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I drank to that. “I’m sure we can arrange that.”
Shouts of alarm erupted from outside the castle, and Bayleon, Bastian, and Aidan were on their feet instantly. Before I could react, Bastian and Aidan ran out the dining room door and Bayleon blocked my path.
“We’re staying here,” he growled.
Outside the walls, the clamor of voices swelled until it seemed to shake the palace. I wanted to investigate, but Bayleon stood in the way. Frustration boiled within me; if Diawen attacked, I wanted to be part of the fight. I stepped forward, meeting his mask-covered eyes with a steely look of determination.
“Let me out of here, Bayleon.”
He shook his head slowly. “Not until we know what’s going on.”
With my fists clenched at my side, I stepped up to him. “I love you and I know you want to protect me but I’m going to get out of this room. You and Bastian didn’t train me just so I can sit on my ass. Hurting you hurts me, and I don’t want to fight you, but I will if it gets me out of this room.”
Bayleon exhaled softly before nodding in agreement. “Forgive me, my love. You can’t fault me for wanting to keep you safe.”
I smiled and cupped his cheek before dropping my hand. “From here on out, our duties are to protect each other. If there’s a battle, we’ll ride into it together. When I told you we were equals, I meant it. I know you’ll sacrifice your life for mine, but you need to know I’d do the same for you. Now let me out of here so we can deal with whatever’s going on together.”
Bayleon quickly stepped aside, and we ran toward the palace entrance where Bastian and Aidan stood ready, swords drawn and eyes steady. The shouts of the approaching enemy grew louder, and in an instant, a familiar woman with wild, caramel-tinged locks raced through the door only to be tackled by two of my warriors. They tumbled to the floor in a heap.
“Lia, it’s me!” Lerissa called out from underneath my warriors. “I don’t want to do you or your people any harm. I need help. Please! I’m in so much damn trouble.”
My heart raced as I glanced at Aidan, who gave me a nod—his eyes assured me she spoke the truth. Knowing what I had to do, I motioned for my warriors to let her up. They lifted Lerissa up by her arms but stood close, their bodies tense and ready to react at a moment’s notice. I could see the desperation in Lerissa’s crystal blue eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I inquired, my voice full of suspicion.
“I can’t go back home,” she said quickly, her breathing labored. “If I do, Diawen will come after me.” She stepped forward, clasping her hands over her heart. My warriors blocked her from getting closer. “Please, Lia. I can help you break the curse. There’s so much I have to tell you.”
Her words caught me by surprise and I froze. There was no hint of deceit or mischief in them. Aidan stepped forward, resting a hand on my shoulder as I studied her carefully.
He nodded his head. “She’s telling the truth, Lia.”
I considered this for a moment before motioning to my warriors. “Let her go,” I said. They stepped away from her and I motioned for her to come closer. “Come on. We’ll go somewhere more private.”
Bayleon and Bastian led us down the hallway while Lerissa walked beside me with Aidan trailing behind us. Bayleon and Bastian led the way into one of the sitting rooms, their polished boots clicking against the marble floors. We followed them, our footsteps muffled by thick rugs that hugged the corridors. Aidan shut the door behind us with a resounding click and stood guard while Bayleon and Bastian flanked me as I settled onto the plush couch. Lerissa took the chair opposite me, her hands shaking violently as though she’d just run a marathon. But it was more than exertion that spiked her adrenaline; she had accomplished something no one else had ever dared to do—she broke into the grounds of my palace.
“I didn’t think I was going to make it here alive,” she said, voice cracking. “I thought for sure your men would kill me.”
A low chuckle rumbled from Aidan’s throat. “You’re obviously very clever to have gotten as far as you did. I’m intrigued.” He smiled at her and I had a feeling that wasn’t the only thing he was interested in.
“Tell me everything, Lerissa,” I commanded. “You said you can help me break the curse. I want to know how.”
She nodded. “And I’ll tell you, but helping you comes at a great cost. That’s why I need your help in return. It’s the only way I can tell you everything.”
Aidan cleared his throat. “Truth.”
I hated that I had to have his assurance on whether she spoke the truth. Yet, in my heart, I wanted to believe her words.
“Why did you turn your back on Diawen?” I asked. “If you were able to do that with your own kin, why should I put my faith in you?”
Lerissa’s eyes darkened. “Because Diawen’s evil. I felt it the moment I touched her.”
My curiosity was piqued. “You felt it when you touched her? Is that a siren power?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s something only I can do. Most sirens just mesmerize men. But since I come from Diawen’s line, my magic is stronger. I can do things no others can.” Her shoulders rose with her intake of breath, and she let it out slowly. “I can feel a person’s true nature,” she confessed. “Take, for instance, the first time we made contact. The second you touched me, I could feel the purity in your soul; it was like a beacon of light.”
I glanced at Aidan and he gave a slight nod of approval, a sign that Lerissa’s words were genuine.
“So, when you touched Diawen . . .” I said, letting my query drift off.
