Page 105 of A Storm in Every Heart
But, how did she even know where I was? Did she see Kastian and I leave together or was someone on the pier spying on us?
I raise my fingers to my lips, which still feel swollen, then drop my hand and square my shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say finally, deciding to claim ignorance.
“Today on the lake,” she clarifies. “Everyone saw you together.”
A small amount of relief washes over me. So, she doesn’t know where I was just now—but that’s not necessarily better. “Are you concerned about my speaking to Prince Kastian? You might have to ask him about it, after all, he stole my boat. I never tried to seek him out.”
“I suppose a siren wouldn’t have to make an attempt,” she says with a sniff.
“Again, I’m not entirely sure what you mean. It’s very late. Could we discuss this tomorrow?”
“You’re meddling in matters above your station,” she snaps. “The prince and I have an agreement.”
“I thought you weren’t engaged,” I begin, suddenly wondering if I’m the problem here. Maybe I’ve made a terrible mistake.
“We’re not,” she says flatly.
Relief washes over me for the briefest moment before my irritation sparks again. If they’re not engaged, then what is she doing here? We don’t know each other, and clearly she’s trying to intimidate me. She’s making it impossible for me to defuse this situation, and I can feel my stormy temper rising like a tempest on the sea.
“Forgive me, but I don’t understand what you were thinking coming here to confront me like this,” I say coldly. “Excuse me, but I’m going to bed.”
She doesn’t move, refusing to let me step past her to enter my room. “Prince Kastian and I are not engaged, that’s true, but there’s an agreement between our families. I’m sure you already know that.”
“I truly don’t know what you’re talking about, but if I did, I’d know that whatever agreement you have is flimsy at best and he fully intends to break it.”
Her nostrils flare, but she doesn’t look surprised. She doesn’t look the slightest bit hurt either, which tells me this isn’t a heartbroken girl in front of me; it’s a calculating woman who is worried about her position in society.
“Look,” I start again, making another attempt to push past her. “Whatever you’re doing here is entirely unnecessary. I hardly know the prince any more than I know you. He stole my boat, that’s all.”
Her nostrils flare again. “If you knew anything about Kastian, you’d realize how wildly out of character that is. He doesn’t engage with anyone, and now suddenly he’s making a spectacle of himself over you? I know what’s going on here.”
Again, my pulse speeds up, and for the first time I look at her with interest. What does she think is going on here? Because I’d desperately like to know. I feel completely out of my depth already, and I’d die for an outside perspective, even if it is from the most unlikely and unpleasant source.
I press my lips together. “Enlighten me.”
She sneers. “You’ve bewitched him.”
I blink at her, startled. Whatever I was expecting her to say, it wasn’t that. “Pardon?”
“You heard me. You used your siren magic to raise your social status, but it won’t work. The Hydrattan royal family would never allow their reputation to be damaged by rumors of being influenced by a siren.”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t do anything to him. You’re wrong.”
“I should hope so,” she snaps. “Because if I’m right we both know how this ends. He’ll die and you’ll be put to death for murdering a prince.”
My back goes completely rigid. “Excuse me? What do you mean he’ll die?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Don’t play dumb.”
For once, I’m not. I actually don’t know what she means.
I know there are rumors and legends that sirens turn men insane, but that’s an exaggeration. I’ve seen it happen with my father, but that was only after Mother left…and it didn’t happen immediately.
I’ve never thought that I might kill someone.
“You’re wrong,” I say icily. “That’s just a rumor. Not even a rumor—it’s a legend. A fairytale.”
She looks at me and her angry gaze turns almost pitying. “I’m not sure if you’re just very naïve or very stupid, but be careful because ignorance won’t save you. You’d better stay away from Kastian and any other Fae man because when they die it will be your fault.”
