Blood Chained (Dark Siren Book 3)

by Eden Ashley

  “Sorry.” Her laughter quieted into a subdued smile. Growing up, a stern look from either of her parents had always been the only necessary discipline for little Kali. Even now, Greg’s severe expression was more than enough to tame her.

  Rising to his feet, he waved off her apology with a smile. “It was somewhat funny. Let’s go inside. You came here to see your sister. Maybe she’s done primping and ready to accept visitors.”

  Kali took his outstretched hand and pulled herself from the comfort of the porch swing. “Don’t be silly.”

  Both of Greg’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “You don’t think she’s ready even now?”

  “No. I meant I came to see you too.”

  “Oh, right.” Stopping short as he entered the kitchen, Greg stared almost rudely at Orrin. “I always forget what a giant you really are until I see you again. They sure grow ‘em big on Silver Hill.”

  “Golden Mountain,” Kali corrected gently.

  But Orrin was not offended. “We are not all so, Greg Metts. My large stature can be attributed to the warrior bloodline from which I descend.”

  Kali shook her head. He had been doing so well. Patting Orrin’s forearm, she reached up on tip toe and whispered into his ear. “Not so formal.”

  He winced. “Sorry.”

  “Hey, it’s okay,” Greg said quickly. “I’ll never be against proper English.” He winked. “Besides, it reminds me that you’re actually older than I am.” He looked at Kali. “Come to think of it, technically, you’re pretty old too.”

  “Excuse my father, Orrin. He’s in one of those rare moods when he actually thinks he’s funny.”

  “Ah. York frequently adopts a similar frame of mind.”

  Kali laughed. “You’re getting better.”

  Orrin bore a full-on grin. “The joke was funny?”

  “Yeah. It was funny.”

  Greg chuckled. “You guys are a riot. Please visit more often.” He focused on Orrin. “Have you seen my other daughter?”

  “I did…briefly.” Orrin shifted awkwardly. Looking away and then back at them, he said, “She smells differently than before.”

  Okay. Wow. Kali pinched the bridge of her nose and didn’t miss the patches of red that flushed Greg’s dark skin. “Orrin, you cannot say things like that about my sister, especially in the presence of my dad.”

  Blushing, Orrin was instantly contrite. “Sorry,” he mumbled softly.

  She turned her attention to Greg. “Dad, please don’t be angry. Orrin hasn’t spent as much time as the others immersing in worldly culture, so he isn’t as well-adjusted. Okay?”

  After a beat, Greg nodded. “Okay.”

  “Okay.” Kali ran a hand through her thick mane. “I’m going upstairs to check on Rozzy. Bailen, stay here so you don’t freak out the cat.”

  Bailen yawned.

  Kali wasn’t sure how to take that.

  As she was about to dash up the stairs, another thought occurred to her. Gripping the rail tightly, she turned around. “Hey, Orrin…you didn’t mean she smells like a reaper, did you?”

  His blush deepened. “No,” he said quickly. “Nothing like that.”

  “Great.” The flood of relief reached her fingers, relaxing her hold on the banister relaxed. “I might be awhile,” she said and sprinted lightly up the stairs.

  Moses, home from college with Rozzy, greeted Kali at her sister’s bedroom door. The tabby purred, weaving her soft body through Kali’s legs. “Missed you too, girl.” Apparently absence had made both hearts fonder, and no ill will remained between Kali and the feline. Scooping Moses into her arms, Kali realized she hadn’t held the cat since it was a kitten and freshly strayed from the streets. The enormity of the event wasn’t lost on Rosalyn. Her mouth fell open as soon as she saw them.

  Kali shrugged. “She’s not so bad.” Moses responded by butting her soft head against Kali’s cheek. Giving one final scratch behind her ears, she returned the cat to its own four feet. Leaning against the dresser, Kali folded her arms across her chest. “What’s up, Rozzy? I’ve been here for almost an hour, and you’ve been holed up in your room the whole time.” She passed up commenting on the fact that it was Rozzy who’d insisted she come over.

  Actually, it was Cal who told me she was even in town in the first place. Maybe she’s partied away the brain cells that manipulate email, phone calls, and texting.

  Rozzy’s departure from Ridge Creek at the end of last year was, to say the least, rather abrupt. She and Kali weren’t on the best of terms at the time. It wasn’t every week her big sister fell in bed with her ex-boyfriend less than ten days post-breakup and then proceeded to become insecure and resentful over lingering feelings and unresolved issues between former sweethearts.

  “Sorry. I was in the shower.” Rozzy bit her lip. “Then I was on my cell.” Perching at the end of her bed, she waved the phone in the air as if it was proof. Like she even needed it.

  “No big deal. It’s good to see you, Roz. I’ve missed you,” Kali said, meaning it. Bygones were bygones. She was past ready to bury the hatchet between them. The blade was dull and worthless.

  Rozzy’s face brightened a little. “I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry about before…it was stupid.”

  “I’m sorry too.”

  Rozzy stood up. Her dark denim skinny jeans made it difficult not to admire her curvy figure. They also looked great with the thin, gray wrap-around sweater she wore. It looked a lot like a sweater that hung in Kali’s closet last fall. In fact, Kali was pretty sure it was the same sweater. Either way, Rozzy was too insulated for the summer weather outside.

  “You’ve already hugged the cat. Where’s mine?”

  Smiling, Kali moved toward her sister, and Rozzy did the same. The two met perfectly in the middle and embraced warmly. But after a few seconds of feeling the lush material against her skin, Kali couldn’t help herself. “Nice sweater.”

  Rozzy giggled, completely unabashed. “You moved out and didn’t take it with you. That’s wardrobe abandonment. The sweater was free for the taking.”

  “Free for the borrowing,” Kali said, emphasizing the last word. She ignored the exaggerated eye roll it earned her. “Isn’t a little warm for a sweater?”

  Her sister pulled the wrap tighter and shrugged. “Lately, it’s like I’m cold all the time!” She bit her lip. “I’ve been a little under the weather.”

  Rozzy’s usual mocha complexion did look a bit pale. Kali felt her forehead. It was what Lisa would have done had she been there. “You do seem kinda hot. Have you seen a doctor? And I don’t mean Tim.” Maybe the last bit was a low blow, but it was too good to resist.

  Brushing away Kali’s hand, Rozzy flopped back onto the bed. “Of course I did.”

  “Well, what did he say?” she said when Rozzy failed to continue.

  “I’m fine. The old geezer didn’t know what he was talking about.”

  “Rozzy—”

  “Kali, I’m fine!” Her dark eyes flashed with anger.

  “Okay, okay.” Backing off, Kali held up both hands. “I’m sorry. I didn’t come here to fight with you.”

  Rozzy’s face scrunched in annoyance. “How’d you know I was home, anyway? Did Dad call you? I told him not to do that.”

  Both the sudden mood swing and stinging admission caught Kali off guard. The truth tumbled from her lips. “Cal stopped by the manor. He told me that you were home and wanted to see me.”

  Mentioning Cal’s name did nothing to help ease Rozzy’s irritation. “So what, are you two together again? I knew as soon as Rhane was out of the picture, you’d go crawling back to him.”

  Gritting her teeth, Kali clung to her last shred of patience by the edge of her fingernails. “One: Rhane and I are still together. Two: There is nothing going on between me and Cal.”

  Rozzy narrowed her eyes. “Then why are you still seeing each other?”

  “Why are you jealous?” Kali retorted loudly, throwing her hands up into the air. “I thought you we
re over him. You come back home from school and suddenly he’s your territory again. I had him first, remember?” The instant she said it, Kali wished she could take it back. “That was out of line,” she said quickly. “I’m sorry.”

  Rozzy’s voice dropped to a cold whisper. “You were a bitch then and didn’t deserve him. I don’t see where anything’s changed.” She stood up. “Excuse me. I have to go meet your ex-boyfriend for dinner tonight.”

  “Rozzy, wait.” Concern for her sister overrode the stabbing anger and pain as Kali blocked Rozzy’s exit. “Don’t be so quick to rekindle things with Cal. He’s not himself these days.”

  “Seriously?” Rozzy snorted. “You’re pathetic,” she said. Shoving past Kali, she ran out the door and down the hall.

  Eventually, Kali followed. Her steps were slow. Her body felt a bit numb.

  Orrin and Bailen were waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Armed with supernatural senses, they had little choice in listening to every word of the argument. Greg’s absence was a good thing. If her dad had heard the war between sisters, he would have surely come running and ordered an immediate cease fire. But he was nowhere in sight, probably lounging in his man cave upstairs, watching a bit of television before retiring to bed.

  “Is everything okay?” Worried creases marred Orrin’s usually placid features.

  In the last year, Kali had made a lot of progress in opening up emotionally, especially to her family. So the fight with her sister felt more painful than any before. Hurt formed a ball in her stomach and tightened the back of her throat as tears threatened to fill her eyes.

  Straightening her shoulders, Kali lifted her chin. “I’m fine,” she said. “Let’s go home.”

  Chapter 37

  Rhane picked his way along the Warekin outpost, cast into shadow by a waxing moon. It was difficult to feign interest in recon he didn’t see a point to. The ruins were supposedly situated exactly within the map coordinates of “rock.” Searched before his cooperation as a member of their unit had been ordained, the rogues claimed a need to revisit the Gobi site, reasoning that Rhane’s history might unveil something secreted from creatures of their sort. It wasn’t a bad cover. Yet, Rhane wasn’t convinced. “There’s nothing to find here,” he muttered, casting a quick glance to the only rogue who dared walk near him. Eris wasn’t a big enthusiast of conversation, but he was the singular member of the unit who had bothered to offer his name. He and Rhane chatted fairly often during these covert operations, to the obvious disapproval of the other unit members. But Eris didn’t seem to mind the menacing stares or threatening hisses speaking to Rhane earned him.

  “Cronus thinks differently.”

  Rhane grunted. Eris had the grating habit of stating the obvious.

  He had yet to see the rogue without the tarnished mask, and didn’t know if Eris was young or old. There was nothing extraordinary about his dark blond hair or average build. In fact, the only thing that set Eris apart from the others was the slight slant of his shoulders and awkward hitch of the right hip when he walked. Rhane wondered on more than one occasion what had happened to the rogue, but really, there was no way to ask without the risk of ostracizing the closest thing he had to an ally in the field.

  Rhane tried again. “We searched the coordinates for tree and mountain and found nothing. What makes this place any different? It’s just more misdirection in this sadistic game Builders are playing with all of us. No offense to Cronus, but anyone with a half a brain should have realized that after the first visit.”

  Eris walked in silence for so long Rhane feared he must have offended him and gave up hope for any answer. But the rogue finally spoke, so softly that Rhane’s ears strained to hear. “When it comes to matters of intelligence, I’m afraid Cronus wades in only the shallowest end of the pool. His command of this unit was a gift from his brother.”

  “Is it your custom to select leaders that way?”

  “Sometimes,” Eris answered vaguely.

  “So this entire squad was created for him?”

  “No.” His low tone hinted at anger and regret. “It was taken from me when I was injured.”

  “I’m sorry,” Rhane said. He couldn’t help but feel bad for the guy. It was a rotten thing to happen to anymore, regardless of their species.

  “You are not what I expected, Banewolf.” Eris had spoken without inflection, but Rhane got the sense that beneath the mask, the rogue had smiled. Adjusting his pace, Eris fell back to blend in with the rest of his unit, leaving Rhane once again with only his thoughts for company.

  He still thought the mission was a waste of time and was beginning to see how it might essentially be his fault. The rogues didn’t know the Heart had been discovered in the hidden realms beneath the bank vault. They could still be searching for it here. Rhane shook his head. No. Something wasn’t right. He wouldn’t second guess himself on that. Trust your instincts. He closed his eyes at the memory of Kalista’s words, and then opened them as Cronus began hissing. Looking directly at him, the creature craned its neck and hissed again. This time the noise ended in a birdlike chirp.

  Rhane scowled, realizing it spoke to him. “Use your words.”

  Though capable of communicating in several languages Rhane understood, the rest of the unit was always careful to speak in only their tongue around him. With some help from Eris, he had come to understand the basics, mainly when someone told him to stop, go, come, or wait here.

  Making a noise that sounded rather hostile but whose translation was lost to Rhane, Cronus then said in perfect English. “Why have you not found anything?”

  “Maybe that’s because there is nothing to find,” Rhane retorted. After needlessly wandering in the desert for hours, he was starting to feel somewhat belligerent.

  “There is always something. Even when there is nothing.”

  Rhane rolled his eyes. He hadn’t liked Cronus before, and his recent chat with Eris had done nothing to elevate his opinion of the rogue leader. “Oh that’s profound. Did you come up with that on your own?”

  Cronus hissed angrily, rushing forward to stick his pewter mask within inches of Rhane’s face. Feeling his temper slip, Rhane counted to ten. It was neither the time nor place for a confrontation. Fighting with the rogue meant they’d be in the ruins longer, and he really didn’t want to stay there a second more than necessary. This place was really getting under his skin. Something about the abandoned city was quite unsettling. The feeling was probably attached to a memory he no longer possessed. Rhane sighed mentally. He shouldn’t have provoked Cronus.

  “You are not trying.”

  “Okay,” Rhane said, conceding. “What else would you like me to do?”

  “Find the stone.”

  Looking around at the literal thousands of rocks that decorated their surroundings, he bit back his initial and slightly sarcastic reply. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to,” he began, stubbornly suppressing the insolent tone that begged to slip through. “According to my understanding, this area is the rock. We’re not looking for an actual stone.”

  “Find the stone,” the rogue repeated.

  For Christ’s sake.

  Rhane patted the ground with his foot. “This. This is the stone.”

  A different rogue, one who seemed to be a beta of some sort and had taken a much bigger issue with Rhane’s involvement in their missions than the others, pulled out a 9mm and shoved it directly into his face. “If you cannot find the stone, then we no longer require your service.”

  Okay, that escalated fast. Rhane looked around uneasily. He still knew the city. At some point he’d been to this place as Banewolf. Less than one hundred yards to the left was the Courtyard of Primes. Two monuments stood there. Sentinels built in the likeness of Primes, one looked to the heavens, calling out to Warekin ancestors. The other, he who was killed in the massacre, held a protective gaze over the city. Once upon a time, there existed a small network of tunnels beneath the city, a sanctuary for only the most royal blood
. A memory he couldn’t connect to stirred the farthest edges of his mind. Looking at the sentinels again, Rhane knew it was an important one.

  He decided to try a different tactic. He would play along and see where things led. Besides, it was entirely possible that The Siren’s Heart wasn’t the only item on the list of this global treasure hunt. “I need more information. Is this stone big or small? By rock, do you actually mean mineral? Because then we’re talking carbons, oxides, or platinum. Those have an entirely different scent.” Rhane held his hands up in a placating manner. “Just tell me what you’re looking for and I will find it.”

  The creature responded by lashing the butt of the handgun across Rhane’s temple. “Find the stone.”