Free Blood of Sirens: Book 13 of The Witch Fairy Series by Bonnie Lamer Page B

guest rooms.  I want you close by so I can keep an eye on you.”  Not to mention, if the Sirens try any dark magic Alita will be able to sense it.  I have no idea if Sirens even need to use dark magic, but that’s beside the point.  “And, you need to eat.  If you don’t eat, you won’t have the energy to return here in the morning.”
    Alita reluctantly agrees and the three of us make our way to the dining room.  Kallen is already here along with Tana and Dagda.  As soon as we take our seats, an upset Arie and stone faced Kai enter.  I’m kind of surprised they bothered to come since it is so obvious there is something wrong between them.  I would have picked up on it even if I didn’t overhear their argument.  The furtive glances they send my way, though, give me an idea of why they did show up.  They plan to corner me either during or after dinner.  I wish I could avoid the conversation, but then again, I don’t want to see Kai end up a slave of the Sirens.  Not so much for his sake as for Arie’s.
    After studying me for a moment, Kallen asks, “Is something wrong?”
    “Other than impending doom?” I retort.
    He narrows his eyes.  “Yes, other than that.”
    I give Arie and Kai a quick glance and turn away guiltily when Arie catches me.  “I’ll tell you later,” I say quietly to Kallen.  His mouth sets in a firm line but he doesn’t push it.
    Tabitha and Isla don’t show up for dinner.  I ask where they are but no one knows.  Needless to say, the dinner we are served is okay, but it’s not Tabitha’s cooking.  The meat is a tad dry and the side dishes are not carefully tailored to our likes and dislikes as Tabitha’s usually are.  Wow, have I ever grown spoiled.  It wasn’t so very long ago I considered toaster waffles to be an excellent example of fine cuisine.  Simpler times, simpler tastes, I suppose.  Not to mention fewer death threats.
    I am right about Arie and Kai.  Though Dagda and Tana both notice something is amiss between the two, they do not mention it.  It’s pretty obvious the problem is personal.  When the Mercouple linger after dinner, Alita, Kegan, Tana and Dagda make themselves scarce having figured out it is me they want to speak with.  Yea, lucky me.
    When the room is ours, Kai clears his throat.  “Xandra, I have a request I hope you will honor with deference to our status and privacy.”
    Well, that’s insulting.  He assumes he has to make me swear to this, that I won’t simply do this on my own.  Maybe I’m being overly sensitive since I already know what he’s about to ask.  My guilt is too much.  I can’t keep pretending.  “Yes, I will put you to sleep separately from the others.”  I feel so much blood rush to my cheeks, my calves have instantly gone to sleep.  Arie has the opposite problem.  So much blood has rushed from her cheeks that her butt has probably gained a good five pounds.
    “How…” is all the MerQueen can say.  Kai is too angry to speak.  Kallen is staring at me like I’m insane.  Maybe I should be concerned about how often he does that.
    “I’m so sorry,” I rush to say.  “My balcony is above the one you were on earlier and I heard what you were saying.”  I am so embarrassed I’m surprised I can make myself speak.  “I was going to go back in my room but my chair was squeaky and I didn’t want to draw attention to myself.”
    “Princess of class you are not,” Taz snarks. 
    “Instead, you eavesdropped on a personal conversation,” Kai grates out. 
    “Um, yes.”  Out of all the possible answers to that question, this is probably not the best one.  But, it’s the only true one.  “I haven’t told anyone, not even Kallen.  Nor will I tell anyone.  Kai, you can simply stay in your room when I do the spell and I can include you with the others.  No one need know.”
    Kai is torn between berating me for my crime and being grateful I understand the situation and will go along with