Riley POV
My mark from Bailey has a line through it now and his mark, his disgusting stain is on me now. The pain is gone, but the reminder of what he's done to me, to what he's done to my mate bond with Bailey remains. I touch my neck absently, trying to give Tiana a reassuring smile as she sobs in her cage opposite. There's no sign of Jaxon, something I am grateful for, although part of me wonders where he is and what he's doing. Something tells me he's not about to stop with just marking me and my stomach churns at what other indecency he might attempt, my hand subtly caressing my stomach as I attempt over and over again to reach my wolf without success and the siren part of me and hear nothing but silence in return.
"These cursed collars," Marigold said, screwing her face up "With them on we can't do anything to defend ourselves" Her eyes met mine "he cut off one of my people's tongues" she whispered, tears shimmering in her eyes "it was awful Riley. He's a monster. I had no choice, I had to..." she trailed off looking guilt-stricken.
"You did what you had to," I said hoarsely, as Tiana stopped crying and merely sat there watching us "Tiana was in danger. She had to be saved. I don't blame you, Marigold. I don't blame any of you. I just wish I could get this blasted collar off" I scowled, the silver still burning me slightly.
"Good luck," Marigold said bitterly "I've been trying ever since he put one on me and no luck. I think they are spelled to stay on the wearer. We're all at his mercy, nothing more than slaves. I suppose we should be grateful that he hasn't wanted us in well you know" she blushed.
"No, just me," I said dully "if I don't get out of here. He's already marked me, he won't hesitate to do the other thing."
Marigold looked at me sympathetically. Suddenly there were footsteps rushing into the bunker and Jaxon was shoving his way inside, his jaw clenched. He was furious. "You" he hissed, pointing at me "Come here."
I wanted to refuse, but a quick glance showed his men were standing ready at the cages, awaiting instructions. To refuse could be potentially putting Tiana in danger. I moved closer to the door as Jaxon impatiently opened it, reaching in and grabbing me painfully by the hair as he dragged me out. I yelped in pain as he dragged me in front of him. Glancing around I saw that the other sirens had been freed and were being held in the same position, their eyes wide with fear.
"I don't know how he found out about the bunker but it doesn't matter" Jaxon snarled as my eyes widened and I dared to feel a flickering of hope spark within my breast.
Could he be referring to Bailey? Had Bailey found me?
Jaxon motioned for the others to go first. I opened my mouth and then closed it as Marigold subtly shook her head.
"Get ready to use your voices" Jaxon boomed as they filed past, the men brutally holding their hair tight in their fists and pushing them in front "It looks as though we have some enemies to take care of."
It had to be Bailey. No wonder Jaxon looked so unhinged. He had thought he was invincible down here in the bunker. He thought he had planned for everything and suddenly Bailey had ruined it. I felt the tiniest smile curve on my lips. I hoped that Jaxon's downfall would be his own arrogance. I itched to take him down myself but there was no way I could with this collar around my neck. But should I happen to somehow get it off...
"Your bastard mate is here but don't get all misty-eyed on me love" he growled into my ear as I stiffened "The mate bond has been disrupted by my marking and King Bailey will not be leaving this pack with you."
"If the mate bond was as disrupted as you claim it is, then my mate would not have come for me at all" I said evenly, causing Jaxon's eyes to flash with anger "I might not be able to mind-link with my mate but he still wants me. Coming here today proves it" I sneered.
Rage shimmered in Jaxon's eyes. His eyes darkened slightly as his wolf began to lurk near the surface. It seemed his wolf continually took over or came close to these days. Almost like Jaxon wasn't in charge of his wolf form as much as he'd like to believe he was.
"It won't matter" Jaxon growled, repeating himself as he began to push me towards the exit, "because all of the sirens are about to take care of Bailey and his men. He's not immune to Marigold and the others, remember" he reminded me and my heart sank.
Of course, Bailey wasn't immune to their song. Only mine because we were mates. I felt myself beginning to panic as we walked down a long tunnel, Jaxon tightening his grip on my hair, causing tears to come to my eyes.
"I can't wait to see the look on your face when I kill him in front of you" he whispered, dragging me along "The defeat, the brokenness. Your tears will taste like sweet nectar" he promised as I glared at him, kicking out and trying to strike him as he laughed at my pathetic efforts.
"Without your powers you are nothing" he chortled "Just an average girl who is weaker than the average shifter. It must be so degrading not being able to save yourself" he mocked as I tightened my lips "and so frustrating to be under my thumb my sweet little Luna" he whispered into my ear.
"I am not yours" I growled, my voice dripping with contempt. "I will never fully be yours Jaxon. You can tell yourself because you've marked me against my will, because you have me chained up with this collar, that I am going to submit to you, but the truth is" I hissed as I continued to be shoved, daylight appearing in front of my eyes as we walked steadily upwards "the truth is I will never submit to you. I will never admit to being your Luna. I will never accept you as my Alpha or as my mate. Not as long as I have breath in my body" I told him scathingly as we walked out into the sunlight, my eyes blinking to adjust to the brightness.
We had come out in the forest. Jaxon looked amused by my vehemence. Instead of growing angry, he merely chuckled and shook his head at me. "Brave words Riley," he said hauntingly "but in the end they are merely words. You will not only submit to me, but you will become mine, body and soul. Bailey will never cross your mind after today" he gave me a wicked grin "because he'll be dead."
I wanted to scream at him as he continued pushing and shoving me. His hands were not gentle but hurried. I stumbled along, his hand never letting go. As we drew closer to the grounds I stiffened, hearing the sound of the other sirens, their voices rising in harmony, the sound haunting and eerie. Even Tiana was being forced to sing. My knees buckled. I felt dread rise inside of me. The seductive sounds of the sirens, particularly that many would be impossible to ignore or to fight against. Jaxon noticed my expression and gave a grin of triumph. "It looks like they have everything under control" he grunted.
No. I couldn't let it end like this. I couldn't let Jaxon win. But what was I going to do against so many sirens? I could not drown out their voices. I could not make them stop. As we stepped onto the ground, I saw them all, standing in a line, regret in their eyes as their mouths opened, their song continuing across the grounds with its haunting melody.
I saw him. I let out a small sob as I was pushed next to the other sirens, Jaxon standing next to me, a pleased look on his face. Bailey and his men were in a trance. Their eyes were distant, their expressions slack. I saw older men, wearing robes, trailing behind slowly. Bailey had brought lots of men, but they too were affected, staggering and stumbling slowly towards us, their eyes locked on the sirens who sang to them, convincing them to walk and to leave all of their fighting spirit behind. If we had been near a lake, Jaxon would have had them all drowned, I thought shivering as I stood up, Jaxon nodding to some of his men, two of them moving to hold my arms behind my back.
"Bailey" I screamed, my voice cutting across the grounds "Bailey wake up. Please wake up" I screamed, trying to fight myself free as he drew closer.
Jaxon looked at me with a chilling smile. "I think it's time for Bailey to die don't you?" he asked smugly.
He pulled out a dagger and approached my mate as I tried once more to get Bailey's attention. In horror, I watched as he stabbed my mate, the King, in the stomach, Bailey's eyes were confused as he dropped to the ground, blood pooling around his stomach. Silver, Jaxon had used silver on him. He left the knife inside Bailey and looked over at me. My mouth opened and I let out a bloodcurdling scream and then everything went black.