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Story: The Siren

Violet put her hands on her hips and looked at Lucienne daringly.

“It seems my lenses were humbled,” said Lucienne dispassionately.

“Silly, this is the first time Queen Lucienne has met you,” Clement said. “Her Majesty has been extremely kind to have her people look for you.”

“But she didn’t find Ash,” Violet said. “I helped bring Ash back.”

“Not everything is about you, Violet.” Clement refused to give the redhead credit, and the two of them began arguing. Ashburn darted his eyes between his mother and his friend, looking torn.

An idea shot to Lucienne. This was the perfect time to pick Ashburn’s brain. His distracted state would allow her to more easily read his thoughts. She had to know what he was made of. With that, Lucienne dove into Ashburn’s mind.

A mass of voices and images rose like the high sea in a hurricane. The voices of millions—no, trillions—prowled through her eagle’s wings, tearing them.

Lucienne screamed, throwing her hands over her ears. “Stop!” she begged. “Too much!” Her face contorted grotesquely. “It’s too much! Leave me—alone.”

Kian lunged. He grabbed the seat where Lucienne sat before it toppled and held her in his arms. “Lucia!” he called urgently, his gun drawn.

All of her men, including Orlando, appeared from the shadows and surrounded her in a protective mode. Their eyes darted frantically, looking for enemies.

“Are you all right?” Ashburn asked, crouching beside her. He looked at her with a dark, deep concern, as if he knew what had happened but couldn’t help her.

Kian stared steely at Ashburn and was about to shove him back when Lucienne put her fingers on Kian’s arm. “I’m fine,” she gasped. “It’s just a bad headache.” She waved the men back to their former positions.

Lucienne gazed back at Ashburn. The look of horror in her eyes dimmed; empathy and fascination took its place.

A look of gratitude washed over Ashburn’s eyes.

He appreciates that I’m not afraid of him even though I’ve just glimpsed what is inside him. I won’t go back. I can’t. The voices will swallow me.Lucienne shivered at what she had confronted—a sea of cacophonous human thoughts and voices—an army of all the dead and the living since the dawn of the human race.

Jed used to say, “All powers come with a price.”

What price was Ashburn paying?

Clement and Peder turned their gazes from Lucienne’s face to Ashburn’s, then looked away with apprehension and sorrow. In the depth of their minds, they were still afraid their son might have brought back the ancient evil from Hell Gate.To a degree, Lucienne thought,it’s not too far from the truth.

Lucienne pressed her temples, her head still throbbing in pain. Over everyone’s concerned looks, she explained, “I had a migraine this morning. I forgot to take my medication.”

“I’ll make the herbal tea for headaches,” Clement said.

“Thank you, Mrs. Fury, but please don’t make a fuss,” Lucienne said. “My men carry my medicines.” She turned in the warriors’ direction and called. “Orlando, give me one of your pills.”

“Queen Lucienne?” Orlando moved forward looking momentarily confused.

“The one you pop into your mouth every now and then.” Irritated, Lucienne snapped her fingers.

“Oh, pardon me.” Orlando pulled out a pack of mints from his pocket, opened the box, and offered them to Lucienne. “For your headache, Your Majesty.”

Lucienne picked one mint tablet and inserted it into her mouth. “Orlando, you’re efficient. You’ll be rewarded.”

“I look forward to it, Your Majesty.” Orlando bowed and withdrew back to the shadows.

Kian returned to his seat, his hard eyes staying on Ashburn.

A half-smile sparkled in Ashburn’s eyes. He didn’t move away from Lucienne. She didn’t order him away either. They both seemed to like the cozy closeness between them.

Violet stepped in and put her hand on Ashburn’s arm. “Ash, I need to go. Walk me home?”

Before Ashburn could nod yes, Lucienne chimed in, “One of my warriors will walk you home, Violet. I need to borrow Ashburn a little longer, if you don’t mind.”