During the height of the war, Shay and Rainn had spent many days in the trenches, in the thick of the fighting. Rainn knew all too well of the soldiers tasked with picking up stragglers.
The journey from the Dark King’s castle and their fight with the Kraken had left them battered and bruised. Maeve’sabsence had left him befrit. Every so often, Rainn would eye Shay, hoping to pick up on some unspoken signal that the Nymph could sense Maeve—wherever she was.
Rainn Shallows was holding on by a thread. Hope was the only thing that kept one foot in front of the other.
The sirens had saved his life, much as they had pressed their impartial stance. He owed it to Nuada to try. The Queen of Air and Darkness had saved Maeve, after all.
The trees thinned as they reached the canyon, skidding to a stop as the forest floor turned to arid rock and thirsty sand, once a scar in the landscape, where the sirens resided. Belisama’s Cradle was filled with flames that licked the sky. Smoke obscured the entire canyon from view.
Squinting, he searched the sky for the sirens, but couldn’t see through the smoke. The roar of the flames made it hard to hear himself think.
A harsh, muffled shout broke through, the golden wings of a siren circling.
Arden. The Siren Queen’s youngest son.
The smoke was too thick for the usually graceful siren, but he managed to drop safely to the ledge, his skin coated in soot. Arden wiped his eyes as he struggled to focus on Rainn and Shay, swaying with exhaustion.
“Run.” The siren pleaded, his voice raspy from the smoke. “Save yourselves.”
“What happened?” Shay demanded.
“A beast.” Arden pressed his hand to his chest. “It spat acid, fire,and acid.”
Rainn reached into his pack, pulling the water skein. He didn’t have much fabric left, not even a spare shirt or rag.
Shay, sensing his dilemma, pulled the shirt off his back and handed it to Rainn. The Selkie soaked it with the last ofhis water, feeling a mournful pang for his future thirst. Arden wrapped the wet rag around his face, breathing easier.
“Take Maeve and go.” Arden pointed to the trees. “This beast is one of Balor’s charges. Maeve Cruinn cannot fall into the Deep-Gods' hands.”
“Maeve is gone.” Shay’s jaw was hard as he met the sirens' panicked gaze.
“Dead?” Arden stumbled back.
Shay shook his head. “We don’t know.”
“How can we help?” Rainn pleaded. Anything to change the subject and admit that he didn’t know if Maevewasdead.
Arden regarded the Selkie as if for the first time. “The fire has trapped all but a few of the sirens in the caves. It won’t be long before the smoke chokes them. We must move the beast away from the canyon, so that the others can escape.”
Rainn craned his neck, eying the smoky chasm. Unable to see the rocks below.
“The beast is at the entrance to the stronghold,” Arden answered the unspoken question.
“It spat flame?” Shay pressed.
Arden nodded. “Some kind of fluid. It melted the rocks. They began to smoke before growing so hot...”
Shay rubbed his chin, muttering to himself. “Can’t go through the mouth, like Maeve did.” He murmured. “Have to find another way.”
“How big is the thing?” Rainn asked.
“Half the size of the canyon, easily.” Arden pushed his hair out of his eyes. “Can’t lure it out if we don’t know what it wants. Can’t kill it if we can’t get close.”
“The size of the Kraken?” Shay turned to Rainn, giving him a knowing look.
Rainn put the pieces together. “That Beast isn’t pleased with us.”
“The Kraken doesn’t have to be pleased with us to protect its territory.” Shay got a glint in his eye.
