Page 26 of Shattered Galaxies (Tears of the Siren #6)

Lorcan

“Dean, Maggie is right in there—it’s fine,” I promised him, running my hand over his chest. “Let’s take a deep breath.”

My announcement had frozen the room, and I realized that despite my best intentions, I’d gone about this wrong.

We needed to go outside and talk amongst ourselves before discussing this with anyone else.

Luckily, Cormac and his bonded were in relaxing and cooking mode, so they threw on louder music and kept Maggie entertained as we slipped away.

“You’ve known since last night?” Desmond demanded of me, but mostly of Zander.

“I was a bit distracted,” he leveled dryly, causing Rhett to smirk.

“Not an excuse,” Adriel growled.

“Oh, right,” I teased. “Mr. ‘I nearly terrified all of my citizens to death before creating a star baby.’ You’ve never been distracted by us.” Adriel shot me a narrowed, playful glance, which went a long way to cool the tension.

“I don’t understand. I’ve never even heard of this fucking asshole,” Cash spat.

“That’s the odd thing,” I said. “He was never a problem. I talked to him maybe once, and he practically ignored me.”

“I never heard Toris or his lackeys mention him either,” Draven agreed.

“I’m guessing your association with his son made him fall down the hole of obsession,” Zander leveled. “From what I could see, the fixation has turned…dark.”

“Wonderful,” I murmured, shaking my head. “I don’t even know what type of threat we’re facing with him. Obviously not on the same level as the world eaters…”

“A threat nonetheless,” Draven said.

“I wish we’d stayed away from California,” Dean said, implying that he wished we hadn’t come home, either. Despite his overprotectiveness and concern, I knew he didn’t truly feel that way.

“I don’t. I needed to see everyone. And this asshole has followed us everywhere! There’s no difference between here and Bora Bora.”

“For now we keep tabs on him through Zander,” Adriel said. “And our own intel. Knowing who he is, is a massive help. He’s a public figure; we can keep track of him much better knowing that.”

Adriel’s words should have appeased my men and…

they sort of had. But not enough that Rhett, Dean, and Cash felt comfortable leaving for a pride meeting scheduled due to their return.

I’d forced them to go, though. It was important they show up for the people that relied on them, and if I hadn’t wanted to spend the time catching up with Maggie and Cormac, I may have even gone.

Senator Malcroy. That was…insane to me. When Zander explained what he’d seen, I’d been baffled. Never in a million years would I have guessed he was my stalker. But then, to hear about the altar, the victims dressed like me…

The guilt hung heavily in my chest. Lives lost, all because of some sick obsession.

“I’m glad you made them go,” Cormac said, sipping on a beer that sat between us. A bonfire filled our back yard with a warm cozy light, and despite the jet lag,I felt invigorated and focused.

“They needed to go,” I murmured, thinking about how upset the brothers were. “All of these people rely on them. I’ve been selfish for too long.” I may not have meant to take them away for months, but I still had.

“I think it’s okay to be selfish sometimes,” Cormac said, his gaze on his bonded who were sitting around the fire talking with Desmond, Adriel, Draven, and even Zander.

“How’s everything going with your bonded?” I asked. Woody nuzzled my foot with his nose before curling up on the ground, drawing my attention enough that I didn’t see the goofy smile on Cormac’s face at first.

“That good?” I asked, amused.

“That good,” he assured me. “I don’t know how to explain it. I can’t even fully explain our dynamic, but it just works. Even Elora fits with us perfectly.”

“I understand that.” I shook my head. “Here we are, both with a harem. Who would’ve thought.”

Cormac barked out a laugh, taking another sip of his drink. “Something that apparently isn’t nearly as unique as I’d assumed.”

“It isn’t. It’s accepted pretty much everywhere but Earth.

Sort of cool, actually. I can’t wait until you meet everyone.

” I had told Cormac about all of our allies we’d met so far, and all about Nova’s journey.

I could tell he was a bit out of his element, but so was I.

Unlike some of the women I’d met, I had lived a pretty ‘human’ existence up until now.

One filled with drugs, fame, and painful celestial visions… but comparatively human.

As if hearing my thoughts, a painful vibration, the screech of metal, had me biting down on my tongue so hard that copper filled my mouth.

I groaned, putting my head down as blood leaked from my nose.

Trying to relax my body and actively acknowledge their cries did nothing.

Instead, my nails tore into my hand as I tried to breathe through the pain.

Without warning, I was ripped from my body. Beckoned by the stars, I found myself floating through the cosmos, my eyes opening slowly. Swallowing down nausea, I tried to find some solid footing. Some grasp on reality.

“You’re safe, Lorcan.”

My head snapped around to find a glowing celestial being standing feet away, power radiating from each tendril of magic that left him. The Cosmos god.

“I think there are easier ways to get my attention,” I grumbled, unable to help myself.

He chuckled. “I often forget how delicate even sirens are.”

Right. Of course he did. I wanted to chuck something at his face.

“What’s going on?” I was sure my men were freaking out, and this wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for me, so I was ready to get this conversation over with.

“The time has come. Your counterpart will soon warn you to prepare for war, to prepare the weapon you now harness.”

I nodded in understanding before tilting my head. “Did you know that I would have to give up being a siren? Was that truly the plan from the beginning?”

I felt like it was only reasonable to question the creator of our cosmos when I had the chance—especially about a pesky little thing like fate.

“Yes,” he said with absolutely no falter. “Didn’t you ever realize how powerful you were? How unique you were? Even compared to your own twin.”

“Not in the moment,” I answered honestly. “Looking back at our life, yes—of course I see it. It’s impossible to ignore. But in the moment? I was so focused on trying to suppress or ignore my powers, I didn’t focus on their nature or if they were special.”

“You’ve always been meant for this, Lorcan. It’s not an easy burden, but your soul has always been destined to be the savior to this universe.”

The words settled in my chest, but before I could say a word, the world dropped out from around me, the pull of my bonded stronger than even the Cosmos god’s. I had no idea how that was possible, but falling into their call was as natural as breathing.

When arms tightened around me, I knew that it was Adriel.

“Holy shit,” I gasped at the whiplash effect, pulling my hand up to my nose covered in blood. “I just talked to the Cosmos god?—”

My words came to a frozen stop.

Senator Malcroy stood feet away. Not only him, though. Flanking him—eight to either side—were white humanoid figures. Minions of the dark ones.