Page 78 of Siren’s Secret

“Yeah, that,” Jarred choked. “Does that mean she’s also the heir apparent?”

“The titles are not tied together, but in her case, yes.”

“So, let me see if I got this right,” Irishen started and waited for Wave to nod. “You, my lovely mate, are half stormbringer, descendent from the oldest Stormwell bloodline, heir apparent to the clan?”

Wave nodded again.

“And your other half is not only a siren, but siren royalty, descended from the current ruling bloodline and your mother is the heir apparent, so it’s very likely that you will be too?”

“Well, yes,” Wave said. “At least according to Grandmere, it’s almost certain I’ll inherit that power.”

“Holy fucking shit,” Jarred said.

Irishen held up his hand, halting Jarred. His eyes locked onto Wave’s.

“What?” she asked, shifting uncomfortably.

“You are holding up two shields, containing two massive power bases at all times.”

Again, Wave nodded. They had gone over this already.

“How?” The disbelief in Irishen’s tone irked Wave.

“I told you. Uncle Essi showed me how.”

“Oh yeah, Uncle Essi,” Jarred growled. “Let’s get back to him, then. How—”

Wave huffed. “I already told you. I was three, and I wanted ice cream, so I ordered him to get me some. Uncle Essi very kindly took me with him to choose a flavor and explained in terms my toddler brain could barely understand that I should never do that again.”

“I bet,” Jarred snorted.

Now it was Wave’s turn to growl. “Stop it. He started training me, showing me how to protect myself against being detected. Especially by Hell creatures. He spoke to Dad, and I think over the years, they became friends. We never told Mother that Esserieh knew about what I was. She would have whisked me away.”

“Does Lucifer know?”

“No,” Wave replied to Irishen. “Uncle Essi never told anyone. He kept me company during the lunches, shielding me from Lucifer’s detection until I was old enough to do so myself. He met me a couple times a year, when we could do so without arousing suspicion. He showed me how to suppress the powers and contain them.”

“That’s where you learned the shielding style? From Esserieh?” Jarred sounded a bit weird.

“Yes, from him and Mother.” Wave held up a hand, stopping Irishen before he could explode. “Mother showed me how to shield siren powers, but that only works to a point. Especially with all the stormbringer powers messing with the balance.”

“But suppression is a torture method,” Irishen growled, white eyes flashing like a blizzard. Wave sensed something in their bond and reached out to him soothingly.

“I know, mate. But it is also a defense, a control that keeps others out. Uncle Essi explained it to me. He also showed me how to use it to my advantage. Taught me resilience and…” Wave gulped. Shivers ran over her body and, briefly, she tasted blood and sensed cold metal closing around her neck.

When her hand rose to rub at her neck, Jarred’s lips grazed over the claiming bite. His growl was low and rumbly.

“I would have never survived without…” she whispered before choking out. The memories threatened to pull her under completely.

“Mate,” Irishen said, worry in his eyes, pulling her attention to him.

Mate. He was her mate. He could keep the horror circling her memories at bay. She needed him. Was desperate to have his ice soothing her. Without a thought, she scrambled into his lap and clung to him.

“I need you, mate,” she pleaded. Jarred’s claiming bond was her anchor, but Irishen’s mate bond was the ice that soothed all her hurts. She needed him. Wanted him. Her mate. She didn’t have the words to make him understand, so she tried to tug at the bond.

Please!

Chapter 41 – Irishen