Page 90 of Siren’s Secret

“Great, I’ll see you in training tomorrow morning.”

“That’s one,” she replied, and March chuckled.

“I figured I need to give you some incentives.”

“Hmph. Now spill.”

“I’m sorry I was such an asshole about Irishen,” he said, sounding sincere.

Wave’s throat threatened to close over. “You weren’t that bad—”

“For the love of god, please let me apologize!”

“That’s not—fine,” she huffed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was your mate—”

“And that would have made a difference?”

Marc sighed. “Yeah.”

She mulled it over but couldn’t decide how she felt about that. Besides, Marc had fixated on Salis more than Irishen. “Your issue wasn’t really with Risha, though, was it? It was Salis.”

“And I know there’s nothing going on with you,” Marc hurried to say. “Why didn’t you tell us about Kel—”

“You know that after you talked with him. Him, not me. His word was enough, not mine.”

“Wayla, I’m sorry, okay?”

She heard him, but she wasn’t ready to let this one go. “So you keep saying. Say that I believe you. What’s the point of all this?”

“I want you to talk to me—”

“I didn’t know if Di wanted anyone to know about her and Salis. I wasn’t going to blab and really, me saying I wasn’t interested in him like that—”

“It should have been enough. I should have trusted you. I know, sparkle. I know. That’s what I’ve been trying to say, however poorly. I know I fucked up. I’m sorry. And I’m even more sorry that you felt like you couldn’t come to me about Kelsey.”

“It wasn’t a big deal—”

The snarl that came out of Marc shut Wave up. “Not a big deal?”

“Well, yeah,” she said carefully. “They were just minor burns—”

“Fucking hell!”

She determinedly kept going, ignoring his outburst. “I was worried someone would notice how fast they healed.” Marc was silent for a while, but Wave could hear his fast breathing and some soft thumbing in the background. “Marc?”

“That’s why you didn’t tell us?” He finally asked, voice strained.

“Stormbringers heal a whole lot faster than storm spirits,” Wave tried to explain. Really, it should have been clear, but maybe she needed to spell it out for him. “I was trying to blend in. I could deal with Elena’s little petty games in class.”

“You could—until you couldn’t.” Marc’s voice cracked. “I was there when you fell. If Irishen—” He cursed softly again. “If your fucking mate hadn’t been there to help, I don’t know if you’d have survived.”

Wave wanted to snort. Hang up. Do anything but hear the worry and pain in Marc’s voice. She sighed. “I’ve been—” Her throat closed up. She couldn’t say it. “I’m sorry I worried you,” she said instead.

“Sparkle…”

“Let’s leave it at that, okay? I accept your apology if you accept mine.”