“How long will you be gone?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But, I’ll come back as soon as I can. At the very least, I’ll send word to you.”
I kissed him and rubbed our cheeks together. “Stay safe, Puff. I love you.”
“I love you too, Jolie,” he whispered, a single tear sliding down his cheek.
“Don’t go,” Fox whispered. “Don’t go. Don’t go. Don’t go.”
“Foxfire,” I whispered and hugged him. “I love you. I love you more than chocolate. I love you more than all the chocolate in the world.”
“I’ll buy you all the chocolate in the world if you stay,” he promised, two tears sliding down his cheeks.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I faced the kings and bowed to them, sniffling to hold the tears in. “Please, keep my guards and my mates safe while I’m away.”
“Jolie, you don’t have to do this,” Dan said.
“He’s right,” Johann said. “You don’t have to go.”
I stepped back to stand beside my father and wiped at the tears on my face. “I wish things were different. I have to go. I have to obey my king.”
“We are your kings. You pledged yourself to us,” Emrys reminded me.
“I will return,” I told them. “But, please, don’t hold your breath.”
Dad set his hand on my shoulder and Brayden backed up until he was close enough for Dad to set his other hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for taking care of my daughter in my absence,” he said and then the room filled with the men I loved most in the world vanished.
Chapter 5
The room Dad teleported us to looked nothing like Atlantis. The curtains were cheap, flimsy material, definitely hotel room quality.
“We’re just picking up our things,” Brayden said.
All four of my mates were freaking out. Anger, fear, and sadness filtered through the bond in a jumble of emotions. I sent as much love and calmness as I could back to them.
I didn’t like this situation either, but Dad was much stronger than they knew. He could turn them all against each other. I wouldn’t let that happen.
“What am I expected to do when I return? I don’t know anything about sirens or our society,” I said, clenching my hands into fists. I wanted to his something.
“Brayden will be teaching you on our journey,” Dad answered and strode to his luggage. “We must take the train and then a boat—”
“And then the Kraken will pick us up,” I finished for him. “I remember that much.” Now.
My entire life had been a lie. Human? I wasn’t human at all.
I realized Dad hadn’t answered my question. It seemed like they were trying really hard to keep me in the dark.
“Let’s go,” Dad ordered us.
Obediently, I followed him with Brayden right behind me. At the reception desk, the receptionist bowed and said, “Safe travels, King Dalton.”
He nodded once, and we left the hotel. Why hadn’t his arrival been headline news?
Outside the hotel, the media rushed us.
“King Dalton! What are your plans in Jinla?” one reporter asked.
“I came to get my daughter. My business with Jinla is now complete,” he answered.
“Princess Jolie, what are you doing here?”
“Are you his daughter?”
“Aren’t you human?”
“Where are your guards? The princes?”
“Are you leaving?”
“Princess Jolie?”
“Princess Jolie is unavailable for comment,” Brayden said sweetly. A wave of power washed over the media members and immediately, they silenced with huge smiles on their faces.
Sirens were the worst manipulators in the world. They were also excellent liars, one of the many reasons I wasn’t looking forward to returning.
“Is there a queen?” I asked Brayden softly.
He shook his head. “You’re the only heir.”
I hadn’t asked about heirs, but that was helpful information to have.
A black SUV pulled up to the curb and before the doors opened, I smelled the passengers.
I ran forward and held my hands up to my dad. “Let me handle this.”
His brows furrowed, and he looked around, unsure what I was talking about.
The SUVs driver’s side and passenger doors opened, letting Martin and Ezio out.
“Jo,” Martin growled and stalked towards me.
Brayden stepped closer, but I pushed him back with a hand to his chest. “Stay out of this,” I ordered him.
Ezio and Martin towered over me.
“What is going on?” Martin demanded.
“My memories were sealed,” I explained. “I didn’t know who I was until he unlocked them just a bit ago.”
“Start from the beginning,” Martin ordered me.
Ezio stood silently, glaring at Brayden.
“I’m not human. I’m a siren. I’m actually Princess of the Sirens, but I’m a null. Basically, I don’t have any siren abilities, so essentially, I’m human. The king, my dad, the guy over there…” I pointed, and Martin glanced before looking back at me. “…banished me from Atlantis because I was a null. They put me with a human family to be raised. Now he’s decided he needs me back.”
“You didn’t know any of this?” Ezio asked, hard eyes filled with fire stared into mine.
“No, I swear.”
His eyes softened a moment, then he returned to glaring at Brayden. I was surprised Brayden hadn’t spontaneously combusted into flames from the fire in his glare. I knew Ezio would never harm me and even I moved a step away from him.
“And you’re just going? You’re leaving your mates behind?” Martin snapped.
“I’m saving them,” I growled. “If Dad wants to, he could turn this entire city against each other. I won’t be gone forever. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“You won’t survive long without your mates. You’ll go mad,” Martin said. “What’s your plan?”
“I have to go to Atlantis, find out what’s going on, and then fix it so I can come back home.”
“Let me come with you,” Ezio whispered, moving so close, our arms touched. “Please, let me come to ensure you’re safe.”
“Princess Jolie will be perfectly safe,” Brayden said and reached towards me.
In less time than it took to blink, both Ezio and Martin had shifted into warrior forms and pushed me behind them. Brayden had his trident out and aimed at Ezio.
“Enough!” I snapped. I shoved Ezio and Martin back and exhaled loudly, trying to release some of the nervousness building. “Please, just trust me. I can’t let you get hurt. Please keep the princes safe while I’m gone. And, don’t even think about coming after me. You won’t be able to find me.”
“This is insane,” Martin growled and reverted back to his human form.
I hugged him and whispered, “I’ll be back. I promise.”
Ezio pulled me into a hug. “Please, take me with you.”
I shook my head. “They won’t let me. The guy with the trident is my personal guard. Plus, I can use my mates’ powers still. I’m not defenseless. They have no idea what I can do, so I’ve got the upper hand.”
He inhaled at my neck and I pet his head. “‘Come home or I’ll boil the sea to find you,’” Ezio said. I looked up and he whispered, “My prince asked me to tell you that.”
“Tell him to give me three months,” I whispered.
“You have one month, max,” Martin whispered. “You go any longer than that away from them and you will all go mad. The last thing we need is those four going mad. It will be worse than when your bonds were cut. Insanity is much harder to cure.”
I hugged them each again and returned to my dad who looked irritated.
“Are you done now? Can we go?” Dad asked.
I glared at him. “You’re the one who showed up unannounced and is yanking me out of my life. Giving m
e ten minutes isn’t much to ask.”
He opened the door of a taxi and waved me in. “After you, Your Highness.”
Ignoring his jab, I climbed into the taxi and buckled my belt. Ezio and Martin hadn’t gotten into the SUV yet. Martin was on the phone, while Ezio stared at Brayden who also hadn’t turned away yet.
“You let anything happen to her and I’ll tear your head off,” Ezio told him.
“Don’t threaten me, dog,” Brayden snapped.
“I’m not threatening you. I’m telling you. If you let anything happen to her, I will tear your head off of your body,” Ezio said calmly.
“You’re in love with her,” Brayden realized.
“She’s my princess,” Ezio growled. “And I will do anything to keep her safe. You should just let me come with you.”
Brayden laughed. “Not going to happen.”
“Then make sure she stays safe,” Ezio said and turned away, showing Brayden his back, and getting into the SUV.
Martin glared at Brayden and then got into the driver’s seat.
“You’ve got some interesting friends,” Dad commented.
I decided letting him know they were my ex-boyfriends wasn’t necessary at the moment, so I said nothing. Brayden finally got his luggage into the trunk and climbed in the front seat.
“What am I expected to do while I’m back?” I asked Dad, since he was stuck in the backseat of the car with me.
“You’re expected to be our princess,” he said as though that answered anything.
“What does a siren princess do?” I asked.
“Brayden will explain all of that,” he grumbled and faced out the window.
I sighed and leaned my head back against the seat. This was ridiculous. If Martin was right, I only had one month to get this figured out. Brayden was my only hope in finding out what was going on.
He had said we were best friends, but I didn’t remember anyone named Brayden. There were only a few people I interacted with before they banished me. I needed to get him on my side but explain there was no way in hell he was going to become my mate.
The taxi dropped us off at the train station and I wasn’t surprised to find yet another group waiting for me. I sighed and said, “Two minutes.”
“Aren’t you popular?” Brayden growled.
“I’m Princess of the Four Clans,” I told him. “Yes, I am popular.”
“Were,” Dad said. “You were their princess.”
“No, I still am,” I told him and climbed out of the car.
The train station was noisy and there were hundreds of people getting on and off trains. Standing to one side were Declan and Kylan, dragon twins I had dated when I was younger.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked as I approached.
“Who do we have to kill?” Declan asked, looking over my head. His icy killer gaze was scaring people and they gave the twins a wide berth.
“You’re not killing anyone,” I told him and sighed. This was one of the issues of dating such powerful and bloodthirsty beings. “I have to do this. Why do I have to keep repeating myself?”
“You don’t have to do this,” Declan said.
“We can take you away right now,” Kylan said.
“No, you can’t. You would shift and then they’d use their powers to make you attack each other or innocent bystanders. Look, while I’m gone you guys need to get together, all four clans, and do research on sirens. And, keep my mates out of trouble. I’m not weak. I’m not human. Plus, they aren’t kidnapping me. This is my biological dad and there’s something going on that they need me to help them with. I don’t know what it is, but I have to see if I can help them.”
“How do you know they need your help?” Kylan asked.
“I just do. Please, trust me.”
“Princess,” Brayden called. “It’s time to go.”
“That the asshole who thinks you’re going to take him as a mate?” Declan growled, smoke seeping out of his nostrils.
Did everyone know what had happened?
“Yes, but I have no intention of taking anymore mates,” I said adamantly.
“Make sure he knows that,” Kylan said.
“Hugs and then I’ve got to go,” I told them.
“We’ll find you if we need to,” Declan promised.
After hugging them, I went to Brayden and followed him onto the train. Getting on the train made me remember my last train trip and the Summit.
“Why aren’t you part of the Summit?” I asked Dad as I sat beside him in an empty train car.
He didn’t respond.
Pulling out my phone, I sent a quick message to the guys. Atlantis likely didn’t get cell reception.
Me: I love you. I’ll get this handled as fast as I can. I know you’re not happy, I’m not either, but I’m doing this to protect Jinla. Sirens are powerful manipulators and Dad is the strongest siren alive. Or, at least he was before I was banished. I’m the only heir and I have a feeling that’s part of why they are bringing me back. I’m safe. I’m still connected to you. I can still use your powers. Please, try to relax. I will come back to you.
Immediately, I got responses.
Rhys: I love you.
Deryn: Tell Trident Douchebag I’ll cut him to pieces if he touches you.
Fox: I miss you already.
Nico: I love you, my queen.
Deryn: Love you, baby.
I put my phone in my jacket pocket and closed my eyes with a sigh. Couldn’t my life be calm for just a few months?
“Here,” Brayden said.
I opened my eyes and accepted the worn leather book he held out to me. There was no title or author name.
“It’s basic information on sirens,” he said.
I opened it and found handwritten pages inside.
“Did you write this?” I asked.
He nodded. “I knew you would need it, when you finally returned.”
His cheeks had a slight pink tint to them and his eyes were focused on his hands.
“Thank you,” I said and opened it. I thumbed through the pages, reading snippets, and was surprised to find drawings of animals, plants, and maps of Atlantis.
Dad and Brayden talked, but I tuned them out as I read. There was so much information, but none of it answered the big question.
Dad moved to the back of the train car to take a phone call, leaving me and Brayden alone.
Brayden tilted his head as he looked at me. “You really don’t remember me, do you?”
“Sorry,” I said and shrugged. “Even with my memories back, I don’t remember.”
“You and I have been betrothed since we were born. I was the only one allowed to play with you.”
“I’m sure our betrothal ended when I was banished, so why didn’t you find someone else?” I asked.
“Your banishment was a huge shock to me. No one told me until you were already gone. Even now, I don’t understand why they did it. Okay, I do, but—”
“You do?” I asked, interrupting him.
He nodded. “Being a null means, other sirens can manipulate you. You wouldn’t be a good queen because others could control you.”
That did make sense, but it didn’t make it hurt any less.
“Part of me always believed you would be back. Or maybe hoped is the better word. So, I never found a mate.”
“Well, now you’re free to,” I told him with a warm smile.
He scowled.
“Brayden, get us something to eat,” Dad ordered him, interrupting Brayden before he could say anything in response.
Brayden left, and Dad faced me with an intense expression. “Who are your mates?”
“The Four Princes of Jinla. Rhys of the dragons, Foxfire of the elves, Nico of the mages, and Deryn of the wolves.”
“Four?” he asked. He looked at my chest in silence and it made me uncomfortable. “What are the other four bonds?”
How could he see them?
“I’m their queen,” I exp
lained.
His eyes widened. “Which came first?”
“What?”
“Which bond was formed first?”
“Well, technically I joined their warrior bond first since I’m hum…wait. I’m not human though. How come I joined their warrior’s bond?”
“You joined their warrior’s bond, then they made you their queen and then you mated?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Do you have issues with the four of them being alphas? With them fighting?”
“No. They’re all best friends.”
He scowled. “What about interactions with other alphas?”
“Huh?” What was he asking all these questions for?
“Have other alphas been affected by you?” he asked in a near shout.
“Well, the kings said I make them feel calm, peaceful. That I’m easy to be around,” I admitted, trying not to cringe back from his intense gaze.
I had a feeling I knew where this was going, and I did not like it. Not one bit.
Brayden came back with food and Dad said, “Get mad.”
Brayden’s brows furrowed, then his eyes blazed and his fists clenched. “Why?” he demanded angrily.
Dad turned to me. “Calm him down.”
“Dad, I’m a null. Even if I wasn’t, you’re too powerful for me to defeat.”
He just waited expectantly.
“I don’t even know what I am supposed to do,” I grumbled. Facing Brayden, I ordered, “Calm down.”
He scoffed and rolled his eyes at me.
Now, I was mad.
“Calm down!” I snapped.
Brayden’s fists opened, and he staggered a step back.
“Try to manipulate me,” Dad said.
No, this couldn’t be happening!
“This is probably from my elf mate. He can calm people down,” I explained.
“Don’t calm me then,” Dad said.
“King Dalton,” Brayden snapped.
“Oh, right. Sorry,” Dad said and snapped his fingers, releasing the anger I hadn’t been able to.
Brayden sat down and sighed. “That was interesting.”
“Get mad,” I ordered Dad. Immediately, I knew it wouldn’t work.
“You’re not really trying,” he growled. “Plus, emotions are easier to manipulate if you channel the emotion from yourself.”
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