Page 42 of The Dark Sea Calls

Moira and I were out of place amongst the gilded wings and weapons. Sirens had broader shoulders and torsos to accommodate their wings, and the muscles needed to guide them—but Undines were slight. Even the Troid Sídhe, known for their strength and battle skills endowed by the gods, bore the same appearance as every other Undine.

We ran through a host of exercises, each one more brutal than the last, and when I felt like my body would fail, Arden dismissed us all for a good night’s rest before we set out in the morning.

We would take the silvers, traveling through the mirror directly to Cruinn castle.

Rainn was nowhere to be found.

I finally saw Rainn at dinner.

He had been commandeered by the male Sirens and taken to the other side of the dining hall.

I hadn’t realized how Rainn had been my constant shadow for the last few days until I felt his absence like an open wound.

The hairs on my neck prickled as I tried my best to keep my eyes down. Exposed, waiting for a predator to strike.

One moment, there was a shadow gathered in the corner, and the next, the Siren Queen breezed past behind my back. A clawed talon traveled across the vulnerable skin of my neck. A single tendril of platinum hair fluttered to the ground like falling leaves.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling the weight of my secrets. Enough to crush my chest and steal my words. The meat on my plate no longer felt appetizing, but I forced myself to finish my bite and place my fork on the edge of my wooden plate with a calm I didn’t feel. The meat tasted like ash in my mouth.

The Siren Queen took the seat beside me, and I hadn’t even noticed that Colm had rushed to vacate the table the moment she had stepped out of the shadows like a wraith.

I had no idea what the Siren Queen’s name was. She embodied her title; every word she spoke echoed with power, and every movement hinted at a swift but painful death.

“Maeve Cruinn.” The Siren Queen cocked her head to the side, studying me like an insect. “My soldiers journey to the Twilight Lake in the morning.”

I nodded. “Arden told me. Everyone seems very excited.”

The queen nodded knowingly. “There is something different about fighting a war that isn’t yours. Nothing is at stake, no blood debts to be taken from the enemy. It’s a fight for the joy of fighting.”

“Arden told me that my u—” I cleared my throat and corrected myself. “The Undine King offered to find your eldest son’s killer.”

She hummed, glancing down at the food on the table as if she had just realized it was there. “My Darragma Eoin was taken by poachers.”

“And you can’t find Darragma Eoin’s killer yourself?” I realized the insult the moment it left my lips. My every muscle froze.

The Siren Queen ignored my slight. “The land -Fae will not come near the rocks. Not since I stood at the mouth of the cove and sang until every boat on the water rushed the cliffs. I pulled them apart, and I ate them.”

“And his killer was not amongst those you… ate?” I flinched.

She shook her head. “Darragma Eoin was taken by one of the Night Court.” The Siren Queen sucked her teeth. “I need allies to take on the Unseelie Kingdom. I will make them pay.”

I inhaled deeply. “Okay.” I nodded, wondering why she was explaining all of this.

“Your Selkie has mentioned that you might have an issue with returning to the lake.” The Siren Queen’s dark eyes widened. “My sanctuary is not conditional on fighting a battle for myself or the Undine. If you wish to stay in my stronghold, you may do so.”

I rubbed my hand over my mouth. “I have to go back to the lake.”

She narrowed her eyes, projecting her suspicions—but she didn’t argue. “Tell me, child of Cruinn. Holder of theblood. Why does King Irvine sit on the throne?”

I inhaled deeply, tempering the flash of emotion that rocked me and all the answers that threatened to bubble out of my mouth like a cauldron of soup. “Because he is a Cruinn.”

“As are you.” The Siren Queen sniffed, turning to the crowd and the bustle of the evening meal. “I said Queen Caoimhe couldn’t have birthed a child. Not possible, but perhaps, not probable?” She looked down at her dark claws. “Why does King Irvine sit on the throne?” She repeated the question, turning to me as if my previous answer was not good enough.

“Because he is the Mad Queen’s brother,” I told her. “Because no woman can hold the High Throne without going insane. Tainted by its power.”

“Who said a woman cannot hold the High Throne, I wonder,” she cocked her head to the side. “It seems that males have a lot to say about what females can and can’t do, don’t you think? What would happen if any of the males here told me I wasn’t fit to wear my crown? Simply because I wear a dress instead of trousers?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, put there by fear.

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