Shasta accepted and let him lead her forward. “This was supposed to be an easy case.”

  “Have to watch out for the easy ones.” Cord guided them around a still-hot rock formation. “How do you think this is going to go?”

  Shasta watched as Agatha knelt before Sirenum. “I’m going to make sure everything stays civil.”

  “I doubt that’ll be necessary,” Cord whispered against her ear.

  Shasta gave him her best I’m-not-so-sure look but didn’t say anything. They were close enough now that Sirenum and the sirens could hear them, and she didn’t want to disrupt the negotiations. Especially not after all the work that she and Cord had put into making this second round possible.

  “If you wish to leave, you may have all the time you need to move the eggs,” Sirenum offered.

  Agatha’s chest rose as she sucked in a deep breath. “Are most of the eggs unharmed?”

  Sirenum nodded. “I believe so. All volcanic activity was well removed from that area.”

  Sighs of relief, quickly followed by the occasional burst of tears, swept through the remaining sirens. Agatha pursed her lips together and swallowed hard. “We are without words to adequately express our gratitude.”

  “I had no desire to hurt the young. My earlier words came from anger and not understanding your life cycles,” Sirenum rumbled.

  “We too have felt anger. After what we have learned, we must offer our own apologies. The acts perpetrated by members of our community are unforgivable. We hope the justice that was”—Agatha paused as she searched for a suitable word—“delivered will demonstrate our sincerity, remorse, and commitment to a better future.”

  Long moments passed as Sirenum looked down at Agatha. Shasta forced herself to stand still. Unlike last time, this was a calm conversation. She blinked tiredly and hoped they would hurry up. There had to be a bed somewhere on this island that she could occupy for ten or twelve hours.

  “I cannot forgive what was done.” Sirenum shifted its weight. “However, I now understand that their actions do not represent the beliefs and desires of the rest of you. Simply because you are the same species does not mean you are the same. As you have shown your commitment to a better way of life, I again offer this island as your home while you continue to strive toward that lofty goal.”

  Agatha brushed tears away from her eyes. “We would be delighted to stay.”

  Sirenum held up a hand. “There are conditions.”

  “We are listening.” Agatha stilled.

  “There will be no more sacrifices.” Sirenum’s voice carried across the assembly.

  “Then you will fade,” Agatha said.

  “I was never meant to be this.” Sirenum thumped a hand against its chest. “I do not fear returning to what I was before or ceasing to exist.”

  Agatha twisted around to look behind her. Sappho nodded. Agatha turned back to the elemental. “If there are to be more of us, we will need a larger island. Would blood offerings sustain you?”

  Shasta found herself holding her breath. It was a good trade for both parties. Since the sirens were very close to immortal, even their blood would be potent. It would help fuel Sirenum, giving it the life it wanted and the sirens the island they needed.

  Sirenum squared its shoulders. “No death.”

  Agatha shook her head. “No death. Simple cuts that we open up to share blood with you.”

  “I could create a place for those offerings.” Sirenum hesitated. “If that is something you are willing to do.”

  Agatha smiled. “It will be our honor to have an appropriate way to share power with you.”

  Sirenum bowed. “Then I accept.”

  “And you’ll expand the island?” Agatha prompted.

  Sirenum closed its eyes. Seconds ticked by before they reopened. “Perhaps the north side?”

  Agatha offered her hand. “I believe we have a deal.”

  Sirenum glanced over at Shasta and Cord.

  Shasta nodded quickly. The sooner they could get this settled, the sooner she could clean up, tend to her injuries, and get some sleep.

  Sirenum carefully took Agatha’s hand and moved it the requisite two pumps. “A new covenant.”

  Agatha grinned. “Agreed.” Behind her the sirens cheered.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Shasta stood with Cord, Agatha, and Sirenum in the center of the caldera. The remaining sirens, battered and bruised, fanned out around them. In the post-dawn light, they all looked a little worse for wear. Cord had bruises on his face and lacerations on most of his torso. Agatha was on her own two feet thanks to a tightly bound ankle. Only Sirenum was uninjured, though it had muted its heat and glow and was now a very warm pile of rocks with orange lines at its joints.

  For herself, well, even the hair growing out of her head ached. However, her injuries could wait until after the ceremony. Her gaze drifted from Agatha to Sirenum to Cord. “Are you ready?”

  Cord nodded.

  Agatha fixed her gaze at Sirenum. “Yes.”

  Sirenum bowed its head and offered a hand to Cord and to Shasta.

  Shasta clasped her left palm against Sirenum’s warm stone one. Across from her, Cord mirrored her movements. She offered her right hand to Agatha. The siren didn’t hesitate to complete the circle. Shasta glanced at Sirenum. The elemental bowed its head again.

  She took a deep breath and let her power mingle freely with the earth below. She could feel the swirls of energy as Cord and Sirenum did the same. “I offer of myself to help reform bonds that have been broken and promises that have been shattered.”

  “For friendship, for family.” Cord looked into Shasta’s eyes. “I offer the connection that all elves have to bridge from what was to what can be.”

  “I am of this island, fire that creates,” Sirenum rumbled. “I offer to the sirens a home should they hold respect for other life above their own and willingly share their power.”

  Agatha held herself tall. “On behalf of all the sirens who remain and those who have yet to come, I vow to hold to the new ways. We will uphold this covenant, willingly surrender power to Sirenum, and never again allow rot to prosper in our midst.”

  Shasta pulled up the tiny little flick of magic she had left and shoved it into the mix of power. “Here the new covenant is forged. Here Sirenum and the sirens start anew.”

  Under them the power swirled and mixed. Fine tremors rippled underfoot, and a shaft of swirling yellow, orange, red, and white light shot out of the ground. Shasta closed her eyes, but she could still see it—so bright, so beautiful. A gentle heat brushed across her face and hands. The vibrations ceased. The light slowly faded away.

  When swirls of light stopped dancing across the inside of her eyelids, Shasta looked at what their magic had created. In the very center of the caldera, between the four of them, a shining obsidian rose out of the ground. The lower portion, a smooth and polished cylinder, was capped by a small basin with a hole in the very center. On Agatha’s side, the basin had a curved dish protruding from the edge. Resting on it was a knife of solid obsidian, the blade slender and sharper than a razor. The handle was round, with curves fingers could rest on.

  Without a word, Agatha dropped Shasta’s and Cord’s hands. She picked up the knife and looked it over in the morning sun. Her face was serene as she held her arm over the basin. In one sure stroke, she sliced open her forearm between the elbow and wrist. Thick drops of blood splashed into the basin, sliding down the curve before disappearing through the opening. “With willing blood, I cement this covenant.”

  Shasta felt the blood tumble down the long column and splash into the magma chamber far below.

  Sirenum dropped her and Cord’s hands. The elemental pressed three stone fingers against Agatha’s cut. “Willingly offered, willingly received, the covenant begins.” Sirenum stilled, as if it was focusing very hard. The words were deep and low. “I give back from what was given to me.”

  Agatha winced but didn’t move her arm.

  Sirenum lifted away fingers surprisingly absent of blood. A thin, puckered line was all that remained of the wound on Agatha’s arm, as if it had undergone more than a week of healing.

  Agatha bowed her head. She then thrust her arm up into the air. “It is a new day for all of us.”

  The sirens cheered.

  Shasta smiled at Cord, tipped her head in the direction of their house, and mouthed, “Sleep.” While the sirens and the elemental celebrated, the two of them snuck away.

  Shasta smiled as the waves glittered under the morning light. A cresting swell pushed at the dock, making it shift underfoot. She swayed, brushing her shoulder against Cord’s. The police had come and gone, though they would be back. Now Agatha and Sappho were greeting the wereshark delegation, and the wereseals were chatting with Melissa. All indications were that the sirens would be able to move past what Ligia and her ilk had done and create a better life than they had ever had. That alone was worth the bruises, though if she hadn’t had the healing charm she might feel different.

  “I thought you had a plane to catch.” Carmen strode down the dock. “Are you coming or should I just wait for them?”

  Shasta turned away. “I’m ready to go home.”

  “I’ll take that bag.” Carmen plucked the duffel out of Shasta’s hand.

  It hardly took any time at all for them to load up the boat, and before she knew it, Carmen was backing them away from the dock. It hadn’t been the trip she’d hoped for or the simple case she’d anticipated. Right now she wasn’t sure if the surprises had turned out for the better or not.

  Cord spent the entire trip back looking out at the water. He said little more than a mumbled thanks to Carmen when they unloaded at the mainland dock before carrying the first load of bags to the waiting car without being asked.

  Carmen’s overly cheerful smile fell away. “Will things really be better?”

  Shasta nodded, trying not to think of Pelagia or Gaiana. “I think so. Justice was done, or as close to justice as can ever be done.”

  Carmen studied the deck. When she looked up, there were tears in her eyes. “Justice doesn’t bring my husband back.”

  Shasta forced herself to meet Carmen’s gaze, to recognize what couldn’t be undone. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  Carmen looked away. “What…?” She took a deep breath. “I don’t know what to do now. First I had grief and then anger.”

  Shasta reached into her pocket and pulled out an oddly shaped chunk of obsidian. It had sharp corners, straight lines, and curves. Shasta set it in Carmen’s hands. “Now you have hope.”

  Carmen turned the shape over in her hands, letting the sunlight dance across the irregular surfaces. “Do I?”

  “I think so.” She hoped so. Otherwise, all the killing, both that the sirens had done and the blood that was on her own hands, had been for nothing. “Evil was vanquished, and life is beginning anew. You saw Agatha negotiating with the weresharks and wereseals. There are plans for the sirens to meet with the mayor and other local authorities. They want to help police bring closure for the families who were affected and start seeing if there’s a way they can contribute to mainland society. Separating themselves fully didn’t work. They want something different.”

  “That’s all well and good for them, but it does not give me hope.”

  Shasta’s heart ached for Carmen. “I can’t put hope in a bottle and give it to you. That’s not in my powers.”

  Carmen sighed. “I don’t know what I’m asking of you. It sounds like the impossible.”

  Shasta glanced at the waiting car. Cord was fussing with the bags, giving her a little more time with Carmen. “You want what you had. The rock you’re holding, it was formed when Sirenum was trying to kill me. From the lava, and the pain, came something beautiful. Your life as it was is over, but I refuse to think that you can’t have something else, something equally wonderful in its own way.”

  “Let me guess. I just need to give it time?” Her words were bitter.

  Shasta suppressed a smile. “Some might tell you that. But the women in my family are more known for going after what they want with a club than for sitting patiently and waiting for it to make its way to them.”

  The ghost of a smile flickered across Carmen’s face. “I’ve never used a club.”

  Shasta was trying to figure what to say when a splash of water caught her attention. Not far from the dock, where a ramp led up to a small building, a seal heaved itself out of the water. It shifted into a man, naked and possessing an extremely handsome backside.

  Carmen dropped the obsidian. It landed on the dock with a dull thud, bounced, and thudded again.

  The wereseal spun around. His eyes locked on Carmen, and he turned bright pink before scurrying into the shed.

  Shasta raised an eyebrow. “Someone you know?”

  Carmen leaned down and grabbed the obsidian. “We dated in high school. He moved away, and I met my husband. He moved back here a month ago. Apparently his wife died last year.”

  This time Shasta didn’t bother to hide her grin. “Information you very casually acquired, I’m sure.”

  Carmen fiddled with the chunk of obsidian. “I need a club.”

  Shasta laughed. “Give me a call if you need some help.”

  Carmen blushed.

  “I promise,” Shasta said solemnly, “there’s hope.”

  “You’re right. Thank you for the reminder.” Carmen held up the obsidian.

  “You’re welcome.” She picked up her bags and headed toward the car, hesitating at the end of the dock. The island had been so very different from the earth she was accustomed to. There was a chance it wouldn’t approve of what she had done on Sirenum Island.

  She held her breath as she picked up one foot and set it on solid ground.

  Welcome. The steady hum of the earth flowed up her leg, filling all of her. High welcoming notes dotted the even tones. I missed you. A surge of warmth followed. You did well, earth born, friend of dragons, fire forged.

  She didn’t have to say anything. The earth felt her thanks, and relief.

  A surge of love emanated from the earth. Growing into oneself often hurts, but you’ve made me proud.

  I will do my best to always make you proud.

  A hand closed over hers. The connection with the earth faded and she saw Cord.

  His eyes darted toward the bag. “We don’t want to miss the flight.”

  “No. Of course not.” Shasta let go of the duffel. While he stashed it in the trunk, she shrugged out of the backpack.

  The earth kept up the warm connection until she settled into the car. Unlike her time on the island, the loss of this connection didn’t hurt. Even inside the car she could still feel the earth only a few inches away.

  The driver turned around and smiled. “I see you made it back.”

  “Only because of your good advice, Billy.”

  Billy snorted. “I’m sure that was it.”

  Cord settled into the seat next to her and closed the door. “We’re ready.”

  “Yes, sir.” Billy started the car.

  Shasta glanced at Cord. He tipped his head back and closed his eyes. If the boat ride and his current position were any indication, this was going to be a very quiet ride to the airport. More accurately, a long, quiet ride. The timing hadn’t worked out for them to take a small connecting flight, so Billy was driving them all the way to Portland.

  Billy seemed to sense Cord’s mood and was quiet. As the miles slipped by, Shasta let the steady motion lull her to sleep.

  Hours later, Billy pulled up to the terminal and helped them unload. Cord paid him while Shasta started checking them in for the flight. Cord was still saying as little as possible, and they managed to get through security and all the way to the gate with only the most purpose-driven conversation.

  While Cord stared out the terminal window, Shasta looked at him. There was still an hour before their flight, and she had questions. Unfortunately, the primary question was whether it was worth talking to him and potentially causing a fight and then having to spend several hours on a plane next to him.

  With a gusty sigh, Cord turned to face her. “You asked why I showed up. I think it’s time I answered that.”

  “Past time.” Shasta crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the hard metal arm of the chair.

  “Right.” Cord looked at his hands. “On the island, I didn’t know who we could trust, and I was worried about how you’d react. I’m still worried, but at least here being distracted won’t put your life in jeopardy.”

  That just made her even more curious, but instead of asking questions, she clamped her mouth shut and waited for him to supply answers.

  He looked up at her. “I found out we wouldn’t be working together for several weeks from your mom. She called me late in the evening on the day we spent recovering cats. She kept it vague, saying that we both had been reassigned and our overall status as partners would be reviewed later.

  “I was sent on a solo case the next day, and it wasn’t until evening sword practice that I realized you were gone.” For the first time he met her eyes. “You can’t blame your dad. He was being, well, a dad. He said you went on a dangerous individual case. I asked more questions, and for the most part he didn’t answer. I stopped asking questions because it was the most punishing sword session of my entire life. I think I still have bruises. After the fifth time he disarmed me, he asked if I felt guilty.”

  Cord sighed again. “I said yes. Elron said I should. ‘Do you really think she would’ve gone alone on a dangerous case, three thousand miles from home, if it wasn’t for you hurting her? None of us know what awaits her on that island, and because of you my daughter is out there without backup.’”

  “What?” It didn’t make sense. “Why would Dad say that? It wasn’t fair.”

  Cord held up a hand. “He went on to say that if I truly loved you, I would fix things. ‘After all, Sirenum isn’t that hard to get to.’ Then he went on to make me fight for my life for another thirty minutes. I went home that night, and all I could think about was you, alone and in danger because of me. And I thought about losing you. It scared me.