Page 21 of Forever My Siren Luna (The Hidden Cove #2)

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.

“It was your mother’s, Elelira. Now it’s yours. Keep it.”

I tried to ignore the warmth I felt from his hand over mine. It’s tingly in a different way than Lachlan’s touch. It reminds me of my mother. The reassuring bond with a parent. It almost chokes me, but I swallow the feeling back down, not wanting to give into it.

“Lachlan said the same this morning. I don’t remember my mother having this, though.”

“That’s because I had to alter more things from the past to give you a future. I had to repurpose the necklace meant for your mother so I could give it to you.”

I narrowed my eyes, not understanding. “What else did you alter? Will I have more to worry about later?”

He smiled sadly. “I tried two ways to save you, my daughter. This was my second attempt. The first was too tragic, so I tried again, and as much as I tried to protect you from the outcome of the first, I didn’t realize I was hurting you more in the end.

That is my mistake.” He pressed his other hand lightly against my face.

“More than anything, I just wanted you to have a happy life. Me and your mother both wished for that. We-”

He looked away, his eyes shining as he pressed his lips together.

A single tear-drop fell from the corner of his eye.

My heart beats loudly in my chest seeing the anguish in him.

Without meaning to, I stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm.

It hurt me at that moment to see him in pain, even if he was a complete stranger to me.

A choking sound left him, then he stared up at the ceiling, before looking down at me, his green eyes shining with his magic and unshed tears.

“Please, my daughter. Give me the chance to explain. I…I am unsure what else to do other than to tell you everything. The whole truth. Not even your husband or Cedric know the full extent of it.”

I looked over my shoulder at Lachlan, who looks just as confused as I feel. His eyes are trained on me and the Siren King, giving me a gentle nod to let me know he is still there. The action would have annoyed me before entering this room and meeting the man before me, but it is reassuring now.

Cherum is not far behind his Alpha, his entire body tense. I know he is anxious for me, ready to jump in and help me if need be.

My eyes moved over Jack, who seems curious and tense for different reasons, giving Lachlan the side-eye every few seconds, even though Lachlan isn’t paying any attention to him. When he sees me staring, he offers me a crooked smile before his eyes dart at Lachlan again for half a second.

Cedric looked anxious, still with that same tense expression, wanting to interject in some way, I’m sure.

Meldec’s hand on his shoulder seemed more like a restraint to keep his mate in line than a reassuring gesture.

It almost made me smile. I think Cedric needed someone more grounded to reign in his misbehaving tendencies.

Yes, my father and the contract caused some horrible misunderstandings, but seeing all the support I have behind me, I can’t entirely resent the man for giving me this second life. I have people who love me, and I love them. Some more than others.

I eyed Lachlan one more time, and the emotions I see reflecting back at me make my heart tinge. I was so mad at him this morning, but now….I’m happy he is here.

“ He still loves us,” Val whispers, “ No matter what, I’m sure about that now.”

I am too. He killed to bring us back, and the look in his eyes right now tells me he will do it again. He would take his own life for my sake. I can feel it in the bond, no matter how much I try to fight it.

“Okay,” I whispered, turning back to stare up at the man I was still reluctant to call my father. “But I want Lachlan there with me.”

The bulking man’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Did the two of you….make up?”

“Does that matter?” I asked. “I don’t want any more misunderstandings or secrets with anything. If there is more to what happened than what my mate knows, after all the sacrifice he and his pack made, I think he has the right to hear everything too.”

And a part of me still wants my mate there for support, even though I would never admit that.

I would feel better if Lachlan knew everything too and…

.if I end up needing someone, I know the bond would react stronger to him than Cherum’s comfort.

After this morning, I realized that I still miss his touch, even if I try to deny it.

I still miss and long for him.

If I am about to have an emotional moment with the man that had a part in bringing me into this world, which I very much sense I might, I would feel reassured having Lachlan with me. I don’t trust Lachlan entirely, but I do trust him enough for that.

King Brennus looked up at Lachlan, then sighed deeply, nodding. “Okay, Elelira. If that is what you wish.”

~

King Brennus

I was hoping for a moment alone with my daughter; a chance to finally bond with her, or at least share this most personal information with her without being bogged down by anyone else.

Personal time with her is what I felt I have been robbed of repeatedly, and I thought it was what fate wanted to keep her safe. A relationship with her is what I was fighting for at first, but that quickly changed. As much as I still want that personal bonding, my only goal now is her happiness.

I can see the connection Elelira and the young Alpha have, even if they fought. Even though I missed out on a moment with her, it makes me happy to know that in the future….in the future she won’t be alone.

I had plans in place for Cedric to bring her to the kingdom if need be, and the orders to hand over the reign to her, but maybe that is a bit premeditated. She may still yet be the Luna of Hidden Coven Pack before she is the reigning Queen over my kingdom.

The future is something I have been fighting against for so long that it seems like several lifetimes now. This is the last chance for her. Her mother….

Her mother told me to save her and no one else. That was her only wish, so it is what I am going to do. Even if my daughter hates me for the ways I went about this, as long as she survives… As long as a piece of my precious Lorelei continues on, that is all that matters.

Elelira….

I wish she knew just how much she is and was loved. I wish I could put into words just how much she meant to her mother and myself.

A life for a life. That is the nature of the magic I used to bring her back. I made the mistake the first time of thinking I could trade one life for both her and her mother. It ended up costing us her.

Living a life with memories of a child you once loved so intensely that you gave up living for in your first life, but were robbed of in your second caused my love more pain than I can describe.

Watching my mate weep night after night, clutching her stomach and swearing to the heavens for taking her child was too much for both of us to bear.

Everyone sacrificed something, but none of us could live with my mistakes in the magic the first time, so I had to do it again….

Forgive me, Elelira. I will be as forthcoming as I possibly can without telling you the outcome of this redo of the two years for the both of us. That is a burden I never wish for you to bear.

I made many mistakes, but that is one thing I am sure of in this life.