I knew my magic would only work on females. That has been proven over and over again. But in no realm of possibility did Ieverbelieve it would work on another siren. That had never happened before. Not once in the millennia that the sirens have been a part of this world. Then again, neither had there been a record of our magic luring females.
“We are going to bring the rest of those weapons inside,” Sade says slowly, reaching down to grab her trident from the floor. “And then Althea and Cali, you will return to the garrison, and then you two,” she says, pointing to Lyre and I, “are going to explain what your plan regarding the seamount sirens is.”
“I don’t understand,” I say, shaking my head as I settle close to Lyre, my talons still drawn.
Lyre echoes my confusion, asking, “Why are you helping us?”
Sade sighs as if annoyed, but I don’t miss the way her eyes gleam in excitement. “Turns out you two aren’t the only Malika sisters working against Queen Amari.”
Lyre’s room feels smaller than the last time I was in it, though it might have something to do with our older sister’s presence. Having gotten rid of her armor and weapon, Sade leans back against the wall next to the door, her tail flicking gently side to side while her arms are folded over her chest. I sit next to Lyre on her bed, my fingers curling over the edge as I take in the information she’s given us.
Niahadmade good on her threat, passing information to Allegra about my cave of mementos and my involvement in helping them. Allegra had come to Sade, unsurprisingly calling for her to immediately apprehend and present me to the queen.
“She wants your blood,” Sade says matter-of-factly. “And she’s already gone to the queen with the supposed tale of your betrayal.”
My eyes shut as I hang my head. There might still be time to run, but where would I go? Would I justleaveLyre? Leave Myla in the middle of our lessons? Did the latter even matter anymore now that I only had two options in front me: certain death or being bound to my mother’s side at all times?
“You have a plan.” Lyre’s voice is calmer than my own thoughts, and I’m about to respond that I havezeroplans when I look up and see that she is talking to Sade.
“Obviously. Allegra’s been a thorn in the queen’s side ever since being made obsolete,” Sade says, the corner of her mouth twitching in amusement. “It’s been quite hilarious watching her descend into madness.”
“I don’t understand. She’s been pregnant before. SheknewMother was going to force her to stay here in the palace.”
“Yes,” Sade says, her sunset eyes meeting mine, “but our mother has never been so close to having everything she’s ever wanted before. And if there is anything our eldest sister hates, it is being excluded from Mother’s plans.”
“And if there is anything Queen Amari hates, it’s having to repeat herself,” Lyre chimes in.
Sade nods in agreement. “Allegra is desperate to be a part ofanyconversation with the queen, and Nia dropped the perfect information into her lap. Or that is what Allegra believes anyway.”
“Can we back up?” I ask, pushing off the bed to begin swimming in front of it. “How did you know we would be at the cave tonight? That we were going to come for the weapons?Anyof it?”
“I knew something was going on the day you brought me Nia’s necklace. Nia never would have left it behind for us to find of her own volition.”
My brows scrunch as I look at my older sister. “You knew it was bait meant to get you off their trail.”
“Yes. My legionaries had already combed the area I gave you thoroughly after the sirens left the seamounts. The odds ofyoufinding that necklace after them were low.” At Lyre’s scoff, she amends her words. “I didn’t say they were impossible; I said they werelow. No offense, Aria, but you aren’t a trained soldier. I gave you a section of the outskirts of Lumen to search because I knew that you needed an excuse to get away from the palace.” I jerk my head back, my eyes widening as a noise between a yelp and a cough leaves my mouth.Does this mean she knows about Myla?“Well, that and the fact that I already know where the seamount sirens are.”
“And the cave?” Lyre asks, seemingly alright with the barrage of information that Sade’s just shared—unlike myself.
Sade shrugs, not bothering to smother her smile. “When I realized that Aria had to be in contact with Nia, I began following her. Our baby sister is not very good at making sure she’s alone before she goes to her super secret cave of forbidden items.”
“That she is not,” Lyre says with a chuckle of her own, sending heat flaring to my cheeks.
“Sorry, I’m not some super spy likeyou, apparently,” I retort weakly. Sade snorts, while Lyre attempts to cajole me by holding my hand. But despite my embarrassment, I meant what I said. Sade has managed to fool everyone about her loyalties. Another realization has my head snapping to her. “It was you, wasn’t it? The one who warned them that the legion was coming.”
The mood in the room sombers in an instant as Sade unfolds her arms and lets them hang loosely at her sides, her fingers curling inward. “Yes.” Her eyes take on a distant look. “The call to attack had been given so abruptly, I didn’t have time to do anything but send Cali ahead of the rest and hope that they listened to her warning. Thank the gods they did, but I knew they would have to abandon everything in order to get out in time.”
The weapons. Their belongings. Everything needed for the offspring. All of it was left as the sirens fled the only place they had been allowed to call home.
“You say you know where they are now?” Lyre asks.
“They’re in Eersten. Which is where the weapons and the items in your cave will go.”
“You once told me that would be one of the first places Mother would look,” I say, heart pounding in my chest as I recall not only what Sade said, but what the female I had met in Eersten, Izel, told me of how my mother was taking sirens to add to the legion. “Isn’t it foolish for them to stay there?”
Sade’s demeanor shifts again, something ruthless taking over. “Had you asked me a few months ago, I would have said yes. Our mother’s devotion to finding and murdering the seamount sirens, as well asanyonewho might oppose her reign, was undeterred. But now she is distracted with her plans on land. Her involvement with King Dolian has led to Allegra and Iensuring that everyone stays in line. With Allegra bound to the palace, I’m the one with eyes everywhere.”
“So you can make sure that those in Eersten are overlooked when searching for the supposed traitors,” Lyre surmises.
