She was completely drained, her energy gone. She clung shakily to Oberon as he drove them toward the surface. His expression grim, Oberon swam as if sharks were after them, taking them back to air and light with a ferocity that would have startled her had she been less exhausted.
“It will be all right.”
His voice barely registered as her head flopped onto his shoulder. She couldn’t even hold it up without the water to bear her.
“Cassie?”
She took a shallow breath as she fought to stay conscious. The hum of his song under her skin soothed and frightened her both. She hadn’t managed to completely disengage from him after all.
How that would affect them in the future, she didn’t know. She’d never heard of something like this before, a siren trapped in someone else’s music. Not even a siren’s Claiming wound the partners together so tightly that one became the other.
“Cassie!”
His frantic tone forced eyes open she hadn’t even realized she’d closed. She gazed up at him, his features blurry, the low hum of him rendering her practically deaf to anything else.
He cursed under his breath. “It will be all right, a thaisce. I swear it.”
When she opened her mouth to respond a fragment of song came out. His song, not hers.
He tightened his grip on her. “I know what to do, but we need to be on shore first.” He glanced back toward the twinkling lights of the homes in the distance. “Hold on.”
Cassie blinked as her fin brushed against sand. As always when she left the water, her body felt too heavy and tight. She whimpered as more notes poured from her involuntarily, his song overwhelming her senses.
Oberon lowered her to the sand, careful of her dorsal fin, lying her on her side so it wouldn’t be damaged. When he tried to pull away she reached for him, grabbing his arms to keep him in contact with her. She was terrified that if he let her go the song would engulf her, render her nothing more than a voice in the wind.
“Sing with me.”
She blinked up at him, still unable to answer.
“Trust me, Cassie.” He cupped her cheek, his gray eyes glittering. His hair was unbound, somehow dry, a shining silver cloak that enveloped them both. The tips of his ears were visible through the fall of his hair. “Sing with me.”
Oberon’s lips parted, startling her with the purity of his voice. He sang a familiar song, one rooted in her own soul, stealing her breath away.
He knew her song, and was singing it back to her.
Cassie opened her mouth, Oberon’s song pouring forth without conscious thought, the complex harmonies blending with the melody he sang until she couldn’t sense where one ended and the other began. The blending of the two songs was blindingly beautiful as each one became part of the other, binding them on a level only the gods could break.
If Oberon hadn’t given her back her song, she would have been consumed by his, destroying her melody forever. By joining their songs, he not only saved her, he Claimed her as his own.
She was able to breathe easier, the melodies blurring together, his voice and hers matching as it became their song. She could hear the hum of him inside her, forever a part of her, and knew he could feel her the same way. As consciousness faded, she could only think of one thing.
He’s going to be so pissed when I wake up…
He was grateful there was no one on the highway that night, because he might have caused an accident. Oberon drove with his gaze on the road but his attention more and more on the quiet hum of his bondmate’s song inside him. She’d healed him fully, restoring his memories, but the cost had been almost more than she could bear.
It was surprisingly soothing, the feel of her there, that bubbling, frothing joy and deep sorrow, the loneliness and the aching need for someone who made her feel wanted, cherished. The sheer nobility of her soul stunned him as the notes of her song played out in his mind, each one giving him a piece of her life. The childish wonder as she swam on her own for the first time, touched a piece of coral or floating seaweed, or when a seahorse accidentally tickled her nose. The sense of pride when she realized just who her parents were, and the hurt and confusion when those same parents, who should have loved her, turned their backs on her for her more conventionally pretty siblings.
The strength she developed as she decided that, despite her parents, she was worth something more than they chose to give her. The love and pride she felt when she held her baby brother for the first time. That boundless affection between the siblings had saved her, made her something more than the unwanted daughter of the royal family.
He’d have to do something nice for Dayton Nerice, if only because his sister adored him so. Her memories of how he’d put himself in danger for her since she’d run away from home made Oberon determined to free the young merman from the confines of Atlantis if at all possible. Perhaps he could get the boy an internship somewhere, or apprentice him to Robin?
He shuddered as he realized if her parents had given her even a little bit of affection they wouldn’t be where they were now. She would have gone through with the marriage with the Pacifica prince just to please them.
Part of him wondered if the Atlantis royals were aware of just how strong their daughter was, of what she was capable of. If so, their fear of her power might have been one of the reasons they chose Cassie as the princess to marry off in an alliance marriage rather than one of her siblings. Her power might have been viewed as a threat to the king’s hold on the crown.
The knowledge that she’d been willing to walk away from their bond, aware of what he was to her and she to him, simply because he’d desired to have no bond with her, humbled him greatly. She was willing to give up her very life so that he would be happy.
If only she knew. He would have mourned her for eternity. The idea that he’d sought to run from her appalled him. From now on, he would go nowhere without her by his side.
Cassie moaned, the sound filled with pain. He winced in sympathy. Just as he was experiencing her life through their bond, she must be experiencing his as well. There were parts of his life he would wish on no one, but Cassie would be forced to live through it all.
He shook his head. Perhaps he should have simply taken them to the Gray Palace. He had healers there who would help ease Cassie through the bonding, but he’d been worried that the surge of power would not only alert their enemies to their location but make things worse for Cassie. The touch of his power while she was lost in his memories could cause them to come too fast and too hard, overwhelming her as they almost had on the beach.
Gods, that had been a disaster. He was back, his memories and powers restored, but he’d almost lost Cassie in the process. And what pissed him off most, made him want to growl and shake her, was that she’d cupped his cheek and prepared to say good-bye to him, more than aware of his previous feelings toward her.
He’d have to have a little chat with her about that. She was most definitely not allowed to sacrifice herself, especially for him.
She groaned again, her head moving against the seat, her hair tangling around her face. She was sweating, her brows furrowed, her fists clenching and unclenching even in her unconscious state. She was living through one of his more painful memories.
To ease her, he began to hum her song again, sighing in relief when her brow slowly smoothed out and her hands relaxed. The uneasy movements stilled, and she sighed.
He’d never planned on bonding with anyone again, let alone a truebond. He’d been burned by Titannia, abused and left with half a soul and only a fragment of his heart. But the holes Titannia had left behind were being filled by Cassie. There was very little deception in his truebond’s soul…
Oberon blinked as the first memory Cassie had of him filled his mind.
She’d come to the Gray Palace at the direction of Shane, who’d told her that her healing would be needed, bu
t she was terrified of meeting Oberon. He’d have no choice but to send her back to Atlantis, but what else could she do? Before anything else, Cassie was a healer. If she was needed, she would be there, despite the danger to herself.
The silver-haired man appeared so suddenly she was startled. His voice rang out, causing her to jump. He hadn’t turned around, just started striding toward a set of double doors she had been told led to the personal quarters of those who lived in the palace.
There was something about him that made her heart pound faster. Maybe it was the steady, determined stride, or the regal bearing. Maybe it was the long fall of silver hair her fingers itched to touch. Never before had she wanted so badly to run her fingers over the curve of a man’s shoulders, feel the strength in his arms.
She almost envied the woman he held. She would have, if she couldn’t have sensed how damaged she was. She was close to true death, and if Cassie didn’t act soon the woman would die.
“Harold!”
The brownie scurried from her side. “Sire?”
Oh, no. This man was the High King? The man with the long stride, the glowing silver hair, holding a woman so close to his heart, was the Lord of the Gray?
She was so screwed.
“Kael is an apprentice Blade. He’s been injured. Send for the healer to see to him. Also, the redcap is Lady Goodfellow’s personal guard.”
Redcap? He’d brought a redcap into the Gray Palace?
“See to it that his injuries are tended as well.” He turned to the redcap. “I’ll be taking your oath when your lady is well again.”
The redcap bowed. “Yes, Sire.”
“Sire? Lady Goodfellow?” Harold’s voice was full of concern. Everyone knew the brownie had a soft spot for the Hob.
Oberon shot Harold a quick glance. “I will tend to her myself.”
The other men were the ones she’d been called here for, then. “I can heal him.”
Oberon turned, and she was done. One look in his silver eyes, and she knew.
The High King was her bondmate, and nothing would ever be the same again.
His gaze roamed over her, became cold as ice. “I have a Blade who needs your skill, your highness.” She winced at his cold tone. The pull she’d felt as soon as she saw him wasn’t apparently reciprocated.
He was going to deny the bond, and seal her fate.
Cassie took a deep breath. She could deal. She’d never truly been wanted, so why should that change now? “I might be able to help with her, as well.” Her hands were shoved deep in her pockets, so she pointed with her chin toward Michaela.
“Is this why you returned, your highness?” Harold’s guilty gaze darted toward Oberon. “My liege, I—”
Oberon’s brows rose. “You knew the princess was hiding at Lord Goodfellow’s?”
“The Child of Dunne, he…” Harold’s ruler-straight shoulders slumped. “He said it was for the good of the Court, sire.”
Oberon shook his head. “And you didn’t think to inform me of what was going on?”
“Do we really have time for this?” Cassie waved her hand toward the woman in his arms. “The longer you delay, the more likely it is you won’t be able to bring her back. Her soul will be beyond even your grasp.” It was already beyond Cassie’s, but the High King’s power was rumored to be beyond the comprehension of a normal fae. She had no doubt her bondmate would not attempt to bring Lady Goodfellow back if he doubted for even a second that he could do it.
“You are aware of what I’m going to attempt?” For just a moment he appeared surprised before that cold mask descended over his features once more.
She shrugged. “You’re going to do something or you wouldn’t be carrying her the way you are.”
“And how is that?”
She looked at him out of those huge, intelligent eyes. “Like she’s precious.”
Oberon nodded once. “Indeed. Now, if you would, take care of my Blade. I have much work to do if my plan is to succeed.”
“Yes, sire.” Cassie bowed. She knew when she was being dismissed. She turned to Oberon’s Blade, Kael, and gestured for him to follow…
Oberon flinched as the memory poured over him. He remembered how he’d felt when he first saw her, standing there with her hands in her pockets, looking for all the world as if he’d kicked her favorite puppy. He’d thought she’d make him weak, become a liability. After the disaster of his bond with Titannia, he hadn’t dared trust anyone.
He reached out and touched Cassie’s hair, smiling as she leaned against him. Never again would his truebond feel his chill. Cassie would learn just what it was to be wanted by the Lord of the Gray.
May the gods have mercy on them both, because for Cassie he’d fight even them.
Chapter Ten
Raven spent the night at the Dunne farm on the insistence of Shane and Aileen, Shane’s mother. Between the two of them he couldn’t resist. Shane dangled information in front of Raven like a shiny bauble, while Aileen made him feel like he was not only welcome, but wanted.
Even Raven’s mother hadn’t managed to do that. She’d been far too busy trying to keep them both alive. If she showed him too much affection, both of them suffered.
Now he was hoping to finally get some answers to his questions. It was just him and Shane this morning, the others having either returned to their own homes or gone back to working the farm. Even Jaden had refused to stick around, despite Robin’s orders. He’d grimaced and backed away. “Shane will fill you in,” had been his only answer to anything Raven asked him.
Annoying biter. Raven hoped he got fang rot.
But now, he was finally going to get some damn answers. “Tell me why Blackthorn sent the king away.”
Shane leaned back in his chair, cradling his mug of coffee in his hands. “To heal.”
Raven waited, but Shane merely stared at him with a cocky, know-it-all grin. “I have no problems pecking your eyes out.”
Shane’s grin widened. “That would piss your daddy off. And we all know how little you want to do that.”
Raven suppressed his shiver. “To heal how?”
Shane leaned forward and placed his mug on the kitchen table, his hands still wrapped around it as if for warmth. “You know the king lost his memories. He was found wandering not far from the palace by his bondmate.”
Bondmate.
Oberon had a bondmate?
Raven laughed. Oh, Titannia was going to be so pissed. “That is excellent.”
Shane smiled. “Yup. Even better, she’s a siren healer.”
Ah, now everything made sense. “She took him to the sea.”
“Exactly. And unless I miss my guess, they should already be on their way back to the Gray Palace.” Shane’s smile faded. “However, the vision I got told me Cassie may have been injured somehow.”
This time, Raven couldn’t suppress his shudder. If the High King’s bondmate was injured, things could get…dicey. “I’d better inform my father. He can have someone waiting to help them as soon as they arrive.”
“Tell Robin who the bondmate is. He likes Cassie, so he’ll be happy about it.”
Well. If Robin liked Oberon’s bondmate, that could only be a good thing. “Why couldn’t Jaden tell me all this earlier?”
“We had to give Cassie time to heal the king. There couldn’t be any outside interference, or things would have gone badly for both of them.” Shane shrugged. “Things could still end badly, but I’m a lot more hopeful than I was before today.”
So the healing had just occurred, or was so recent Shane hadn’t been sure of the outcome. “Let me call my father, then.”
Shane put his hand on Raven’s arm, startling him. “Tell Robin I’m the one who told Jaden what to do, and why. Tell him it was important. He’ll understand.”
Shane seemed pretty sure of that. Rave
n wasn’t, but he wasn’t about to argue with the Child of Dunne. “Got it.” He stood up and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “I’m going to make the call outside, if you don’t mind.” This way, if Robin chose to yell at him at least it wouldn’t be in front of Shane.
Shane nodded amiably and got up for more coffee as Raven headed onto the back porch.
Raven dialed his father’s number and prepared to have his ass handed to him. He doubted his father would be all that thrilled to learn the king was, once again, on the move without protection.
Add in an injured bondmate, the new fucking Lady of the Gray, and Raven bet it would be more than his ass that was left smarting.
But someone was already on the back porch. Ruby sat on the railing, chatting away on the phone in a tone that said the other person on the line was close to her. “I’m serious, Mandy. I haven’t seen you in how long?”
Raven could barely hear the light, musical tone of the other person’s response, but something about it intrigued him. He edged closer to Ruby, hoping to catch another hint of who this Mandy might be. Was she a relative of Ruby’s? A friend?
“You’re coming to Nebraska, and that’s final.”
The whimper in response almost made him laugh. He’d had a similar reaction to the news he had to go to Nebraska. “But I hate soybeans.”
Ruby was laughing. “Amanda Pierson, you get your ass on a plane or I will send someone to fetch you!”
“Will he be hot?”
Raven’s brows rose. He’d be willing to fetch the owner of that sexy voice for little Ruby. If she looked as good as she sounded he might be willing to do much more.
“I thought you were dating that Viking.”
“Pfft. The Viking’s mighty spear turned out to be a toothpick. Fun size it was not.” The disgust in Amanda’s voice was tinged with amusement.
Ruby was laughing so hard she almost fell off the railing. “You are so bad.”
“Yup. I’m a naughty girl who has no place in wholesome, soybean-laden Nebraska.”
Siren's Song: The Gray Court, Book 5 Page 10