13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

A natolius had left Maura resting comfortably in her bed. He needed to think, and he always did so best in the peace of the garden. Gods, she was a revelation. He wanted to be hers for all of his days—but she wanted to go home, and he could never trap her here.

He was lost in his thoughts when Galana approached.

"My prince, you're…needed in the throne room." Galana's tone held a note of worry. Ana didn't blame her—he had never been summoned to the throne room in the middle of the night.

A sense of dread took hold in his chest, and Ana nodded, gesturing for Galana to lead the way. They made their way to the nearest entrance, and in a matter of moments, they were striding into the throne room. What Anatolius saw made his blood run cold.

His fathers sat on their thrones, expressions of disappointment and anger on their faces. Yiorgos, one of the siren guards who had found Ana with Maura that fateful day, stood before them, holding Maura by the scruff of her neck in her otter form.

The rage Ana felt as he beheld this siren handling his Chosen was overwhelming. "Get your hands off her!" he yelled, storming toward the other siren.

Yiorgos sneered and dropped Maura to the ground. She yelped, then turned to hiss and rushed at him, biting his ankle. Anatolius reached them and scooped Maura up in his arms. Ana registered the tingle of Maura’s magic, and then she was stepping away from him, a look of hurt and anger on her perfect face. He didn't understand.

"Enough!" Demitrios said sternly. "What is the meaning of all this, Anatolius? Yiorgos tells us your Chosen was trying to leave the city?"

Anatolius glanced over at Maura and, despite her angry expression, tears filled her eyes.

Before he could speak, Maura's voice rang out across the throne room. "Yes, your highness, I was trying to escape. Your son is very noble, and I beg you not to blame him for this deception. The day we met, I fell into your waters; Anatolius knew I had no ill intent, and so did what he could to save my life. I was always meant to leave when the time was right, but tonight I took my escape into my own hands, rather foolishly. I put myself at your mercy, but truly, my trespass was an accident."

Everyone stared at her in silence before Yiorgos scoffed and started to speak.

"Silence!" king Demitrios said, cutting Yiorgos off with an air of authority Maura had not yet heard from him.

King Xander spoke more softly, addressing Anatolius. "My son, why have you lied to us so? For the sake of a human you did not know?" Pain was written on his face, and Ana felt it like a punch to the gut.

He glanced over at Maura, who now had tears running down her beautiful face. Her eyes, too, told of her pain, and he understood. He had not meant to hurt her or make her think he had abandoned her after what they'd shared. The truth, he realized, was the only possible remedy to this situation.

"Father, I did not lie to you." The kings exchanged a confused look, but Anatolius pressed on before anyone had a moment to ask any questions. "Maura is my Chosen; only, I did not know that when our ruse began. Even she did not know. Because we are different species, she must not have felt our bond the way I have. Once I realized, I…I could not trap her here when I knew her wish was to return home."

King Xander' eyes were wide with surprise, but it was Yiorgos who broke the silence.

"She must be executed, your highnesses, according to siren law. None of this matters. If she does not accept Anatolius as her Chosen in return, it makes her no more than an outsider."

Demitrios sighed at Yiorgos. "Oh Yiorgos, be silent and get out. Your theatrics are not needed here. Our law is in place to protect our people, but Maura has lived peacefully among us for weeks. Our son would not have shown mercy to someone who meant our people harm. If she is his Chosen, whether she accepts her place here or not, she is one of our own."

The other siren hesitated, his mouth hanging open in shock.

"Out, Yiorgos! Now!"

Anatolius took the opportunity to step closer to Maura, who now watched the scene unfold with less anger marring her features, but no fewer tears.

"Maura, would you still like to return home? It can be arranged the moment you are ready. We are sorry our harsh customs have made a prisoner of you here," King Xander said calmly.

Maura looked from the king to Anatolius, her lips parted slightly as if she couldn't decide what to say. Anatolius gave her a gentle nod, and she took a deep breath before she spoke.

"I'd like a word with prince Anatolius alone, if you please." A dangerous flicker of hope took root in Anatolius' soul. Was it possible she might want to stay, even after he kept the truth from her? All he had done was to keep her safe and give her her freedom, but it had still been deceitful.

His fathers nodded, and Anatolius offered Maura his arm. She took it, swiping her tears away with her free hand. Anatolius led her out of the throne room and into one of the small sitting rooms nearby that allowed the kings a private respite during official functions.

They barely made it in the door before Maura spoke. "Ana, you're my Còmhanam. It's what the Tuanadair call their mates, and we learned about them in school, but they were so rare. All the signs are there, but it didn't occur to me what was happening with everything else that has happened. The fact that you can hear me when I'm shifted, the feeling of safety and familiarity I have when I'm with you, the uh…anatomical effects we encountered last night…you're my mate." Maura looked at him with awe and hope and Anatolius felt like he might simply drown in his feelings for her.

"Say something," she said softly, her brows tipping up with worry.

"Maura, my brave, bold, perfect Chosen. I…cannot tell you the relief I feel knowing that you can sense what we share. I feel it too, and I never want to be parted from you. My friend, my love, my mate," he finished softly, pulling her into his arms. She returned his embrace, and the feeling of her body cradled in his arms was transcendent.

"Where will we live?" she asked.

"Wherever you want to go, I will follow. We can always come back to Vathós to visit."

"I love you," she whispered into his neck.

"My love for you, Maura, is as vast and enduring as the sea itself. My soul is yours until the very oceans run dry."