Page 54 of Forever My Siren Luna (The Hidden Cove #2)

Cedric

“Please, be here. Please be here. Please be here,” I murmured to myself, swimming along the coast of the western borders to Wayne’s pack, hoping to find some sign of my King and my people.

I’ve been calling for them all morning, sending out wave after wave of magic, hoping not to have to go this far from my princess. I wanted someone to meet me halfway so I could get back by the time they left.

There’s not a prayer of that working out for me now. I had to swim like hell to make it here, and now I can’t see any signs of them anywhere.

It was just a single squad of knights, led by Lillian, accompanying our king, but I still thought I could find one of them in the water.

As I was circling the docks again, I was about to just go on land to see if I could find anyone on two feet since I was having such a hard time with fins, but then the King himself came diving into the water.

The transformation started out subtly, his fins taking form with his legs. The pack here is under the impression he was a diplomat to the king, and so they can not be made aware of the full force of his magic.

He sank down, then let his magic flow over him, radiating out brightly in the cover of the reeds to hide any vision of him from the docks and shore.

Once he is transformed, he emerges once again into open water, and the rest of the knights begin dropping into the bay around us, transforming freely since their magic would never be mistaken for the king’s.

“Cedric,” King Brennus glided up to me, his face worn and tired. Worry mixes in with that too, after briefly scrutinizing my face. “What is it? What happened to my daughter?”

“Nothing! Not to the princes, my king. Her friend, the pirate woman with dark hair, and the Beta, along with a group of warriors were attacked last night. Ela and most of the regiment held at the castle are leaving on a rescue mission. I was sent to inform you. Only the navy and a few select guards will remain in Hidden Cove.”

“The princess,” Lillian swam up next to king Brennus. “Is she in danger?”

“She is with her mate.” I answered her, then smiled at my king. “They are mated, your majesty. Fully.”

“At last,” he grinned softly.

“At last,” I nodded, then my worry returned. “The demon attack came soon after.”

Gasps vibrated in the water around us. Demons are the reason I raced to get to King Brennus.

This will not be a simple battle. This will be hell, and my princess is riding straight into it.

I wish to join her where the battle is to take place, and by the look on King Brennus's face, he is thinking the same.

~

Elelira

“You’re not sure if she is going to make it?” Lachlan repeated, standing over Mimi unconscious in her bed. He’s gripping me tight so I don’t crumble to the floor.

The room felt so stuffy. The doctor and Gemma ordered everyone out but us and Gemma, who was standing in the corner crying with a handkerchief to her face.

Everyone loves Mimi. Everyone in the castle came running to her side at the news of her health. She is so cherished. She is too important to too many people. She can’t go. She can’t leave us.

She can’t leave me.

How could this happen? She was getting treatment. Things were changing. She was happy. She looked healthy. She can’t be dying now.

“Alpha," the doctor looked weary. "If she had a beast, then maybe she could. The Lycan could heal the damage to her heart after the attack. I’m sure you know this, but lower omegas are at risk for such health conditions because they lack the same ability as us to heal. She is blessed to have lived as long as she has. She is holding on now, but,” he pauses, shaking his head, “Another attack will come. Her heart rhythm is too unsteady.”

“How long?” Lachlan asked.

“One day,” I whispered. “It was not even one day after the first attack that the next one came.”

That day was the longest day of my life. Both my lives. There was nothing I could do to help her. I was powerless back then.

Now, even being a true Luna, and all the authority of my husband resting on my shoulders, I still feel powerless. There is nothing I can do to save my second mother. Not in the last life. Not in this one.

“I thought she would be fine. I thought, since she was under little stress, and since she was not experiencing any of the pain or small attacks, that she would pull through.”

“I’m sorry, Luna,” The doctor smiled grimly at me. “These things can rarely be prevented.”

“I just wish,” my eyes began to burn, “I just wish we had had more time. She was… She was….”

“She was our family, Lira. You gave her the love of a daughter. You did all you could.” Lachlan was trying to soothe me, but I could tell he was bothered too.

“Ela,” Mimi croaked, turning all our attention to her as she began to wake up.

“Oh, Mimi,” I fell to her side, burying my face into her lap, gripping her hand as I pleaded with the goddess not to take her from me.

Not yet. Not today. I’m not ready. My heart can’t take any more loss, and I want to give Mimi even more happiness.

I want to bless her with all the finest things in life before she goes.

The best foods. The best drinks. The finest clothes and amenities.

I want to take her to see the world and all the beauty in it.

She spent her whole life in this castle.

Why didn’t I ever think of taking her to see the world before today?

“Hush, child. No one is dead yet,” Mimi rested a shaking hand on my head. “This quack doesn’t know what he is talking about. I will be fine. I’m planning on going clam harvesting later with Gemma.”

I smiled sadly, a tear falling from the corner of my eye. “I love your clam chowder.”

“I know you do. That is why you have nothing to worry about, my Ela.” Her fingers rest weakly on my face. “I’ll have it ready for you when you get back.”

When I get back, she won’t be there. I’ll be losing my second mother for the second time.

My friend, or my mother. Who do I choose?

Mimi can’t be saved. Not from this. She won’t die alone. There is a storm of people outside her door waiting to shower her with every bit of the love she deserves.

Beretta is my sister. She is the strongest woman in the world after me, though she would argue that to the death claiming she is the strongest.

I have the strongest mate in the world, ready to save her, and his best friend and brother. He is just waiting for me, making sure that I’m ready to either stay here or leave with him.

It's my choice.

He wants me to stay, and I trust my mate. I trust him to bring Beretta home. And with Jack, those demons will be facing a new kind of hell against both these Alphas.

“I’ll be right back, Mimi. I’m going to talk to my mate, and I’ll be right back.”

She nodded weakly, then closed her eyes, no longer trying to put on the strong front. Gemma rushes to her side as Lachlan and I step into the sitting room to speak.

A soft, relieved smile, full of sadness and warmth, was on my mate’s face as he stared down at me. “You’re staying.” He strummed his fingers down my cheek.

“I’m staying,” I confirmed. He wasn’t telling me or asking me. He just knew. He felt my resolve lock into place the moment my mind was made up.

“I trust you to save my friend and my Beta without me, Alpha,” I whispered, tears silently streaming down my cheeks.

His fingers chased them away, then he bent down to softly kiss my lips. “I trust you to take care of our Mimi without me, my Luna,” his stormy eyes glinted. “She was both our mother, Lira. I’m happy she can go peacefully with you by her side.”

I nodded, then gave him one last long, lingering kiss that made me melt before he said his goodbyes to Mimi.

We walked hand in hand all the way out to the stables.

We were in our own bubble of intimacy, absorbed in each other.

It’s just hours after leaving our bed after coming together for the first time, and we were already having to put miles between us.

We were losing our Mimi, and Beretta and Nilo were in danger.

This was quite the way to begin our first day as mates.

This made me think of our first life when he left for battle. I hadn’t seen more than a glimpse of Lachlan in months. It was almost a relief to know he was gone, though it hurt because of the reasons why.

Now, it hurts that we are going to be separated, but I trust him to save our people. He wanted me to stay, and now my reasons to stay far outweigh my reasons to go, though it will still hurt to be apart.

“I love you,” I told him again as he was getting ready to mount. “Come home to me.”

“Always,” he kissed me again.

Val was telling Killian bye in a similar way, her heart as heavy as mine. She agreed with our decision to stay, but she was still torn, just like me. She wanted to fight alongside her mate.

When our lips part, I get that same feeling I had yesterday morning as my father left to scout my uncle’s pack. There was a finality in these goodbyes that made it hard to breathe.

“Please, come home to me, Lachlan.” I stared into his eyes pleadingly. It felt like I was begging my entire world to stay whole. It just began to spin with life again. I don’t want it to break apart. Not when our future has barely begun. “Please.”

“Hey,” he gripped the side of my face. “I’ll always find my way home to you. I love you, Lira.” He smiled reassuringly. “I’ll be back so fast, you won’t have time to miss me.”

"You better," I cried, my heart breaking the entire time I watched him and most of our warriors, along with Jack and his trained men go.

~

Mimi died later that night. It hurt to let my mate leave without me, but I’m glad I could spend those final hours with her.

Cherum and my guard stayed behind with me, and they devoted the entire rest of the day to giving Mimi the greatest send off of anyone ever. It was a party for the ages, all centered around one person.

The atmosphere was thick with gloom right after the warriors and men left, but Cherum and Yasmin wouldn’t have that.

They quickly turned the wait for death into a party of life.

They had omegas setting up tents and a party on the beach.

The cooks quickly organized grilled foods.

Cherum even thought of inviting Westley and the other children from the orphanage to give Mimi as much joy as possible before her time came.

She looked happy. Gemma had dressed her in the finest robe we could find, so she felt like a queen.

Cherum carried her out to a bed that had been set up on the sandy shore with a canopy overhead to shield her from the sun.

Everyone danced and sang, and ate food cooked over open fires.

Yasmin and I were able to get Mimi a few small bites of her favorite desserts, but soon the doctor gave her an herbal tonic to manage the pain and she was no longer hungry for anything but company.

We told stories around the fire, many of the maids telling tales of times Mimi scolded them for silly things.

Cherum told of a time Mimi mixed up the regular cream with his special cream by accident in her morning tea, then laughed herself into a fit, drunk as a skunk while on duty in the laundry room the rest of the day.

Everyone loved Mimi, and when she took her final breath late into the night, she knew it. She felt how deeply she had touched all those celebrating her life with her.

Now, it is morning. The party is gone. Cherum and Percy carried her body away once everyone had a chance to say their final goodbyes.

Everyone had returned home soon after to grieve in their own ways.

I feel like I'm the only one still up as I walk along the beach, staring at the raging waves, praying for Mimi’s peaceful passage to the other side of life.

I know she will be greeted with open arms, beloved by the angels themselves.

She might even be greeting my mother at this moment. The two would have been great friends.

Suddenly, as I was staring out into the distance, I felt this wave of dread pass through me. It’s stifling, coming out of nowhere, instantly sending my body to high alert.

Val growls in my head, and when I whip around, I see what had my senses reeling so wildly.

“Hello, Elelira, my dear,” Uncle Wayne purred menacingly, coming from rocky cliffs far from the docks. “Ah, it has been so long. You are just the person I was coming to see.”