Page 70 of Forever My Siren Luna (The Hidden Cove #2)

With my wobbling legs, I kept forward, until my knees gave out and I fell to my feet. Both men were completely still. My father was lying across Lachlan’s chest, unbreathing. His golden hair was as white as his skin. His stiff body was cold; as cold as the sheen over his eyes.

“Ela,” Cherum moved his large body closer to mine. He pulled me into his lap, his tears raining down on me. I cried against his chest, too afraid to look at the face of my husband. If his eyes were as lifeless and glassy as my father’s, it would haunt me for the rest of my life.

“Ela, look,” Cedric urged me to pull away from my Delta. I pulled my hand out of his grip, tucking it between Cherum and me. “Ela!” His voice was hoarse and sounded rough.

“No,” I gasped, unable to even breathe. “No…. I….. I can’t.”

“Ela, he’s not-” Cherum started to say.

“NO!” I screamed, feeling hysterical. “NO! I CAN’T!” Seething fury filled me. My body was shaking, my fit pounding against Cherum’s chest. “I can’t! He…. he can’t be…. He can’t….”

“Lira,” the soft voice called out my name. I choked on a cry, not believing my ears. I’d gone mad. I’m now hearing his voice. “My Lira.”

“No,” I choked. “Stop! I can’t do this! I can’t-”

“Baby,” warm, familiar arms pulled me away from Cherum’s chest. I gasped when sparks began to travel from his touch.

My head turned with a jerk, and sure enough, it was him. Lachlan. My mate. My jaw fell at his beautiful sight. There was no way. This was not possible. I felt him die. I felt the bond break. I felt it the moment his life was taken from me. Nilo felt it. This couldn’t be. My mind had to be slipping.

“ ELA!” Val screamed in my head. “ Killian… I can hear him. I can… I can feel him.”

As I stared in disbelief, I realized I could feel Lachlan too.

“Lira,” he whispered, pulling my arm until the shock left me and I leaped into his lap. My arms were wrapped around his neck, holding him tight.

“How?!” I gasped, new tears spilling from my eyes. “How… How did…. Lachlan,” I wailed, breathing him in. It was him. He was alive. I don’t know how, but he was alive.

“My Lira,” he shuddered, squeezing me into his warm, massive frame.

We sat there, crying and holding one another. I could barely string together a coherent thought. I truly couldn’t find the words to ask how this happened.

“It was your father,” he whispered brokenly. “He saved me. He gave me this.” Lachlan shifted our bodies to show me my necklace I had left behind. “He gave me the rest of his magic, Lira. He saved me. He gave his life for mine.”

“How?” I gasped, looking sorrowfully at my father. My gut twisted, and heat pulsed behind my sore eyes. “I mean, why? I just….I don’t understand.”

Lachlan smiled sadly, then placed a hand over my belly. “Your father knew a secret no one else knew. I heard his final words as he left. Watch over them all. I leave my family to you . He knew,” tears streamed from the corners of his eyes. “He knew.”

He knew? I looked down and then realized what Lachlan was saying. Lord Tenenbris had said that he would also have Lachlan’s heir if he had me.

“Really?” I whispered. “He knew?”

“He knew.” Lachlan’s grieved smile was heart wrenching.

My father knew before either of us. He gave his life so my child wouldn’t have to grow up without a father like I did. I know that was why he did it. My love for my father expanded beyond measure, and Lachlan and I weeped together for the passing of the man we owed everything to.

~

Beretta

It took far longer than it should have to meet up with Ela. Val was a beast, even in her grief. Nilo fell behind just as I did, and Cecilia didn't stand a chance at keeping up.

“Wait,” I stopped Nilo with my hand, when I saw Lachlan’s body move.

He wasn’t dead. He rolled the Siren King’s body off of his, gingerly lying Ela’s father on his back, using two fingers to close his eyes.

Then, he had to coax Ela into coming to him, convincing her that he was real. “He’s not dead.”

“How?” Nilo asked, shifting back to his human form. “I felt him die. The whole pack did. Everyone is in an uproar.”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “If I had to guess, I would say that her father pulled off one last miracle before he passed.”

“Yeah,” Nilo stared at the scene ahead, coming to the same conclusion as me.

Cecilia, finally caught up, shifted back, then came to stand beside Nilo.

He tucked her body against his, holding her tight.

He needed comfort too. Feeling the death of your Alpha is similar to feeling the death of your mate.

Suddenly, a deep roar tore through the night. We turned in panic to see a sinfully dark Lycan climbing the hill to where we stood.

Jack. I recognized him instantly.

So did Cecilia, judging by the look on her face. Jack’s beast spared no glance at anyone else. He was staring right at me.

Oisin snarled, then gave control back to Jack, and Jack stalked towards me with an angry, determined look on his face.

I recoiled, worried he might go off on me about not asking permission before I left.

Look at where that led to. I got captured and assaulted by demons.

I felt he was just ready to give me hell.

Instead, he grabbed my face between his large hands, and pulled me in for the most heated kiss I had ever received.

Our tongues twined together, his mouth hungry for mine.

His possessiveness made me breathless, and my knees felt weak.

Luckily, he had a strong hold on me, or I might have fallen to the ground.

“Don’t you ever,” he growled, “ever leave me again. Do you hear me? EVER!?” His eyes reflected tears back at me. “I thought…I thought I lost you. Don’t leave me again.”

“My gosh,” I laughed, a hint of arrogance on my lips. “You would think we were mates or something with the way you are acting.”

He growled. “Next full moon, mates we shall be.”

My heart swelled hearing him say that.

“Are you asking or telling me?” I dared to ask with a cheeky grin.

“Don’t test me, lass,” he snarled, his gritted teeth pressed to my lips.

“I’ll mate and mark you from now until the full moon comes if you do.

” As if to make a point, he hooked my leg over his hip and pushed his body between my legs.

Completely naked made it obvious how both of our bodies responded to one another.

We have a damn audience, but I guess he still hasn’t noticed.

Heat travels over my face. How crude of him, but I love my men a little crude. Crude and smelling of the sea breeze and rum.

“Jackson?” Cecilia’s soft voice broke our crude and intimate moment.

Jack turned a sour look in her direction, disgruntled at the interruption. Then he did a double take, his brows pulling down as he studied Cecilia’s face.

I laughed dryly, pulling away from him and moving to Cecilia’s side. Nilo had a disgusted face, having seen Jack’s little possessive display, but he didn't prevent Ceclia from stepping away from him.

“Meet my pretty new friend, Cecilia,” I moved her closer to her brother. She had a shy and worried look on her face, and Jack looked stunned from the moment I said her name. “I believe you two might know one another?”

“Cecilia?” Jack croaked, his throat dry and eyes wide. “Is that….Is that really you?”

“Hello, big brother,” she replied shyly.

Nilo and I stood back, and watched as the siblings rejoiced at being united once again.

"I got the prettier of the siblings," Nilo remarked dryly, watching Ceclia's delicate face as she cried in her brother's arms.

"Eh. Maybe, but mine's better hung."