Curses and Ash (The Siren Chronicles Book 2) Read online

  “We ended up in the North Sea. Just a short swim up the River Thames is London. So, I called my good friend here to come get us.” He reached ahead and squeezed the driver’s shoulder. “This is Quinn.”

  The car swerved when the boy turned, flashing Halen a toothy smile. “You owe me for the collect call.” His voice was thick with an English accent. Rough black stubble covered his chin, but not enough to conceal the thick scar beneath. Another scar hooked at his jawline, trailing the length of his neck. His dark hair clipped into a crewcut revealed his jagged ear, which appeared as if it had been gnawed by crooked teeth.

  “Keep your eyes on the road.” Dax sat back. “We may have survived the mermaids, but I’m not sure we’ll survive your driving.”

  “Well, at least you’re here, mate. If the world really is ending then it’s good to be with friends.” Quinn honked the horn as a man dashed across the street, narrowly missing the hood of the car. “Use the crosswalk!” He honked.

  “That was the crosswalk.” Dax glanced out the back window.

  Halen clutched the towel in her fists.

  Dax placed his hand over hers. “Quinn’s driving may be hell, but we’re safe—he’s Tari. We can stay at his place until we figure out our next step.”

  Rania’s words rang through her mind; the Tari are nothing but murderers. Were the Tari split? And if so, why? Staying with someone new right now was not a good idea, she felt it deep in her gut—something was off about this guy. Maybe Dax believed he was a friend, but when Quinn’s gaze met with Dax, Halen caught a flicker of rage.

  “So how did Natalie look?” Quinn asked.

  The mention of her sister’s name snapped Halen from her thoughts.

  “Natalie’s the same—psycho,” Dax said.

  “But she’s alive?” Quinn’s dark gaze peered from the rearview mirror. “I would have loved to have seen the look on her face when she met up with Halen.”

  “No, you wouldn’t,” Dax said.

  Quinn chuckled. “That’s where you’re wrong, mate.”

  “He knows her?” Halen whispered.

  “Natalie stayed with Quinn and his sister. They were the last Tari to see her alive.”

  “Oh,” Halen said, not sure of how to continue. This boy was obviously much closer to Dax than she had expected.

  Quinn shifted the rearview mirror so he could see Halen. “Is it true? The shifters think you have that bastard in you?”

  “What do you mean?” Her shoulders curved inward as she folded into the tiny seat. How much did Dax tell him? She shot Dax an annoyed glare.

  “It’s okay. You can speak freely.”

  Gee, thanks for the permission, she thought, but instead addressed Quinn. “I guess some do.”

  “Well—do you?”

  “No, she doesn’t.” Dax’s jaw worked from side to side. “I told you.”

  “Yeah, yeah, you watched the bloke take a dive.”

  “Give it a rest, then.” Dax’s hands were now on the back of Quinn’s seat, his knuckles swollen with purplish bruises.

  Halen placed her hand over his, and he sat back.

  “We need to rest,” she said softly. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

  His bare chest flecked with goosebumps as her fingers trailed his arm. “My stomach, my back and my shoulder.” He winced. “But I guess I’ll live.” He smiled that crooked grin, drawing her to his bottom lip, which had a little cut with just a flash of blood showing. She rubbed it away with her thumb, and when her skin touched his, she let out a soft gasp. Rays of sparks danced from her thumb and up her arm to the base of her neck and then cascaded down her spine. The feeling was all too familiar. Just as Asair had yearned to taste Elizabeth, even with their world crumbling around them, Halen filled with inexplicable desire to claim his kiss once more.

  The car stopped with a jerk, severing the bond. She flew against the front seat, using her hands as a brace.

  “Home sweet home,” Quinn chimed. He jumped out and slammed the door. He wore a leather jacket, worn and scuffed at the sleeves, and gleaming red high-tops.

  “He’s Tari?” Halen asked.

  “I know he doesn't look tough, but Quinn has a black belt. He’s also an excellent marksman.” He pulled the towel back over his shoulders, flinching with pain.

  “My magick is better than both. We don’t need his protection.”

  “We need a place to stay. I’ve been swimming for hours dragging you through the ocean. You were passed out the entire time.”

  Quinn knocked on the window with his knuckles.

  Dax secured the towel and clambered out of the car. She followed him with her gaze as he joined Quinn on the sidewalk. Dax’s wounds peeked from the towel. They had to rest somewhere; perhaps Quinn’s flat wasn’t such a bad idea. She scanned the neighborhood.

  A row of attached, white-stucco residences lined the street. Neat spiral bushes potted in black urns sat at the front doors. White iron gates separated the residences, and each entrance had four columns that supported a small balcony. Posh, Halen thought. She followed the columns up to the second story, where curtains shifted in the window. Halen cocked her head to get a better view.

  A young girl peered down. She had Quinn’s dark hair, which fell in ringlets to her shoulders. Her curious gaze landed with Halen.

  Halen waved.

  The girl’s lips parted with a wailing shriek.

  “Damn it!” Quinn bolted, unlocking the door and disappearing inside.

  Dax, unaffected by child, yanked the car door fully open.

  Halen didn’t budge. “I think we should find another place to stay.” She glanced back up at the window, where the girl pounded the window screaming.

  “There isn’t another place. And besides, you can help here.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think so. That little girl thinks I’m Satan. I’m not going in there.”

  Quinn slammed the window shut, pulling the girl away from the pane.

  Dax knelt. “Quinn is my best friend. He would do anything for us.”

  Halen’s eyebrows arched high. “Your best friend is human? I thought you said you didn’t spend much time in the Earth realm.”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  “No kidding.” Her tongue clicked on the roof on her mouth.

  “There’s a lot I don’t know about you, but I’d like to know more.”

  “If you want me to go inside, I want to know everything. I’m sick of the secrets.”

  “I’m not going to keep secrets from you—I promise.” His gaze scanned the street. “It’s not safe out here. Please come inside. Let’s get cleaned up and changed and then we can talk. I don’t know about you, but I could use a shower and maybe a bandage or two.” He twisted his shoulder toward her, where two puncture marks swelled along the inked bird’s wings.

  “One of those creatures bit you.” She ran her hand over the marks. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry about everything. None of this would have happened if…” She wanted to say if she had killed Asair, but she didn’t. After all Dax had been through, losing his mother, witnessing Nelia’s trial, and Pepper… now was not the time to fill his head with more. He was right—there would be time to explain.

  “I shouldn’t have gone off on you like that. My mother knew the dangers involved.” He sucked in a sharp breath.

  His pain gripped her. If not for Asair, Dax’s mother would still be alive.

  His teary gaze met hers. “Huron's right—we have to stick together.”

  She placed her hand on his cheek, brushing away his tears.

  He stood, and taking her hand, pulled her up against him. Her heart beat tripped with his touch, as the cool winter wind swept all around them. “Together,” she repeated, and she like the way it sounded.

  QUINN'S FLAT WAS a garden parade of floral wallpaper with loud pink blossoms marching across the living room walls. A blush-hued couch sat in the center of the living room, and on either side of the co
uch, a matching settee and armchair. A round coffee table was set in the middle; through the glass top, a bright pink shag carpet screamed for attention. Two enormous crystal vases flanked the marble fireplace, and an ornate gilt framed mirror hung above. On the opposite wall hung an oil painting of a plump woman sprawled naked on a white bear rug.

  “Quinn’s mom is quite the decorator.” Halen ran her hand along the velvety wallpaper lining the hallway.

  “His parents don’t live here,” Dax’s voice lowered as they passed a door slightly cracked open. Inside, Quinn sang in a soft melodic tone. Fearing the girl would see her and start shrieking all over again, Halen quickly slipped past.

  “Who is she?” Halen whispered at Dax’s back.

  “Quinn’s sister, Maddie. She’s been through a lot.”

  “She screamed when she saw me. Why?”

  “She does that sort of thing. Don’t worry about it. Quinn will keep her contained.”

  “Contained? Is she dangerous?” She touched his arm. “I’m not getting a good feeling.”

  “Trust me. This is the safest place.” He led her a few doors down. “You can stay in this room.” He placed his hand on the brass doorknob.

  “How many times have you been here?”

  “My room is there.” He nodded across the hall.

  “You have a bedroom here?” The revelation stung. Why hadn’t he mentioned this before?

  He opened the door and nudged her into the room, shutting the door behind him. “I’ve been friends with Quinn since we were kids. When Natalie moved in…” His gaze drifted behind her and she turned at once.

  A four-poster brass bed, neatly made with powder blue sheets and a white comforter, centered against one wall with two nightstands on either side, the backdrop a sea of blue petals. She followed the floral wall paper to a white wooden dresser placed next to a mirrored wardrobe.

  “Was this her room?” She glanced up at him.

  He nodded.

  Halen bit her lip, not sure what to say. She thought Dax and Natalie hadn’t spent that much time together, but they’d had rooms across from one another. “I thought you two were kept apart. How often did you come here?”

  “As often as I could. I met my dad here too.”

  “So, this is where Daspar came, when he wasn’t hovering over me.” She wrapped herself in a hug. The more she learned, the less she knew. “And Quinn’s parents, they didn’t mind you taking over their place? I’m assuming they’re Tari?”

  “Quinn’s dad is Tari. He and Daspar were close.”

  “Were?”

  “They had a falling out after Rania…” He pursed his lips as if he had said too much.

  Halen’s jaw dropped. “Rania?”

  “She’s Quinn’s mother.” His voice lowered.

  “What? You’ve got to be kidding. How in the world…” Her thoughts spun with a million scenarios, but none would take root. “Now I know we’re not staying here.”

  “You don’t have to worry about Quinn. Rania won’t have anything to do with him.”

  “He’s a siren?” Rania’s sharp stare cut through her memories. “Rania is the mother of a siren? I don’t believe it.”

  “I’ll tell you everything, but it’s going to take time.”

  “I feel so lost. You all have history together and I feel like I don’t belong anywhere. I need you to be straight up with me.”

  “I won’t hold back.” He smiled weakly. “You’re all I have left.”

  She swallowed the tears rising in her throat, thinking now of her mom. “No, I’m not. Our parents are strong, Tage is wicked with spells and Ezra can hold his own. We’ll get them back—we’ll all be together again.”

  “We can’t go looking for them. We have to stay here until Huron contacts us. We have to let them go.”

  “What? No way! How can you even say that!”

  “Quinn filled me in—the fire rings are worse. Paris was evacuated and I’m sure it won’t be long before the fire rings breach London.”

  Asair! She hissed through her thoughts. The sooner she got him out, the sooner the fires would end. “I can stop this.”

  “You’re powerful. I’ll give you that, but you can’t fix this. Right now, we need to rest and clean up. Bathroom’s through that door.” Dax nodded at the opposite side of the room, and then crossed to the wardrobe. “Wear what you want. We can pick up something different tomorrow.”

  “It’s fine,” she said. Even though she couldn’t imagine wearing Natalie’s clothes, she was curious of what lay inside the wardrobe.

  “I’ll be across the hall when you’re ready.” He opened the door, pausing in the doorway and glancing back at her.

  “This is weird for you, isn’t it—seeing me in her room?”

  “You belong here… with me.”

  “And did Natalie belong here?” she asked, leaving out the part with him. She didn’t want him to answer that. She wanted to believe the feelings she had toward Dax were more than just the Guardian bond.

  “Natalie didn’t belong anywhere.” His gaze slid to the floor. So many questions pressed her mind, but he stepped from the room. “I’m across the hall.” He pulled the door shut.

  She stared at the door, half thinking she should go after him. He was hurting. But really, she didn’t know what to say. Somehow, “time heals” wouldn’t cut it, especially when they were running out of time. If she didn’t fix this, there wouldn’t be anyone left on Earth to mourn.

  She scanned the empty bedroom. She had a sister, a mother, and father, and yet she never felt more alone. Even Dax felt an ocean away, though he was just across the hall. She missed him the most and that confused her even more. A jittery nervous energy surged through her when he wasn’t near, like an addict ripped away from their vice. Did Natalie feel this restlessness too? How did her sister let Dax go without falling to pieces?

  A high dresser with a dozen little drawers butted up against the wall next to the wardrobe. The bureau begged her to peek inside, and she obliged. She would hate someone rummaging through her personal things, but having nothing to change into justified snooping. She riffled through the top drawer, digging through bras and underwear, most with price tags still affixed. Thankfully, she and Natalie were close enough to the same size.

  Searching now for pajamas, Halen opened another drawer. Scads of jewelry—silver rings, gold necklaces with charms, and bands of colored leather filled the drawer. Halen slipped a tarnished silver spiral ring on her finger, but found it fit her thumb better. Some believed metal jewelry held the spirit of the person who had worn it. Who was she to judge? She would try anything if she could learn something about her sister. She closed her eyes and clasped the ring to her chest, hoping for a sign. She felt zilch—not one iota nor inkling of her twin sister’s identity. How could someone have a twin and feel nothing? Twins were supposed to be bonded. What about those documentaries of twins separated at birth, then reunited as adults only to discover they ate the same foods, drove the identical cars, and even married men with the same name? Other than a similar figure and matching eyes, Halen was sure she had nothing in common with the girl who hurled a poison orb her way. Instead of trying to connect with her sister, she needed to let go.

  Taking off the ring, she rummaged through a pile of silver chains, when one caught on the bottom of the drawer. She tugged, but the chain was stuck. Following the silver links to the base of the drawer, she gently pulled and the side popped open, revealing a sheet of paper. Halen’s pulse quickened. What are you hiding in here? She applied pressure to one side of the board. Her breath caught when the bottom lifted.

  Beneath, a metal latch the size of a thumbnail shimmered. Her attention shifted to the closed door, where Dax and Quinn’s voices carried from the hallway. Her finger lingered on the hook of the latch. Leave it alone, she scolded herself. Whatever Natalie was hiding inside was none of her business. But Natalie had left it behind, she reasoned. She twisted the latch and flipped open the false bottom. />
  Studying the sparse contents, she found nothing particularly extraordinary worth hiding. She rolled a vial filled with amber liquid between her fingers.

  “Coral and bone.” She held the bottle up to the light. Dax had said Natalie left without the elixir or her bracelet, which led them to believe she was dead. Had she found a way to cast magick without Dax’s bone marrow or was she weak now, suffering from the consequences of her spell?

  Halen set down the elixir and lifted a round makeup pot filled with ruddy water. When she opened it, the putrid scent of decay wafted under her nose. She gagged and quickly screwed the lid back on. When she held the jar up to the light, golden flecks glistened between the rust. Having no clue what the fluid may be, she set the jar back beside the corpses of several yellow jackets. “Weird.”

  Halen didn’t see any rhyme or reason to the contents. Why had Natalie taken such effort to hide some rotten liquid and decaying bugs? A little bummed her search didn’t warrant any clues to who her sister was, other than a hoarder of the bizarre, she placed the bottom back on. The wooden edge butted against the rim, and she tried to angle the piece to slip it back into place, but when it still wouldn’t close, she rammed it with the butt of her hand. A thud clapped beneath the dresser as something dropped. Her heart tripped, skipping a beat as she crouched. With her cheek pressed to the floor, she spotted the culprit.

  Set atop the dust bunnies was a blood-red leather-bound book. Now, this was worth hiding. Wriggling her fingers, she eased it out from under the dresser, gently lifting the book as if it were made of glass. She blew off the dust, and then ran her fingers over the embossed letter N. Though her fingertips itched with curiosity, a pang of guilt made her set it down.

  Come on. A little peek won’t hurt, Asair said.

  Halen jumped with the sound of his voice. “I hoped you had left with the mermaids.”

  Asair laughed. I’m part of you now.

  “Not for long.” She stood and tucked the book back in the drawer. Shower, sleep, and then find Jae. That was her mission. Opening Natalie’s book of secrets wasn’t going to settle her mind. She needed to stay focused. Closing the latch, she angled the rectangular wooden piece once more. The red book poked from the corner, tugging at her curiosity.