Page 77 of Siren’s Secret

“Love… The claiming bond, the mate bond… are you shielding even from them?”

Hesitantly, she nodded. “My inner shield is always in place. It contains… the siren. The bonds are wrapped around that layer. The second shield is a barrier for the stormbringer. The third shield is so new I can’t keep it up consistently.” She looked frustrated at that.

“You—” Irishen stopped to take a deep breath. “You keep up two shields at all times?”

“Yes,” Wave replied.

“Fuck, mate.” Irishen gulped. “How can you tolerate the strain? The pressure? How are you functioning like that?”

Now a small smile flittered over her lips. “Uncle Essi taught me.”

“What?!”

Jarred growled.

Wave blinked at them. “What?”

“Esserieh knows?”

“Yes,” Wave replied carefully. “He has known since I was three and we first met. I tried to order him to give me ice cream.”

“But…” Irishen had no words.

“Okay, story time, love,” Jarred said and moved Wave to sit on his lap. “Now, catch us up.”

Chapter 40 – Wave

Wave curled up in Jarred’s lap and watched as her mate lifted her legs into his lap before twisting a bit to face her better. Jarred dropped a kiss on the top of her head. The easy way they shared her made her smile even after all the emotional turmoil. And this was a story she didn’t mind sharing.

“Okay,” she began, “like I’ve said, Grandfather has a standing yearly lunch with Lucifer. Naturally, Esserieh was there with him.”

“Mm,” Jarred hummed, urging her on.

“I was mandated to participate as the likely future heir. As soon as I was big enough to sit on my own, Grandfather made sure I was there. Same with any other fancy alliance meeting he had. Father tried to get me off the hook as often as he could, but he couldn’t go against direct orders.”

“Okay,” Irishen said, relaxing a bit and looking like he was settling in.

“Mother was livid, but what could she do? Father never introduced her to the family. Couldn’t really. Mother is pretty close to full siren, and it’s hard to pass as something else, especially to Grandfather. Or Lucifer.”

Both men shuddered at that and Wave couldn’t help a little grin. “He’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad,” Jarred gasped. “Love, he’s the Lord of Hell.”

“Yeah, and Grandfather is the Lord of Stormbringers and, therefore, pretty much all elementals.”

“Which makes you a princess,” Irishen said, with a twitch of his lips.

Wave shook her head. “You should know your etiquette better, Prince Sleethill. It makes me a lady.” Now it was Wave’s turn to shudder. “Siren titles don’t run as linearly. Grandmere is the queen and Mother is the crown princess, but there’s no guarantee that I will inherit the title.”

Now both men were again coughing, gaping, and shaking their heads.

“Say that again, love.”

“Siren titles are not linear?”

“No, the other bit, mate.”

Wave groaned. “My mother is the crown princess?”