The Siren's Eyes (The Siren Legacy Book 2) Page 9

  “You are driving me mad.”

  “Am I?” she said innocently.

  “You know you are,” he said, nipping at her neck. She gasped and arched her back, which pushed her ass tighter against his groin. He groaned at the feeling of her soft skin against his cock. “Trust me?” he breathed next to her ear.

  Cin nodded, and Thad wrapped the filaments of the universe around them and jumped them to the bed. They landed on it with a slight bounce.

  “How do you do that?” she exclaimed.

  “I’m not sure. It’s an ability my brothers and I have. It feels like I’m jumping into or out of water in a way, a sudden rush and then I’m where I wanted to be. What does it feel like to you?”

  “Like we've gone over the hill on a roller coaster.”

  “I wonder if everyone experiences it differently?” His analytical mind piped up.

  “That would make sense,” Cin said as she yawned next to him and rolled onto her back with her eyes closed, his body flushing with need again as her breasts came into stunning relief against the pale moonlight.

  “You should get some sleep,” he said, his blood pumping like a jack hammer through his veins. He fought to regain control over his body, but he had to touch her—that need was too great. His hand came up and ran against her damp hair, which shimmered in the light.

  “You should too,” she mumbled, and as Thad stroked her hair, he watched her relax into sleep. She was the most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen, and she was completely under his skin. He knew it would be painful when she decided to leave.

  Chapter 10

  Cin felt a rough hand on her skin, dragging her closer to the body at her back. Panic set in for a brief moment until she opened her eyes and remembered where she was. Thad’s warmth soaked into her. Cin couldn’t remember the last time she had slept so soundly. Usually she woke up four or five times a night to get comfortable or because a limb had fallen asleep, but last night she didn’t remember waking up once. She sighed, completely content, and snuggled back into his warmth.

  A leg pushed between her own, and the hand that had been on her side rode up and was now holding a breast. With those two simple movements, Thad had already started her engine. Her body was hungry for his. Her nipples became more sensitive as he continued to simply hold her.

  Cin gently extracted herself and rolled over to face him, his mass of blond curls making it look like he was resting on a pillow of white gold. She was studying his face when his eyes cracked open. The white orbs immediately captivated her.

  “Good morning,” he croaked.

  “Is it morning?” The sun had seemed awfully high when she had first woken up.

  Thad reached the hand that had been resting on her behind him and grabbed his cell phone. As he tapped it on, he squinted at the bright light.

  “No, it most definitely is not morning.”

  “I didn’t think so,” she said as she snuggled closer to him.

  “We should get moving if we want to go see your mom,” Thad said, putting his phone down and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Cin’s heart dropped into her stomach. She’d forgotten about that.

  “Yeah.” She rolled away from him, intending on getting up, only to feel his arms wrap around her and pull her back down to the bed. A grin formed on her face without her consent.

  “Your mom will be fine. I’ll be there. I have to keep you safe, after all.” His teeth grazed her neck as he spoke, sending shivers down her spine.

  “I know. I just hadn’t planned on seeing my mom again anytime soon.” Cin shrugged, self-conscious of the strained relationship she currently had with her mother.

  An hour later and they were breakfasted and dressed without getting too distracted by each other. Now they were standing in front of her mom's house. Cin’s heart was heavy with apprehension. She raised her hand to ring the bell, but lowered it and turned to Thad instead.

  “Something you should know. My mom looks super young. Most people mistake us for sisters or for her being my little sister. It’s kind of irritating.”

  “Okay,” Thad said. His red-tinted glasses were securely back in place, and Cin hated that she couldn’t see his eyes anymore. “Ring the doorbell. The sooner you do, the sooner this is over.” He rubbed a soothing circle on her lower back, and Cin wanted to melt into him.

  “Right.” She turned around, and her finger made contact with the bell button before she could second-guess herself again. Nervous butterflies flitted about in her stomach as she straightened her T-shirt as best she could and combed her fingers through her hair.

  A petite shadow approached the door, and Cin’s butterflies turned into eagles.

  The wood-paneled-and-glass door opened a crack.

  “Hyacinth? Is that you? What on earth? I barely recognized you with that hair.” Her mom's melodic voice flowed out and wrapped around Cin like a hug.

  As the door swung wide open, Cin smiled. “Hiya, Mom.”

  “Come inside, come inside. Then you can tell me who this cool glass of water is that you've brought to my doorstep.”

  Her mom hadn’t changed at all since she last saw her. The white-and-black dress she had on could only mean that she had been working already today. Dresses were reserved for when she was showing a house or trying to close a deal, along with the occasional work party. The plunging neckline of the white top and the sleek black skirt that started under her bust screamed professional yet sexy. Just what she used to get her way.

  “Don’t perch on the doorstep, young man! Come inside!” Her mom waved her arm wide as she encouraged Thad to come in. The wide white sleeves were accented with a black ring around the cuff that drew the eye. Cin forced herself to blink and look at Thad. He didn’t seem to react to any of it.

  “I’m Hyacinth's mother, Julie, and you are?” Her mom extended her hand toward Thad.

  “Thaddeus, ma'am,” Thad said as he shook her hand.

  “So what brings you by, my sweet flower?” Julie said, turning her heart-shaped face toward Cin, her dimples showing as she smiled.

  “We need to talk,” Cin said, unable to keep the gravity of the situation from her voice. “It might be best if we went and sat down.”

  “Of course, sweet pea. Whatever you need,” her mom said as she led them through her immaculate home.

  Growing up, Cin had always felt like she didn’t fit with her mom's style, and now that both she and Aster were out of the house, she could see that was most definitely true. The home she had grown up in had been transformed into a home out of a magazine. She couldn’t picture herself living here anymore; she’d be too afraid of messing something up.

  The living room that they entered had immaculate cream couches with warm browns and greens accenting it throughout the room. If there was one thing her mom was amazing at, it was decorating. She had such a good eye, just like Thad.

  Thad settled on the three-seater with Cin while Julie took the loveseat across from them.

  “What’s wrong?” Julie's thick brows pinched together in concern.

  Cin took a deep breath. “Aster’s missing. She was taken about forty-eight hours ago and we don’t have any firm leads yet on where she might be.”

  “What happened? How did you find out? Is there a ransom note?”

  Cin went through and explained everything that had happened, leaving out the magical parts of Thad teleporting them all over the place.

  “Oh, oh, my goodness. They sent you to me? Why on earth would I expose my little girl like that?”

  “Could anyone else have found out about Aster’s visions?”

  “I am not sure I’m comfortable talking about this in front of a stranger, Hyacinth. It doesn't feel right.”

  “Mom—”

  “Ma'am, I understand your concern, but I’m the one helping Cin find Aster. In that respect, anything you say could be important to helping us find her. If it helps you to know I’m like your daughter, I have visions too.”

  “That’s impossible,�
� Julie said, raising her hands. Cin knew she was reaching her limit and was about to bail, but Thad did something she didn’t expect. He removed his glasses. Julie looked up again at the movement and gasped when she saw his eyes.

  “Improbable, not impossible,” Thad said quietly.

  “I’m going to go and make some coffee. I’ll be right back.” Julie stood and smoothed the front of her dress before leaving for the kitchen.

  Thad raised an eyebrow at Cin as Julie left.

  “She needs to process and possibly cry, which she won't do in front of a stranger,” Cin said once her mom was out of earshot.

  “I understand,” Thad said, putting his glasses back on. Cin wanted to object, but knew he would be uncomfortable if he left them off. “Your mother has a nice home.”

  “Yeah, she changed a lot of it when Aster and I left. It matches her more now.”

  “You feel out of place here?”

  “Yeah.” Cin rubbed her hands together, creating a warm friction between her fingertips. “I’m going to go and check on her. Be right back.” Cin stood and ruffled Thad’s hair with her hand, earning a grumble from him.

  Her mom was standing in front of the sink, looking out the window. It was only when Cin saw her shoulders shaking that she knew her mom was crying.

  “Mom?” Cin gently squeezed her mom's shoulder.

  “Hyacinth, I’m sorry. I can’t believe she’s gone.”

  “We’ll get her back, Mom. I promise.” Julie turned toward Cin and wrapped her in a tight hug, their height difference making the embrace slightly awkward.

  “I hope so.”

  “We will. I swear,” Cin said, a fury lighting inside her toward the people who had torn her family apart. Sure, they might not get along all the time, but they were still family.

  “Can you give me a moment to finish the coffee, sweetie? I’ll be right out. Promise.”

  “You don’t have to hide from me, Mom.”

  “I’m not hiding, I just don’t want to keep our guest waiting, that’s all.”

  “Okay,” Cin said, turning toward the door when an idea struck her. “Do you still have some of my clothes here?”

  “I think so. They'd be in a box in your old room.”

  “I’m going to grab some since I can’t get back to my place right now.”

  “Thad will keep you safe, right?”

  “Yes. He’s very capable.” Cin grinned at her mom, trying to lighten the mood, before she turned down the hallway to her room.

  As she cracked the door open, her heart sank. She should have known her mom would re-purpose her room, but it still stung to see a yoga studio instead of her old room. The mirrored closet doors showed the woman she was today instead of the girl she always felt like around her mom. The door slid open silently, the squeak that had been there as she was growing up finally gone.

  Two cardboard boxes with her perfectly printed name stood inside next to a variety of yoga mats and blocks. Cin hauled the first box out and unfolded the top, the smell of her old room wafting up to her as she inspected the contents. Underneath all the photos and ticket stubs from movies and concerts was some clothing. Some of which should never have been kept and should never see the light of day again, and some of which she might actually be able to use.

  She set aside some clothes that she thought might actually fit her, and tossed the rest back into the box. She opened the top of the second box and found books and clothes. As she was rifling through the clothes that were there, the Spandexy feel of a swimsuit brushed her hands. She yanked both pieces out.

  It had been forever since she’d worn a two piece. Maybe Thad would let her use the pool again. When she saw it, though, her heart sank. It was probably too small for her now, but it was all she had, so Cin decided to toss it into the pile she was bringing with her. At the very bottom was her old backpack. It had been ages since she had used it.

  After seeing that the house had been redecorated, she was surprised her mom had kept any of her stuff. The backpack had been drawn on repeatedly, and the hunter green was now mostly black-scrawled designs from her high school and college years.

  She shoved the clothes in and overheard the rumble of Thad’s deep voice. Closing the boxes, she put everything back in the closet, except the backpack, which she slung over her shoulder. There wasn’t much in the way of clothes, but it was better than nothing.

  Walking back toward the living room, she paused when she heard her name.

  “Does Hyacinth know what you are?” Her mother's voice was ice cold.

  “No. Does she know what you are?”

  “No.”

  Cin’s heart about froze in her chest. What the hell were they talking about?

  “How did you know?” Thad’s deep voice rumbled. Cin could tell he was trying to be quiet, but his voice carried too much for that to work very well.

  “I’m a goddess. It’s in my nature to be able to tell these things.”

  Cin felt lightheaded. What the hell was going on?

  Chapter 11

  “You are one of the sirens, yes?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Please allow me to apologize for not properly greeting you before. I wasn’t sure what the situation with Cin was.”

  “Please call her Hyacinth in my presence. I hate that nickname of hers. You may call me Julie as Hyacinth does, but you would know me better as Juventas.”

  “My lady.”

  Cin heard a rustling and peeked around the corner to see Thad on one knee in front of her mom. She felt lightheaded.

  “What the hell’s going on? Please tell me I didn’t overhear what I think I heard.”

  “Hyacinth, how long were you listening?” Thad asked, earning himself a dirty look. Now he called her Hyacinth? Just because her mom asked him to? She wanted to be sick. How did her mom always get the upper hand in every situation?

  “My name is Cin. I was standing long enough to know that you’re both crazy. I’ll get a room at a motel. Please feel free to keep sharing the same delusion as my mother. Clearly I misjudged you.” Cin hitched her backpack higher and headed to the door.

  “Hyacinth Marie Porte, stop right there.”

  Her mom’s voice skated over her skin like the first flakes of snow in a blizzard. She turned to face the oncoming storm.

  “Come and sit down. There is much to discuss.”

  “All I want to know is who you told about Aster. Everything else can stay between the two of you, since that’s obviously how you prefer it.”

  “Hyacinth!” Her mom’s voice was approaching the super angry state that she had been terrified of as a child.

  “Fine,” she grumped. She had no desire to listen to whatever weirdness was going on between the two of them, but if she left now, it would be worse than when she told her mom she was leaving art school. She sat down on the floor between the two of them.

  “Just tell me who knows, Mom. That’s all I came here for.”

  “Hyacinth, you will listen to what I have to say.” Her mom sighed. “Now, I wanted to tell you something I’ve never shared with you before. Aster was adopted.”

  Alarm bells went off in Cin’s head. She had always wondered why she never remembered her mom being pregnant. She opened her mouth to respond, but her mom kept going.

  “Before you throw a fit, please allow me to finish.” Julie paused as though she was waiting for Cin to barrel on anyway. “What you overheard is correct. I am a goddess. There are supernatural elements to the world. We, all three of us, are part of that.” Julie spread her hands as she spoke, but Cin still wasn’t sure if she was talking about their little family or the three of them in the room right now.

  “When I finally escaped the life I had on Olympus, I came down to the mortal realm and built a life here. I care for lost children, children of supernatural beings who cannot, for whatever reason, care for them. I provide a safe harbor for them while they grow up and learn to use their powers. I don’t always know what the parentage is, but everyone knows they
can signal me to collect a child and I will care for it. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, I treat them like my own.”

  “Am I really your daughter?”

  “In all the ways that count? Yes. Biologically? No. I don’t know who your parents are. You’ve never displayed any powers that have given me a chance to investigate. I have pieced together some of Aster’s lineage, but none of those I think may be involved will claim responsibility, which is normal. The only reason I ask is to make sure I know about other potential powers that haven’t manifested yet.”

  Cin’s chest was tight. She knew she’d never fit in with her mom, but this was completely out of left field. She couldn’t even begin to wrap her head around it right now. What she could do was focus on what she came here for.

  “So who knows about Aster?” She hated that there were tears in her voice.

  “No one. I’ve only ever brought her name up with those I thought might be her parents.”

  Cin had a sinking sensation. “What about Preston?”

  “Preston?” Her mother smoothed her dress out and inspected her nails as she lay her hands on her knees. “Preston and I broke up a little while ago.”

  “Could he have known?”

  “I don’t see how. He’d been spending most of his time at the track or the casino, which is why we decided to see other people.”

  “Aster never had a vision around him? Never spoke about them in front of him?”

  “Not to my knowledge. She would sometimes come over to do laundry, though. Maybe something happened when I wasn’t home.”

  “How do you contact the people you speak with about being Aster’s parents?”

  “E-mail.”

  Cin surprised herself with a bark of a laugh. “Gods and goddesses e-mail?”

  “We aren’t stuck in the dark ages, you know!” Julie smoothed her dress again and sighed.

  They were both silent for a moment. Cin’s mind felt like a washing machine, all the same thoughts going around and around.

  “Preston may have had access to my e-mail a couple times.” Her mom’s voice was a whisper, as though she couldn’t quite believe the dots that were connecting in her head.