Siren's Kiss

75: Unified Front

It felt like an eternity since Ciel had last seen his mother. Despite the dire situation, Queen Nerissa still exuded regal grace, though her complexion was noticeably pale. Ciel traced the icy prison's surface with his fingers. As a siren, he was accustomed to the freezing depths of the ocean, but this wasn't just cold—it was lifeless. He could feel the prison draining her vitality, a slow death encasing her from within.

"Where is Father? How do I free you?" he asked, his voice firm with urgency.

The queen's lips curved into a faint smile at his determination, but her gaze flickered past him to the figure standing behind. Her eyes landed on Captain Drake, and with one look, she knew this man hadn't kidnapped her son. No wonder her husband, King Cyraeni, had been enraged. Even he must have sensed that their precious omega had chosen an alpha to stand beside.

"You must already know... who you truly are, my child," Nerissa said softly. "Has the god revealed it to you?"

Ciel's throat tightened. He and Drake had traveled through the past and learned far more than what was intended for them to know, but he refrained from confirming it. He wanted his mother to be the one to tell him.

Queen Nerissa studied her son's silence and understood. He had likely learned the truth. He had followed the Phoenix God's word and discovered the weight of his destiny. "Ciel..." she began, her voice steady despite her circumstances. "The enemy you face now is among the most powerful of the immortals of oblivion."

"I know, Mother," Ciel replied, glancing briefly at Drake, who gave him a reassuring nod. "Tell us—how do we defeat him?"

Nerissa shook her head, her expression troubled. "Even I cannot say whether siren magic will prevail against such a force."

Ciel took a deep breath, finally voicing the question that had been haunting him. "Did you know, Mother? Did you know that Grandmother...?"

The queen's eyes widened, her sorrow evident. "No, my child. No. Even though she disliked me, I never believed she would sell her soul to an immortal to keep the crown."

Drake cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Pardon, Your Majesty," he said with respect but earnestness. "As much as I'd like fer ye and me beloved to share this heartfelt moment, time ain't on our side. Yer kingdom be gettin' consumed by this entity. Soon, there'll be nothin' left. D'ye have any idea where we should begin?"

Queen Nerissa's resolve hardened, and she nodded. "By now, you both must know Ciel is the Azure Kraken."

"Aye," Drake confirmed, his eyes sharp. "It was you, wasn't it? Ye struck a deal with an immortal. Just like yer mother-in-law did with hers."

The queen hesitated, guilt flickering across her face. Her gaze fell, a mixture of anger, regret, and resignation. Slowly, she accepted the weight of her mistakes. "Yes. I knew from the beginning that I couldn't conceive a child. Even before I became Cyraeni's queen, I was warned my affliction might affect my ability to bear an heir—or worse, that my womb was barren. I couldn't understand why Cyraeni still chose to marry me. Perhaps it was gratitude, for I once saved his life. Or maybe it was the insistence of Lady Maris, his mother, the former queen."

Her voice wavered as she continued. "At first, I couldn't comprehend why she would choose me for her son. I always had my suspicions, but for a long time, she showed no sign of wanting to reclaim the crown. Still, I never let my guard down around her. Something always felt... wrong."

"I'd wager she didn't expect you to seek the beast in the depths of the Stormy Seas," Drake interjected, his tone cutting. "The king of the krakens..."

Nerissa's gaze lifted, and she nodded slowly. "The spirit of the creator, Nerevarus—the Azure Kraken."