Chapter 21
The lone siren’s song halted and the vision above the stage disappeared.
Hylos stood at the front of the room, no longer wearing his crown, only his blue robe, as he looked out at his people. The noise of the party waned so the sirens could hear their leader speak.
“Thank you for spending this evening with me and for gracing Naiadon with your attendance for Holy Hydroxia.”
A swell of cheers came from the crowd. I noted that even those who’d scowled before seemed pliant in Hylos’s presence now, likely from good drink and a decadent feast.
“As you all know, the symposion is a time for entertainment of course, but also for philosophizing, strategizing, and even unifying. Many profound conversations that have been shared over wine among the bravest sirens of history have prevented famine, ended generational feuds, and inspired brighter futures for us all.”
“And tonight, there is much to discuss.” Hylos paused. The room was enraptured. “Our way of life is in danger.” Whispers were swarming. “First it started with my father, who went missing. Then with a strange, unnatural city upon our ocean.”
Cedric’s Whiterok, which was at the center of it all.
“And now, as you all know, more sirens have gone missing in the body of our mother.” He ground out the words, emphasizing the impact of the insult. “And we know exactly who is at fault for these crimes.”
The crowd murmured in hisses that prickled my skin.
“The king of Oakhaven,” Hylos said.
More condemnation filled the room at the mention of my father. My skin tingled at the feeling of eyes stabbing holes in my back.
“There is only one response to this affront to the Holy Mother!” Hylos boomed.
Serenous side-eyed me through pink lashes.
“Retaliation.”
War.
“We have gathered information on where the king’s men assemble, his naval ships, his greatest ports and trade routes.”
Bile rose in my throat. Not gathered, but plundered from the minds of sailors. From men like Arlo and his crew.
“Naiadon, under my orders, will make our first attack to remind the king that Nymphaea’s children have inherited our mother’s sea. That these are our waters, not theirs. And the only creature who should be afraid within its depths are terras.” This elicited more cheers.
This was not good.
“As the greatest Circles in my three seas, given to me to wield by the Mother herself,” he continued, “join me in defending our waters. Lend me your armies. Fight by my side. Protect our mother’s holy body. Protect our people!”
The room erupted in approval. Hylos, his strong chin held high, basked in the applause.
Did any of them know what this meant? What the sacrifice was? Who the sacrifice was? No war could be won without death.
“What of the terra princess?” A cold, metallic voice cut through the room.
The crowd silenced in an instant as their eyes fell upon the stark-white figure, an ancient-looking woman set in gypsum. The same woman who’d spoken in whispers and eyed me with Raylik’s uncle.
“What of her, Elspeth, Leader of Circle Fushdmuir?” Hylos said sternly.
So, she was Morvyn’s aunt.
The woman rose to her feet slowly; she was unthinkably thin and old, with long wisps of white hair swaying past her knees, blending with the white layers of fabric she was drowning in. I understood why Morvyn avoided her. She was frightening.
“Will the terra princess stand by you in this attack you speak of?”
My pulse became thready. No way would I ever do that. I looked at Hylos, who kept his eyes on Elspeth.
“That is for her to decide.” He raised his hands, addressing the crowd. “As it is for each of you to decide.”
Whispers rushed from each cluster of sirens, sounding like doubt.
“But,” Hylos continued, “I believe it speaks of her intention that she sits with us this evening.”
I had absolutely no intention of agreeing to join this foolish, one-sided war.
The entire room snapped its scrutinizing gaze to me.
Fuck. A fist clenched my heart. Hylos locked his eyes on me, willing some type of answer.
If I told him no now, it would make him a laughingstock among these other leaders.
Which was not my concern. This was clearly an intimidation tactic.
But angering him would put me in more danger.
I swallowed the dry lump of fear lodged in my throat and rose to my feet. “I—” Words felt thick, but I forced them out, determined to be clear and concise. “I am here to learn of the situation between your people and mine.” It was the truth.
More whispers bristled through the room, and Hylos let out a breath, a small smile thanking me. But the tactful answer wasn’t for him. It was for me. For survival, for the captain and his crew. I was Infernum-bent on getting us all out of here alive.
“Now that we have discussed the necessities of our duty …” Hylos turned back to the crowd, addressing them as I found my seat again.
Serenous’s and Serfie’s searing-pink gazes both sized me up.
“Please enjoy the rest of the evening, drink my wine, discuss with one another. But hold in your mind your role in the fate of our people’s future.” Then Hylos walked off the dais and headed straight toward me.
“Serenous,” he drawled as he took her slender, webbed hand and kissed the top.
“My liege,” she said, cocking her head, sending her scales twinkling in the light. “Interesting discussion is to be had this evening.”
“Indeed,” Hylos agreed, not faltering under her watchful gaze. “And what do you think of Elowyn?” he asked, settling into the couch where Siggy had sat, filling a chalice of wine for himself.
“She is a delight. Far more interesting than most humans I’ve encountered.
Many fear us, but she does not. She looks at us more like riddles she’s intent on solving.
” She looked at me again with a devious smile, then continued, “A curious mind, and I suspect a loyal heart. Whoever’s side she sits on in this impending war, I sense she will be a great asset. ”
I nearly laughed. I was no asset at all.
“Although I’m uncertain her mind is made up,” Serenous added.
But it was. I would stand with the innocents of Oakhaven. Forever.
“What of the great minds of Circle Starwyrt?” Hylos asked Serenous and her sister Serfie. “Are they made up?”
The pair did not even glance at one another when Serenous answered. “Not quite. We will need a stronger alliance before I’ll go to battle for you, young king,” she purred.
“I am bound this Hydroxia.” He cut her short, sipping his chalice and searching the crowd.
Serenous’s strange eyes inspected Hylos.
“You still waste yourself on that miserable made siren? It would be one thing if it were for love. But your heart does not belong to her—no matter how hard you try to convince us otherwise—and my daughter Siggy is quite beautiful. She hardly smiles, like your paramour, if that suits you best,” she offered.
“The leader of my Circle would be the one to arrange a mating between two great Circles. When my father returns, he will decree which it shall be with.”
“If he returns,” Serenous added.
Hylos’s face hardened. “When.” Then that charming smile returned to smooth any bite away and he leaned into Serenous. “Besides, we all know you’re the true beauty of Starwyrt Circle and the only one worthy of my full attention during Hydroxia.”
His compliment hit its mark and Serenous’s bright-yellow eyebrows rose as she let out a peal of laughter. “Well played,” she said. “Serfie and I shall speak on the matter.”
Then the pair rose, towering above Hylos and me in their lissome height. “Good evening, Hylos, and to you, Princess Elowyn. May you never forget who welcomed you to their table and who cast you aside,” Serenous said.
I blinked the words away, not letting them penetrate my skin or my heart.
Then the pair glided away.
Hylos sipped from his drink and let his mask down for a second before me. That look of a ruler, regent or not, faded into the tired and worried soul he was below the surface.
“Did any agree to join you this evening?” I asked, my tone gentler than expected. Despite being my enemy, I felt for Hylos. He carried a world upon his shoulders in the absence of his father.
“No,” he sighed. “Lots of half answers and enough witty repartee for a lifetime, but no formal agreements. Plenty of offers to mate with daughters and sisters though.” He rolled his blue eyes.
“Ah, so your sex life is up for discussion around here too, I see. In that, our worlds are alike.”
Hylos half-smiled and raised an eyebrow at me, reveling in the bold statement. “At least it is different here; it’s only a night and must be agreed upon by the two respective parties. I’m sure it’d be fine … great, even but—”
“But it’s not as appealing when you’re asked to do it,” I finished. Something was so miserable about the whole concept. It felt sterile. Contractual.
He let out a breath. “Something like that. You know,” he turned to me, “you’re not what I’d expect a terra princess to be like. You’re very straightforward.”
“Well, that’s because I’m not a princess. Serenous knows of my story; I’m surprised you do not.”
“Ah, yes. Calypstra told me when you arrived who she assumed you were, and your circumstances.”
That was a polite way to put my father disowning me.
“I’m sure she reveled in just how miserable my existence is,” I said.
“I’m sure she didn’t at all. Calypstra is ⒈／⒋” He searched his cup for answers. “She’s misunderstood. Like many of the made sirens here, her path to the sea was rough.”
Like that was any excuse for her being absolutely horrendous.
Could anything that happened to her be any worse than Lumina’s story?
Yet Lumina remained kind. A bit reserved, sure, but not cruel.
She even defended me, a complete stranger, to her leader.
Because she knew what Calypstra did tonight was wrong.
Struggle or not, Lumina had a truly good heart. So did Nixie. Calypstra did not. That was clear. Hylos’ judgment was so wrong on multiple levels. Like he was wrong about Oakhaven’s role in the missing sirens altogether.
Hylos drank to the dregs of his cup, then stood. “Well, off to more begging and bartering I suppose.”
“Hylos, wait.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have regular meetings with your war council?” I questioned.
He looked up at Raylik, who still stood above us. “Yes, I do,” he offered cautiously. “Raylik and I meet each evening.”
“Just you and Raylik, that’s it?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes, he’s my head commander.”
That wasn’t much of a war council, and how much talking did Raylik really do?
“If you’d like me to consider joining your cause against my father, then I wish to be there. I’d like to see what truth there is to your claims.” If others were bargaining, so would I.
“A terra princess on my war council.” A cheeky smile marked his features, making him look again like the boy I still knew him to be.
“Not a princess,” I rebuffed the title. “I’m serious. I’d like to sit in on the meetings going forward.”
“I think that’s a fine idea; we could use your insight,” he answered.
No insight would be imparted. At least not from me.
“Raylik and I meet each evening for dinner. You are welcome to join us starting tomorrow evening.”