Page 61 of The Sirin Sisterhood (The Sons of Echidna #2)

Lai

Freya watched the flames, her arms wrapped around herself. She wasn’t cold. Lai was sure of it. He recognized the cocoon-like hug; it was the same he reserved for when he needed to comfort himself. It was soothing, secure, an embrace for when he felt like his world was falling apart.

Despite being surrounded by family, Freya felt vulnerable. Lai offered her an encouraging smile. Normally, it would be an affectionate touch against her shoulder or cheek, but tonight, he kept his hands to himself.

Klein was still giving him a wide-eyed, scandalized look.

Lai stuck his tongue out at him and rolled his eyes.

He and Freya had been separated at birth!

How was he supposed to know she was his twin?

Besides, it wasn’t as though that had gone all the way; they’d just rounded a few bases as they’d flirted.

“So.”He got everyone’s attention, leaning back on the log. “What are everyone’s thoughts?”

“About what?”Klein looked panicked, his eye flicking from Lai to Freya and back. Lai groaned. Clearly, his older brother had seen far too much sex that night. It was affecting his sensibility.

“Any guesses as to why father gave this one up?”Lai nudged his sister with his elbow, noting the relief on Klein’s face. “Will we drown him in the lake when we get home? Or do we reckon he’ll have a good enough excuse?”

“No excuse will be good enough.”Lucy frowned, looking into the flames. “He lied to everyone.”

She looked hurt.

“He told me he was a monster, and I refused to believe him. Now I feel like I should have.”

Klein shook his head, and everyone turned their attention to him. “Something isn’t right. I don’t think highly of my father, but that would be low, even for him. He wouldn’t have given you up unless he had a good reason. I think he was scared of something.”

Lai tapped his chin. Klein had a point.“Ithink it’s obvious. The family always got rid of girls. Maybe he didn’t want to drop her from the cliff, so he hid her.”

Freya narrowed her eyes. “The cliff?”

No one bothered to explain, shuffling uncomfortably at the memory of tiny, sun-bleached bones.

Klein cleared his throat. “And follow in the Dreadlord’s footsteps? Father spent his entire life trying to avoid being anything like him. No. That’s not it. We might not know unless we ask him.”

Lai scoffed. “Let’s just hope Eleanore hasn’t already drowned him, then. He can’t help but wind her up.”

Freya was the only one who didn’t slump a little at her name. “We fly in and burn down her fleet. I bet I can do it alone.”She shrugged.

“We are running short on time,”Lucy muttered, “and all of you have transformed within the last few days. It’s going to take weeks before anyone is recovered enough to fight. I don’t want to risk anyone. I might still have to give her what she wants.”

“Hey, come on. A week would be enough,”Lai frowned.

He hadn’t even considered that. He should have stopped Klein from blowing his load at the lake.

If he’d just had a little more time to think, he could have found a way to save Lucy himself.

Now, they were heading back fully armed but with no ammunition.

“A week?”Freya laughed. “You guys need a week to recharge?”

Lai felt every muscle in his body tense, ready to protect what was left of his ego, but Freya delivered the killing blow before he could pounce.

“I’m good to go in two days.”