Bailey POV
"You need to tell her Bailey" Thomas's voice was low but solemn as he eyed me carefully.
I didn't have to ask him what he was talking about. We were with Callum and Cody in the study, keeping to ourselves, discussing the mating ball and the disappearance of the other sirens. So far we have not been able to determine where they had been taken, frustrating me further. The thought that Tiana might be hurt, or have been killed, made me feel sick to my stomach. There was only so much my men could do, without infiltrating the packs and offending other Alpha's. I grimaced at the men who all looked concerned.
"You know how worried Riley is," I said eyeing them "We had the ultrasound the other day. Our baby is developing normally, but we don't know the gender, and as a tribrid, we don't know whether anything is going to happen to the child as it grows. There have been instances where the child has been fine and other instances where...." I trailed off unable to finish the sentence as the men nodded in understanding. "I can't stress her out while she's pregnant. She's got enough on her plate with the mating ball. Not to mention we have to wonder how she'll be accepted as my mate. I can't tell her about Tiana. If I do" I exhaled regretfully, hating I was keeping this from my mate "she'll want to go and see for herself, try and find the girl. It's too dangerous."
"Maybe you should let me determine that for myself" a voice cut in as the door swung open.
I tensed. Riley stood there, the blood draining out of her face. Shit. I had been so preoccupied with the men, we had all failed to notice her scent outside the door. Had she been deliberately eavesdropping? I knew I had been distant lately, trying not to let anything slip, but I hadn't thought she would go this far to find out what was wrong. Riley's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"What happened to Tiana? Why haven't you told me until now? How could you make me find out this way" she shot out, her arms wrapping protectively around her chest as she glared at me, the other men shooting me a sympathetic look and then sliding past her, leaving the two of us alone.
Shit. I stood up slowly as Riley continued to stare at me in disbelief. "I've been wondering why you've been acting so strangely. What you haven't been telling me, is why you're constantly in meetings with Callum and Cody, worrying about security. Tell me" her voice came out strangled "What happened to Tiana and the others?"
She was on the verge of tears. What I hadn't wanted to happen, was happening right in front of my eyes and it was all my fault. I took a deep breath. "Riley, Tiana, and the other sirens are missing," I told her quietly "Thomas checked on them before coming back to the pack. There were signs" I paused trying to frame this delicately "There were signs they were taken."
"Taken" she repeated, her voice rising "A whole pack of sirens taken just like that? That's impossible Bailey," she said narrowing her eyes "They would have been able to sing their way out of trouble, or...." she trailed off.
Damn. "I think there might have been magic involved," I told her, running a hand through my hair "It's the only way so many sirens could have been overpowered like that and their voices rendered useless."
"Magic" she whispered "But what possible use could somebody have for so many sirens?" she asked trembling "And for a small girl like Tiana?"
I hated having to speak so bluntly, but the cat was out of the bag. I spoke, my voice tight "They either killed them" I winced as Riley let out a small sob "or they have a purpose for them. Perhaps they are using them to take over other packs" I said slowly "Either way, having that many sirens at their disposal isn't a good thing."
"You've been trying to find them" Riley's voice was chilling "haven't you?"
I nodded. "There are rumors that several packs have suddenly lost their Alpha and been taken by force. I have men investigating and I was contemplating canceling the mating ball" I admitted awkwardly.
"Cancelling" Riley's voice was incredulous "It's tomorrow Bailey. It's a little late to cancel. We have people coming today for accommodation. Besides, wouldn't the mating ball be the perfect opportunity to find out information on these packs that have been taken over? Surely another Alpha would know what was going on?" she asked, lifting her chin and looking me directly in the eyes.
"Perhaps, but what if..." I didn't get to finish the sentence, because Riley's eyes suddenly flashed as realization dawned.
"You want to cancel the mating ball for my sake," she said, shaking her head "because you're worried whoever took Tiana and the others is going to come after me as well."
"Yes," I said with a low growl "Is it so wrong to want to protect my mate Riley? You're carrying our unborn child. You're weakened" I said as she looked at me in defiance "whether you want to admit that or not. I can protect you, but if something happened, I would never be able to forgive myself."
"I'm not useless" Riley shouted, slamming her hands on my desk as I blinked at her "Stop acting as though I'm some sort of damsel in distress that you have to constantly rescue or keep the truth from. I can't believe you've been lying to me all this time. I'm supposed to be your partner, your equal, and instead, you're treating me as though I'm some delicate piece of china. If you had told me about Tiana, yes I would have gone looking for her" she snarled "because that little girl was family to me. Now all I can do is hope to find information during the ball and you want to cancel" She shook her head "No, Bailey."
"Don't you think I should get a say, considering I'm also the father to our unborn child" I growled.
She scoffed "Do you think you get to control me because of that? I know you're worried about me but this, this is unforgivable Bailey."
I felt my heart sinking. She was furious. More so than I had pictured. Her whole body was violently shaking, not in fear but in pure unadulterated rage. I tried to soften my voice and tried to reason with her. "Riley, I just thought..."
"That's just it" she cut in, her voice cold as ice "You didn't think. You did what you wanted without giving a damn about how I might feel about it. That's not being a partner Bailey, that's being controlling. I'm not somebody you just pat on the head and whisper pretty things into their ear. I deserve to be treated with respect and told everything even if it's not something you think I should hear."
"We'll find Tiana Riley," I said, holding my hands out and pinning my gaze on her, "I promise. I've got everybody I can on it and I won't leave any stone unturned."
"Wrong. I will find Tiana" she said, her tone brooking no arguments "and if I have to interrogate every damn Alpha that attends the mating ball I will."
"How do you intend to do that?" I asked, concerned.
She raised a brow. "Riley," I said tightly "you can't just use your siren voice on everybody. If you do that, everybody is going to continue to fear your kind. It would be like declaring war. I know you're angry, but this isn't the way to go about finding your friends."
"My family" she corrected, her eyes glinting as I looked at how composed she suddenly seemed to be "and maybe your kind declared war on sirens first. You've been hunting us for as long as I can remember and for as long as I've been able to read about," she said with contempt "and now it's time it stopped. Maybe it's time to show your kind" she emphasized as I flinched "something to fear. Maybe then the hunting and the killing will finally stop" she finished in a dangerous voice.
This did not bode well. "Riley" I began, trying to dissuade her from whatever she was considering, not liking the look in her eyes "Whatever you're thinking, I need you to reconsider. You're angry, you're not thinking straight and you're upset" I continued, unsettled by the expression on her face "I'm sorry I kept things from you. You were right. I should have told you the moment Thomas let me know."
But it was like I was talking to a stranger. Riley just looked straight through me. I shivered. I reached out for her but she stepped deftly out of my reach. Her eyes rose to meet mine and for a moment they were so cold, that I thought I was staring at a dead woman. "The mating ball goes ahead," she said softly, and then turned on her heel and began to leave.
I stared at the back of her, wondering just how far she was willing to go to find Tiana and dreading what would happen if I didn't do as she asked. For the first time, I had seen what Riley was capable of when she was angry and it unnerved me. I couldn't blame her for the anger, but would she harm innocent people in order to find her 'family'
I gritted my teeth and called Thomas, Callum, and Cody back to the study. I had to change my plans for the ball tomorrow and perhaps attempt to calm Riley down again, though I didn't like my chances. The mating ball would go ahead, but I hoped it wouldn't prove to be my downfall.