“And then they all fuck,” Calypstra drawled.
I remained composed despite her clear attempt to unsettle me.
“You’re so crude,” Nixie said, rolling her eyes.
“Youallhave sex?” I looked around at the table. Well-versed in many cultures from across the world, I had never heard of anything like it.
“Hydroxia is the longest full moon of the year. Weusuallypick one siren to mate with, if we choose, to celebrate the fertility of the sea that the great Mother Nymphaea has given us. The holiday coincides with siren mating patterns. The hope is for children.”
“For those who can have children,” Calypstra said pointedly.
Nixie frowned. The words seemed to wound her, but Raylik’s hand found hers under the table.
“Oh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Morvyn said zealously. “See all these ravishing sirens?” I looked out with him at the crowd shifting to the music that drummed through my bones. “They’re courting. That song you hear, it comes from them, hoping to attract the perfect fit for one blissful night of glorious carnal pleasure. The days before are full of feasting, drinking, games, and of course, debauchery.”
“This year we will keep the debauchery to a minimum,” Hylos interrupted. “At the symposium I will make the announcement of our planned advance on Oakhaven and request aid from the other Great Circles.”
The firewater burned in my gut.
“You plan to attack Oakhaven?” I said over the siren’s song.
Hylos’s sea-toned eyes met mine from across the table. “Yes. We plan to advance on Oakhaven after Hydroxia.”
“Why?” I asked. And why was he telling me this?
His brow furrowed. He wasn’t used to being questioned.
The rest of the table fell silent, the hammering of the siren music filling the void of their banter.
“You will start a war.” I pushed further.
“As I was saying this morning, sirens have gone missing from the seas. We must swiftly retaliate and find our people.” Like his father. “Otherwise the abductions will continue,” he answered.
I looked around at the table, hoping one of them could see reason. They all averted their eyes, finding interest in their drinks. Besides Calypstra, of course, who was watching my every breath.
“The ship I was on, did their crew show you that through their memories?” I asked.
Hylos looked around at his table. Nixie squirmed, giving herself away as the person who had explained their techniques.
Hylos said nothing, which was an answer in itself.
I knew the captain didn’t believe in such things as sirens; he’d told me. He was more annoyed than concerned by his crew’s fears. To his men, they were legends or myths. There was no way any of them had ever seen a siren, let alone captured one.
“So you haven’t. Then why are you so certain it’s Oakhaven that takes your people? You can control men. It doesn’t even make sense. Your people are violent, as you just said. You’re likely picking off one another.”
“Watch your tongue, terra,” Calypstra hissed.
“You know nothing of the situation,” Hylos dismissed me with a dry laugh as he leaned back in his chair.
“I know war means the death of your people and mine.”
“Your people?” Calypstra raised one of her black eyebrows in my direction.
“It will be an easy siege. We can control most humans, and we are physically stronger. We will invade, find the missing, figure out how Oakhaven is taking our people, and then leave,” Hylos said.
He seemed so immature in his ignorance.
“Every leader thinks their war will be easily won.” I shook my head in disbelief.
