Chapter 5.

Asteria POV.

What was I thinking when I kissed him? Gods above. I launch out of the water and sit on my favourite rock. This is such a mess. I should have never agreed to any of this. Look where it got me.

It got me betrayed by the humans, by the shifters. I should have let the military destroy them all.

“Asteria.” I look at the water and see Artemis as she moves closer to me and I burst into tears. She pulls herself up on the rock next to me and we hug each other.

I sob like a baby. A sob of pain and relief. The pain of losing Shanti, the relief of knowing Artemis, was ok. The weight of what I did to save those I thought gave a shit about me. I was wrong, so fucking wrong. I paid the ultimate price, doing what I believed was right.

I gave up my freedom so they could keep theirs, but the price that I paid was losing the girl I raised. I lost my sanity, my home, my people. All for what? So the other shifters could carry on with their lives blissfully unaware of the suffering that I endured at the hands of those that I once was.

“I’ve got you Asteria. I always have. Please, my queen, don’t cry. We can fix this.” I shake my head as I feel the anger rise within me. All those experiments unlocked something deep and feral within me. Watching Shanti die unlocked a monster in me.

“No, we won’t.” I turn my head and look back at the land with a sneer on my face.

“My queen.” She follows my gaze.

“They will all pay for this. They will all pay for her life.” I say and I look back at Artemis. She would have felt her death. Each time a siren dies, the entire colony feels it. No matter where they are in the world.

“History will repeat itself, but this time, we will win. I will not allow the humans and the mutts to rest. They will die in pain. Their blood will wash over the earth.” More of my people appear in the water.

“We will follow your command. What of the sirens on land?” I look back at the glittering lights. A malicious smile spreads on my lips.

I close my eyes and open my mouth to sing a song. A song that is ancient, forbidden and should never be sung again. As the melody echoes and dances on the breeze. I open my eyes and push my power out. Pulsing like a beacon. Calling all the sirens from land back to the water. The call of arms, the call for war.

I push on my mind the link to every siren in the world.

“My people, prepare your hunters and warriors. We will attack the humans and shifters. Their time is over. We will wash over them like a tidal wave of death and destruction. Starting with the fishing towns.” The sound of agreement enters my head.

“What of the settlements?” Artemis asks and I smile at her.

“You shall see Artemis.” I shuffle off the rock and re-enter the water. Swimming back towards a different beach in Moonlight Cove. I shriek loudly into the night air.

Shrieks and screams echo around me as I see the people of the settlement emerge from the treeline and cross the road onto the beach.

They all approach the waterline, and I move closer to them. All but Odessa, Charlie, and Rosa are with them. They have abandoned us for their mates.

“My family, please enter the water.” They all walk closer as I approach a woman in front of me. I close my eyes and kiss her on her gently on the forehead, pushing my power to her. I break the kiss and smile at her when I see her eyes change from blue to silver-violet as she moves further into the water and disappears under. Moments later, she breaches the surface. A tail behind her.

I will activate all their dormant siren DNA they will become what they were denied.

“Thank you, my queen. I have always wanted to be like you all.” She has tears dripping down her chin. I nod at her and repeat the process with all the humans from my settlement, including the children. They will be safe in the underwater hidden kingdom.

All of them shifted for the first time and I smile. They will be unstoppable. I look towards the shore and see the sirens who chose to be on land come running towards the water.

Including the Luna of Moonlight Pack. She is a siren.

“You have called us home. Why?” Luna Perla asks and I look at her.

“You know why. You may be mated to an alpha, but you are still under my rule. I have called you all home, because we are at war.” She gasps and takes a step back.

“Move another muscle. Perla and I will kill you.” She stops and clutches her neck and screams as the bond is severed. The call for war and calling my people home will sever any mate bond. It makes it easier to kill. It makes them feral.

That is why the song I used should have been forgotten, but it never will be. I am a monster. The sooner they realise that, the better.

“Your bond to me is more powerful than of any mate bond. Those connections will have started to be severed the moment I called you home. Where were you, Perla, when our people were starved and slaughtered? You were living your dream with your mate, you turned your back on us. Not anymore. I have a mission for you, Perla.” I chuckle darkly as she straightens up, her true nature taking hold once more. I see it in her eyes.

“We will attack Moonlight Cove and you will kill your mate, ex-mate. We are at war with not only the humans, but every shifter who turned their backs on us when I fucking saved them from extinction.” Murmurs break out at my words.

“Is this why you disappeared for nearly a decade?” I nod my head.

“Yes. You are a siren first, Perla, yet you happily turned your back on your family. Not anymore. If you betray me, or anyone for that matter, I will kill you. Am I clear?” I turn and look at everyone here, and they all bow their heads in submission. I turn back to Perla and she bows to me.

“Good. Time to go home. We have a war to plan. We will attack the trawlers and the fishing companies first, then we will attack the people of Moonlight Cove.” I say as I dive and swim home, my people behind me.