Page 102 of Siren’s Secret

Jarred frowned and Marc looked like he was about to say something when she whispered the words that froze the blood in his veins.

“It was lalwe root last time, too. I’m especially… sensitive to its effects.”

“What?” Marc asked.

Jarred didn’t say a word, just pulled Wave into his arms, and since Marc refused to let go of her, he rose with her so that she ended up sandwiched between the two of them. Irishen tried to keep himself under control, but a thin layer of frost spread over the floor.

“Sparkle? What are you talking about?”

“I was… captured before,” Wave said hesitantly. “He used lalwe root to drug me before—”

Marc’s furious growl cut her off. He sounded so animalistic that Irishen half expected to see him shapeshift. Instead of a latent bear manifestation, a half dome of shimmering air slammed in place around the trio, cutting Irishen outside.

He wasn’t dumb enough to try to push through Marc’s shields. The shield blocked sound and distorted the sight slightly with the shimmer, so he didn’t know what was said, but in a moment, the shield morphed to include him.

“—dare to block my mate out ever again!” Wave’s shout made his ears ring. Jarred looked a bit pained, too, and Marc was beyond sheepish.

“I’m sorry, sparkle. Really! I didn’t do it on purpose. I swear.” The mage kept apologizing, and Irishen decided to help him out.

“I’m here, mate. It’s fine now. No need to tear him a new one.” He stepped closer and cupped her cheek. “Gods, seeing you go feral like that does things to my libido.” That distraction worked like a charm, and Irishen winked at Marc, who—honest to god—rolled his eyes. “The mage was just trying to protect you the way his instincts told him to.”

“I slipped a little.” Now Marc looked remorseful.

“Yeah,” Jarred murmured. “Are you all right, love?”

Wave nodded.

“Um… Could someone talk me through this?” Marc asked.

Irishen shared a glance with Jarred, but it was Wave who spoke. Her voice was soft, but there was steel beneath it.

“I was captured before by my then-boyfriend. He kept me chained in a cell for a year before Mother found us.”

“What?”

“A year?”

“Boyfriend?”

They all spoke at once. Even knowing the capture part, the rest was clearly news to everyone. Wave forged ahead, ignoring their gasps of horror.

“He used lalwe root to drug me and keep me… cooperative. Maybe that’s why it didn’t render me immediately unconscious now. Prolonged exposure to poisons can build up resistance.” It sounded like she was talking to herself more than to them.

“Love,” Jarred hesitated. “A year?”

Wave nodded. “A year. I was chained in that cell for a year.” She rubbed her wrists and throat. “That’s why I asked Sinister to make sure they wouldn’t chain me at the Council Force cells. I just—I can’t stand the idea.” She shuddered so hard that all of them pressed closer, cocooning her in the middle.

“Sinister never said anything about that,” Marc murmured.

Irishen was actually happy about that. It showed that his mate’s secrets were safe with the incubus. “Mate, can we go back to the part where he was your fucking boyfriend?”

“That’s how he knew—” Wave cut herself off, but Irishen could fill in the missing part easily. He leaned in to kiss the top of her head.

“So, I assume that he’s dead, or these two wouldn’t be this calm,” Marc said, making Wave actually snort a little.

“Very dead. Drained to the last drop dead,” Wave assured them. “Mother has a vindictive streak when she gets riled up.”

“Don’t piss off the mother-in-law, got it,” Jarred said, half teasingly, but the look he shared with Irishen spoke volumes.