Sorrow's Song by Keri Arthur

Author:Keri Arthur [Arthur, Keri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KA Publishing PTY LTD

Chapter Nine

Aiden’s clothes were shredded, and there was a deep and bloody scratch running down his cheek. His father was covered in mud and his clothes were torn, but I couldn’t immediately see any wounds. It suggested Aiden had been making a concerted effort to restrain rather than fight back.

They glanced around as I appeared out of the trees, their eyes twin spotlights of vivid blue.

“The siren?” Aiden’s voice was soft, and rough with exhaustion and emotion. Restraining his father had taken it out of him in more ways than one.

“She’d woven a protective barrier around her body. By the time I figured out how to dismantle it, she’d fled.”

“At least you stopped her song.” He pushed to his feet. His jeans were torn and bloody, and he wasn’t putting much weight on his left leg. He must have fought his father in human form even though his dad had been in wolf. I wondered why but didn’t ask. I didn’t have the right, especially now. “We’ll get you back to the Suzi, then I’ll help Dad get home.”

“That’s not necessary, son,” Joseph said. “I’ll be—”

“Don’t say fine,” I said, “because you won’t be. Not if the siren starts her song again.”

Aiden glanced at me, his expression troubled. “How likely do you think that is?”

“Dawn isn’t that far away, and while she’s restricted her calls to night, we just don’t know enough about her to be certain she can’t do so during the day.” I hesitated and glanced at Joseph. “It is, however, very possible she’ll target you again tomorrow night.”

He scraped a hand across his bristly jaw, his expression a mix of angst, regret, and anger. I suspected the latter wasn’t aimed at either me or Aiden but rather himself. For answering the call few could have resisted, and for fighting his son. “How she managed to target me tonight is the question that desperately needs answering. I was wearing the earplugs, as suggested. The next thing I know, I’m out here chewing the hell out of my own son.”

Aiden gripped his dad’s shoulder. “It’s fine—”

“No, it’s not.” It was flatly said but his gaze, when it came to mine, was determined. “Is there a spell you can use to stop me answering the call if she does sing again tomorrow night? The earplugs obviously didn’t do a great deal.”

“There is.” But knowing what I now knew about Karleen, how likely was it that she’d ever allow me to spell her husband? “The real worry is, if I cage you in magic, will she force self-harm once she realizes you physically can’t answer her song?”

Aiden frowned. “I thought you said sirens died when no one answered their call?”

“That’s what most of the legends say, but it wouldn’t apply here because he would answer the call if he wasn’t being prevented.”

“Then we try a two-prong approach—cage and drugging me senseless.” Joseph shrugged. “It’s the safest way.”

It might be the safest, but I was still betting Karleen would have a whole lot to say about the idea—and me.

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