The Triplets And Their Mysterious Mate

Siren

Tate POV

As I plunged into the water, the weight on my body made my every movement feel laborious. The once familiar sensation of swimming now seemed alien and challenging. Desperately, I fought against the water's resistance, straining to break through to the surface. A sound pierced my ears unlike anything I had ever heard before, a piercing scream that echoed in the depths of the underwater world.

Despite being submerged, the scream reverberated through my entire being, causing a disorienting sensation. As the sound enveloped me, I could feel my consciousness teetering on the edge, slipping away like water through my fingers. And then, a haunting melody reached my ears, a siren's song that seemed to wrap around me, luring me deeper into the abyss.

With great effort, I managed to partially transform, my claws elongating in a desperate attempt to defend myself. But my vision was obscured, leaving me blind to the dangers lurking around me. Suddenly, a strong pressure gripped my arm. Reacting instinctively, I slashed out with my other arm, a sharp and precise strike hitting its intended target.

However, before I could capitalize on my defensive move, an overwhelming darkness consumed me. It swallowed my surroundings, leaving me engulfed in a void of nothingness.

_________

The salty aroma of the ocean enveloped me, mingling with the musty scent of the damp cave as I woke up. The hard surface beneath me sent a jolt through my body, awakening my senses.

Confusion washed over me as I wondered how I had managed to escape the water. Suddenly, my brothers' voices echoed in my head, their words booming like thunder. "Tate!" they called out urgently.

I responded through our mental link, my voice trembling. Opening my eyes, I took in my surroundings. The dim light revealed the rough walls of the mysterious cave. Panic gripped me as Dean's frantic voice reached my ears. He informed me that Calista had jumped into the water after me. Desperation laced Cade's voice as he asked if she was with me.

In my mind, Cade shared that the demons had vanished, but Lazer had fled. It was a choice between saving everyone or pursuing him.

Calista's scent wafted towards me, mingled with the metallic tang of blood. A low growl escaped my lips as I stood up, realizing that she had been the one to pull me to safety. Scanning the area, my eyes settled on her figure, still submerged in the water.

I swiftly sprinted towards her, my heart pounding in my chest. As I urgently reached her side, I hesitated for a moment, frozen by the sight before me.

"f**k," I whispered under my breath. “We messed up big time.” I waded into the water, the coolness seeping into my skin, as I carefully examined her motionless form. Calista was the Siren. My gaze shifted to her shoulder, where deep, raw gashes marred her once flawless skin.

"TATE IS SHE WITH YOU?" Cade's voice boomed in my head again.

"I hurt her, f**k, I didn't know it was her," I confessed over our link.

"She's bleeding bad," I added, my voice strained with worry. I held her close, feeling the weight of her body against mine. The coolness of the water seeped into my skin, leaving a slight tingle.

"You hurt her? Where are you?" Dean's voice cut through the link, filled with concern. I closed my eyes, trying to regain my focus amidst the chaos.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration. "She's the f*****g Siren, and we've been telling our mate she's a monster. She probably hates us," I confessed, the weight of our misjudgment heavy on my heart.

Cade and Dean fell silent for a moment, their thoughts intertwining with mine. "We're in a cave," I finally spoke up. "I'll find a way out and find you. We need to get her somewhere safe," I declared through our link , my grip on her tightening.

"Is she in the water?" Cade's voice filled my mind, echoing through the depths of my consciousness.

"Yes," I responded.

"According to the texts I've studied, Sirens heal fast, but they have to be in the water," Cade explained. "It's safe to assume Calista is the dark Siren, since she keeps moving around. But I would think she still heals like the rest of her kind."

"Sirens also draw the opposite s*x in," Cade continued. "So it makes sense now why she was a magnet for every guy. Sirens are gifted with flawless features for that reason. In the text, it says they feed off intimate connection. Meaning you holding her will help her heal."

I focused on the sensation of the water surrounding us. I vowed to stay in the water with her. "Stay linked with us, Tate," Cade's voice urged. "And don't let Calista leave. I agree we messed up with her, but she needs to know she is safe with us. She doesn't have to hide alone anymore."

I moved a little in the cool water. More of her body became submerged, but I maintained a firm grip on her. The sight of her took my breath away - a true goddess in every sense. It was astonishing to think that anyone could label her as a monster. Her skin shimmered with a mesmerizing blue hue, as though it was adorned with sparkling glitter. And her fin, an exquisite masterpiece, displayed several shades of blue.

She was ours, and I was determined not to let her slip away. After a few minutes, she began to stir against me, realizing that I was holding her. The sound of her movement sent a ripple of concern through me. "Don't," I spoke, my voice steady and calm.

Her words, though weak, pierced my heart like sharp daggers. "So what are you going to do? Kill me or lock me away?" she asked, her voice laced with desperation.

Keeping my gaze fixed upon her, I replied, "Keep you safe." As she continued to struggle against me, I added, "I'm not letting you go, Calista. Don't fight me. You risked everything to save me, revealing yourself in the process. I refuse to believe you would have done that unless you wanted to be with us."

Even as I spoke, she persisted in her attempts to break free. "I don't want to force you, Calista. Please, don't fight me. You're injured because of me, so let me at least help you. You're in no condition to leave alone. You know that you're weak right now, and I don't think it's solely because of the injury I caused. They did something to you, and if you go, those who are your true enemies will get to you."

My worry intensified as I feared she might escape. Despite her weakened state, she possessed a strength that could shatter my grip. I didn't want to resort to force to make her come with me.

"Water can't be in it," she finally spoke, her voice tinged with desperation. "Please release me. I won't go," she pleaded.

Reluctantly, I released my hold on her, observing as her body shifted to a human form and she emerged from the water. However, her strength failed her, and she collapsed onto the ground.

"You need the sea water, don't you?" I said, my voice filled with concern.

"I'll manage. Just give me a moment," she responded, her voice strained. "When I stay in the water for too long, my kind can sense me. They want me dead. If they couldn't sense me, I would have never come to the land," she admitted, her words heavy with the weight of her suffering. "Yet on land, the demons want me. And if not them, others seek to sell me to them. And then you, your family, and the others want to lock me away. No matter where I go, I'm hunted," she said, her voice filled with resignation.

She pushed herself up, her movements slow and labored. I reached out for her. "Don't touch me," she snapped, her voice sharp and filled with anguish. The sight of her pain tore at my heart, and I feared that our chances of acceptance were slipping away.

Hero's voice filled my mind. "She saved us. Why would she save us if she planned to reject us? She doesn't know that we won't perish."

"I won't hurt you," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "We only wanted to protect you." My fingers trembled as I moved closer to her, the anticipation of her reaction hanging in the air.

"I'm a monster, remember?" she whispered, her voice barely a breath.

"We were wrong to ever say that. You are no monster," I pleaded, my voice filled with regret. "Give us another chance to earn your trust."

As she took a step back, she stumbled, almost falling, and frustration filled me. "Damnit, Calista," I growled. Closing the distance between us, I lifted her into my arms. Her body felt frail against mine.

"Put me down," she demanded, her voice filled with defiance.

"No," I responded firmly, my grip tightening. "Stop being stubborn and accept my damn help," I demanded, the desperation in my voice evident. "Be mad at me, that's fine, but you have to know that you need help," I pleaded, my words filled with urgency.

She rested her head against me, a small glimmer of hope flickering within me. "I can't go far. Something in the air... it hurts," she whispered.

"I won't take you far then. We will find a safe place," I reassured her, feeling her body go limp in my arms. She had fought so hard to hold on.

I held her tightly against me, feeling the warmth of her body pressed against mine as we cautiously emerged from the dark cave. In the distance, I could hear the distant hum of the town, the bustling sounds of people going about their daily lives.

Through our mental link, Dean's voice echoed in my mind, his concern evident. "How is she?" he asked, his words tinged with worry. I could feel the weight of his emotions through our connection.

"She's not fully healed," I replied. "She's weak and warned me about the pain she feels from the air. It's like something the demons released is still lingering. She fought to stay awake, but she's scared, afraid of us.”

"We'll have to earn her trust," I said. "It won't be easy, but Hero understands that. It'll take time.” I explained.

As we waited, my senses remained heightened, alert for any signs of danger. The absence of demonic presence was a small comfort, but I couldn't let my guard down. After what felt like an eternity, I heard Dean's footsteps approaching, echoing in the cave. His eyes immediately focused on Calista, his concern mirroring mine.

"Quickly," he urged, guiding us towards the waiting car. With his assistance, I carefully placed Calista in the backseat, making sure she was comfortable against me. I hoped that my warmth would offer her some comfort.

Cade wasted no time, swiftly starting the engine and taking us away from the cave. The sound of the car's tires on the road filled the air, a steady rhythm that matched the beating of my anxious heart. Dean turned to me, his voice filled with regret.

"All this time, she was the one we were searching for," he confessed. "I feel awful for not realizing it sooner. We spoke ill of sirens without knowing it was her. We unknowingly put her in danger. But now, we must focus on keeping her safe and putting an end to the threat she faces."

As the car sped towards our uncertain future, I couldn't help but wonder if we could truly make amends for our mistakes. Only time would tell if our efforts would be enough to keep Calista and bring an end to the looming danger.