Trailing my fingertips along the walls, I took in my home. It was so much more depressing than it had been.
“What happened?” I asked softly.
“Let’s get you to your room first,” Brayden said.
I turned to Sam. “Sam, where are all the sirens?”
Both he and Brayden tensed, and Brayden spun around to face us. “How do you know his name?”
“He was in the palace a lot and we talked while waiting for our dads to finish meetings,” I said.
It wasn’t a lie, we had done that, but we had also spent much more time together aside from that. I felt like Brayden couldn’t know that for some reason, though. He had said he was the only child allowed to play with me.
Brayden stared at Sam, but Sam just stared back with a bored expression. Brayden resumed walking.
“The others don’t visit the royal grounds much anymore,” Sam said now that Brayden had turned away.
“The merchants don’t come?” I asked in disbelief.
Sam shook his head.
“Where are they?” I asked.
“Shelnam,” Sam answered.
Shelnam was the town where all their houses were. It made sense to stay there if they didn’t want to be in such a drab area. I was going to need to make a trip out there soon, to talk to the people.
Brayden stopped in front of my door. “Your quarters, just as you left them.”
He was right, they looked just like they had before I’d been banished. Rainbow colored walls, unicorn bedspread, pink furniture, and stuffed animals everywhere.
“You’re dismissed,” Brayden told Sam.
Sam looked at me and I nodded once. “You can guard my door,” I told him. Sam bowed, then took up a position on the wall opposite my door.
Brayden shut the door, and I made a privacy shield that would keep our conversation private. Brayden’s eyes widened at the emergence of the silvery bubble.
“No one will be able to hear us now,” I advised him. “Spill, all of it.”
He sighed and leaned against the closed door. “Your father is ill. He’s been battling it since you left and we think your presence might help cure him.”
“Ill how?”
“Dementia,” he said.
I plopped on my butt onto the bed and gaped at him. Normally, dementia was a human-only issue, but if it affected an Other, things could get very bad. A siren being affected by it was terrifying. He could use his powers on people without understanding what he was doing. Someone with low level powers wasn’t an issue, but my father could put the world under a spell without realizing what he was doing.
“How bad is it?” I asked.
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I’ve been able to keep him from doing anything too serious, but there have been a few close calls. It’s getting progressively worse each week for the past two months. If we can’t stop it, the Elders are considering taking extreme measures.”
They would have to kill him. Nothing else would work.
“What can I do?”
“Spend time with him, just be happy and by his side. You’re our last hope.”
“Does he know all of this?”
Brayden nodded. “Yes. He’s the one who suggested that bringing you home might help.”
Something about that statement didn’t ring true.
Maybe Dad wanted to spend his final days with me as his only family left alive. Or, maybe Brayden was lying.
“Why is everything so ugly and cold? Why don’t the people come here anymore?”
Even if he had a few episodes, it didn’t explain all of this.
“A month after you left, the dementia hit hard. He demanded to know where you were and killed a guard who said you were gone. During a lucid moment, he ordered all the colors destroyed and forbid the merchants from coming on the royal grounds.”
“Why?”
“They reminded him of you.”
“If you had just told me this, I would have come.”
“But you would have brought your mates.”
“So?”
“We’re trying to keep King Dalton as calm as possible. Having strangers might set him off.”
“You’re hiding something,” I said, realizing it just before I said it.
“I understand that you don’t want any other mates, but I think it would be best if we let your father continue under the assumption we are courting.”
“I’m not taking any more mates,” I said adamantly. I didn’t care how sick my father was, I wouldn’t take on another mate.
“You and I both understand that, but let’s keep it between us.”
Part of what he said made sense, but I got the feeling he still held information back from me. I couldn’t pinpoint what it was about him, but I didn’t trust him.
“Why didn’t you come get me sooner?” I asked. “If this started right after I left, you could have gotten me back right away. It’s been over twenty fucking years.”
“We hoped with time, it would improve. We were wrong, but he had some periods of lucidity that gave us hope. Plus, we couldn’t find you. It wasn’t until the newspaper with your picture announcing your bonding that we located you as living in Jinla.”
“Dad didn’t know about my bonds when you got to me,” I pointed out.
“He just forgot,” he said, truthfully.
“How long are they giving him before they make their decision to kill him?”
“Two weeks,” he replied softly.
“Weeks! That’s not enough time for me to do anything.”
“It’s all we have.”
I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them. Two weeks to try to cure my father’s dementia. A father I hadn’t seen in over twenty years. I popped our shield and sighed.
“I need someone to teach me how to use my powers. Find someone, today,” I ordered him.
He scowled, but bowed and left the room. I waited three minutes past the time he had left before opening my door and peeking outside.
Sam stood on the opposite wall still. His lips turned up in a smirk for just a moment before he turned serious again.
“Get in here,” I whispered and held the door open.
He walked in, scowling. “How can I—”
I threw my arms around his shoulders and hugged him. He was a lot bigger than he had been at nine, but he still had the same mischievous gleam in his eyes.
He hugged me back and the tension melted from him. “Jo,” he whispered.
I held my finger up, locked the door, then put a privacy shield around us.
“What the fuck is going on, Sam? Give it to me straight.”
“You’re in trouble, Jo. We’re all in trouble,” he said.
I could hear the dramatic music in my head and shook it to rid myself of the ridiculousness.
“Spill,” I ordered him. “No one can hear us now.”
He leaned against my bright pink dresser with his hip and said, “I need to ask something first.”
“Fine,” I sighed.
“Are you going to mate with Brayden?”
“No, but that stays between us for now. He said we should let Dad keep thinking we are courting.”
Sam scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I bet he did.”
“Sam,” I growled.
He tensed. “Your eyes changed color.”
I rubbed my face and sat down on the rainbow rug beneath my feet. Sam did the same. “I have four mates. One wolf, one dragon, one mage, and one elf. I have access to their powers. When I’m mad, my eyes shift sometimes.”
“Alphas?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He nodded. “You wouldn’t be able to settle for less.”
“What?”
“You’re an alpha amongst the sirens. So, you would need alphas as mates too.”
“I answered your question,” I reminded him.
“I don’t have any proof for what I’m about to say, but I know it’s true. Brayden has some type of magic,
not siren based. Mage most likely. He is using powers to control the King. He wants to take over Atlantis and he wants you as his mate.”
“Why do you think he is controlling Dad?”
“The night before you were banished, King Dalton told the guards to prepare Brayden’s things to be removed from the castle. I don’t know where he was going to send him, since both of his parents had died the year before and Brayden was only ten at that time. Brayden had a long discussion with King Dalton in the king’s chambers, just the two of them. Hours later, King Dalton came out and said to move Brayden to a room closer to him and you were banished the next morning. Brayden hasn’t left his side since. King Dalton has lucid moments and I’ve been privy to them a few times. It’s like he comes out of a spell. It’s not like dementia.”
“Why haven’t you told anyone?” I demanded.
“With no proof, I would only endanger my position and then I wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on the king.”
“Do you know what he has planned?”
If we knew his plan, we could find a way to counter it.
“No. I think he plans to use your father to try to force your hand at mating. He seemed to be planning to have the king killed. I was able to convince the Elders to search for you, finally.”
“It was your idea?”
He nodded. “I hoped you might break the spell.”
“Why do you think Brayden is after me if you’re the reason I’m here?”
“Because once he found out, he made arrangements for The Gauntlet to be prepared for him to participate.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“I won’t take him as a mate. What can I do? Can I go to the Elders?”
“Siren law is clear, to be the Princess’s mate, they must pass The Gauntlet.”
“My mates are in Jinla,” I said, my heart beginning to pound. What could I do?
“If they don’t pass—”
“Take me to the Elders. I’ll see if I can talk sense into them. I understand the law, but I’m clearly an exception since I was banished.”
“I didn’t think you’d recognize me,” Sam admitted, changing the subject.
I smiled. “How could I not recognize my best friend?” My smile faded, and I said, “Brayden told me he was the only one allowed to play with me and that we were best friends.”
Sam’s expression grew fierce. “Glad your memories came back”
“That’s why I believe you,” I whispered. “I didn’t get all my memories back from Dad and Brayden was lying to me. The rest of my memories came back when I stepped into the castle with you.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “This is not good. No. He’s more powerful than I thought if he could make King Dalton do that.”
I agreed. “Sam, I need to get a message to my mates.”
Chapter 7
“The Gauntlet will go forward as planned,” one of the three Elders said.
Brayden stood on my right. He’d seen me heading out of the castle with Sam and had followed us. Now, I saw a smirk on one corner of his mouth.
“Elders, I already have mates. They won the Summit Tournament for my hand—”
“Then they should have no problem winning another,” another Elder said.
My hands clenched into fists at my side. “I was banished. I should be free from these—”
“You are the Princess of the Sirens. And, you are not above the law.”
“At least wait until I’m able to get them here so they can participate,” I begged.
“You have two weeks until the Gauntlet,” the last Elder said.
“Sirs, you’re going to allow four alphas to come to Atlantis when the king is in such low health?” Brayden asked, taking a step forward.
“My father will be fine. My mates will cause no trouble,” I promised.
“Tamed them?” Brayden asked and smiled.
“They aren’t the ones who need tamed,” I muttered and turned away, remembering I wasn’t supposed to alienate Brayden. I turned back with a smile and said, “Please, Brayden. Help me out? That’s what best friends do, right?”
His eyes sparkled and he smiled.
Hook. Line. Sinker.
“Okay,” he agreed. “As a favor to my best friend.”
I smiled wide, radiating happiness. I watched in disbelief as it spread throughout the room until everyone was smiling.
Whoops.
“I’ll get a message to your mates,” Brayden said with a warm smile that I would have believed was genuine, had I not smelled his lie. He had no idea I could smell lies.
I smiled back and said, “Thank you.” Before I could lose my composure, I turned and Sam fell into step beside me as we walked back towards my room.
“Jolie,” Brayden called.
I stopped and turned to him, my smile back in place. “Yes?”
“Will you join me for dinner tonight?” he asked.
“I planned to eat with Dad,” I said honestly.
“Ah, well another night then,” he said.
I nodded. “For sure.”
His smile warmed at that and he turned away.
“I want to see Dad,” I told Sam.
“He’s in his chambers,” Sam said and pushed open the door to the castle.
I put the privacy shield around us as we walked down the hallway. “He isn’t going to send word to my mates. I really need you to do it. Can you? Can you get word to them without Brayden finding out? I don’t want you to risk yourself.”
He smiled and said, “I haven’t survived here the past twenty-three years without you just by my good looks.”
I laughed and shook my head. “You haven’t changed one bit.”
He flexed one of his arms. “I’ve gotten more muscular. “
“I meant your ego,” I scoffed.
“Is there anything you’d like me to add to my letter?” he asked me.
“Tell them not to hurt the Kraken and to prepare for fun after all.”
“They’ll know what that means?” he asked.
I nodded. “They will.”
We stopped at Dad’s door, and I dropped the shield. “I’ll leave you to your time with your father,” Sam said and walked back down the hallway.
I knocked on the door, Dad said, “Enter.”
I opened the door and peeked my head inside. Dad sat at his desk, looking at some papers there.
“Hey,” I said cheerfully and smiled. I locked the door behind me, slid my foot along the doorway to seal it with a ward, then walked to the chair in front of his desk and sat.
He looked up and smiled. “Jolie, I’m happy to see you.”
“I thought we could eat dinner together,” I explained.
He stood, his posture suddenly rigid. “I don’t have time.” His hands moved along the top of his desk while he kept his eyes locked with mine.
What was he doing?
His fingers found paper and pen and he wrote something with his eyes still fixed on me. I peeked over and it took all my control not to gasp.
Kill him.
Stepping around the desk, I grabbed the paper as I stood before him, hiding it in my hand. I hugged him and said, “I understand.” I spun, the crumpled paper in my hand, and marched out of his chambers.
I would kill Brayden, but first, I needed to learn how to control my powers. The Captain, whose name I still hadn’t gotten, approached. His stride was confident and proud as he moved down the hallways of the castle. I didn’t remember him from my childhood, which bothered me. Was he a plant by Brayden?
He bowed to me. “Princess Jolie. Can I help you?”
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Stevens.”
“Captain Stevens, I’d like to go to Shelnam. Can you arrange transportation?”
His brows furrowed. “Brayden didn’t mention you going to Shelnam. Perhaps I should contact him and—”
“Is Brayden Prince of the Sirens?”
“No.”
> “Am I not Princess?”
“You are.”
“Then why do we need to involve Brayden at all?”
“He is your guard and—”
I stepped closer to him and said, “My guards are ten times the Other Brayden is. You’ve sworn to serve the royal family, have you not, Captain Stevens?”
He swallowed and nodded.
“Then, I suggest you remember who is actually part of the royal family.”
I spun and marched out of the castle. Captain Stevens followed me, but I had no interest in waiting for someone to get me a horse. I focused and opened my bond with Rhys a bit more. Wings popped from my back, both tipped with a claw.
Captain Stevens gasped and stumbled a step back.
I turned and smiled at him, knowing my eyes were now slitted dragon’s eyes. “I’ll return shortly.”
Crouching first, I leapt up into the air and used my wings to propel me higher. My fear over falling was gone. I couldn’t explain, but with all of my memories back, I felt more like myself and the fear was no longer there. I turned towards Shelnam and flapped my wings. Flying was definitely faster. It took me one fourth the time riding would have.
As I flew into Shelnam, I was excited to see color again. Beautiful flowers bloomed along all of the windowsills of every building. The fields beyond were lush and green, like I remembered, and dozens of small creatures in every shade of the rainbow ran about.
The merchants and citizens froze when they saw me. I minimized my link with Rhys and let my wings disappear.
An old woman, bent with age, hobbled towards me with a cane in one hand. “Princess?” she asked.
I nodded.
The town erupted in cheers and my name being yelled. Children ran up to me, wide smiles on their faces.
“Who is in charge currently?” I asked.
“I am,” a tall man with cerulean eyes, tattoos covering his arms, and shaggy brown hair said as he approached. He had a warm smile and I recognized him immediately.
“Colton!” I yelled and rushed to him.
He opened his arms and embraced me. “Jo,” he whispered. “You’re all grown up.”
I tilted my head back to look up at him, well over a head taller than me, possibly taller than Rhys. “So did you.”
He touched the bloodstones below my eye. “Mated?”
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