Page 51 of A Siren Song for Christmas
“How can you tell?”
Malachi didn’t speak for a moment. “They didn’t call to me. They didn’t resonate. A mate song can also be heard at a greater distance by their mate. After three years, I’d begun to think that my mate wouldn’t be found in the ocean.”
“Where else would they be?” Trent asked.
“Anywhere, really. Our mates can be anyone, not just sirens.” Malachi closed his eyes. He smiled. “And then I heard it. A siren song. The most beautiful song I’d ever heard. The tune made my entire being sing with joy. The song called to my soul. My heart raced. Before I even saw him, I knew.”
Trent leaned forward, hanging on to Malachi’s words. “What did you know?”
Malachi opened his eyes. They glistened in the firelight. “I knew in my blood thatthiswas my mate. We swam towards each other. Both singing. Both knowing. We clutched and just held each other.” Malachi’s smile stretched wider.
A prickling unease grew inside Trent’s gut.
Malachi had truly loved Forathia. And Malachi still loved him. That was clear in how he spoke of the siren.
He will never feel like that for me.
And in that moment, Trent realised he wanted Malachi to talk of Trent with the same fondness, adoration, and love that Malachi spoke of Forathia.
Trent tried to suppress the feelings surging up inside him. He knew he was being a terrible friend. A good friend would be listening and empathising. But his insides twisted and tangled with want and yearning.
Because Forathia would always have Malachi’s love. Trent never would.
He didn’t want to replace Forathia in Malachi’s mind or anything like that. He didn’t even want to be equal to Forathia in Malachi’s affections. He just wished Malachi could care for Trent in a similar way to how he cared for Forathia.
He shouldn’t want Malachi like that. Malachi only saw him as a friend. And would only ever see him as a friend. Malachi had been clear about that.
“And that’s how we met and fell in love.” Malachi let out a soft laugh. “I know it is very fast by human standards. But that is the siren way.”
Trent forced himself to smile as his stomach roiled.
Am I falling for him?
Malachi, unaware of Trent’s inner turmoil, kept speaking, “But I can imagine how the myths of sirens came about. If our mate hears our song and they are not a siren, they might not recognise why, but they know they need to go to us.
“They will steal a boat and take it out in desperation to get to their mate. Then when they spy the siren in the water, they will fling themselves overboard, no care of the consequences. Thankfully at this point, the siren will catch them in their arms and ensure they don’t drown.”
And for a second, Trent imagined throwing himself into the water and Malachi catching him. But that would never happen. “It’s very romantic.”
“Exactly.” Malachi nodded. Then he hesitated. “But sirens do not actually believe in only one mate.”
“You don’t?” Trent had assumed they must be like werewolves with their one true mate.
Malachi shook his head. “It is widely believed that there are a handful of people who could be a siren’s mate. Who are perfectly suited for them.”
Trent frowned. “But how does that work? What if you meet one of your other mates after two of you have already come together?”
“They become a throuple.”
“Really?”
“I’ve heard of a group of five. But that’s rare,” Malachi said. “Some believe that Aylla, the goddess of the sea, gave us multiple potential mates so we could have a better chance at finding at least one of them.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Trent said slowly, although honestly it sounded confusing. Trent cleared his throat. “I’ve never heard you sing any of your siren songs.”
“No,” Malachi said, voice only just above a whisper. “I don’t sing anymore. My songs died the day Forathia did. I just…” He shook his head. “I can’t.” He got to his feet. “More tea?”
“Yes, please.”