AllFreeNovel
Share Us
With Lia in my arms, sleep came quickly. But I was awoken just as fast when a familiar evil tugged at my soul. Before, we didn’t know what it was, but now we do.Sirens.I had their magic inside me, and I could feel it when they were near.
Slowly, I slid my arm away from Lia and Bayleon’s eyes snapped open, his gaze darting about the room.
“I feel them,” he growled, his low voice husky from sleep.
“So do I,” I replied. Carefully, I slipped out of bed and threw on my clothes while Bayleon did the same. “Shouldn’t one of us stay with Lia?” I questioned.
With a heavy sigh, Bayleon stared down at her as he dressed. “She’s safe in the castle. Aidan’s just down the hall.” When he faced me, his eyes were blazing. “I’m not about to let you go out there by yourself. If the sirens want Lia, they’ll have to go through us.” He quickly glanced over at Lia before addressing me. “Be ready out front in five. I’m getting my sword.”
I had to gather mine as well. I looked at Lia one last time, sleeping peacefully in the bed with her fiery red hair spread around her. She was going to be livid when she found out we’d left without her.
After putting on my mask, I rushed to my room and slipped into my battle attire before sprinting outside with my sword. Bayleon was already waiting for me, dressed in his warrior gear and ready for a fight. The two elf guards posted by the entrance remained still, their eyes trained on us but not saying a word. I didn’t want any of the elves involved, not when they were susceptible to the sirens.
The siren’s magic grew stronger and as I looked to my right, trying to pinpoint the location, Bayleon’s hand suddenly shot out and pointed to a distant figure.
“There,” he hissed. “They’re luring someone into the woods like they did earlier.”
In the distance, a male elf trudged slowly forward, walking as if in a trance. “It’s a trap,” I grumbled, and Bayleon huffed in agreement.
“Of course, it is. But we have to try and save him. Maybe the sirens will give us some answers since we are a part of them.”
We were basically male sirens. The only difference was that we didn’t live in water. As we ran through the woods, it seemed as if the life had been snuffed out of the land. The once gentle breeze was now a cold, prickling wind that scraped against my skin. Everything around me had an aggressive aura, and I felt as if I were slipping into quicksand, getting progressively more and more sluggish. The elf was all but gone by now, and when I glanced at Bayleon, he too, was stuck in one place, struggling to move his legs.
“Someone’s here,” he growled, unsheathing his sword.
I could hear footsteps all around us, like rats scurrying in the grass. An intense rage boiled within me, but it did nothing to break me away from the force binding me to the spot. The darkness around us seemed to be deepening by the second. I scanned the forest for any sign of movement, and suddenly, I saw who was with us.
As Bayleon and I dropped to our knees, the atmosphere around us crackled with energy. An intense pain shot through my head and I fell forward, feeling blood dripping down my face. As I gritted my teeth and tried to push myself off the ground, a heavy boot slammed into my chest and knocked me back down. I felt the world spinning around me, thick darkness enveloping me. But before it could take me completely, a familiar voice rang out in the distance. I knew exactly who was there.
Chapter16
Lia
Irolled over, expecting to find the warmth of Bayleon and Bastian’s bodies curled up with mine. But all I felt were cold, empty sheets. That didn’t matter, though—thoughts of last night and how amazing it was quickly warmed my body. Even now, Bayleon and Bastian’s scents lingered in the air, making me smile.
Through the window I could see the sun was already out, indicating they’d most likely been up for a while, probably formulating strategies for our next mission: hunting sirens.
Throwing off the covers, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. After washing up, I pulled on my dark green leather warrior gear. My sword hung from my belt along with a small dagger and two quivers full of arrows were strapped to my back. I made sure to put the two necklaces my mother gave me into my pocket. If we were going to hunt sirens, having the chance to be invisible could help.
I crossed the long hallway to the grand staircase, where the delicious aromas of freshly baked bread enticed me to follow the trail toward the kitchen. As I strolled down the stairs, one of Rhoswen’s servants, a woman with long, chocolate-colored hair and sparkling blue eyes waited for me at the bottom. She bowed her head and curtsied, her angelic smile full of warmth and sincerity.
“Good morning, Your Highness. King Aidan is in the dining room, waiting on you. King Aelfric and Queen Rhoswen will be joining you shortly.”
“Thank you,” I said, smiling back. She started to walk off, but I held up a hand, halting her. There was no mention of Bayleon or Bastian. “Have you, by any chance, seen my protectors?”
Her smile faded. “Not this morning, Your Highness. I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “It’s okay. I’m sure they’re around here somewhere.”
The ornate dining room was just around the back of the grand marble staircase and down an intricate mosaic-tiled hallway. When I stepped inside, a lavish spread of food was artfully arranged across the huge oak table, with various freshly squeezed juices and fruits at the center. Aidan was standing by one of the towering windows overlooking the palace grounds, dressed in his brown and gold warrior gear, with a glass of sparkling clear liquid resting in his hands.
“Good morning,” I called out.
He slowly turned around and smiled slyly, his teeth so white against his tanned summer skin. “Yeah, I’d say so . . . for you, at least.”
His words sent an electric jolt through my body, my cheeks flushing bright red. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He chuckled, his grin spreading wider across his face. “Let’s just say,” he replied, “my dragon hearing can pick up a lot. I might have to find something to put over my ears tonight if you decide to have a threesome again.”
