Page 28 of The Lost Siren

“Is it true then? Has Benedict claimed a human, and given up on finding the lost daughter?”

I paused, my mouth full of bread. I swallowed carefully, keeping my face blank so I wouldn’t blush. It was still odd to me how brazenly Drakens spoke of love and...otherthings.

“I don’t see why it’s any of your business.”

Bair’s eyes darkened, even as Sabien kicked him under the table. “It’s our business if he took the Overlord’s bloodydeal,and sentenced us to an eternity under this—"

“Bair!Not here!”Worry broke out on Sabien’s face, but Bair shoved him off.

“Everyone should know, shouldn’t they? Isn’t it the right of the people to knowwhythey’re imprisoned and whatkeeps them here?” He turned to me, nonchalantly spearing a hunk of meat on the end of his dagger and tearing into it with his teeth. He waved the dagger at me as he chewed.

“What do you think? Surely you have an opinion, stuck here with us.”

WhatdidI think? Well, that was a quandary. When was the last time anyone had even bothered to ask my opinion onanything? It was novel, really. I looked up at him, noticing the keen interest in his face. I felt myself warming up to him.

“I... I think the others should know,” I managed.

“AH HA!” Bair shouted, even as Sabien hissed at him. Bair lowered his voice, but his face was triumphant. “I knew you wouldn’t let him walk all over you, the way everyone else lets him. I heard—” he lowered his voice at a pointed glare from Sabien. “I heard he has made a deal with the Demon Overlord, a deal to keep us trapped here.”

He speared another piece of meat, his eyes trained expectantly on me. He leaned in closer, and I couldn’t help but notice how he smelled of cedarwood and sage. I busied myself by taking another piece of bread, breaking it into smaller pieces.

“I don’t know anything about a deal,” I admitted, remembering the despondent look in Benedict’s eyes when he said the last female was lost to him. Bair’s gaze sharpened, reevaluating every inch of me. I didn’t like it, yet at the same time...I wondered if he would kiss like his brother.

“Allow me to lie with you tonight, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know about Benedict.”

I blinked at him. It wasn’t the deal itself that was offensive, but the self-assured way he had proposed it, as if my agreement were already assumed. I narrowed my eyes.

“I hardly needyourhelp.”

Bair raised an eyebrow, and it was eerily reminiscent of his brother. What Bair lacked in Benedict’s strength and figure, he made up for with subterfuge and flattery. I wasn’t sure that I preferred it. Bair lowered his voice further, whispering gently into my ear so Sabien wouldn’t hear.

“Choose me and I’ll take you outside the mountain.”

I popped the last bit of bread into my mouth, grabbing a few grapes and rolling them between my fingers anxiously.

“I thought you’re all trapped here.”

Bair set down his dagger and wiped his mouth. “Think of it more as a... loophole.”

“Won’t Benedict find out?”

Bair grinned nastily. “He can’t be everywhere at once.”

I threw down my napkin, quite done with both of them.

“Thank you for dinner, but I have some business which requiresimmediateattention.”

Bair stood; his hands splayed on the table as Sabien bowed.

“What aboutmyoffer?”

I growled.

“Fine. I’llthinkabout it.” Bair gave me a salute with his dagger, grinning widely. Sabien shook his head and turned his attention back to his meal. I stalked back up the dais, where Benedict was leaning against the wall, half of his body in the shadows. Did he ever eat, himself? His hobbies seemed to be primarily composed of stalking and creeping.

I only made it halfway before a group of three Drakens stepped in my path, bowing. I impatiently nodded my head, but the look in their eyes was serious.

“May we have a moment of your time?”

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