An Immortal's Song (Dante's Circle #6)(20)

They would also have to travel soon. While he had wanted to show Amara his realm and take his time, it seemed they, like the other lightning-struck before her, would have to be on the run.

When he woke up, the others were still sleeping and he quietly slipped out of bed. While he’d have liked to wake them up in his own special way, as well as share a shower with them, he knew he didn’t have that kind of time. Instead, he padded toward the bathroom and took a quick shower on his own. As soon as he got out, his phone started to buzz and he cursed.

He answered quickly and whispered on his way out of the bedroom, thankful the others were still sleeping soundly. “Malik?”

“Hey,” the other man said, his voice oddly deep. Tristan would have asked the lion shifter what was wrong, but Malik was notoriously private. “Why are you whispering?”

“I had to walk by a sleeping Seth and Amara. Why are you calling so early?”

The other man let out a long sigh. “It’s good that you’re with them. I’m happy for you.”

For some reason, Tristan knew there was more to those words, but he let it go for now.

“Anyway, the reason I’m calling is that I’ve heard rumblings about your siren.”

Tristan froze. He’d called Malik the day before as soon as he’d seen Amara’s ink because Malik had a decent knowledge base about lineages in realms. The lion hadn’t recognized it then, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t heard something. Tristan had also gone to the Court to discreetly ask around about the same thing, and yet there were already rumblings.

This couldn’t be good.

“What have you heard?”

“It’s not much, but there’s a split in the siren realm right now. The current royal line isn’t in favor and hasn’t been for a long time. Apparently, they also felt the presence of a new siren in their midst.”

“Fuck.”

“Pretty much. Just be careful. I’ll find out what I can about her lineage, but you know who you need to talk to.”

Tristan sighed. “I know, and we’ll be seeing her today.”

“Good. And stay safe, Tristan.”

“Thank you, Malik.” He ended the call and let out a curse. Of course, when he found his mate things would go to shit. He just figured they’d have a little longer to deal with it. Apparently not.

“Tristan?”

He turned at the sound of Amara coming toward him, her body covered in Seth’s shirt from the previous day. While he wanted to see her in his shirt one day, the sight of her in Seth’s just made him rock-hard.

“Did I wake you?” he asked, even as he opened his arms. She came to him quickly, wrapping her arms around his waist. It surprised him how quickly this had become normal, the feel of her in his arms and by his side. He’d do anything to keep it that way.

“No, it was time for me to wake up anyway. Seth is up, too.” She stood on her tiptoes and traced her fingers along his jaw. “What’s worrying you?”

He lowered his head and kissed her softly, the minty taste of toothpaste telling him she’d borrowed one of the spare toothbrushes he’d left on the sink. He hadn’t given her any time to pack before bringing her to his realm, and now, he’d be bringing her to another realm without her things.

“Once Seth gets out here, we can talk.”

“I’m here,” Seth said as he made his way toward them, dressed only in the jeans he’d had on the day before. “What’s going on?”

Tristan sighed and took both of their hands. They stood in the hallway of his home, and yet he didn’t want to move them to a more comfortable space as he needed to get through things quickly so they could leave at once.

“I went to the fae Court to ask a few people some questions. The ink on your skin was nagging me.” Amara’s eyes narrowed and he quickly shook his head. “Not because it’s not beautiful. I meant because I felt like I’d seen it before. And I might have, but it was so long ago, I can’t remember correctly. So I went to those in the Court who study such things, and while I was being vague, was told I needed to talk to someone who studies lineage.”

Seth’s eyes filled with understanding. “You mean Calypso?”

“Seth’s sister?” Amara asked.

“Seth’s sister,” Tristan answered with a nod. “She studies lineage in depth, right?”

Seth nodded quickly. “Yeah, it’s her role as a Conclave member, and now it’s sort of an obsession. You’re saying she’ll be able to tell us what line Amara is from? Why is that important?”

“I don’t know,” Tristan said. “I don’t know why it’s important. Yet. I just know it is. And it’s bugging me that I can’t remember. And while we’re discussing you, Amara, there’s something else.”

“What is it?” she asked as Seth tucked her to his side.

He told them about what Malik had said about the siren royal line and what problems may come of that, and Amara visibly sagged.

“Nothing is ever easy, is it?” she asked then shook her head. “Between what I’ve turned into and what it might mean and the fact that the bond didn’t come…it’s just too much.”

A pang twisted in Tristan’s heart at the last part, and he let out a breath. “We’ll figure it out.”