Page 75 of Siren’s Secret

“I don’t—”

Sinister didn’t wait for Wave’s reply but grabbed their arms and opened another portal. That immediately shut Wave up and she clung to Jarred.

“Let’s go.”

Chapter 39 – Irishen

The moment Sinister pulled Wave and Jarred through the portal, Irishen was out the door and racing down to meet them. To his surprise, Sinister gave him a curt nod before opening another portal and stepping through.

“Are you all right, mate?”

“I’m fine,” she rushed to reassure him.

Not that it helped much. He needed to inspect every part of her himself. His gaze focused on Wave’s side and he motioned to the singed shirt. “What’s that then?”

“Elena got a jump on me and burned my shirt, but it’s already almost fully healed.”

“Let’s get inside.” Jarred ushered them, his eyes scanning the street. Irishen barely resisted the urge to sweep Wave into his arms and carry her.

“I…” Wave looked around nervously, too. “Your apartment is warded, right?”

“It is, morsel,” he said.

“I hate this.” She sighed but followed Jarred inside. “If Grandfather hears, he will sic bodyguards on me.”

“Would that be so bad?” Jarred asked. “You were just attacked.”

Wave groaned. “Yes! They would follow his orders and report back to him everything I do and say. He can’t know about me! Dad hated his guards with a vehemence.” She paled and stopped in her tracks. “Fuck. That’s it. How didn’t I put things together before?”

Irishen unlocked his door and practically pushed her inside. “What, mate?”

“His assassination.”

“What?” Irishen spun on his heels, stunned, but Wave kept talking, eyes looking into something he couldn’t see.

“He was supposed to have guards with him. How did he end up dead, if he had bodyguards with him?”

“Hold on, mate. Time-out.” Irishen had a hard time keeping up. The stormbringer clan hadn’t declared a death of their heir apparent, but an assassination? “Your father was killed? Are you sure?” He felt like an idiot asking the question. He knew well how dangerous politics could get, but how come no one had even whispered about a high-profile assassination?

“It wasn’t an accident,” Wave snapped, before rubbing her temples. “I know the reports all say it was a freak accident. A lightning surge. But it wasn’t. Dad knew how to shield against lightning. He was the stormbringer heir apparent, for fuck’s sake.”

“I’m so sorry, love,” Jarred said and folded Wave into a tight hug.

Irishen moved to hug her from behind, hesitated, met Jarred’s eyes, and with his slight nod, folded both of them into his arms. His. His to keep. His to protect. His mate and her pet. He would do whatever was necessary to keep them safe.

Together, they moved into the living room and Wave sat down on the couch. Her hands trembled slightly and Irishen kneeled in front of her. “Talk to me—us.”

She took a deep breath and then another. “It’s all such a mess. Did you know Mrs. Riverson had an affair with my dad? I didn’t. But they did, long before I was born.”

What?

“Precious,” Jarred began and then fell silent, clearly as lost for words as Irishen.

“Yeah. I didn’t see that one coming. That’s why I wanted to walk home alone. I needed a moment to think. Anyway, now that seems almost inconsequential. My dad had an affair with my boss. Who cares?”

There was a little wild look in Wave’s eyes that worried Irishen, but he didn’t interrupt her rant. Jarred moved to sit on the couch next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, offering his silent support.

“Mother will kill her if she ever finds out. I can never tell her. No one can,” she whispered and shook herself. “Focus, Wave.”