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She grabbed her gun and marched for the woods, kicking dirt and stones out of her way as she slid past trunks, trying to catch the stalker before he might escape. She scurried over a large rock and tiptoed over a short patch of yellowing moss. She couldn’t see the person, but she could see their shadow rippling over a pile of dry leaves. They hid behind a tree thirty feet ahead.

Two hands grabbed her before she could raise her gun. She moved to strike as she was whirled around, until she saw Shayne’s messy white hair. His hands were over her ears. She didn’t even notice until he tried to say something and she couldn’t hear it.

She watched his lips move, but she still had no idea what he was telling her. His coat was wrinkled, his hair fell in his eyes, and his eyelids hung half open like he’d been startled awake.

“Seriously. If you want me to listen, you’re going to have to take your hands off my ears,” she said. “Otherwise, I’m just going to assume you don’t know how human ears work.”

His lips slowly spread into a smile. This time she could read his word when he said, “Stop.” And then something along the lines of, “You’re killing me, ugly Human.” His gaze darted down to her mouth.

“Are you going to take your hands off my ears now?” she asked.

He chewed on the inside of his cheek as if pretending to think. And he mouthed, “No.”

She sighed. “Someone’s watching us. I was about to find out who.” His smile vanished. “If you let me, I might still be able to catch them before they get away…”

Shayne dropped her ears. His brows furrowed. “How long have you been hearing music?” he asked.

She blinked. Then she folded her arms. “How do you know I’m hearing anything?”

“Since you got here?” he guessed. “And is it music the rest of us can’t hear? A tune that makes you think of a deep jade ocean?”

Lily blinked. Her expression must have told him enough.

Shayne nodded. “It’s a Lady of the Lake. A siren’s voice that’s been trapped in a flute. Tell me whenever you hear it so I can keep an eye on you, andneverfollow the music.” He took her hand and began leading her back to the campfire. “I need to get you home,” he muttered under his breath like he was talking more to himself now.

“But…” Lily pointed back toward the woods with her gun. “The stalker…”

“There is no stalker, Lily.” He used her real name for once. “There are just my brothers waiting for you at the other end of that song. Don’t listen to it.”

Lily looked back at the forest. She didn’t see the shadow anymore. She didn’t hear the music, either. “Would that be so bad? Seeing your brothers?” She thought about how she wanted to look them in the eyes after all they’d done. Obviously, she wasn’t stupid enough to go pick a fight, but it might have been nice to see them, just once.

She realized Shayne had stopped walking. And he was glaring.

“What?” She folded her arms. “I was just joking.”

“I’m not sure you were.” He took a loose hold of her chin and lifted her face so their eyes met. “Let me make one thing clear,Human. If you ever go see my brothers by choice, I won’t go after you. I won’t help you. I’ll leave, and you’ll never see me again,” he stated.

She raised an eyebrow. She actually couldn’t tell if he was bluffing. “Why?” She nudged his hand off her chin—he let go.

A shadow came over his face. “Because that would mean you did something so unthinkably stupid. And I don’t have it in me to reverse someone’s stupidity at that level.”

Lily made a sound of disbelief. She couldn’t believe this was the same person who’d been making flirtatious advances on her for the last six months. Who tricked customers into eating fresh butter tarts at the café on a regular basis so they’d keep coming back. “You know, you used to talk a lot nicer to me. Even if you were being a turd, you were at least joking around. Right now, you’re ice cold.”

Shayne smiled a little, but it wasn’t sweet or caring. It was the closest thing to a snarl Lily had ever seen on him. “I’m not joking around about this.”

“Wow. Fine. I get your message loud and clear, Shayne. If I get snatched, I’m on my own.” She brushed past him.

“Just don’t get snatched in the first place,” he called after her. “That’s my point.”

She ignored him and kept walking.

As if she’dwillinglyget taken. Did he think she was stupid?

She stuffed her gun away when she reached the campfire, and she shook out her hoodie. There was no getting the worst dirt stains out, but it was wearable at least. She slid it on and tried to do something about her hair.

Dranian and Mycra were awake now. Mycra restarted the fire as snowflakes spiralled around them, bringing in a gust of bitter cold that bit at Lily’s nose. She shivered and sniffed.

Luc appeared beside her out of thin air, and she jumped back in surprise, balling her hands into fists and raising one. “Seriously?!” she scolded when she realized. “I almost clocked you!” His scarlet hair looked windblown and his cheeks were slightly flushed. She lowered her fists. “We should get you a horn to announce your arrival or something. You’re going to give someone a heart attack.”