“We gotta go,” Beth whispered, more urgently this time.
She grabbed my hand and tugged me all the way down the stairs, through the quiet downstairs, then up the long flight stairs that led back to the club. Lurch watched us in surprise as Beth dragged me toward the main door. I waved as I stumbled behind her, and he grinned.
When we were outside in the relatively cool night air, I yanked back on her arm. “Beth!” I yelled. “Stop.”
She listened, stopping right there. Between the parking lot lights and the moon overhead, I could make out something of her expression. And what I saw scared me.
“What is it?” Goosebumps blossomed on my skin.
“Listen, Emma, the thing is. If he pissed off the sirens, he’s not missing. He’s dead.”
16
Daniel
Emma and Beth came running through the parking lot like the hounds of hell were on their heels. “Whoa,” I yelled, throwing my arms wide as though I could catch them.
Beth managed to skid to a halt, but Emma landed right in my arms. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it. Even the bear within me seemed to stand at attention as I got lost in her earthy scent and the soft curves of her body for a moment too long before my gaze snapped down to her and reality came crashing back into me. Why in the world were they running? And why did Emma look so upset?
If those damn vampires gave her any problems, I didn’t care how much trouble I caused, I was going to go full bear on them. And even vampires were smart enough to be scared of a bear shifter. Hell, everyone was.
It took Emma a second to recognize me, but as soon as she did, her entire demeanor relaxed and she leaned into me. “My brother’s been taken by the sirens!”
I stiffened as my mind started working. “Sirens?” That could only mean one thing. “They’re going to use him in their Ancestral Waters ceremony.”
Her eyes went wide. “What does that mean?”
I hesitated, an image of her brother’s familiar face popping into my mind. “It means they’re going to sacrifice him for a ceremony. It’s something the sirens do.”
The horror in her expression made my heart ache. “We have to get to him. Now. This second.”
If only it was that easy, but the sirens were easily the most powerful group of supernaturals in Mystic Hollow. I’d do everything in my power to save Emma’s brother, but this wasn’t something we could just run out and do. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to take her with me when I faced them. I was willing to risk my life. That wasn’t something that came naturally to me, even after I retired, but I wouldn’t risk hers.
I shook my head. “No can do. I’m sorry.”
She thumped her hand against my chest, her brows drawing together. “What do you mean no can do? Like you’re just going to decide to leave my brother to die, and I’m just going to sit here and let it happen?”
“That’s not what I--”
She didn’t seem to hear me. “Maybe I’m not the same Emma Foxx from back in the day, but I’m not a pushover either. Rick might have thought…no, it doesn’t matter what my ex thought, because I’m not that woman. I will save my brother, even if you won’t help us.”
I felt so many confusing things in that moment. Rick? That was the name of the man she’d married. Apparently, a man who thought she was a pushover. Was he insane? This proud woman was strong and fearless, diving into shifter territory and vampire clubs. But the last thing I wanted was for her to think I was anything like her ex, or that I saw her as anything but the amazing woman that she was.
“I only meant that your brother will be taken care of until their Ancestral Waters ceremony and then killed. He’s safe until then. And the other good news is that they do that on the mainland. We might not be able to get him wherever they’re keeping him right now, but they’ll have to come to town to do their ceremony, which means I’ll have a chance to rescue him then. Hopefully.”
The hand that had thumped my chest seemed to relax. “Okay, as long as you know that sirens or boogie men, I’m getting my brother back.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I told her, this time unable to hide my smile.
She drew back from me a little, tucking her dark hair behind one ear in an endearing way. “Good. And also, don’t think I didn’t notice you mentioning you’d be saving him. I’ll be right there with you.”
I felt my smile widen. Man, it felt like I’d smiled more since Emma came back to town than I had in years. But then, she’d always had that effect on me, even when I was just watching her from afar. She had a way of making me enjoy life.
“What now?” Beth asked, and I felt my smile fade away.
Right. I was here for a reason. I couldn’t let myself be distracted by a pretty lady.
Pointing toward the door, I nodded. “I was just going in to ask where Henry was.”
“Don’t bother,” Emma said bitterly. “They were no help, other than telling me about the sirens.”
“That’s a pretty big help.” I scratched my jaw. “It’s too bad we don’t know an alchemist.”
Emma gave me a puzzled look, but Beth’s eyes lit up. “Oh, my gosh I totally forgot about that.”
“What?” Emma asked. “Forgot about what?”
“Alchemists provide the sirens with their offerings to their ancestors. Along with the traditional stuff like fish, shells, anything that honors the ocean and water, they also bring different soaps, purifiers, and other things that are spelled by an alchemist to try and get the waters to flow again.”
Emma nodded in understanding. “So, they could get us near the sirens?”
“It’s possible, but at the very
