Page 56 of Forever My Siren Luna (The Hidden Cove #2)

Among the massacred, Nilo and Beretta’s bodies could not be found. Everyone else was accounted for except for them. We were hoping they had survived, but if they had been taken hostage instead, death may have been a mercy. There is no telling what the clans of the north are capable of doing.

The demons and other races of the North, the orcs, dark fae, necromancers, giants, trolls and goblins, and all the deformed creatures of depravity have arrived.

All but the vampires are here watching, but they will surely come out again at night, as they did last night when we first arrived.

They left just a few hours ago when twilight arrived.

All the clans are watching and ready, but none are crossing to our side.

They’re simply setting up camp and standing guard.

Are they waiting for us to come to them? That has never happened before. We have always had to push them out of our lands. They covet the south, invading and seeking to destroy all we hold dear. Never have we had to cross into the north first.

There is a reason no one besides these deprived beings claims the land to the north.

It’s desolate. Starved of life. There is no reprieve or the tiniest bit of comfort on land such as this.

The shards of rock cropping the border are sharpened like fangs, ready to kill.

The ominous energy is a telling sign of what’s to come if you venture over to the other side.

It will devour all that is good, just like its masters.

Mel and I were bent over a makeshift table with Jack, his first mate, and all of my commanders, studying the depraved northern territory and looking for any points of interest. Any place that we can use to our vantage if it comes down to us attacking first.

“They could be dying,” Jack hissed, gritting his teeth to keep control of his temper. “She’s alive. I know it. They’re fucking demons, Alpha. There is no telling the level of torture my Beretta and your Beta are suffering right now.”

For once, he does not smell of alcohol at all. His eyes are mad and I can feel his fighting aura and desperation.

“It would be foolish to invade first not knowing where they are. We could be killed before we were to ever find them. They could be tortured or killed because of our attack.”

“They’re right there!” Jack waved his hand in the direction of the demons. “They have to be there. Those demons are close enough to smell the stench of their breath.”

I paused, letting Killian take everything in. His senses are sharper than mine, and if Nilo were close, he would know.

“He’s not there. My beta is nowhere near, captain.

I could feel him, as I’m sure you could feel Beretta if she were among those beasts.

All we can do now is wait to see what their next move is.

I don’t like it any more than you, but rushing in there is certain death for at least hundreds of my men. ”

“Would you truly just abandon your friend? Your wife’s friend?” He challenged.

I understand his anger. I do. But the disrespect in his tone is stirring Killian, and a deep warning growl rumbles in my chest.

“I promised my wife I would save them both. This isn’t an issue of wanting to get them back or not, it’s an issue of risking death to hundreds, maybe even thousands, in the pursuit of saving two.

I have fought in many battles, and blind reaction is what loses lives.

It loses wars. If you can not think rationally, you will die before you see her again. ”

He sneered. “If it was Ela over that line, could you think rationally, Alpha? Could you stand here and do nothing?”

He stared at me, knowing my answer.

No. I couldn’t. I would have already drawn the first blood.

Before I can respond with words, though my eyes say it all, the thunderous drumming of hooves resounds from the west. Everyone’s attention is drawn to the noise, even the northern clans, who look surprised, and maybe a little disturbed by whatever they see.

To get a better vantage point, I climbed a boulder, using Killian's strength to leap up in a fluid motion before I stared at the distance.

King Brennus is there, triton in hand extended high in the air, a glowing green energy emitting from its spears. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of siren knights are on horseback, adorned in human armor and looking battle ready.

Cedric pushed forward ahead of the others, coming alongside his king.

“I thought he would go back to the castle to stay with the Luna,” Meldec said in a forlorn tone. He didn’t want his mate here any more than I wanted mine to suffer the carnage that was to come.

“Cedric left before she chose to stay. Does he know she isn’t here?”

Mel groaned loudly. “No. He doesn’t.”

The magic of the sirens, especially the siren king, would frighten any demon or dark fae. I can see the panic stirring in the clans’ lines now.

“Send him back to protect her, and hopefully the king will remain to help. This coming battle just turned in our favor.”

I leapt down from the boulder as the king and Cedric rode all the way next to me. Cedric is looking around frantically, searching for Lira, no doubt.

“Where is she?!” he demanded. “Where is my princess?”

“Whoa, calm down,” Mel held the reins of Cedric’s horse, running a hand down its mane to calm the beast with a panicked rider on its back. “The Luna is safe at home. Mimi was bedridden, suffering from a fatal heart attack. She stayed behind to be with her.”

“I felt it,” Cedric's maddened face was sheet white, real fear in his eyes. It makes fear grip me. “I just felt- AHHH!” he buckled over, screaming out.

At the same time, my soul feels a tearing pain. My heartbeat quickens. I fell to my knees and gripped my chest.

The bond. I’m being cut off from the new bond. Something is happening. Something is happening to my Lira. My wife. My wife is in-

A scream bellowed out of me, Killian’s monstrous roar ripping through my body along with it.

King Brennus is gritting his teeth, his entire body engulfed in the green glow of his magic.

The moment lasts just a few seconds, but it feels like a lifetime. Then, it just ends. She is cut off from me. My soul is no longer touching hers.

Cedric and I met each other’s eyes, our pained expressions similar. Then Killian takes over, ripping out of me as I bolt for the castle to return to save my mate from whatever horrors she is facing.

Cedric and the King are right behind me. They are following me on horseback, but are somehow keeping up with Killian’s monstrous speed.

“ Hold the line,” I commanded Mel. “ Lira is in danger. Hold the fucking line until they make the first attack.”

None of this adds up. Did we march into a trap?

Did they just lure me away to steal my mate?

Why? This didn't happen in the past. None of it.

If she suffers again like in her first life, or something worse, if even one hair on her head is yanked from the locket, I will burn the northern land down myself.