Riley POV
"Riley" I tensed and then relaxed as I turned to face Tiana, who had a wide smile on her face as she bounced up to me, "where have you been?" she asked eagerly as Marigold began to walk up as well, a look of concern on her face.
"Oh, I've just been busy," I said lamely, thinking it was a terrible excuse and unable to offer any other explanation.
Tiana seemed to find that perfectly acceptable though, while Marigold merely looked at me knowingly.
"Trying to avoid the elders?" she asked.
"Is it that obvious?" I growled.
She laughed "Look I can't blame you. They seemed to be particularly fascinated by the collars we were wearing. They've spoken to us several times, asking us to reiterate, over and over again, exactly how they affected us, what they did to our powers, and what it prevented us from being able to do. It's a little" she hesitated "nerve-wracking" she admitted to me in a low tone, glancing down at an oblivious Tiana "like they have some sort of ulterior motive for asking. I don't like it Riley" she exhaled "I feel like a guinea pig about to be put in a cage."
"They're letting Jaxon go basically free" I spat out in anger as her eyes widened in alarm "Because they don't have laws in regards to sirens" I added with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
"That can't be right, what about what he did to us? What he forced us to do" Marigold's voice was filled with rage as she glared at me "He cut the tongue out of one of my friends" she hissed "and you're telling me they're about to let that bastard go free with a slap on the wrist?"
"I don't agree with it either Marigold," I told her, my tone just as furious "The elders seemed to be a law upon their own. I don't think they have ever been challenged on their laws before. It's always been accepted that what they say is law, but who made them in charge?" I asked with my eyes flaring "What makes them superior that they would rule on the outcome of another race's pain?"
"Arrogance" Marigold spat "Arrogance. The belief that they are superior to everybody else. If they continue to go unchallenged Riley, our kind will continue to suffer and hide."
"Riley, what does superior mean?" Tiana asked blinking her eyes at me.
"It means someone thinks they are better and more important than you" I supplied, while Tiana frowned "Why sweetheart?"
"No reason," she said frowning "but you and Marigold are so angry."
"Honey, it's nothing to do with you, we're simply frustrated by the current situation" I explained tightly "and when adults get frustrated by something they can't do, they get angry."
"Hmm okay," Tiana said nonchalantly, accepting the explanation and then heading off to some other children who were playing in a group, even as they eyed her warily with her siren hair.
"She's so innocent" Marigold breathed "but that's not going to last for long at this rate."
"Well, that" I began and then fell silent as I saw none other than Jaxon walking freely across the grounds, surrounded by three elders, a pleasant smile on the bastard's face. He looked up and saw us, a smirk appearing on his face. Rage shot through me. I growled, even as my eyes tinged orange. He had been warned to stay away from me and still he defied the warning.
"Careful Riley, if you attack him, the elders might kill you and say it's self-defense" Marigold warned in a low tone, putting a warning hand on my arm.
"You think they'll go this far" I said turning my head even as I silently agreed with her "The bastard is smirking at me."
"I know," she said quietly "I've been thinking. Maybe I should take the sirens and go. Find somewhere new to bunker down, where we might be able to live and establish a new pack, far away from shifters and other races."
"You tried that and it didn't work" I pointed out quietly "and this is meant to be your home now. This is meant to be your sanctuary, your safe place."
"Except it doesn't feel safe. I watch those elders, they talk all the time. Their eyes go shifty. One of them leaves every night, taking the car and coming back in the early hours of the morning, without fail. Nobody knows where they go, or what they do. It has to be something important for them to continually leave the pack though."
"It's only been a few days."
"So? Now Jaxon is free, what are you willing to bet that he goes with them tonight?" Marigold's eyes were knowing "I will bet you anything he goes with them."
"It could be innocent" I murmured.
Marigold laughed "Innocent. There's nothing innocent about these shifters. They claim to be but inside they are heartless manipulative coldhearted bastards. They have an agenda, Riley. You know it, I know it," she said stubbornly, lifting her chin up and staring at me with a haughty expression.
"Then I'll have somebody follow them," I said in a hush "get the proof I need that they can't be trusted for myself and show Bailey once and for all that we shouldn't be heeding them."
I was prepared to do anything that would show the elders to be nothing more than manipulative lying bastards.
"Let me do it" Marigold's eyes were narrowed "I already know the schedule. I know what time they leave, and which car they take. I can have somebody watch over Tiana. One person is less likely to be discovered than a group of people and if I am found, I can still use my voice to sing my way out of trouble" she proposed.
"How are you going to get the proof?"
"I'll take camera footage on my phone. I'll send the link to you. Easy" she bluffed.
I still wasn't sure I could let her do that. "Marigold it's too dangerous," I said and she shook her head.
"Riley you can't go. They'll have eyes on you at all times, especially since you've made your opinions about them known. They'll know you've gone in an instant. As for Damien" she gave me a cryptic look "he's under close surveillance as well and I can only assume it's because he's your brother and therefore another way to get to you if you don't agree to do what they want."
I hadn't considered that. Damien was also in danger. Just because he couldn't sing, didn't mean the elders wouldn't take an interest in him. I heard the sounds of the elders and then the sound of Jaxon clearing his throat with a dramatic cough. I clenched my hands into fists drawing blood and forced myself to turn, even as my eyes shot daggers at them all. They were risking their lives bringing him so close to me and yet, none of them looked remotely apologetic. Arrogant bastards. Marigold leaned in "They want you to lose your temper" she murmured so they couldn't hear "Don't give them the satisfaction before they declare you dangerous or a risk to their kind" she whispered "I know it's hard Riley, trust me I don't like them either."
Marigold remained steadfastly by my side as I glared at the elders and Jaxon. "You must have a death wish. I believe I and my mate made it clear that Jaxon was not to come near me" I said very quietly and calmly.
"Jaxon merely wishes to apologize for behavior towards you and take responsibility for his actions," one of the elders said serenely "it is imperative that he be given that chance while we understand your anger and refusal to forgive him."
"He deserves nothing" I sneered while Jaxon glanced at me "let alone the protection of the elders. I want to hear nothing from his lips" I said curtly.
"I only want to give my most humblest apologies for the harm I have done you and the hurt I have caused both you and King Bailey," Jaxon said softly "I am both sorry and disgraced by my actions."
I said nothing, while Jaxon reached out to touch me, causing me to step backward, my claws coming out. Marigold moved to stand in front of me, her eyes glancing warningly at my hands while my wolf side was desperate to claw the bastard to death. I almost wished I could let her.
"It's best you go" Marigold told them, gesturing with her head and shooing them away "I think that Riley has heard enough of your apology" she added stiffly.
An elder pulled Jaxon away as he glanced over his shoulder, a glint in his eyes. The other two looked at Marigold with disapproval on their faces. "Who might you be that you speak on the Luna Queen's behalf?" one asked curiously.
"She's nobody" my voice was harsh, even as I silently apologized to Marigold who seemed to understand what I was trying to do "merely somebody who also has no desire to hear about Alpha Jaxon. Please" I told her "Thank you and I agree to the plan" I added as she frowned and then nodded, quickly heading off.
"Plan?" the elder asked.
"It's nothing, simply a plan to get the sirens together and form a little council of our own," I said lying and seeing them glance towards each other in concern "Is it not their right to do so?"
"Um of course," one said weakly, while the other ducked his head "Forgive us Queen Riley but we must see to our colleagues."
They walked off quickly, their heads bent together, speaking in hushed whispers. I shook my head in disgust and then turned around. Marigold had better find me some proof, I thought with a curl of my lip because these elders had just taken what little empathy I might have had for them and stomped all over it. Now they were blatantly disrespecting me and I was just about ready to kick them out, regardless of the consequences I might face.