Page 31 of When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea #1)

Dax sighed as he approached the council room, the weight of his responsibilities pressing heavily on his shoulders. The moment he stepped inside, the spicy, warm scent of incense flooded his senses, reminding him of home and times long past.

“Daxon,” Spiro greeted warmly and stepped toward him with open arms. He smiled as he approached, both their faces lighting up with genuine affection.

The two embraced, one hand behind the other’s head, bringing their foreheads together with their eyes closed.

They stood together in silence for a brief moment, a wordless exchange of comfort and strength.

Dax could feel the energy his parent radiated, a bright light chasing away the shadows within his soul.

When they stepped apart, the shadows embraced him once again, creeping back into the corners of his mind.

“How did it go with Mari?” he asked, his voice barely concealing his concern.

“Good. She took the news well and understands what’s happened. I took her back to the clinic so she could rest. I’m glad you’re both here, though I wish the circumstances were different.”

Dax nodded in agreement, the corners of his mouth twitching into a small, sad smile. “Thank you for healing her and for your hospitality.”

Spiro’s face fell, their expression tinged with sadness. “You speak to me as though I’m a stranger. It’s been too long since you’ve been home.”

Dax held back his groan, feeling a pang of guilt. “I’ve already heard enough from Kenna. I don’t need another lecture.”

He stepped away to stare at one of the many stained glass windows.

Each one depicted a small part of the earth element: lilies growing in a green field where the redwoods and blackwoods intermingled, not far from Kythera.

The one in front of him showed the colorful, rocky cliffs on the far eastern side of the fae realm, where only those courageous enough to climb several mountain ranges could get a glimpse.

Dax had seen them once when he was younger, eager, full of life and energy.

Now, he felt like a husk of his former self.

“She had to try, Dax. Your sister cares about you. I care about you,” Spiro said softly.

“Staying away keeps you all safe. You know that,” Dax replied, his voice strained.

Spiro didn’t speak for a long moment, but Dax could feel their eyes on him, heavy with unspoken words.

“Each year that passes where you don’t come home, I grow fearful that I’ll never see you again.” Spiro’s voice cracked, and Dax glanced at them over his shoulder. The tears in Spiro’s eyes were too much .

Clearing his throat, he stared down at his boots. “What would you have me do? The risk is too great to make the trip more often. Someone could follow me and find this place.”

“Excuses,” Spiro spat out, making Dax meet their angry gaze. “You would never let that happen. This is your home. This is where you were born. You have been ignoring the Earth’s blessing—”

“Stop—”

“You are forgetting who you are, Daxon!”

He bit his lip and struggled to keep his voice calm despite the instinct to yell right back. “Spiro.” He took a deep breath, attempting to calm his nerves. “Protecting all of you is all I want to do. Just let me do that.”

Spiro shook their head and released a heavy sigh. Taking a seat at the long table, they regarded him carefully. “What’s the point of giving up your life if you don’t even remember what you’re trying to protect?”

Dax began to chuckle as he rubbed a hand over his face. Why were the idiotic gods punishing him?

“The past century has been all about keeping Kythera safe. To keep what’s left of our tribe alive. That’s worth every sacrifice I can make. And if it means giving up a life for myself, then so be it.”

The look Spiro gave him made his heart clench. It was time to go.

“Mari has agreed to keep Kythera secret. You’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Spiro nodded. “I trust her. ”

“Storm’s on the way. We’ll leave tomorrow once it’s passed.” He walked toward the door. Spiro’s voice stopped him.

“What will happen to her when you get to Aurelia?”

Dax glanced over his shoulder and knew the moment Spiro saw the answer.

Without saying another word, he left the conference room, his fists tight as he walked back toward the clinic. The tension tightened his spine, making his shoulders and neck ache.

After everything he’d done, it was still not enough. He was always failing in some way. In their eyes, he should be home, embracing nature. Nature was not their shield; he was.

He didn’t need his tribe’s gratitude. He just needed them to understand and let him suffer without the extra burden of guilt.

As he stepped into the cabin, darkness greeted him.

There was an empty plate on the table, the bed was empty, and Mari was nowhere to be seen.

His gaze wandered to the slightly open door leading to the balcony at the back, and he spotted the siren sitting in one of the hanging chairs through the crack.

She may look like a fae after what her mother did to her, but he knew that trapped beneath, she was still every bit a siren.

She was wrapped in a fur blanket, and her deep teal hair blew gently in the wind. The edge of the storm was nearing. He stepped out and sat down in the chair beside her.

She glanced at him, her face less swollen than when she’d been crying. “How are you feeling?” he asked gently.

She lifted a shoulder. “I have to accept what’s happened and find a solution. Letting it fester like an infected wound won’t help me.”

“That’s a good way of looking at it. ”

“It’s the only way I know how.”

They fell silent and remained on the balcony until the sun began to set. The sky reminded Dax of a painting. The mix of colors coated everything the light could touch in a soft orange and rose hue.

When Dax glanced over at Mari, he couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. All he saw was her. A pale gold light kissed her skin in the final moments before the sun dipped behind the mountains.

“Wanna take a walk?” he asked, praying she would say yes. He wasn’t sure why he needed to be in her presence, but something about her calmed him.

“In the rain?” she asked, glancing toward the misty forest.

“Yes. It’ll also be dark soon.”

She stood up, leaving the blanket in the chair. “Absolutely.”