Page 4 of The Sirin Sisterhood (The Sons of Echidna #2)

Lucy

Lucy stared at her phone. Xim’s fury was radiating from the device.

“Where the hell have you been? I went to the house where you were supposed to interview, and there nothing there! I’ve been watching your social media accounts and location tracker!” Relief flooded through Xim’s voice, and Lucy finally dared to press the phone to her ear.

“She wasn’ta very goodslave, so they released her!” Al yelled out.

“Who is that? I’m on my way to you right now!” Xim barked. Lucy could hear the roar of an engine in the background. Loud. Way too loud for a car.

Oh no.

Lucy looked around the empty parking lot andimmediatelyknew the circus was about to roll into town.

She couldn’t blame Xim. The woman couldn’t leave her father’s towers alone, not with over two decades of kidnapping attempts and constant paparazzi camping outside in hopes of capturing the heir for their tabloids.

“Xim! Xim, I’m fine, but I might need your help.”

“Tell her to meet us here,” Al suggested.

“We’ll meet you at IHOP.You canjusttrack me to the right one, I presume?”Lucy sighed, hanging up and hugging the phone to her chest.

Al gave her a look. “You alright?”

“She was pissed and worried, and I feel horrible.”

“You should be. Gone for two months after applying for a shady job. What were you thinking?” Al chuckled and lit up a smoke.

“That it was better than not having a job. I couldn’t keepmoochingoff of Xim.”

“I’m teasing. You need to take a deep breath.”

“Sorry. It’s been a stressful week.” Lucy took in the noisy city around her. Even at this late hour, the streets were a hive of activity, which was both comforting and unnerving.

“I know, I was there.” Al stopped, turning to face Lucy, lifting her chin with his fingers. “Was it all bad though? Or was it a few bad moments we milked for days?”

Lucy paused. “You and I both got injured by the same woman, but I did get laid, and I made some new friends.”

“I only got laid, so I should be more upset.”

“Hey. You made new friends. Well, a friend.” Lucy pointed to herself. “At least I hope you consider me one.”

“Careful, you don’t want to make Lai jealous. I’m only allowed acquaintances,” he laughed, poking her cheek. “I’m still sore, so I just want a huge greasy burger, a cold beer, and to be called a fag by a ten-year-old in a video game.”

Lucy felt that in her bones.She was craving somekind ofnormalcy after everythingthat had happened: junk food, her favorite T.V. shows, her own clothing, and Xim.She missed her.

“I can’t wait to see Xim again.” She grinned. “Wait until you meet her.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?”

“Both, she’s tracking me as we speak.” She pulled out her phone. “She is my angel. Honestly, she is the only reason I was able to carry on after my parents’ death.”

“Oh, dammit. You have a tragic back-story as well?” He smiled, walking towards their meeting place. “So are you gonna tell her the truth, or...?”

“Yes, a hundred percent. Xim knows when I’m lying.”

“Alright, I’d like to be there for that reveal.

” Al took a deep breath, adding a higher pitch to his voice.

“I was kidnapped by a family of shape-shifting pirates and went on a quest to save their world, but failed horribly!” He teased in a whispery falsetto, then paused for dramatic effect before continuing.

“And I was the cause of that destruction.”

“Don’t put Eleanore’s actions on me.” Lucy huffed.

He laughed, stepping out of punching range just in case. “Honestly? Don’t tell your friend any of it. I was only joking. That family... It’s better if they remain a mystery.”

“I trust Xim. I’ve known her since I was a baby. She isn’t going to hurt me or them,” Lucy said, pausing to meet Al’s eyes. “If I had any doubt, I wouldn’t be meeting with her now.”

Al didn’t look convinced, teasing a lip piercing with his teeth. Lucy didn’t give him a chance to protest.

“She’s here,” Lucy whispered as multiple cars pulled up. Black SUVs. No number plates. No identifying marks.

“Your friend is not coming with a SWAT team, is she?” Al winced, but heobviouslyrecognized the same company he used to work for.

His hands were up even before the man in charge barked an order for him to stand against the wall.

The security ignored Lucy. She was on the green list, so her interaction with the intimidating guards was limited to the metal detector scan, but Al received thefullservice.

He was pushed against the cold brick, every inch of him patted down, scanned, and scrutinized. Al, to his credit, was more than cooperative. Lucy stood mortified as the restaurant was emptied of a few late-night diners, and staff were forced to sign NDAs with shaking hands.

Once the stage was set, the star of the show arrived. Lucy rolled her eyes as a chopper landed in the empty parking lot. She missed Xim, but the theatrics she could do without. Her face brightened as Xim marched towards them.

“First, I’m going to kiss you. Then I’ll slap the ever-living crap out of you!” Xim hissed, approaching her. Anyone else would think it was a business meeting. No hugs, no smiles. Lucy knew Xim couldn’t risk showing any affection in public. “I thought you were fucking dead!”

“Almost, but not quite, I’m sorry. So much has happened,” Lucy explained, embracing her friend once they were finally inside the restaurant and tucked into a corner booth.

“Who the hell is that? Did you ghost me for a fuckboy ?” Xim tensed, glaring at Al.

Al made a face, but he couldn’t argue. He radiated fuckboy energy.

Lucy just rolled her eyes. “You know me better than that. I got kidnapped! The job was a front, then it gotreally weird. Theyfound out aboutmy abilities and decided I was safer with them.”

“I thought I knew you better than that.” She exhaled, obviously trying not to go off at her friend. “Wait. You got kidnapped? They let you go? Okay. First, we go to the police and get the bastards. Then I’m taking you home and not letting you out of my sight.”

“No police.” Lucy dragged her closer, her hand interlaced with the other woman’s, to keep her there and to anchor herself.

“Something tells me it’s a long story. Is it?” Xim squeezed her hand back, still eying Al with a great deal of mistrust.

“Yes, but you’ll have to keep an open mind, okay?”

“I do have an open mind. Not so open that it falls out, though.” Xim tapped Lucy’s forehead with her knuckles.

“I went to an interview and got the position. Found outtheyhave a monsters, griffins, Kraken, and hounds rehabilitation center thing. Then––,” she lowered her voice, whispering into Xim’s ear.

“The people I was working for? They can turn into monsters. They live in a thing called Gaia that was created by...” She hesitated, remembering the logo on Gaia’s thigh.

Her tongue dried in her mouth, and a voice inthe back ofher mind cautioned her for reasons she didn’t understand.

“Well, that’snot important, but it can exist in a different dimensionof sorts.

I accidentally drained it and almost died in a forest, and the crazy ex-wife of the lord of the manor wants me dead. ”

“Okay. Forget what I said about the police. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“I’m perfectly fine. Ask Al about it.”

Al gave Lucy a look. Lips tight, glaring daggers. He’d told her. He’d told her not to say anything.

Maybe it had been his voice cautioning her in her mind.

“Yes, she is indeed telling the truth. A pirate lord set up a sanctuary, and I got to fuck his son once as a dragon. They have a fallen angel and an incubus living in a hermit chapel in their garden, but they keep to themselves and don’t like visitors.”

“Thanks, Al. Huge help you are.” Lucy scowled, then blinked. She remembered that chapel from her first day at the manor. Was there someone in that chapel? More importantly, why was he making her story sound even more ridiculous than it already was?

“Lucy....” Xim pleaded with desperation in her eyes.

That was why. Al was protecting the family. If Xim didn’t believe her...

Lucy placed her hand on the side of Xim’s face, her eyes pleading with Xim. “Trust me, you know I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Okay, fine. Let’s say I believe that you’ve been taken by the fairies. You’ve managed to escape, and that’s all that matters.”

“Kind of, they need some help.”

Xim took a deep breath. “What kind of help?”

“A place to stay for a few days. There are two young boys with them. They’re the ones I’m the most concerned about.”

“I can’t let them stay at home. My fathers won’t be impressed. I’ll book you a hotel until I find something more permanent. Give me a day or two?”

“Thank you. We have a place tonight. Don’t stress.”

Xim was stressed, but Lucy was relieved.

She hated having to ask for help. She never did.

Maybe that’s why her friendship with Xim had lasted so long.

Xim was surrounded by people wanting her family’s influence and money.

Most of her friends would show their true colors after a while and get immediately cut off: Xim was ruthless when it came to moochers.

The moment she smelled a snake, they would never see her or be able to contact her ever again.

Some days, Lucy wondered if that was what Xim’s fathers saw in her. Just someone using their daughter.

She looked at the menu to chase away the unpleasant thoughts. “Aris still hasn’t paid me,” she said, leaning back in her seat. “Once he does, I’ll pay you back. You know I always do.”

“Oh, you’re not getting paid.Do you thinkiftheyhad any money,the manor would lie in ruins?Well, before it was turned into actual ruins.” Al shook his head. “Nah, they’re destitute. Aris isn’t raiding, and the puppy mill only brings in so much.”

“Great.” Lucy put her head in her hands. “Months worth of work for nothing?”

“Well, plenty in the house is valuable. They have one hell of a magical artifact collection. Maybe once this is overand done, you guys can have a yard sale.” Al snickered into his menu.

“You need money?” Xim asked, but she should have known better. The answer was always yes, but Lucy always said no.This time, she needed to accept the help, but it still hurt to admit it.

“Maybe,” Lucy sighed. “But I’ll wash your car later, or something. I’m not going tojusttake it.”

Xim smirked. “No way I’m letting you detail my car. It’s a one-off model. Justshush, okay? It’s been hell. I was waiting for news that they found your body or worse. I don’t care if your pride is hurting, as long as the rest of you is okay.”

“For a moment there, that was definitely a possibility,” Lucy mumbled, unable to look Xim in the eye. “But I made it back.”

“Come home with me tonight? You know what? Don’t answer. I’m not accepting anything but a yes.” Xim motioned for her guard and handed him the menus. “Let’s get you fed first. You look awful.”

“I look like a pirate,” Lucy said, looking down at herself. Shewas wearingher tank top, Lai’s leather pants, and Aris’s shirt, which still smelled like smoke from the house fire.

“Where did you get that shirt? Did you steal it from a corpse? Is that blood on it? No, no. I don’t want to know.”

“I have to let the others know I’ll be back.” She looked at Al.

“I’ll pass it on.” He nodded. He still looked uncomfortable, eager to leave.

“Yes. I’ll get your food delivered,” Xim declared, probably just as eager to see him go.

“They don’t deliver...” He weakly tried to protest, but Xim was already barking orders at her guards, who in turn made it the problem of the poor customer service workers behind the counter.

Lucy had seen this before—many times. Xim did not take no for an answer, especially if a problem could be solved with an extra generous tip.

“Do you have my number?” Lucy asked Al, pulling out her phone.

“Good idea.” Al turned on his phone and placed it on the table, waiting for hundreds of notifications to play out before he could tap Lucy’s phone to exchange the information.

Lucy took his phone before he could, andput her number in.“Will you be okay with them on your own?” She looked guilty and excited at the same time. She wanted to stay with the family and keep an eye on them, but she also needed to be alone.

Alone with Xim.

“Yeah. I can probably control that zoo. Got an air bed somewhere sotheycan at least get a good night’s sleep. You go. Just be careful, okay?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Al wiggled his eyebrow, noticing a look Xim gave Lucy. “You two have fun. Come and take them off my hands when you can.LaiI can deal with for a day or two, but not his entire family and six dogs.”

“Thanks, Al. Try not to kill any of them while I’m gone.”

“No promises.”