Page 22 of When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea #1)
Dax stared ahead at his sister’s form as she led him through the darkness toward the village.
He hadn’t been home in years, yet he knew this part of the forest like the back of his hand.
The way the wind rustled the branches, the way even a sliver of moonlight could illuminate the smallest forest secrets, the way the sweet scent of charred wood and fresh pine filled his lungs—it all seemed to restore something inside him.
And yet, the weight in his arms refused to let him feel any peace.
The pale lanterns began lighting their path as the red petals dotting the forest floor like drops of blood gave way to dirt. Ahead, a set of wooden stairs loomed, climbing toward the treetops.
Dax glanced up, his gaze settling on the village nestled among the branches. Kythera was a sanctuary, a place of peace that had kept his people hidden from war for generations. He could only hope that bringing Mari here wouldn’t undo everything they’d worked to protect .
Kenna paused, glancing over her shoulder when she noticed he’d stopped. The soft glow of the lanterns above lit her stone-gray skin, so much like his own, and her pale green eyes studied him intently. For a moment, she looked as though she couldn’t quite believe he was there.
Lifting a brow, Dax stepped closer. “What?”
Kenna shrugged. “It’s just strange seeing you here after all this time,” she said softly. “With hair.” She chuckled, making a corner of his mouth lift. Then, her smile faltered as her gaze shifted to Mari’s unconscious form. “And with her, no less.”
Dax’s jaw tightened. He didn’t want to talk about it. Instead, he moved around his sister and started up the stairs. Kenna trailed behind him.
“What’s going on, Dax? What happened to her?” Her voice was quiet but tinged with worry, each word squeezing his chest.
“I don’t have time to explain right now. I just need to get her to Spiro.”
The staircase stretched high into the trees; from above, he could hear the faint murmur of voices—the sounds of home. His throat tightened at the familiarity of it.
Kythera hadn’t changed. The treehouses still nestled among the branches as though they’d grown from the trees themselves, the A-frame cabins covered in moss.
Ivy coiled around railings and beams, and soft golden light spilled from the windows, illuminating the bridges that crisscrossed the canopy. It was beautiful, serene. Untouched.
Dax could feel the magic humming in the air, warm and welcoming, as though the village was alive.
His jaw tightened as he slammed an iron grip on the energy stirring in his chest. There were two reasons he rarely set foot in Kythera.
The first was for the safety of the village.
The second was to avoid the gnawing feeling that something inside him wanted to be set free.
The higher they climbed, the heavier the pressure grew until each step felt louder than the last.
Kenna brushed against his shoulder as she went ahead of him. “Could you be any louder?” she hissed before urging a few villagers peeking out to return to their homes for the night.
“Daxon,” a low, familiar voice called from the top of the stairs. Spiro came into view, their tall figure illuminated by the golden glow of the lanterns.
Relief coursed through Dax the moment their emerald-green eyes connected. “I need your help,” he said, his voice rough as he adjusted Mari’s weight in his arms. “She’s dying.”
Spiro’s gaze softened as they quickly descended the stairs, placing a hand on Mari’s fevered forehead. Their lips pressed into a thin line, and they gave a short nod. “Let’s get her inside.”
Without another word, Dax and Kenna followed the village leader into the clinic.
The cabin was small and unassuming, its entrance covered in thick moss.
Yet, inside, it was immaculately clean. Shelves lined the walls, filled with bottles of liquid, bundles of herbs, and strange objects that faintly glowed in the dim light.
The air was rich with the sharp scents of medicinal salves and musty, dried flowers.
A wooden table sat on one side of the room, its surface scarred and stained from years of use. Dax felt a twinge of familiarity as he glanced at it—he’d sat there more than once, being stitched up by Spiro after some accident or another .
“Lay her down over there,” Spiro instructed, motioning toward a low cot near the fireplace.
Dax carefully set Mari down, brushing a hand against her cheek as her head lolled to the side. Her skin was still feverish, her breaths were shallow, and she murmured faintly, the words too soft to make out.
Kenna lingered in the doorway, crossing her arms. “She doesn’t look good,” she said softly.
Spiro glanced up. “Kenna, fill the tub with warm water,” they said, gesturing toward the large wooden tub in the corner.
“Got it.”
“Let’s get her armor off,” Spiro instructed, kneeling beside the cot to help unbuckle the chest armor. As the last piece came away, a few of the scales Mari was shedding fell onto the fur blankets. Spiro picked one up, their shrewd gaze inspecting the colorless fragment before glancing at Dax.
“Siren?”
Dax gave a short nod, crossing his arms.
Spiro’s jaw tightened slightly, but they said nothing. Instead, they lowered themselves to the floor, placing their hands over Mari’s chest and closing their eyes. Their gray hands, covered in silver rings, stood out starkly against Mari’s inflamed skin.
Dax watched her chest rise and fall in shallow, uneven breaths. The sight coiled something tight and uncomfortable in his chest. He hated it—the helplessness, the ache.
“What’s happening to her?” he asked, his voice darker than he intended .
Spiro’s white brows furrowed, their lips tightening as though they were concentrating deeply. “She’s shifting. Her body is battling the change.”
“The change?” Kenna asked, returning to stand beside Dax.
Spiro opened their eyes, their expression grim as they pressed a hand to Mari’s forehead. “She’s been turned into a fae.”
Dax’s hands clenched at his sides. “Can you heal her?”
Spiro sighed. “I don’t know. Her fever is gone now, but her body is weakened. It will take time to accept what’s already been done.”
The village leader’s touch was gentle as they brushed a few strands of hair away from Mari’s sweaty face. Then their head turned toward Dax. “Who did this to her?”
Dax swallowed beneath the intimidating stare. “I don’t know.”
“How’d you end up with her, anyway?” Kenna asked, one brow arched in curiosity.
Dax’s jaw tightened. He was unwilling to meet her gaze. “It’s complicated.”
“Everything with you is complicated,” she muttered, annoyance clear in her tone. “Does she have anything to do with why you’ve been gone for so long?”
Dax glared at her briefly but said nothing.
“Kenna,” Spiro said gently with a tired look on their face. “Leave him be and go get some food.”
With a deep sigh, Kenna left the clinic.
Alone, Dax met Spiro’s curious gaze and waited for the inevitable slew of questions. But none came. Instead, the leader stood and dipped their fingers into the tub, feeling the temperature of the water.
“I can’t imagine what it felt like,” Spiro murmured as they stared into the steaming water. “The transition … it must have been excruciating.”
Dax glanced out the stained glass window, the dark sway of branches the only thing visible. But that was not what he saw. Instead, he saw a frightened, screaming siren kneeling on the edge of a river.
“It was awful,” he finally admitted softly. “She kept screaming until her voice gave out.”
A hand gently gripped his forearm as his eyes flickered back to Spiro’s. An unspoken understanding passed between them.
“C’mon, let’s get her in the tub. The warm water will help soothe her.”
Dax removed his cloak and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. Then, together, they removed Mari’s dirty dress and set her gently in the tub.
“Hold her up so she doesn’t drown,” Spiro instructed, moving his hands so one was beneath Mari’s neck and the other under her back. “If she wakes, take it slow. She’ll be frightened and in pain. Be kind, Dax.”
Spiro held his gaze, and Dax nodded as the door opened, revealing Kenna holding a steaming plate of food.
“I brought all they had left in the kitchens at this time of night.” She set it down on the table as Spiro stood.
“Thank you,” Dax said, and Kenna gave him a slight nod.
“If she doesn’t wake in an hour, pull her out and let her rest on the cot,” Spiro instructed, their voice soft but firm. They gave Dax’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Try to eat. I’ll check on you both in the morning.”
The door closed softly behind them, leaving Dax alone with Mari.
Releasing a deep sigh, Dax glanced at Mari’s face. Her brows were tight and her mouth slightly open. It looked like she was concentrating on whatever was happening inside her mind.
“C’mon, Little Tempest,” he whispered, his voice barely audible as rain began softly pattering the roof. “Wake up.”