22. Marius

Chapter 22

Marius

T he moment the ocean water hit Marius's face, his mind cleared. He swore viciously inside his head.

He'd been fooled by a siren.

They swam onward through a deep valley under the sea. He didn't dare alert the siren that he was aware of himself. How was he breathing down here? He had no recollection of leaving the labyrinth or arriving at the seaside.

The siren wasn't singing now. If she started up again, would he lose his senses? Maybe if he recreated his state of mind when his head cleared, he'd be able to do it again should the need arise. He recalled the chilly water and a bolt of protective desire for Tahlia. Their mating bond was powerful and the thought of her had forced the siren's magic from him. Were sirens aware of that? Considering he hadn't even realized sirens existed in today's world, he certainly didn't have a broad knowledge of their behavior, strengths, or weaknesses. This creature swimming beside him was an unknowable enemy. The worst type of opponent.

He longed to look around and make certain he knew the way back to shore. Not that he had a single idea on how to breathe under water long enough once he fought the siren and broke whatever magic she was wielding to keep him from drowning.

"Welcome to my home, Fae."

Her chiming voice threatened to pull his mind under again. He imagined the feel of Tahlia's cheek on his palm and the heat of her kiss. The siren's influence faded.

The inconsistent light of the storm above sent flashes of illumination through the water. They swam through a curtain of dark red kelp and into a cave with a wide opening on the far side. Sea creatures like snails gathered in clusters on the cave walls, their shells glowing as gold as the coins that made up the siren's heart. Something pale on the ground caught Marius's eye and he looked down to see a path of bones.

It was only his training that kept him from reacting and giving himself away. Some were the tiny bones of fish, their spines still intact. But others…

Human skulls, long femurs, and the unmistakable cages of ribs littered the lair.

Fear sliced across his thoughts, but he found the calm within him as he always did in terrible scenarios, and he schooled his features before she looked at him again. He had to get out of here. Now. Durniad would be coming for the crown soon. Tahlia had to escape the fortress before she was caught. He knew her enough to be certain she'd be searching for him if she managed to free herself with his rope. His fingers began to curl into fists, but he relaxed them and kept his gaze on the siren.

She eased him toward one of the cave's walls, singing as her palms pressed into his chest. Memories of his family flooded his mind; then there were memories that weren't real. He had no brother. Who was that? He visualized Tahlia laughing and the soft touch of her hand in his. The siren's manufactured memories faded from his mind's eye.

The siren plucked a pale orange berry from a plant growing along the cave's roof. She placed it between his lips.

"Eat this, Fae male. You will feel very good indeed if you do."

Her words, not sung exactly but lilting and song-like, warmed his ears and he relaxed more than he needed to.

Tahlia. Tahlia, my mate, he repeated silently to himself.

What would this berry do to him? Kill him? Put him to sleep so she could dine on his innards without a fuss? Gods, this was horrendous.

But what choice did he have? If he fought her, she might be stronger than him. Or she might negate whatever magic had him breathing here.

The siren parted his lips. "Open up, Fae."

Heart racing, Marius rammed his forehead into her nose. Blood bloomed around them, and he shot toward the lair's entrance as the siren shrieked. Her noise made his ears ring painfully. Swimming as quickly as he could, he breathed like some sort of magical fish, using his mouth, nose, and lungs still. Her magic hadn't broken with his strike.

But he knew without looking that the siren would be on him in moments despite her injury. He hurried, swimming as quickly as his limbs allowed.

He swam right into another person. Grunting, his eyes focused and…

It was Tahlia. No, she couldn't be here. He gripped her arm and started swimming again as the siren's screams came closer. If she began singing, they were through.

Tahlia jerked away from Marius. What was she doing?

Trust me, she mouthed, holding a finger to her head.

What did that mean?