way, revealing the shore. It took him five steps to cross the grassy area to reach the rocky shore where the water lapped with a soothing sound. Part of me expected to be uncomfortable being this close to the water again after almost drowning twice. Yet, even though I’d just met Hisceas, I knew he would keep me safe. The sea was his home, and he’d saved me once before, I was sure he’d do it again.

“You’re right, Little Siren, I won’t let anything happen to you,” Hisceas’s voice whispered through my mind, almost as if he’d been listening to my thoughts. “Not listening per-say, more like monitoring your emotional response, but I do have the ability to listen in if you let me.”

That was slightly disconcerting, yet comforting knowing I wouldn’t have to be trapped in my own thoughts alone. Everything since the moment I’d opened my eyes in that healer’s house had been so overwhelming, it eased me to know he would notice if it got bad.

“Little Siren, the moment I found you I vowed I would be there for you however you needed me. If knowing I can check in on your thoughts gives you comfort, then I shall do so. If you change your mind all you have to do is say the word and your thoughts will be yours alone.” Hisceas dropped to one knee in the shallows and slid me off his arm into the water.

I gasped at how cold it was, my skin instantly had goosebumps and my nipples hardened. It was a shock to the system but after a moment I adjusted enough that I wasn’t shivering, but I didn’t really want to stay in the water long. Stripping out of my dress, I tossed it toward the shore where it landed on the rocks with a wet slap. Quickly, I used the water to wash away the dried black blood but it was proving to be trickier than expected.

“Can I assist?” Hisceas asked.

He’d shrunken himself back down to human size and stood a foot away from me. It appeared he wanted to give me privacy with his back turned as he asked this question. The other two who’d come with us didn’t have any qualms about looking at me standing there naked.

“Do you have soap or something to make washing off this blood easier?” I asked.

“If you will allow me to assist you, I can use my magic to help with the process,” he answered, still refusing to turn around.

It really was sweet of him to give me that courtesy when none had ever before. “Thank you, Hisceas, I would appreciate your help.”

Only then did the monster turn and approach me, but I had to laugh at the sight of his tentacles covering his eyes as he reached out to me. His hands were smooth and gentle on my shoulders as the water around me started to warm. Dipping one hand into the water he scooped up a pile of sand and used it to scrub my skin. Somehow, he’d managed to warm that up so it felt amazing as it buffed away all the dirt and grime.

“I appreciate you giving me privacy by covering your eyes, but it might help for you to see what you’re doing,” I said, resting one of my hands over his.

He paused and one of his tentacles curled around my neck as he stepped up to mold his body to my back. “Many have disrespected this body and not cared for it the way it should be. You are of our queen’s bloodline and I am a mere guardian, never would I presume to be welcome to look or touch your body in a manner that isn’t welcome.”