Cassidy’s brows drew together, lips pressing into a line as she tilted her head in thought.
“Siren’s Song?” She tapped her fingers against her hip, her mind visibly working through old knowledge. Then her eyes widened. “Wait. From Hell? The mega aphrodisiac? I thought that was just a myth.” Her expression turned serious. “Something capable of overriding all inhibition, all choice, turning resistance into desperation—of making the body crave touch at any cost, from any source.
Emmaline wrapped her arms tightly around herself, turning inward.Was that what he used on me?
Lara sat back on her haunches, studying her. “I think so. But it’s mixed with something else. I’ve never scented anything like it before.”
Cassidy exhaled sharply. “Great. A new drug out on the streets being used to—” She stopped abruptly, her entire body stilling. Slowly, her eyes lifted to Emmaline, the weight of realization hitting her all at once. “Oh, honey.” Her voice shifted from analytical to something achingly tender. She took a step forward. “I’m so sorry.”
She reached for her, but Lara blocked her path.
Cassidy frowned. “Lara?”
The corgi didn’t move. “That’s not all.”
“What do you mean, that’s not all?”
Cassidy tried to go around Lara, but the giant Corgi stepped forward, her massive frame creating an immovable barrier between them.
“Give her space,” Lara warned. “I don’t even know how we begin to help with something like this.”
“Lara, move,” Cassidy insisted, darting left once more, only to have Lara shift again, blocking her at every turn, shielding Emmaline from view.
Emmaline’s fingers tightened around herself, nails biting into her skin. Could Lara smell it? Could she sense the broken mate bond?
Cassidy’s head finally popped up over Lara’s shoulder, concern tightening her features. “Emmaline, what does she mean, ‘that’s not all’?”
“I mean it, Cas. I’ve only ever read about it, but if it’s what I think, she should be dead.”
Dead? Fear squeezed her heart as a single, horrifying thought took hold. “Deyric!” She lurched forward, trying desperately to stand. “Oh Goddess, did I kill him?”
Both Cassidy and Lara moved, gently pushing her back down into the chair. Cassidy’s hands landed softly on her shoulders, steadying her, while Lara’s heavy, reassuring weight pressed against her legs.
“If you’re still breathing, there’s a good chance he is too,” Lara said.
“Who’s Deyric?” Cassidy asked.
“The pain…” Emmaline ignored Cassidy’s question, her breath growing ragged. “It was unbearable. I thought I would die. At one point, I even hoped I would.” She turned wild, pleading eyes toward Lara. “But he got up first. That’s got to mean he’s okay, doesn’t it?”
“It would seem logical,” Lara murmured before licking Emmaline’s cheek. “You were the one?” Her voice was softer now. “To break it?”
A strangled noise caught in Emmaline’s throat. She buried her face in her hands, pressing her palms hard against her eyes.
“Honey?” Cassidy kneeled beside her. “What happened? You can talk to me.”
Emmaline took a single shaky inhale. “He was my mate.” The words left her in a broken whisper.
Cassidy stiffened beside her, eyes widening. “There hasn’t been a new pair of mates in hundreds of years.” She whipped her head toward Lara, searching for confirmation.
Lara met her gaze and nodded.
“Great Goddess.” Cassidy rested a hand on Emmaline’s knee. “Caelith?”
“No!” Her nails bit into her palms as rage burned through the grief threatening to swallow her whole. “He’s the one who…” She forced down the bile rising in her throat. The words felt filthy in her mouth. “Who used the Siren’s Song, or whatever it was.”
Cassidy’s entire body tensed, her grip tightening where her hand rested on Emmaline’s knee.
“That heaping pile of useless, entitled, vile noble—” she started as Lara growled, the deep, rumbling sound reverberating through the floor.
