Sirens

Chapter 30

Not to my surprise, I can pick out a large figure pacing inside my room.

As soon as I step through the double French doors, Calix's eyes are locked on me. He crosses the room in just a few strides and pulls me into his arms to give me a bone crushing hug.

My body goes rigid and Calix takes the opportunity to bury his face in my hair. Once I come out of my shock, I pat my hand on his back and try to get out of his embrace, but he continues to hold me tightly.

"Calix, please. I can't breathe."

Right after those words slip my tongue, Calix pushes himself away from me, but his hands still rest on my shoulders.

"I'm sorry. That must've made you uncomfortable. Are you okay?"

"It's fine and I'm fine. Don't worry about it."

He lets out a shaky breath. "What happened? And where were you? I was so worried."

I really don't want to talk right now, but this man deserves an explanation more than anyone else. "I think we should sit down first."

I move to the edge of my bead and sit down. The mattress dips beside me when Calix follows suit.

"I went to my mother's palace."

"Your mother is dead, Harper," he reminds me.

I purse my lips and clench my fists. "I know she is. How could I forget the headlines? Alpha King orders execution of runaway's parents? Parents executed by Royal Beta for the crimes of their daughter?"

Calix flinches. "I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me."

"Thank you," I reply coolly. "Like I was saying, I was at my mother's palace. After the Moon Goddess took me away, she took me to her palace. There, she told me I was her daughter."

Calix lets out a short breath of laughter. "That's a little . . . alarming."

"It was. I was surprised too."

"Did she tell you anything else?"

"She wanted me to come and live with her and my sisters. I declined."

Caliox looks shocked. "But that was the opportunity of a lifetime. Why would you ever pass that up?"

I sigh. "I belong on earth, Calix. And I also owed you an explanation for tonight."

"You still do. What happened out there, before the Moon Goddess took you away?"

I expected this. "It was my eighteenth birthday, but I'm sure you already knew that. On our eighteenth birthdays, sirens earn their tail color through a ritual. It welcomes them into the adult world and helps in finding their mates."

"How so?"

"Mates have complimentary tail colors."

"I don't have a tail."

I snicker. "You don't think I know that by now?"

Calix chuckles back. "I know. But my wolf's fur is black. That has to mean something."

I shake my head and smile. "Maybe it does."

Calix's face turns serious. "But I do have another question. Are there really that many sirens out there?"

"Oh goddess, no. They're all dead. I believe Serene sent them down to ensure I performed the ritual safely."

It's then I notice the bitter look on Calix's face.

"What about you?" I ask. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. I'll be fine. Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?"

I remember what Serene shared with me before I left. I'm not sure if it's my place to tell him, but I do anyway. "Yes, actually. Serene also told me you're her son as well."

"I already knew that."

His response surprises me. "You did?"

"Yes. She came to me on my eighteenth birthday as well and told me I was the reincarnation of her son."

"Oh."

"Yeah. It made me feel special that day, what she told me. It made me believe that there was no one out there as special as I was, that is until you came along."

He gives me a smile before he continues. "You're the most special out of us all. You're the only one left of your kind and you wear it better than anyone could. You don't bow down to us and your confidence never faltered. 

"And I remember the first time we met clearer than any day. As soon as your eyes met mine, I knew you were the most beautiful woman in the world and I knew you were meant to be mine."

My face grows warm and I break our eye contact. "Is that so?"

Calix reaches in and cups my cheek with his hand. "Yes. You are the most stunning, most wonderful person I've ever met. I can't imagine my life without you."

My face grows slightly warm and I avert my eyes. When I don't respond after a few moments, he asks, "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"A little bit," I mumble.

His hand leaves my cheek and falls back into his lap. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. We haven't really set any, uh, you know . . . boundaries."

"Should we set some?"

"I think that might be a good idea."

"I believe you should be the one to set them. I have no qualms with you doing things to me."

I take a moment to think of a few. "No contact unless we both consent. That includes hugging, hand holding, any form of touching. No kissing and definetly no sex."

Calix nods as he thinks them over. "That seems reasonable. I'll remember that during our time together."

"Our time together?"

"Our truce still stands, Harper. Until we call it off, we should still spend time with each other."

I hold back a groan. I nearly forgot about that. "Fine," I mutter. "Is there anything you'd like to do with me?"

"I'd like you to accompany me to breakfast tomorrow."

"Breakfast?"

"It's a breakfast with all the Alphas, Betas, Gammas, and Deltas of packs across the world. I'd like to show them that our kinds can make peace together." I make a face. "Seeing how you managed last night, I think you'll do just fine."

"I made a scene, Calix. I blew up a glass and walked out. I don't think this breakfast of yours is going to end well."

"You only reacted that way because that reporter asked you sensitive questions. I would've reacted the same way. And there won't be any reporters at the breakfast."

I sigh. "Fine, I'll go. Please seat me by you and Gemma, though. I don't want to sit near any of the others."

Calix chuckles and stands up. "I wasn't planning on sitting you near anyone but us. Personally, I wouldn't want to sit near the others either."

"A king doesn't want to mingle with his subjects? They must hate him."

This time, Calix laughs. "I'm sure they do, by this point. Because, you know, I never tell them anything."

I laugh back. From what Gemma's told me, he's one of the most transparent and honest Alpha Kings. 

"If they hate you, I can only imagine how they feel about me," I respond.

"Don't worry, Harper. I'm sure they'll love you eventually."

"I highly doubt it."

Calix shakes his head and says, "You'll be their queen someday. They're going to have to like you. It's getting late. You should get some rest for tomorrow. Goodnight, Harper."

"Goodnight, Calix."