The Syren Queen | The Oceane Series

Ten

I awoke the next morning to the feeling of an arm wrapped around my waist, the sound of soft snoring near my ear, and the sheer unmistakable feeling of peace. I sighed happily, finding myself shifting under the blankets as the Symari cuddling up behind me and pulled me closer against him. I felt his soft breath near the back of my neck and the slow rise and fall of his chest confirmed that he was still fast asleep beside me. I didn’t want this moment to end. The peace I felt was amazing and I wished it would last forever but it wasn’t fair to Ronan that I am not who I am supposed to be. I had no idea how I could go back after all that I have done.

I laid there for a second, watching him sleep, his dark eye lashes brushing up against his cheekbones. He was so handsome. But I did not deserve him. My breathing hitched as he inched closer to me in his sleep, his leg tangling around me further keeping my pressed up against him. I couldn’t help but smile as he nestled closer to me in his sleep, as I reached out to brush a fallen strand of hair out of his eyes, my fingers brushing against his cheek, the feeling of him making my heart skip a beat. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, squinting them for a second before he realized who I was and unwrapped himself from me, a blush creeping across his skin.

“I-I’m sorry.” He apologized, practically jumping out of the bed to distance himself from me, “That won’t happen again.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” I said, sitting up as the comforter fell into my lap, exposing the almost-sheer nightgown I wore to bed, “You’re fine.”

“Still, I shouldn’t be, um,” He paused, still blushing as I watched him struggle nog to look over my body and only stare into my eyes, “I'm just going to go get dressed.” he grabbed his clothes and escaped into my dressing room without another order.

I took a deep breath as I crawled out of bed, and padded towards my wardrobe, pulling a black dress out and layer it on my bed. Untying my nightgown, I let it fall to the flood before pulling the black dress over my body, the fabric clinging to my skin and flaring out across my hips. Pinning my hair out of my face, while I let most of it fall around ne as it swirled amongst the tide and just as I was about to knock on my dressing room door to check on Ronan, he opened the door, wearing the clothes I had seen many human men wear around this time, after all it was 1770.

“Are you ready to go down to breakfast?” I asked, no longer feeling the steady presence of my magic as I have weeks prior.

Ronan nodded, offering his arm for me to hold onto before we escaped my bedroom and made our way through the blue and green sea glass-like halls. We were silent as we swam towards the dining room the smell of our breakfast swirling toward us and when we finally arrived in the dining room, Ronan unhooked his arm from mine and followed me toward my seat, making sure to move it aside for me to sit down.

“Oh, um, thank you, you didn’t have to do that.” I said, taking my seat as I looked up at him.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind.” He said with a nod before swimming to sit at the other side of the table just as a few of my servants arrived with our plates and sat them before us. I took a few bites, staring down at my plate until I felt eyes on me. As I looked up, I locked eyes with Ronan for a second but he didn’t look away. He just stared back at me as I wondered what he was doing or what he was thinking. I bit the inside of my cheek, looking down at my plate to finish eating.

I couldn’t start a relationship with this Symari if I was on the brink of war, and definitely not when I was who I was. I was the Syren Queen, I didn’t deserve happiness especially with my soulmate who was sitting across from me. I let out a shaky sigh and finished eating before standing and escaping the room without another word, hoping Ronan wouldn’t go after me or follow me to the library. I needed to think, I needed to change and the only one I could think to help me, I banished from my kingdom. With a flick of my wrist, I sent a message to my older brother, hoping that Delmare would see past the changes I had been put through and pull me back from the edge of fear and hatred I was dangerously being consumed in.

*

With a huff, I eased down into the large armchair next to the marble fire place, the fire burning bright next to me as it glowed against my skin. Opening the book, I began to read and before I could get into the story, I felt the air lightened just as I looked up and met my brother’s eyes.

“Sedna.” He said, not missing a beat. “I received your message.”

“Hi Delmare,” I replied, setting my book down before I stood, “I need your help. I- I don’t want to be the Syren Queen anymore.”

“What made you change your mind?” Delmare asked, an eyebrow raised.

“I met Ronan Stormborn,” I replied without skipping a beat, “He’s my Mate and he doesn’t deserve the Symari Queen I am now.”

“I see.” He said, and after a long pause he looked down at me with a hint of a smile on his face, “I believe everyone deserves a second chance, even you little sister. Now, how about I meet your mate?” And without a second thought, he escaped the library with me in tow to meet the future king of Arcania, that is, if we ended up together.