The Siren

by Petra Landon

  Away from the resort, in the rainforest, an argument raged.

  “You lied to me. And, to top that, you set out to deliberately charm me to extract information” Nandini bit out, not bothering to hide her fury.

  She had tried everything: avoiding him, giving him the silent treatment, even making her displeasure clear to him. It was time to try the direct approach and drive it through his thick skull that she wanted nothing to do with him. There would be no collaboration between them, except that requested by the Alpha for the investigation.

  Roman could not deny that he had lied to her. But he took umbrage with the second accusation. “I never set out to extract information, Nandini. You make me sound like James Bond.”

  “Not Bond, but you flirt with every woman you meet” she retorted, letting it fly with him. “You certainly turned on the spigot for me.”

  Roman sighed silently, prompted of their time in Portland. The first lie had set him on the path. After that, it had been nigh impossible to come clean with her. No matter how much he wished otherwise.

  He tried to make light of her accusation. “What can I say? I’m charming.”

  Nandini grit her teeth. “It’s been missing in action since you joined this team.”

  Roman threw his hands up in exasperation. “Who would I charm — the Shifters or Sienna? Your sister has eyes for only one man.”

  Nandini’s fury pushed her to needle him. “What about Tasia? I notice that your charm is absent around her.”

  Roman shot her an incredulous look, to chuckle ruefully. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

  He rubbed his hand over his eyes. “Not that I blame you” he admitted. He had screwed up royally with her.

  Nandini’s anger abated a little at the admission, her curiosity taking over. “What do you mean?”

  His eyes tangled with her. “Merceau would rip my heart out if I gave her a second glance. I tend to like my heart right where it is, beating steadily.”

  Nandini stilled, taken aback by his astute observation. No one on the team had seemed to pick up on the subtle undercurrents between the Alpha and the Wizard in his Pack. Not even Sienna. Yet, the man she’d written off completely had read the situation correctly. It hinted at greater depths to him than she’d given him credit for.

  She chose her words with care. “Tasia might be Pack but I doubt the Shifters care who she fraternizes with” she remarked.

  “Their Alpha cares alright and he’s a blood-thirsty bastard under that controlled exterior” Roman said, with feeling. “The Wyrs are fiercely territorial, and I’m not about to put my hand in the beast’s jaw for Tasia. Merceau is welcome to her.”

  Nonplussed, Nandini stared at him speechlessly.

  His face lit up with a wry grin. “TorElnor did not pluck me off the street, Nandini. I see what’s under my nose.”

  She met his eyes and Roman read her correctly. “Jason is preoccupied with the GCW and Sienna” he attested. “And the Shifters have never been what I call emotionally equipped. They have many sterling qualities but matters of the heart are not their strong point. I’d bet Duncan realizes the lay of the land but that’s only because he makes everything about the Alpha his business. The others are oblivious.”

  Roman refrained from pointing out that he’d expected her to be equally clueless. He brooded that she had always surprised him, from the moment he’d sauntered into the alley to her aid. She confused him and that threw him off his game. As a consequence, he stumbled and bumbled around her, his usual suaveness and deft touch with women missing in her presence. Roman regretted lying to her, as he had countless times since the first meeting. But there was no way to change the past. He could only move forward, hoping she might change her mind about him.

  “There’s something about Tasia” Roman added, attempting to move on from the topic that put him on the defensive. “I can’t put my finger on it, but she’s more than what she seems. However, she’s not any of my business. Stopping Lady B is.”

  Nandini refrained from comment. She did not trust Roman Durovic as far as she could throw him.

  He shot her a glance, the blue eyes bright. “What I said about my hand in the beast’s jaw” he said softly. “I won’t do it for Tasia. But for you, I’d risk it, princess.”

  This time, Nandini roused herself. “Don’t flirt with me, Roman” she said witheringly. “It reminds me that you lie to get your way.”

  “If you have such a poor opinion of me, why risk your mother’s wrath in Oregon?” he asked, taking the fight to her. “Why didn’t you leave me at the mercy of her minions? They were doing a fine job of taking it out on my hide.”

  “You didn’t deserve that” she said brusquely.

  He tried to reason with her. “We’re on the same team now, Nandini. I made a mistake and I owned up to it. Can’t you let go of the past?”

  Nandini was unconvinced. “The investigation’s the only reason I’m willing to work with you. But that is it. Stay away from me.”

  Roman opened his mouth to state his case when she raised a hand to silently check him.

  He subsided immediately, to study her. Something in her expression gave him pause.

  “What?” he asked.

  She surprised him by going down on her knees. Placing her palms on the shrubby grass, she pressed down on the ground.

  Roman frowned down at her. But he did not interrupt her, aware of the mystic magic older sects like the Nagas were rumored to command.

  She glanced up at him, the argument forgotten. “Something’s coming.”

  His brows drew together “Something?” he repeated.

  “A whole host of something, Roman. I only sense when the earth moves unsubtly.”

  Her fingers spread out, to feel the subtle cues from the earth.

  “What is coming, Nandini?” Roman asked again, taking in her changing expressions as she read the vibrations.

  She bit her lip, puzzled by the anomalous reading. “Whatever it is, they don’t seem to be on foot. The ground vibrations are very different.”

  Roman straightened, as the answer hit him. “Blutsaugers! They’re flying.”

  Nandini stood up with alacrity, convinced by his declaration. “That makes sense. There’s a lot of them heading towards us.”

  Now that he knew what confronted them, Roman took charge, accustomed to leadership. “Get the cavalry, Nandini. I’ll hold them off.”

  Her eyes flashed to him, the rare moment of solidarity fading away quickly. “Who died and made you king?” she demanded, reining in her temper with an effort.

  He looked taken aback by her response. “No one.”

  “I’ll hold them off” she countered. “You go get the cavalry.”

  On his guard now, Roman took in her furious expression. He tried to reason with her. “You’re one of the sisters from The Prophecy, Nandini. It makes you vulnerable to the Clan.”

  “I can take care of myself” she charged. “Don’t do me any favors, Roman. We both know where that gets us.”

  As his own temper reared its head, Roman fought to tame it. In the darkness, they confronted each other, the threat of Blutsaugers, flying towards them, all but forgotten in their animosity. But where Roman was hot with anger, her fury was an ice cold emotion.

  “In the dungeon near Portland, working together meant that we both got out, princess” he said quietly.

  The timely reminder did the trick. Nandini hesitated. But before Roman could drive his point home, a soft rustle behind them had both turning. The expanse that separated them from the resort was not as dense as the forest curving away, but it was night and thus, only lit by moonlight. Something large rushed towards them on padded feet, moving tremendously fast, yet so nimbly that only the rustling of leaves and the whisper of disturbed bushes heralded it. Roman shoved Nandini behind him. For once, she did not protest. Instead, Nandini girded herself, her eyes peering into the darkness. Suddenly, something hulking leapt into the air. Their eyes shot upwards, drawn b
y the amorphous form. Etched by the pale light of the full moon, the massive silhouette changed shape; altering, tearing and transforming so rapidly that all the two spectators could do was watch in slack-jawed consternation. But as it hurtled down towards them, they took a step back in unison. Roman shot her a look as they readied to confront the threat, now perfectly in sync with each other. It landed a few feet away, a shadowy mass in the darkened forest. The air quivered gently and the grass around it swayed — the only hint of the new presence. With her sharper Wyr-like senses, it was Nandini who recognized him first. Quick as a flash, she grasped Roman’s arm, to check him from mounting an attack. The crouched silhouette on the grass uncurled, straightening to stand tall. Under the bright stars stood Raoul Merceau, bathed in silver light, naked as a jaybird with his signature composure intact.

  Nandini gawked at him, too stunned to say anything. Her companion was the first to speak.

  “Dude, did you just shift in midair?” he drawled incredulously. Roman knew the mechanics of how a Wyr shifted — it involved excruciating agony and a good few minutes.

  The Alpha shrugged. “Magic tends to intermingle in my blood with interesting results” he answered, shooting a glance at the forest beyond. “An army of leeches is headed towards us.”

  Reminded of the threat, Roman focused on the matter at hand. “Nandini sensed them coming.”

  The Alpha strode forward. “Get the others” he directed at Nandini.

  Without any argument, she made for the resort at a run.

  As a flabbergasted Roman stared after her, the Alpha called to her. “Nandini, make sure your sister stays in the lodge.”

  She waved her palm in the air to signal compliance, without breaking stride. Nandini knew that it had been an order couched as a request. Both Sienna and she were to stay clear of the Vampires.

  “Unfuckingbelievable” Roman swore under his breath, his eyes on the receding figure.

  Amusement flashed on the Alpha’s face. “You can’t tell her what to do, Durovic.”

  Roman turned to the Shifter, his brow creased. “And you can?”

  “You have history with her. I don’t” the Alpha countered. An unholy light leapt into the gold eyes, to leave them glinting in the moonlight. “Besides, she likes me” he taunted.

  There was an instant of silence before Roman let out a snort, but the crease over his brows eased. “Yeah, that’s you. Raoul Merceau — the Shifter everyone loves.”

  The Alpha shot him a grin, to take a stride forward, only for a grimace to cross his face. Roman’s eyes flashed to the Shifter’s bare feet.

  “Do you intend to tackle the Clan in your beast form?” he inquired mildly.

  The Alpha shook his head.

  “Then, might I suggest some shoes.”

  He paused dramatically. “And clothes. Much as the magnificent sight of you is guaranteed to stop the Clan in their tracks, your feet will take the brunt.” This time, it was Roman’s voice that was threaded with amusement.

  “They’re too close” Raoul said.

  “I’ll hold them off” the Ancient responded.

  As the Alpha hesitated, Roman chuckled. “I’m Setik, Wyr Lord. Despite that trick in midair, I have more magic in my little finger than your Shifter ass can dream of.”

  He was rewarded by a flash of white teeth in the darkness. “Hold the fort, Durovic.”

  The Alpha turned around to take a flying stride forward, leaping high into the air. When he landed cleanly across the clearing, Roman had a quick glimpse of a massive sleek beast before it sprinted out of sight.

  Roman turned to scan the forest, his mind teeming with strategies. He was confident that once the Blutsaugers sensed him, they’d aim straight for him. He could use that to his advantage. Close by, two tall trees arched towards each other, creating a natural gateway of branches high above the ground. It would work perfectly for what he had in mind.

  He set to work on deploying his arsenal. Creaks and groans shook the clearing, echoing in the forest beyond as branches snapped onto the ground, called forth by his magic. When he was done, Roman positioned himself before the natural arch between the two trees.

  Minutes later, the first Undead came flying out of the darkness, headed straight for Roman. This is what the Ancient had been counting on. The Vampire hit the mesh of branches that stretched across the archway between the trees like a finely woven web. Roman held the barrier with the force of his magic and the Vampire bounced off it with force. As the Blutsauger went down, one of the lower branches from the crude mesh broke off, to unerringly land the Vampire a hefty blow on his head. The Undead went out like a light, slumping onto the ground. More of his brethren came flying out of the forest, and Roman took the time to adjust his mesh before the others could strike it. Two more impetuous Vampires flew into it, to tumble onto the ground where they were similarly struck into temporary oblivion. A third one, witness to the fall, swerved smartly to avoid the mesh, circling the tree to target the Ancient. But Roman was ready for him. Stones pelted at the Vampire from the ground with deadly accuracy, and a particularly hard hit on the temple had him crashing down, stunned. Roman made sure he was unconscious as a second group of Vampires streamed in.

  A rush of footsteps behind him heralded the Alpha. Momentarily distracted, Roman found himself under assault as a Blutsauger crashed into him, the wickedly sharp claws clicking ominously. Before he could dodge it, something whizzed out of the darkness to forcefully propel the Vampire off Roman. The Blutsauger flew back, to slam into a tree which shook with the force of the collision. The Ancient, who recognized the magic deployed in his aid, had little time to react as more Blutsaugers converged on him. His magic, powerful as it was, was better utilized from a distance. This close, he was at a disadvantage against the Clan. But there was a Shifter in the clearing, an Alpha who reveled in close combat. A blur came shooting out of the darkness to jump into the fray, flinging the Undead off Roman to free him. Raoul put out his hand, to help the First One to his feet.

  “Dude” Roman muttered, impressed despite himself. “Was that a Wizard blast?”

  Raoul’s teeth gleamed in the darkness. “Care to repeat the statement about your pinky having more magic than me” he threw at his companion, plunging into the incoming leeches with gusto.

  Like an unending swarm of locusts, the Undead continued to pour in. The Alpha made short shrift of the Blutsaugers that sneaked through Roman’s magic defenses, the fists and feet moving in tandem, his movements a blur. He fought in deathly silence, but the clearing echoed with the screeches and grunts from the Vampires, the sound of crushing bones and the thud of falling bodies and decapitated limbs. It was brutal and bloody, yet Roman could not but admire the Wyr’s handiwork in the moonlight. Clad in jeans and shoes, the Shifter took on the horde alone, plucking Vampires from the air to bring them crashing down. He moved so fast that sometimes the puffs of earth spearing into the air hid him from Roman’s gaze. The Wyr tore through the Clan with abandon, to leave a heap of torn limbs and bloody body parts in his wake.

  His warning to Nandini, about putting his hand in the beast’s jaw, came back to Roman, a silent spectator to the carnage one Shifter inflicted against the small army. Despite the restrained mien and self-control, Raoul Merceau was a Wyr at heart. When unleashed, the same primeval lust for blood, domination, territory and Pack sang in the Alpha’s veins, as it did the other Shifters’. Of the four factions, it was the Wyrs that were the most in sync when it came to stopping Lady B. That was because Merceau led the charge against her, at Faoladh’s orders. Roman hoped fervently that this did not change down the line. They might not have old magic at their fingertips, but in a savage, take no prisoners, down and dirty conflict that pitted Magicks against each other, the Wyrs would decide the outcome. The way things were panning out, Roman worried that the First Ones might be too late to wake up and smell the coffee. If the Ancients did not exert their considerable influence to rein in the monsters soon, a civil war that drew all factio
ns in would become unavoidable.

  A majestic predator, with sharp talons, swooped down abruptly from the sky, to carry off a squealing Blutsauger. The Vampire’s companions scattered in haste, to take cover from the bird. A fast-moving black shadow shot past Roman into the trees beyond, leaping for the throat of the leader in the incoming horde. He thought he caught a gleam of green eyes in the darkness. Recognizing that his part in holding off the Clan was over, Roman relaxed, to observe the mayhem. He decided to give the Shifters a few minutes, before reminding them of where their duty lay. They deserved to have some fun.

  The Alpha shook off the remaining Vampires, to make his way to the First One. He was bloody all over, covered in gore, his jeans ripped where the Vampires’ sharp talons had cut through.

  He swiped at his face with a bloody hand, to arch an eyebrow at Roman who was staring at him. “Squeamish?”

  Roman shook his head. “Au contraire, I was reflecting that we are lucky to have the Wyrs on our side.”

  Raoul heard the underlying disquiet in the remark. Durovic, too, was starting to believe that Faoladh might eventually protect the wrong Guardian in the coming conflict to decide the Chosen’s future.

  His eyes went to the crudely designed defense against the marauding army — an intricate web of sturdy branches, intended to herd the leeches where Roman wanted them to attack. Under it, bodies lay scattered on the ground. Raoul was impressed. The Setik’s telekinesis powers were formidable, for he’d held the mesh in place while simultaneously using stones and branches to fell any leeches that broke through his barrier.

  “Impressive, Durovic” he remarked.

  Roman shot him a quick grin. “We all have our parts to play” he quipped.

  A large wolf came pelting in to join the fray and the Blutsaugers screeched in response. Within minutes, the dark forest came alive with fierce brawling all around them. Growls and snarls echoed in the darkness, punctuated by the high-pitched shrieks from their prey. The cavalry had arrived, Roman mused. He let go of the mesh and it collapsed, the dispersing branches catching a few of the Vampires on their way down. A thin layer of sediment and leaves rose up from the ground, to fly in an arc before the dust cleared.