Cela bent over and placed her hand against her throat as she panted for air. “We should kill—”
“Shut up,” Yamala hissed. “Do not be like your father.”
Cela recoiled like her mother had slapped her. Red colored her cheeks as she gawked at Yamala before glaring at her.
“I amnothinglike him,” Cela spat.
“You seek blood,” her mother replied.
“Weallseek blood. We are sirens. We lure others to their deaths because it isfunfor us. Is thatnotseeking blood?”
“That is who we are; it is what we have always done. You seek blood for spite,” Yamala said. “That is not the way of the siren.”
“There’s not much of a difference,” Cela muttered.
Cole couldn’t help but agree, but who was he to judge the morals of the sirens? Each immortal made their own rules and laws; many wouldn’t agree with them, but that’s how they lived.
Yamala scowled at her daughter until Cela’s shoulders hunched and she ducked her head. Then she shifted her attention to Cole. “What is your plan for the Lord?”
Cole studied the mother and daughter. Yamala was right; they wouldn’t be able to use Cela against the Lord. He was too much of a psychopath to care if they killed his daughter. However, he couldn’t trust the Lord’s daughter and ex-lover not to turn on them.
“We shouldn’t have come here,” he said.
Yamala held out her hand as she stepped toward him. “If you think there is any love between that bastard and me, you are mistaken. I love my daughter, but I will gladly see him dead.”
“Isn’tthatspiteful?” Cela asked.
“The Lord’s death isnecessary,” Yamala replied, and Cela rolled her eyes. “We will help you ensure it.”
Careful to avoid the flames encircling her hands, Cole drew Lexi closer. He’d made a mistake bringing her here, but he hadn’t known the Lord had a daughter, never mind one who was half siren. There hadn’t been any rumors of such a thing, and though the Shadow Realms held many secrets, he was astonished this one didn’t get out.
“It’s time for us to go,” Cole said.
“Wait,” Yamala said.
When Cole opened a portal in front of him, the woman stepped in front of it.
“Wait,” she said again. “Let us talk… alone.”
“I’m not going anywhere without Lexi.”
“I understand. I’m talking about my people. Everyone, please leave.”
The sirens stirred over her command but remained roosted. He sensed their unwillingness to leave her alone with him and Lexi.
“Go!” Yamala commanded.
Cole released the air keeping the two of them pinned to the wall. Their loud screech as they flew out was like nails on a chalkboard.
As the sirens fled the nest, feathers drifted through the air and settled on the ground around them. The different hues in the feathers caught and reflected the light.
They became a kaleidoscope of colorful brilliance until the last one fell from the sky. He didn’t take his attention away from the mother and daughter as he brushed a couple from Lexi’s hair.
“My daughter will also remain,” Yamala said.
Cole nodded but didn’t close his portal. He would hear what they had to say before leaving.
Yamala focused on Lexi. “My daughter told me what happened at the ball, but I didn’t believe… Icouldn’tbelieve it. I believed there wasnoway an arach could still live, yet here you are.” Then her sable eyes pinned him. “And hereyouare. Cela said someone at the ball called you the Shadow Reaver. Is that true? Are you the legend of the Reaver?”
