by Petra Landon
“I can’t forget that, when it mattered the most, the lure of being the one in charge was too hard for him to resist.”
The Alpha’s way of dealing with it had been to obsessively control his environment and make himself invulnerable to everyone. She had read it wrong. The boy from the barn had lost a part of himself, to leave it behind in the wilderness. And despite what the Alpha claimed, it was not his heart. Perhaps, the boy had recognized early on that it was the only way to survive what had been done to him. But a man running from himself could never succeed in his quest. Having lived in a Shifter’s skin in a way only a Wyr could, Tasia had an innate understanding of the inseparable, intertwined and complicated relationship between a Shifter and his beast. They were two sides of the same coin. A beast was but an extension of a Shifter. How could she hope for a fair hearing from him, if the Alpha could not forgive his beotan? And how could he offer his heart to someone, if he dare not trust it himself? This was why she had given up without a fight.
Given her knowledge of the horrific events in the barn, Tasia did not blame him for his inability to let go of the past. But she also knew that his pursuit of her was what made this perceived betrayal cut so deep for the Alpha. However, the ayo srayta was merely a symptom of what he could not face, not the cause of it. If not the bond, something else would have eventually triggered his rejection of her. It was time to face the unpalatable truth. The insane attraction between them was precisely what had led to this disaster. The moment he’d made the decision to act on it, instead of ignoring it like her, this had been inevitable. When the heart was in play, a creature must shed his armor and become vulnerable. The Alpha could never open that can of worms, not without reconciling with his beotan. In essence, he would never outrun his past until he could trust the part of a Wyr he’d buried within, walling it up to guard what had emerged from the ashes of his bloody baptism into adulthood.
She could never forget the unimaginable agonies suffered in his skin during his incarceration and torment at the hands of the witch. And he … he carried those memories around with him, like an ever-present bleeding sore. The witch’s actions had doomed Tasia’s prospects long before she’d ever crossed paths with Raoul Merceau. In a strange way, that gave Tasia a little measure of peace. As well as a semblance of closure. Whatever had blossomed between them was at an end. He would not forgive her double-dealing. With his usual ruthlessness and purpose, he would cauterize any remnants of emotion and retreat back to the detached, ferocious and impervious Wyr she’d encountered in his Lair her first time. She had lost him. And she must make her peace with it.
Tasia rubbed her eyes wearily. The ayo srayta was a mystery, one she might never unravel. But one thing was clear. Against all the odds, not only had she established a bond with a Wyr, but the connection between them was much stronger that the srayta of legend Tasia had been warned about. The exquisite irony of the situation struck her grimly. She’d kept him at a distance for fear of forging the srayta, unsure how to handle the potentially devastating consequences of the bond. In the end, it had been to no avail for somehow, one had been established between them anyway. But when the bond was finally out in the open, with no longer anything to keep her from him, he wanted nothing to do with her.
Tasia had begun to believe that it was destiny that had drawn her to Hawk that fateful day in Oakland, because it had changed her fortunes and led to the tantalizing promise of something wondrous. But now, she must accept that this too was another foreshadowing to move on. She had some decisions to make. In ten days, the three month bargain offered by the Alpha would come to an end. Tasia had marked the end of the trial period on her calendar, never expecting her stint to come to such an ignominious and heartbreaking end. Though it felt like a lifetime ago, it had only been a few months. In over a week’s time, they’d both be free of their obligations to each other. This time, she would not ignore the heavy hints from fate. Sliding off the bed, Tasia made for the window to close the windows.
For a minute, she rested her forehead against the shutters, her heart heavy. Then, Tasia glanced around the room she’d come to love. The room was a metaphor for the life she’d built in San Francisco. And there was a debt to be paid for it. Everything about her life in San Francisco she owed to the Alpha. She must gear up to leave it all behind — her friends, the room at the Lair, the mantle of Pack status and her role in the investigation. Without the Alpha, there was no association with his Pack. It was he who’d commanded, demanded, dictated and commandeered his recalcitrant Shifters into grudgingly accepting her. The time was upon her to disappear into the shadows again. To retreat into a solitary and anonymous existence. There had been a brief quest to touch the stars — the breathless wait for the culmination of a magical dance in the moonlight and the promise of freedom from the shackles that made her captive to the capriciousness of history. But even that tiny flicker had now been extinguished. She’d survived as an ordinary Chosen before, with no one to catch her when she stumbled. She could do it again. It didn’t faze her.
But Tasia felt heartsick at walking away from the Alpha like this. Yet, she did not blame him for it. He had not made her any false promises. In the end, he was but a man who could not shake off his demons. The leap of faith he’d been attempting with her had proved just a little too far for him. She wished she could convince him of her innocence. But there was nothing to be done. How could she debunk his suspicions when she had so many questions herself?
“This is not my first rodeo. I’ve experienced her ilk before, and survived to tell the tale. She won’t win.”
More than ever, she understood what drove the Alpha to oppose Lady Bethesda. He would not allow another blue-eyed witch to rise or her dark ambitions to take center stage. He’d survived his aunt, but not without paying an enormous price for it. Lady Bethesda would never succeed; not while Raoul Merceau guarded the gates.
The belief that Faoladh’s destiny had already been written in the stars and was merely being recorded by his friend, an eminent Seer famed among the Chosen, had been starting to take hold in her. It had worried Tasia that the Alpha’s Wyr loyalties and Faoladh’s diverging fortunes might force them on opposite sides of the coming conflict. The thought of facing him across an ideological battlefield, where he was a captive of his Wyr beliefs and she a prisoner of her heritage and Ancient dogma had been too much to bear. At least, she consoled herself, that was no longer an eventuality to dread. A war was inevitable before Chosen fortunes could be righted, but she was no longer free to play any role in it. She would be on a different mission — to hide from the Chosen arrayed on both sides of the conflict. It was a solace to Tasia that the Alpha would not pay the price for the ayo srayta. Apart from his own abilities, power and influence, his Pack, Faoladh and the Wyrs would back him up. Neither the First Ones nor the Blutsaugers would be able to lay hands on him. She, on the other hand, was exposed. The srayta had sealed her fate.
With her father’s warning ringing in her ears, she had always been adamantly against the ayo srayta. Not just because of what the bond had cost her ancestors throughout history, but also because gifting another Chosen such power over her had been anathema to Tasia. Had she not been hiding from ambitious Chosen her whole life? Why hand over the reins of her destiny to someone else, when it was something she had never even held in her own hands? Now that the deed was done though, Tasia discovered that the Alpha’s power over her future did not seem to disquiet her at all. He would not exploit any magic or other advantages granted to him through the srayta. If he did come after her, he had other means of exacting vengeance. Throughout their association, there had been some spectacular showdowns between them. But never before had she come away with him threatening retaliation against her. Much like he was a superlative champion to have on her side, he’d also make a formidable, tenacious and unforgiving enemy. Tasia wondered if he would ruthlessly cut her out of his life or extract his pound of flesh. If he wished to punish her, he’d have to hurry.
The citadel that guarded her secrets was no longer impregnable. The ramparts, assembled painstakingly by her father, had been breached. And there would be a heavy price to pay for it. Pandora’s Box had been wedged open, despite her best efforts to keep it sealed. Only the Forebearers knew what would come spewing out from its dark recesses. Secrets, ancient, lethal and long-forgotten, would start to tumble out. She could not outrun history. Sooner or later, it would catch up to her.
The ayo srayta was a curse, a legendary but dangerous bit of magic. One between Chosen who could not accept it, or each other, would be challenging and nearly impossible to salvage. She wished she could warn the Alpha about it, since it affected him as much as her. But any effort would be futile. The formidable defenses that guarded his heart were up again, his armor and the mask he wore for the world firmly back in place. She was the enemy now and would be denied a hearing.
What had been set in motion could not be stopped anymore. Coaxed open, Pandora’s Box could not be closed anew. The future had changed but there was no way to predict how it might affect the Chosen. What Tasia was sure of was that a tempest gathered over the horizon to bide its time. When the gale winds gained strength, it would rampage ferociously through her world and damage the invisible threads that bound the Chosen together. When the typhoon came, every unscrupulous and ambitious Magick would jump into the fray, to try and wrest the narrative for personal glory. That would be akin to all the Lady Bethesdas of the world duking it out over the spoils. It would challenge the unassailable position held by the First Ones — the true descendants of the Forebearers and the gatekeepers of old magic. The resulting chaos and strife would force her out of the shadows, into the crosshairs of the very Magicks she’d been hiding from all her life. Under a sustained assault from all corners, she would not make it.
If only she had never set out to a Mfector gig in Oakland, one dark night. The inevitable might have been avoided if she’d steered clear of Hawk. But a moment’s reflection had Tasia disavowing such thoughts. Fate was not to be blamed for where she found herself. She’d hankered for a chance to leave the shadows, ignoring every cue to shun the light. But most of all, she’d been tempted by a Wyr, despite every warning ringing in her ears. A man full of contradictions, one that every instinct screamed was wrong for her, had captivated and enticed her until she’d been ready to break all the rules. Now, she must prepare to pay the price for it. Tasia had a sinking feeling that her brethren would collectively suffer the consequences. If her actions had doomed the Sirens, she might well be the last of her kind.
SAMAPT
THE END
Thank you for reading The Siren. I hope you enjoyed it and will write a review on Amazon. Even a few lines about the book would be greatly appreciated. Reviews are the lifeblood of indie authors and are invaluable to us. Your candid reviews help spread the word about our stories, as well as help us decide which tales to focus on.
Saga of the Chosen continues with The Paladin. If you’d like to be notified when it releases, please follow me on Amazon or subscribe to my Mailing List. I do not spam and only send a handful of emails a year.
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If you enjoy SAGA OF THE CHOSEN, please check out THE ZENKOTI FABLES – a swashbuckling space western, penned as a series of episodes. The first episode of this fantasy adventure may be previewed here.
THE ZENKOTI FABLES
When a young woman with secrets falls in with a band of adventurers seeking to avenge an injustice, her quest for answers will shake up the old order and uncover the origins of her people.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’d like to acknowledge all the readers who have waited nearly two years for The Siren. My immense gratitude to everyone for their patience. Many of you have written to me asking about this book. After the prodigious effort required for The Rainmaker, I found myself a little fatigued with the Chosen universe. So, I took what I thought would be a short hiatus from this series, mostly to make sure that I did justice to the complicated world and the huge ensemble cast of the Chosen. Also, to ensure that the many threads of the story were taken to their rightful conclusion, I decided to split what was meant to be the third installment of the story into two books. The Siren is the first half of it, while The Paladin will conclude what was originally to be the third book. There will be at least one more book, and possibly two, to wrap up this saga of the Chosen. Taking a break from the universe has helped and I’m happy to note that Tasia, Raoul, Duncan and the others are back and living it up in my imagination. A huge thank you again for your patience and I hope you continue to enjoy the saga. It will not be a long wait for the next installment of Saga of the Chosen.
To my husband, thank you for everything, especially the wonderful advice you give me when I find myself vacillating at the forks in the road. I would be lost without you.
To my parents, sister-of-the-heart and extended family, thank you for your support. I’m overwhelmed by your encouragement and pride in what I churn out.
To Biserka, thank you for the multiple iterations and your unfailing patience to get the cover and every detail just right. You always come through and I’m very grateful to have you in my corner.
To Sheena Taylor, thank you for your suggestions and comments on the various drafts of the story. Your keen eyes and attention to detail are invaluable to me. Most of all, thank you for being so generous with your time.
Also by Petra Landon
THE ZENKOTI FABLES
Adventure, intrigue, action & romance abound in this tale of a feisty young heroine embarking on the quest of a lifetime.
BOOK 1 – STAR CHILD
Excerpt
THE ARALOKA CHRONICLES
A SciFi Romance & Space Opera collection with passionate love stories & swashbuckling adventure
THE MERCENARY
THE STARFARER
Excerpt from THE MERCENARY
www.petralandon.com
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AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB
On a mining outpost in the Inner Worlds, a young woman dreams of the stars. When she falls in with a motley crew of bounty hunters seeking to avenge an injustice, Novi believes her dreams have come true. But her journey has just begun.
Led by the only man to bring the mightiest army in the sector to its knees, the crew is engaged in a wily cat and mouse game with the powerful Guild Coalition. With her new shipmates, Novi dodges space outlaws and greedy corporations, mingles with Synths and settlers, jumps the Star Portal Labyrinth and discovers a mysterious legacy bequeathed by the Gods. But each exhilarating adventure raises terrifying questions about her. Can Novi find the answers she seeks before time runs out for her?
Episode 1 : Call of the Stars
Down the rabbit hole
When Novi follows a stranger aboard a mysterious starship, she's swept up into the adventure of a lifetime …
A stranger on Idriko
Novi stood transfixed before the oversized display screen. A stray observer might conclude that the eye-catching clips of travel destinations held her attention. The reel played in a never-ending loop to entice the well-heeled tourist looking for his next vacation. But Novi was neither well-heeled nor a tourist. Rather, her raptness was a smokescreen — the deserted Vestibule left her limited options for subterfuge. Having followed her quarry to the Shuttle Vestibule, she waited for him to make the next move. So far, the man seemed content to pass the time with the Guild Corps. The guards, attired in the Corps colors of red and yellow, were happy to answer the stranger’s questions.
The sleek masks on the guards’ faces distorted their voices but Novi didn’t fault them for being careful. Though spacious and well-kept, the Shuttle Vestibule smelled of the mine. On Idriko, it was hard to escape this. The air in the Vestibule irritated her eyes and deposited a fine layer of black dust on everything, including the sealed display screen. The suspended pollutan
ts in Idriko’s air were known to play havoc with tech. While a masked cleaner diligently made the rounds of the Vestibule to wipe away the blackish smudges, he could not keep up with the grimy deposits.
Even Novi, Idriko bred, had trouble breathing the unfiltered air. The Shuttle Vestibule was located outside the Dome that protected the settlement on the planet. The enormous opaque Dome purified the air for its denizens. And had done so since the mine began operations almost a century before. A decade ago, as the skies over Idriko turned brackish with pollution from the mine, the Dome had commenced projecting artificially clear skies to lull its denizens into a sense of normalcy.
