Page 37 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“I seem to be fresh out of scarves. If only someone had cloth to spare.”

The other half of Annika’s blanket dangles from her fingertips.

I hold out my hand, palm raised. “I know you care about my well-being.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t hear you! What did you say?” With a flick of her wrist, the material flies into the sea.

I expected as much. “It’s fine. I’m not a sucker for a beautiful voice like the rest of this lot.”

Captain Aron shakes his head at the both of us before returning his attention to the sea.

For the next half hour, I sit back and watch everyone fuss with their crude muffles and shout at one another to be heard. Annika remains quiet, leaning against the side of the ship, gazing at the horizon, her thoughts seemingly beyond it.

When the first sweet melody tickles my eardrum, it’s so faint I’m sure I’ve imagined it, but I find myself leaning forward, searching for a repeat—a confirmation that it was real. It comes moments later, a musical and feminine high note that erases the clatter around me. I’ve never heard anything so beautiful, so mesmerizing in all my life, and I find myself closing my eyes and smiling as I listen to it grow louder.

“You hear them, don’t you!” Annika startles me.

I crack one eye to find her hovering over me. “You don’t?”

She scrunches her nose. “Barely. It’s muffled.”

“Remove your blanket.”

“Of course you’d suggest that. You want me to get eaten.”

A sly smile curls my lips. “Yes, I would quite enjoy that, but not in the way you mean.”

“You swine.” She spins on her heels, but not before I catch the flush of her cheeks, and rushes back to search the waters.

More sirens sing now, the soothing chorus wafting through the air in wave after wave, relaxing my body despite the throb in my leg. It’s not long before I begin to feel the pull of longing, the urge to get up, to venture to the edge of the boat, to lean over in hopes of catching a glimpse of them for myself.

Maybe torn apart is how I would like to die.

Maybe I should end my suffering now.

“Radic. Get back from there!” someone shouts. “Radic!”

I turn in time to watch a sailor behind me jump overboard. A heavy splash sounds seconds later.

“The idiot didn’t secure his scarf tight enough!” Captain growls.

“There! I see him!” Annika points to the water.

“It’s too late.”

“What?” She gapes at him. “He’s right there! Give him a net!”

With a curse and a glance my way, Captain waves his hand and chaos breaks out as men rush to the side of the ship and cast a fishing net. They shout his name, trying to get his attention. Through all the commotion, the sirens continue singing, beckoning.

“I see something! I see it! Is that …” Annika pauses and then her mouth hangs open.

“What do you see?” I call out.

Her face twists with alarm. “How can something like that sing—ah!” She screams, slapping her hands over her mouth while several sailors shout and others recoil as if veering from a gruesome sight.

“This, I need to see.” I struggle to stand.

“Stay where you are!” Captain Aron hollers, but my curiosity is piqued by Annika’s terror.

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