Cedric POVMy muscles are screaming at me by the time I get near the underwater cove that is hiding our grand kingdom. It is cloaked and hidden away by magic in the center of the ocean, and I had to swim at top speed to make it here quickly. I didn’t want to spend too long away from my princess. I’m worried about her. If I can’t get permission to reveal everything to her, I’m scared she will just keep hurting herself by keeping everything in. The underwater city is magnificent, the towers emitting their vibrant glow, lighting the city around it. The minimalism of everything makes the city's natural beauty shine through. Some parts of the kingdom are inside forcefield bubbles, keeping the space inside dry for whatever purposes the area serves, but most of the kingdom is entirely open to the ocean’s sea life and natural elements. The towers making up the castle the king lives in with his royal court and noble knights, such as myself, are at the center of everything, a beacon for all s
Lachlan POV“Did you do it?” I asked Nilo as the sun began to rise. “Yes, Alpha. The warriors are stationed around the visitor dorms, ready to capture the men as they begin filtering out.” He yawns, tired from the full night of preparations we had. I'm tired too, but my adrenaline is pumping, keeping me awake and on edge.“Good,” I told him, waiting by the armory to witness the first men being taken down. When I left Lira last night, I came out and actually witnessed some of the men harassing one of my omegas to come with them to bed. I quickly interfered and sent her back home, telling them to leave my staff alone. Witnessing their antics just hardened my resolve to take these men out. I sent a mass mind link out to everyone in my pack to protect their women and children until this threat is neutralized, making sure that Cherum knew to keep Lira in our room today. As my men capture Alpha Wayne's, we will be incapacitating them with wolfsbane and sending them to the dungeons to ho
I forgot that my office is a mess. Walking in, I groaned loudly, wishing I had just let the omegas clean it for me. I try to get the worst of it picked up, but give up when I get to my desk and everything scattered around it. I’m too tired and feel disgusting after this morning's events. My hands are still covered in blood and grime, not really working effectively in cleaning. I leave bloody smears on everything I touch. A lot of the papers that were on my desk were for Lira’s festival this coming weekend and I don’t want to get them dirty if I can help it. I fell down in my chair with an exhausted huff, then leaned back closing my eyes, wishing for all this to be over so I could get back to my mate. If I go see Lira right now with my appearance, she might panic again. I need to get cleaned and look less monstrous before I go to see her. “I didn’t get my mate time last night,” Killian whines. “I didn’t either. Stop complaining. I will give you extra time with her tonight.”“Good,”
Earlier….. Elelira POVMy heart is racing listening to Cedric. My father is the Siren King? My mind can’t keep up with everything he is telling me. Not only who my father is, but the fact that my father is the one who gave me this second life. He brought me back from the dead and sent me back in time, but....why? Why do all this for a daughter he never met? A daughter he still chooses not to meet?I thought this might be some alternate reality and, by some miracle, I was given a chance at happiness. I really, truly prayed it was. If this is the same life over again, then that means…..That means this is the same Lachlan as before. He is the same.No. He’s different. He can’t be the same husband I was married to in my first life. “This doesn’t make sense,” I whispered, resting my head in my hands. “It can’t be. If this is the same life done over again, then why is….why is Lachlan different? It can’t be the same life.”Cedric grew quiet, causing me to turn to look at his anxious expre
Lachlan POV I fell to my knees on the dock. My anguish is suffocating. It’s choking me. My lungs can’t get enough oxygen. My body is trembling. Killian’s howls of pain echo in my head. What should I do? This is like my rejection all over again, only this time….This time it really feels hopeless. I was trying. I was trying to fix everything, every wrong I ever committed against my mate. One misunderstanding, one thing that wasn’t even my fault ruined it all. She left me. Again. “Alpha,” Cherum falls to his knees beside me, staring out at the ocean just like me, only in shock. “She was….she’s….a siren.” I didn’t reply to him. He saw as well as I did. He doesn’t need me to confirm it. I don’t know if I can speak without choking up anyway. “That’s what that flounder meant,” Cherum mumbles. “What?” I choked, then looked at him from the corner of my eye, then quickly turned them back to the ocean, not ready to give up hope of my wife coming back yet. She should know it wasn’t
Lachlan POVIt’s been months. Months, since Lira left. Cedric searched for days, as well as most of her father’s guard, and there was still no trace of her. They tracked her magic, and the faint traces of the magic that her father infused into her necklace to a small island in the middle of nowhere, but she was no longer there. Just her necklace left on the bedside table in one of the abandoned cabins on shore.Cedric brought the necklace back to me and I had my men stay on the island for weeks in hopes of her coming back for the necklace, the pendant from her father, but she never returned. Now, my men and I, as well as King Brennus and his top knights are sitting in the deckhouse of my ship, trying to figure out what more we can do. Her necklace that used to be her beacon for help, her hope for someone to save her, is now resting around my own neck. I reached up and touched it's intricate design, remembering all the times she touched it in a similar way.I’m not letting her go.
A heavy breath of exasperation leaves me. I knew Jack just letting me captain one of his ships on my own was too good to be true. I should have known he would be keeping tabs, lingering close by to just show up when he thought I was about to be in trouble. He said he thought I was ready and he trusted me. “Trust me my ass,” Val snapped, irritated too.I cross my arms, tapping my foot impatiently while I wait for him to board. He’s taking his sweet time, making sure the board that is connecting the ships is just right, testing it with his foot before crossing over. He’s stalling. He can probably see the anger on my face. He rarely, if ever, uses a board to cross. I learned how to swing over with a rope by watching him.“Job well done, lass,” he sauntered over to me, a sly smirk on his face.“If it’s a job well done, why are you here?” I continued to glare. His expression turns apologetic. “To praise you.”“Yeah right. Who is it? Who's the snitch?” My eyes circled the deck, narrowin
Jack POV She looks stunning standing at the wheel, barking orders and commanding the ship just ahead of mine. I stand mesmerized by the beauty and power surrounding her. “Slow her down, Lucky,” I told my first mate, talking about this ship. I don’t want to trigger my fierce Ela by having her wear a damned corset. She would be too proud to not live up to the bet, but I know she won’t like it. If seeing me in the rib-crushing torture device the ladies fancy that makes their tits touch their chin makes her happy, I’ll gladly wear the blasted thing. I would rather look ridiculous than make her uncomfortable. “She ain’t goin’ be too happy findin’ out your let ‘er win, Cap’n.” Lucky shakes his head at me with a knowing smirk. “You’d best keep your mouth shut then,” I told him. I would have gladly left her in the dust if she hadn’t added that last bit to the challenge. I would never intentionally cause her distress by making her do such a thing, even if it was her idea. Remembering her