Siren Awakened - C.R. Jane Page 0,3

connection.”

“But…” I responded, sensing that he wasn’t saying something.

“But just because he gets her soul back doesn’t mean that she’ll live again,” he said quietly. “The soul still has to choose to return back to earth.”

We were both silent after that. Why would Selena choose to come back to the hell that had been her life on earth? Her last memory had been of me slicing her throat open.

There was no chance.

I had to look away from Seth and Selena. I staggered my way over to the wall and slid down it, my hands on my face. I was heartbroken, unable to breathe. My body began to shake, and I closed my eyes, desperate for the escape the beast could bring.

Suddenly, a gasped breath filled the cell, followed by the sound of coughing and an anguished cry from Alaric. I sprang to my feet and sprinted over to the bed, where Selena was staring wildly at the three of us as we all gaped down at her.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, even though her stunning eyes filled to the brim with tears was all the proof I should have needed. My heart was beating wildly in my chest as I saw that her once ravaged neck was now perfectly smooth, like nothing had ever happened.

The fae suddenly collapsed next to us, and Alaric barely caught him in time. His breathing was out of control, but I couldn’t spare him a glance.

Selena’s body started to tremble. “What…” she croaked. I reached out to her and then quickly pulled away. I didn’t deserve to touch her. She might not remember what happened right now, but when she did…

She’d never want anything to do with me again.

But at least she’d be alive. At least I could exist, knowing she was still in the world.

Selena began to sob and thrash wildly. I froze, not knowing what to do.

“You’re back with us. Everything is going to be all right. Seth brought you back,” Alaric said, trying to soothe her, but his words seemed to make her even more hysterical.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway. I had a lot of sway in this place, but I didn’t have a good reason why I was in the fae’s cell with two other prisoners. I didn’t want the warden asking questions.

“We need to get her out of here,” I whispered urgently, picking her up quickly as the footsteps drew closer. My right arm had finally healed, making the process much smoother.

It was hard to keep my arms from tightening around her in relief at the feel of her soft body against mine. She’d been so cold before as I’d carried her around the hallway, and now here she was, breathing against me, warm and alive.

Alaric strode after me as I hurriedly left the cell. He looked back at Seth, who was sitting on the ground, looking like he could faint at any minute. “I owe you,” he said gruffly.

The guards were coming from the passageway I knew about, so once again, I found myself going through Alaric’s pitch-black tunnel, except this time, there was a tendril of fear that spiked through my stomach. I knew the beast could kill whatever monsters were hiding in the dark, but I couldn’t risk losing control again.

I just hoped that Alaric knew what he was doing.

I breathed a sigh of relief when we made it through. And I didn’t bother looking back this time. I could feel those red eyes watching me the entire time we’d walked through the tunnel.

The corridor was thankfully empty, and we made it back to Selena’s cell just in time for her cries to erupt into full-on shrieks.

I froze as she grew more and more hysterical. Alaric took her gently out of my arms and laid her down on the bed. Her cries lessened, but she was still trembling wildly.

I watched as he climbed into the cot with her, wrapping his arms around her body as she buried her face into his chest.

I stared at them for a long moment, abject longing filling up my soul. I stayed there watching her like I had from almost the moment I’d met her.

Except I didn’t feel that I had a right to it now.

I finally dragged myself back to my room, a mixture of dread and relief churning in my gut.

She was alive. But I’d probably lost her forever.

But at least she was alive.

Chapter 2

Selena

I inhaled sharply, bolting upright in bed, utterly lost.

Cement walls, filthy floor, and a