Page 87 of A Siren Song for Christmas

Around him, he could see others staring at them. His siblings gathered. They’d finally stopped talking.

Malachi smiled. He stretched out his arms.

Trent sprinted forward, heart thudding in his throat as he slammed against Malachi.

Malachi took his weight, stumbling a step back. The song broke for a split second. But then Malachi’s arms wrapped around Trent, holding him tight. And he continued to sing.

Dear heart. My love. Be mine. My Trent. I love you.

Trent didn’t understand. He couldn’t make sense of anything. There were no words to the song, but still he heard them echoing inside him.

They stood, clutching each other.

Malachi’s song floated around them with the snow. Nothing mattered but the siren’s song and the arms that held Trent.

Chapter

Forty-Four

Malachi poured all the passion and love he felt for Trent into his song.

For so long, he’d buried his feelings. Now he let them burst forth as he navigated the melody. His tentacles curled and stretched in all directions, dancing in time with his siren song.

Trent tilted his head back, gazing up at him and smiling, listening to Malachi sing. No distress marred his face. He looked at Malachi with teary eyes. But this time, they were tears of joy and happiness.

Now that Malachi had started to sing, it flowed effortlessly. It was a new song. It had come to him fully formed when he opened his mouth. He’d never had a song that had done that before.

He didn’t know exactly what to make of it. But he knew this song was for Trent. Because he loved Trent, even if it had taken him a while to work it out.

Dear heart. My love. Be mine. My Trent. I love you.

He thought the words, letting them infuse the tune. He sang a note, letting it grow and vibrate with the passion and all the devotion of his heart.

Trent had heard Malachi’s siren song and come to him. Trent had come to him.

Malachi held Trent. The ache in his chest and throat had gone, replaced by an ecstasy that grew and grew and exploded from his mouth. He opened his jaw wider. His voice rose to a crescendo, like a wave swelling higher and higher.

How had he been able to deny this? How had he been able todeny his feelings for Trent for so long?

His arms and tentacles squeezed the young man against him.

He didn’t fully understand it. He’d not thought he could find love again. But he had. He had found love with Trent.

And as he sang, he became more certain of another truth. Trent was his mate.

He’d always known sirens were capable of more than one. But for some reason, he’d assumed it could never happen to him again after he’d lost Forathia.

But this song he sang now, although it was a new song, he knew it was a mate song. It was not the mate song he’d sung for Forathia. This one was different. This one was specifically for Trent.

Because Trent was his mate. He knew it with soul-deep certainty. Awe tangled with the notes he sung.

After several minutes,Malachi reluctantly let his song fade. He wanted to keep singing and proclaiming his love for his mate to the world. But he had actual words he needed to say to Trent.

Silence followed when he stopped singing. Those who’d gathered in the street remained still as they watched.

“I’m sorry, Trent. I’m so sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you. I didn’t know I could find this again. I didn’t think it was even possible.” Malachi stroked a tentacle along Trent’s hair.

“Bit by bit, my feelings for you grew. But they grew so quietly and gently that I didn’t even realise what was happening.”Malachi paused. “I didn’t realise you were taking over my heart. I didn’t realise I was falling in love with you.”