Page 54 of Siren’s Secret

“Marc?” Irishen blinked, baffled. “Why would he care—”

“He thought I was fucking Salis,” Wave muttered.

Irishen shook his head, and a chuckle broke free from him. “Salis? He was jealous of the angel, too?”

Wave shrugged. “Clearly, both of them think that I fuck anything that moves.”

That sobered Irishen up and he glared at Jarred. “And you let them attack her.”

“It. Was. Fine.” Wave snarled. “Drop it.” The last bit escaped from her before she could bite it back. For a second, Risha’s eyes glazed and he dropped Wave’s hand, turning back toward the stove.

“Fine,” he said. In the next moment, all the frost disappeared. “Let me finish up so we can eat.”

“Love,” Jarred said. “That’s not—”

Wave turned to glare at him and he fell silent. Yeah, she knew that was wrong. She hadn’t meant to use her siren command. Well, she had wanted to, but… fuck. She took a deep breath before speaking.

“What I meant to say, Risha, is that you and Hellion… I’m not going to stand in your way and I can’t be with… someone like… Fucking hell,” she mumbled and then tried again, avoiding Irishen’s eyes. “I’m not going to make you choose.”

“And what if I want to choose?” he asked, cold fury still in his white, swirling eyes. How she could read the emotion with such ease was unsettling.

“Like I said, I’m not standing in your way.”

The room stayed silent until Irishen finished the food and carried three plates to the table. The silence held while the men devoured their plates and Wave nibbled on hers. It kept building when Irishen cleared the table and returned to stand in front of Wave.

“Wayla,” he said, voice controlled and even, but his hands shook. “You are my mate. I accept the bond. I want you to be my mate. I will choose you. Every time.” He kneeled on the floor and forced Wave to meet his eyes. “You are my fucking mate, Wayla. Will you accept me as yours?”

“Bold move,” Jarred murmured next to her and leaned over to kiss Wave’s cheek. “You two need to sort this out. I’m going to—”

“No, stay,” Irishen barked but didn’t move his gaze from Wave when he spoke to Jarred. “You are her Claimed. A part of her.”

Wave couldn’t breathe. Irishen’s pupilless white eyes held her captive. The fragile bond between them firmed, reaching for her from his side. Mate bond. She could either reach back and link them—or she could reject him. Say the words. Push that strand of connection away.

Her throat closed up. She couldn’t move.

“Wayla.” Irishen reached up slowly and cupped her cheek. The coldness poured in from the contact and spread down her spine. It caressed her tight throat and coaxed her to breathe.

That was what he had told her over and over and over when the storm broke her apart from the inside. Breathe. He had her. He would never let go. She just needed to breathe.

“Will you accept our bond?” Irishen repeated. Now his voice wavered and the hand on her cheek trembled. “Be my mate?”

Wave inhaled deeply, then did it again until she was certain she could speak. “Yes,” she choked out one word. She didn’t have time to say more as the bond inside of her unfurled and lashed out with full force. It didn’t reach out tentatively, like Risha’s had. It shot out and latched onto him like her life depended on it.

It did.

Risha’s eyes widened when he felt the bond solidify. The link formed in place with force and with it came a barrage of emotions. Wonder, elation, joy, disbelief. And under all of that, Wave felt his drive to prove himself to her. An urge to protect and take care of her.

The bond felt completely different from the claiming bond she shared with Jarred. More direct and more focused on feelings. Even with him straight in front of her, she couldn’t sense where he physically was in the bond. With her bond with Jarred, she knew exactly how far back to lean to reach him.

Wave had no idea what Risha was feeling from her side of the bond, but he stayed kneeling in front of her, waiting for her to make a move.

“You… really want me?” Wave couldn’t help but whisper. “Even when you don’t know me?”

Irishen’s eyes flashed brighter white. “You don’t know me either, Wayla. Not if you think I wouldn’t always put my mate first.”

Wave wanted to argue, but the bond, while still new, came across very clearly. He meant what he said. There was no duplicity or evasion anywhere that she could sense.

“I know you don’t trust me,” Risha said, with a sad tilt to his mouth. “No, don’t argue. I don’t blame you for it. I’m just dying to show you that you can. I will always be here for you.”