Riley POV
There was tension in the air. Tiana was the only one who didn't look nervous or apprehensive. Marigold looked fierce, protective of both the little girl and her people as they surrounded us. It appeared from the way they circled us that she was the leader. I didn't blame her for being cautious or fearful of what our motives might be. They had survived in this group, it appeared to me, for a long time now, and strangers could prove dangerous, no matter how well-meaning their intentions might be. It was better to be cautious then it was to be lax and die. I coughed, sensing eyes on me, and tried to remain calm, the group looking meaningfully at mine and Damien's hair.
"We didn't come here to hurt you," I said putting my hands up in a surrender position "we came here because Tiana's mother left her a message to come here on the full moon if she needed help. We didn't know what Tiana might have been walking into. We came here to keep her safe from harm, exactly what I'm assuming you would have done for one of your own" I pointed out as Marigold's eyes softened, gazing at the little girl.
"Yes, her mother and I were friends long ago. She left our pack, what little there is of it" Marigold admitted lowly, stroking Tiana's hair "determined to forge a new path for herself. She felt claustrophobic, hiding in our caves all of the time. She wanted to find a sanctuary, a pack where she could be free to be herself. I always told her she was free to come back, but only to call out for us on the full moon, because that is the only time we would respond to a call for help."
The other members of Marigold's pack, or sirens, shifted awkwardly on their feet. "We hoped to find sirens here, but we couldn't be certain," I told her "we have a proposition for you, but only if you are willing to hear it."
Marigold's lips curved up as she sat down, gesturing for us to do the same. She motioned to two of her people "Secure the peremiters."
The walked off in opposite directions. We sat. "What is this so-called proposition?"
"Come back with us" I offered, looking her right in the eyes, Bailey remaining silent, Damien glancing at the other sirens with fascination, but thankfully keeping his big mouth shut "come back to our pack. You would be treated better there, be able to live out in the open instead of in caves."
"Are you Alpha of the pack?" she asked bluntly, her eyes dancing with amusement "to make such a statement to me?"
I breathed in deeply "No but my mate Baily is King of the Lycans and the Alpha or rather King of the pack. Would that not suffice as enough reassurance for you?"
"I would be honored to have you all back at my pack," Bailey said dipping his head respectfully "I would offer you a safe harbor and you would be free to live as you please. I have nothing against your kind" he assured Marigold who eyed him scornfully.
"Nothing against my kind?" she whispered "all of you shifters are liars. You kill, you condemn my people and you murder and rape them. You might be different" she allowed, even as I stared at her indignantly "but I am not willing to take the chance that those few of us who have managed to survive this far, will be killed by a poor decision I make in their stead. If they want to go back to your pack, then that is their decision alone, and I will not bear part of it. As for me, I remain here, safe, guarded by caves that cannot be accessed by shifters or humans without great difficulty."
Silence. Tiana was resting against Marigold. I glanced at the little girl who was practically sitting on Marigold's lap. She was hugging her fiercely. "Can you really claim this is surviving" I leaned forward and fixed my eyes on the woman who remained unblinking "when there are so few of us? The sirens will die out unless we find mates and repopulate. To hide, will merely encourage that to progress quicker."
"Maybe so," Marigold said heavily and with a regretful look around the group, who were all silently watching their leader "but it's still preferable to a quick or violent death at the hands of somebody who fears our people."
I knew she wasn't going to change her mindset. For somebody who was still so young, or at least not an elder, she was set in her ways and in her mind. There were nods of agreement in the group. Damien cleared his throat "Are you all going to be such cowards that you would let one woman persuade you to do what you don't want to?" he asked.
I shot him a glower. Trust Damien to open his freaking mouth. Callum and Cody were silent, in the background, tense and prepared to fight but I knew they wouldn't need to. These sirens were a proud group, they wouldn't just attack for no reason, not without just cause. We had yet to give them one. Insulting them to their face was not going to cause them to lose control, no matter what Damien might think.
"Believe you me, you will not be calling us cowards when you find yourself at the pointed end of a blade or the claws of a shifter" Marigold hissed "perhaps the reason you are so brave is because, unlike us, you are merely a half sire, with the half blood of a shifter. You are neither one nor the other. A half-breed. You will never truly fit in either world, do you not know that?" she said coldly as Damien gave her a cold look "shifters will not accept the siren part of you and sirens will not accept the shifter part."
I blanched for I too was half shifter. Marigold's eyes darted towards me and a small smile curved on her lips "You too are siblings, it's blatantly obvious not in just how you look, but the way you react towards one another."
"He is my brother," I said evenly "but he does not speak for me."
Her eyes glittered with mirth "Is that so?" she glanced around the small group of sirens, a look of expectation on her face. As yet, nobody has come forward with a word of their own. They seemed to be more than happy for Marigold to do all the talking for them. Strange. Or maybe they were just used to it, I thought studying them. The had their own pack dynamics that they had adopted over the years and I could not fault them for it.
"If anyone would like to go with these people, to establish a place in their pack and turn their backs to us and all that we have fought for here, then let them speak here and now with no repercussions or consequences," Marigold said softly, looking intently around the circle.
Silence. They looked at each other uncertainly. One by one, they fixed their eyes back on us. "I have no desire to leave my home."
"I respectfully decline."
"This is my home."
"Thank you but no thankyou"
Each and every one of them slowly refused our offer, one by one, until it was back to Marigold who gave us a sad but triumphant smile. "You see, my pack is loyal to me, despite what little we might have. We share a bond of friendship and of family. It might not seem like we have much, in comparison to your pack, we might be poor or lacking in some ways, but the most important things we have plenty of. Loyalty, friendship, love. Can you say the same?" she challenged.
"If you should ever change your mind" I began.
She shook her head and got to her feet. "We will not. My pack has spoken. Thank you for bringing Tiana to me" she stroked the little girl's head as Tiana looked at me regretfully "she will take her place with us, where she will be loved and cared for by those of us who understand her the most."
"Tiana is that what you want?" I whispered, feeling a lump in my throat.
I couldn't leave her, but I also had to respect what she wanted. She was not my child. She was not of my blood. She did not know me like she knew these people. It was obvious in the way she clung to Marigold how much she had missed this woman. I blinked back tears from my eyes. One part of me was happy for Tiana but another part of me was devastated to lose her and have to leave her behind.
Tiana hesitated. She looked up at Marigold who smiled down at her reassuringly. She bit her lip. "I want to stay," she said quietly, hanging her head and looking shamefaced at the ground "I want to be with Marigold."
A tear trailed down my cheek. "We'll miss you" I whispered.
Tiana threw herself at me and hugged me tight, before Marigold quietly reached over and took her, holding her in her arms.
"Leave" she said kindly "we thankyou for bringing her home to us, but this is not your home, and this is not your territory. I wish you all the luck in the world" she added, beginning to turn her back "but do not come here again. For Tiana's sake as well as your own. Our safety is paramount" she added and I understood.
"We won't" I promised, as Bailey took hold of my hand, squeezing it tightly, a forlorn expression on my face as Tiana and the others began to disappear back into the shadows.
"Goodbye Tiana" I whispered as tears trailed down my cheeks.