Page 29 of The Dark Sea Calls

When I sat back, sweating, with my arms shaking with exertion, Arden tilted his head to the rocks on the other side of the clearing. The only place that might offer the illusion of privacy.

I stood up and followed the Siren, glancing back at Moira to make sure she didn’t get the wrong idea, but my friend gave an exhausted wave and a smile.

Arden didn’t speak until we were finally alone. He seemed vexed.

It seemed I was attracting many unhappy males to my company. Perhaps I needed some incense to drive them away.

“Maeve.” Arden dipped his head in a nod, his brow furrowed. “My mother spoke with King Irvine this morning.”

My heart sank. My eyes flicked to the knife on Arden’s belt and whether I could take it if he tried to grab me.

I cleared my throat. “Oh?” A paragon of witty speech, as always.

“King Irvine has requested a battalion of Siren soldiers to come to his aid,” Arden said, knitting his fingers over his stomach. “Sirens are neutral to the Twilight Lake war for all intents and purposes.”

“But the Undine and Sirens are allies,” I nodded, finishing his statement.

“A relationship founded by my mother and Queen Caoimhe.” Arden winced. “I have spoken to Moira of her thoughts, but I wanted to hear yours.”

“Mine?”

He nodded. “King Irvine has made an undeniable offer.”

“Oh?” I couldn’t breathe.

“He will deliver the male that killed my brother in exchange for a thousand Siren soldiers,” Arden explained.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, glancing back at the others.

“The other recruits will be coming to the Twilight Lake. You and Moira will stay behind, as you have not reached your magical majority.”

I licked my lips, “Oh,” I echoed, unable to summon much more as my thoughts began to race. I turned silently and returned to the recruits and their exercises.

I did not want to go back to the Twilight Lake. My uncle would kill me. Cormac would too.

But I had made a bargain with the Kraken.

If I were tied between two horses, they would tear me in half—I needed to make a choice before I got myself killed.

Chapter 7

The stronghold was awash with excited Sirens eager to fight. The Siren Queen was in an especially good mood as she brought out the blood wine and the music to celebrate the latest development in finding her eldest son's murderer—when and if King Irvine could deliver him.

I sat in the corner, rolling my glass between my hands, too deep in thought to be any fun.

It seemed so simple.

I needed to return to the Dark Sea and throw myself at the mercy of the Kraken. Praying to Belisama that I could reach my magical majority that way.

It was the only way I could return to the Twilight Lake with some modicum of protection and anonymity. My uncle would never think to look for me in a battalion of winged soldiers.

I could search for the Kraken’s eye and return to the dark sea with the Sirens.

If I didn’t get caught.

That was a bigif.

I couldn’t determine why my uncle would request soldiers from outside the Lake.

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