Page 36 of Forever My Siren Luna
“Lira,” he whisperd. I think he likes just being able to say it again. It almost sounds like a prayer every time the name falls from his lips. “If being here makes you uncomfortable at any time, Cherum will take you out.”
“I can take myself out,” I snapped at him, then felt guilty when I saw pain from my response taint his features. “I mean, I’ll be fine. I can handle this, Lachlan. You don’t need to worry. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be.”
He stared down at me for several seconds, and the sincerity and concern I see on his face makes my heart beat rapidly inside my chest.
“I’ll be fine,” I reiterated, softening my words so I didn’t sound so harsh this time.
“And if she’s not, I’ll be here to help her through it,” Jack stated, taking a step forward to stand beside me.
Nilo whispered something in Cherum’s ear, making Cherum nod and Nilo gape in Jack’s direction. I can only imagine what kind of question the boisterous Beta asked about a pirate being there. I’ll ask Cherum later.
Lachlan stared at Jack, looking displeased. “That’s big talk for a man with the scent of a woman still clinging to his body, along with the usual smell of rum.”
Scent of a woman? I peeked at him from the corner of my eye with a teasing grin. Seems he found something else he liked at the brothel last night. I’m not surprised. The girls there are all sweet, and they kept asking me questions about the captain. I wonder who it was.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jack looked angry, like Lachlan crossed a line by saying that.
“Here we go again,” Cherum muttered under his breath. I looked back at him and Nilo, and though Cherum looked annoyed, Nilo had an amused grin on his face, looking between Jack and Lachlan like he was ready for a fight. “Alpha, I think we have more pressing business to get through before you two shift and start sniffing each other’s butts.” Cherum's eyes moved down to me repeatedly, then toward the table with the others quietly watching.
The man who I know has to be my father is staring still, watching the interaction with mild irritation. What he has to be irritated about, I have no idea. He knew where I was the entire time I lived here before running away the second time. If his impatience is what is causing his irritation, he could have met me then. He was the one who chose to stay awayfor my safety.
Val pressed forward, letting out an irritated growl of her own.
Lachlan must mistake it for exasperation towards him, because he drops the dominant Alpha act with Jack and an apologetic look crosses his face. Val almost whimpers seeing the expression.
The man, King Brennus, knows the growl was meant for him. He looks sheepishly away, like he is anxious now.
“I’m sorry. Lira.” Lachlan timidly held his hand out for mine to guide me, and after giving his hand a wary look, I chose to play nice and take it for the time being. It made some of the worry leave Lachlan's face, and the sparks from his touch helped to soothe some of the raging emotions inside me. It works so much more than the feeling I get from Cherum. All the tension leaves me almost at once. I’m glad I didn’t refuse this small touch at a time like this. “Are you ready, Lira?”
He is still excessively using that nickname….
I just can’t hate hearing it, though, with the sparks making the bond flare to life again.
“I’m ready,” I nodded at him, letting him guide me to the spot at the head of the table, the spot usually meant for the Alpha.
The King stood at my approach, “Elelira,” he whispered roughly, “It is so good to finally meet you.”
Twelve
I narrowed my eyes at the man, a number of snide remarks coming to mind. “Maybe it would have been best if you had come to meet me instead of sending Cedric then?”
Cedric made a little sound in the back of his throat, making me look over at him and see his lips pout slightly and his brows pulled down at the corners in a sorrowful expression. He wanted to speak up. I can tell. It may have been months since we’ve spent any real time together, since I wouldn’t count the nerve-racking moments on the dock, but I know Cedric isn’t one to keep his opinions to himself.
The others from the siren kingdom that are here with my father have a similar expression, like they want to speak up but know it is not their place.
“I regret not coming to see you myself back then,” King Brennus stated, his voice full of guilt. “I am deeply sorry, Elelira.”
“Sorry doesn't change what has already happened. We can only move forward from here,” I sighed, pulling on Val to support me through this. I have always wanted to meet my father. All through my childhood and up until my death, meeting him had been my goal.
I’m still so emotionally hurt by the blood contract he made with Lachlan, I don’t know how to feel towards him now. The little girl that wanted to just run into the arms of her long lost father in a sweet reunion is long gone. The last traces of her left the day she felt the betrayal pains for the last time.
I understand in some way that it wasn’t Lachlan’s fault, but none of this was ever my fault. I’m tired of feeling like I am the only one getting hurt. The pain I felt in this life could have been avoided if my father had just been honest with me from the start.
He was the one who brought me back from the dead, forcing me to endure a second life. If he was going to try and punish Lachlan, it would only have been fair to me to let me in on it.
He smiled hesitantly, then his eyes moved down to my nape, crinkling in the corners as they focused on something. I look down to see what it is he is looking at, and it’s the pendant I took back from Lachlan this morning. I wasn’t going to put it back on, but I wasn’t sure if I would be staying in the pack house again. I have a cabin on board one of the ships out in the bay. When Mimi asked to help me put it on with that motherly expression, I couldn’t refuse.
My hands moved to touch it, and I’m about to pull it off to give it to him, but he quickly reached out to stop me.