Chapter 8
Njall
Telling General Magni about the siren had been a mistake.
The man couldn’t keep anything from my father, outside of bedding my sister for years before properly asking for her hand.
My father was incensed to learn that a siren was in Tyndorf.
While he enjoyed bedding every creature he could find, that one was walking our streets who could potentially control him was unacceptable.
After he was finished screaming, threatening, and throwing things at us, he ordered the general to bring extra guards to the castle to ensure no one was trying to infiltrate the royal family—which meant him, Ingvar, and Hulda.
My father couldn’t care less about me, and Baldr was only useful to him as entertainment.
Unlike the other kingdoms, where birth order decided who took the throne, my father had come up with a unique way of doing things.
When we were five, he ranked us based on the powers we’d inherited from our mothers.
Ingvar, with his werewolf strength, came first; Hulda, with her sorcery, second, and Baldr was third.
Despite being firstborn, I was ranked last, after even our mermaid sister who died in infancy.
As a child, I craved my father’s approval, but I soon learned it was futile.
Despite having loved my selkie mother, he wanted nothing to do with me after her death, as if his betrayal and her broken heart were somehow my fault.
In the meantime, I could do nothing except wait for Ingvar to take the throne, in the hopes that he'd release me from my royal obligations so I could finally make a life for myself somewhere.
At least I’d been smart enough to keep quiet about where I'd seen the siren. Mentioning the Pirate’s Booty was enough. That she’d been in my bed would only have made things worse.
After the extra guards arrived, the king dismissed us.
Ingvar and Hulda each left with at least three men following them, while Baldr and I were sent on our way with a warning to stay out of trouble.
The general and the king would devise a plan themselves to capture the siren—a task that was apparently beyond Baldr's and my abilities.
When the door to our father’s office slammed shut, Baldr clapped me on the back. “Well, I’m off.”
“Where exactly?” I asked.
“We didn’t have plans today, did we?” he asked.
“No. I just assume at some point our father will want to know where we are.”
“Ah. I've got plans with a stunning maiden I ran into at the market today.”
“One of your famous tours?”
“Only the best for our guests.” He grinned. “But really, this one's gorgeous. If she’s as much fun as I suspect she is, I’ll see if she’s interested in having you join us.”
“I can find my own bed partners,” I snapped.
“Of course you can,” Baldr said with a wink. “I just think it’s fun to share, and the ladies never complain.” When I didn't return his grin, he groaned, rolling his eyes. “Njall, stop being such a controlling older brother.”
“It's easy for you to say,” I snapped. “You’re not the one that keeps getting punished whenever one of us doesn't do what Father wants.”
Baldr threw his hands up in surrender. “Fair enough. I promise to keep out of trouble and stay away from any wicked sirens who may cross my path. Now may I go out and play?”
I groaned. “You’re worse than a child.”
Baldr laughed. “Benefits of being the youngest.” Then he turned and dashed off on whatever conquest he had planned for the night. I watched him go, hoping he'd at least paid attention to General Magni's description of the siren.
Turning away, I walked through the endless corridors lined with polished marble floors and filled with more gold trinkets and paintings of long dead royals than anyone should ever own.
In my suite, I stripped off the shirt that still smelled faintly of Pearl and tossed it on the floor before I pulled a fresh one from my wardrobe.
My mind wandered back to our night together, before I knew what she was, and I tried to figure out when she could have influenced me.
She must have done something to me. Her touch, her scent—it all felt extraordinary.
Her skin was smoother than any I'd ever felt in my life.
I'd heard stories about sirens. She'd likely been with hundreds of men, so it made sense that she'd been so incredible in bed.
But the idea that she could read minds, know exactly what I wanted—that seemed far-fetched.
I poured myself a large glass of ale and sat by the fire.
I pulled my mother’s beach glass pendant off my neck and stared into its depths.
The pale blue glass glinted in the firelight.
I couldn’t remember her ever mentioning sirens—or anything that might help me now.
Yet here I was, enchanted by one of them.
I downed the ale in a single, long swig, determined to never let it happen again.