Free Siren's Serenade (The Wiccan Haus) by Dominique Eastwick Page A

that had just happened. Kaleb turned to Cemil for answers.
    “You did say it was a cat fight.” Cemil shrugged before patting Serena on the shoulder. He dragged Cyrus away before the man could say what again.
    Kaleb’s head was spinning. Too much coming at him all at once. He looked at Serena, closed his eyes, and prayed that when he opened them he would be in bed with her and all of this was just some sort of weird dream.
    Instead, he found her looking at him as if her heart was breaking. “If you believe nothing, believe I love you.”
    “Serena?”
    “I am so sorry.” Serena pulled him with her, until her feet touched the water. One sad little smile, and Serena opened her lips and the most beautiful voice began to sing to him. She got through one line and everything around him faded to nothing.
     
    “Keep singing,” Cemil said from behind her. She could hear her mother and sisters all singing together, trying to drag the men with them into the depths of the lake, but they hadn’t anticipated that the Rowan siblings were well prepared for nearly any situation.
    But her focus remained on Kaleb, the man she loved, the man who would never look at her the same again. She sang like she had never sung before. And she knew she had him, knew she could at that moment drag him into the depths of the ocean and he would put up no fight. He would die just to have her one more time. Right then, she felt her heart break. Kaleb, the man whose only goal in life was to rescue people, would awaken from her spell and wish her dead.
    She could hear the frustration in her mother’s voice as it turned from glowing beauty to a shriek of disbelief. “What kind of magic is this?” she demanded with such rage that even her sisters were forced to stop singing.
    Serena stepped away from Kaleb, knowing that her spell would last a few more minutes. “Mother, it’s over. Leave, please.”
    “Why did our songs have no effect on the men?” her youngest sister demanded in a snit.
    Cemil smiled. “Because my dear, what you have to offer doesn’t interested me in the least.”
    Her mother started out of the water but stopped as Rekkus reared back on his haunches and gave her a warning swipe. “Be careful, sea witch. Our kitty here has a taste for fish.” Sarka laughed.
    “And him.” She pointed to Cyrus. “How did our song not affect him?”
    “Huh? What did she say? I can’t hear a dammed thing,” Cyrus yelled.
    “You see, Mother? They were ready for you. Please just leave. Let me be.”
    “But you are to be queen one day.” Her mother’s face softened.
    Serena entered the water and grabbed her mother’s hand. “I can’t be the mermaid you need me to be. I can’t kill a man to create another life. I just can’t be that creature.”
    Her mother sighed and nodded. “I would like to force it, but it appears I have been out matched by a team of witches and a cat. You are my daughter and rightful heir to the throne. I can’t change that, and neither can you. But perhaps Poseidon himself has a different path for you. It would be best for now if you didn’t return to the palace. I shall send for you when the time is right.”
    Serafina pulled Serena into a hug. “I shall miss you.”
    They turned away and headed back into the water, one by one disappearing into the depths of the lake.
    “Call if you are ever in need. I will come,” Serafina said before disappearing with a splash of her tail.
    Serena walked back to the starry-eyed Kaleb and placed a palm against his cheek. She brushed her lips against his and backed into the water. Letting her despair overcome her, the shallow waters of the lake churned as if a hurricane had blown in.
    “Where are you going?” Sage asked, walking ankle deep into the lake, unconcerned as water splashed at her skirt.
    “It’s time for me to leave.”
    “What?” Cyrus asked before Sarka smacked the back of his head. Smiling with a faint flush he pulled the earplugs out. “How long will