“My liege,” she said, cocking her head, sending her scales twinkling in the light. “Interesting discussion is to be had this evening.”
“Indeed,” Hylos agreed, not faltering under her watchful gaze. “And what do you think of Elowyn?” he asked, settling into the couch where Siggy had sat, filling a chalice of wine for himself.
“She is a delight. Far more interesting than most humans I’ve encountered. Many fear us, but she does not. She looks at us more likeriddlesshe’s intent on solving.” She looked at me again with a devious smile, then continued, “A curious mind, and I suspect a loyal heart. Whoever’s side she sits on in this impending war, I sense she will be a great asset.”
I nearly laughed. I was no asset at all.
“Although I’m uncertain her mind is made up,” Serenous added.
But it was. I would stand with the innocents of Oakhaven. Forever.
“What of the great minds of Circle Starwyrt?” Hylos asked Serenous and her sister Serfie. “Are they made up?”
The pair did not even glance at one another when Serenous answered. “Not quite. We will need a stronger alliance before I’ll go to battle for you, young king,” she purred.
“I am bound this Hydroxia.” He cut her short, sipping his chalice and searching the crowd.
Serenous’s strange eyes inspected Hylos. “You still waste yourself on that miserable made siren? It would be one thing if it were for love. But your heart does not belong toher—no matter how hard you try to convince us otherwise—and my daughter Siggy is quite beautiful. She hardly smiles, like your paramour, if that suits you best,” she offered.
“The leader of my Circle would be the one to arrange a mating between two great Circles. When my father returns, he will decree which it shall be with.”
“Ifhe returns,” Serenous added.
Hylos’s face hardened. “When.” Then that charming smile returned to smooth any bite away and he leaned into Serenous. “Besides, we all know you’re the true beauty of Starwyrt Circle and the only one worthy of myfullattention during Hydroxia.”
His compliment hit its mark and Serenous’s bright-yellow eyebrows rose as she let out a peal of laughter. “Well played,” she said. “Serfie and I shall speak on the matter.”
Then the pair rose, towering above Hylos and me in their lissome height. “Good evening, Hylos, and to you,PrincessElowyn. May you never forget who welcomed you to their table and who cast you aside,” Serenous said.
I blinked the words away, not letting them penetrate my skin or my heart.
Then the pair glided away.
Hylos sipped from his drink and let his mask down for a second before me. That look of a ruler, regent or not, faded into the tired and worried soul he was below the surface.
“Did any agree to join you this evening?” I asked, my tone gentler than expected. Despite being my enemy, I felt for Hylos. He carried a world upon his shoulders in the absence of his father.
“No,” he sighed. “Lots of half answers and enough witty repartee for a lifetime, but no formal agreements. Plenty of offers to mate with daughters and sisters though.” He rolled his blue eyes.
“Ah, so your sex life is up for discussion around here too, I see. In that, our worlds are alike.”
Hylos half-smiled and raised an eyebrow at me, reveling in the bold statement. “At least it is different here; it’s only a night and must be agreed upon by the two respective parties. I’m sure it’d be fine … great, even but—”
“But it’s not asappealingwhen you’re asked to do it,” I finished. Something was so miserable about the whole concept. It felt sterile. Contractual.
He let out a breath. “Something like that. You know,” he turned to me, “you’re not what I’d expect a terra princess to be like. You’re very straightforward.”
“Well, that’s because I’m not a princess. Serenous knows of my story; I’m surprised you do not.”
“Ah, yes. Calypstra told me when you arrived who she assumed you were, and your circumstances.”
That was a polite way to put my father disowning me.
“I’m sure she reveled in just how miserable my existence is,” I said.
“I’m sure she didn’t at all. Calypstra is ¼” He searched his cup for answers. “She’s misunderstood. Like many of the made sirens here, her path to the sea was rough.”
Like that was any excuse for her being absolutely horrendous. Could anything that happened to her be any worse than Lumina’s story? Yet Lumina remained kind. A bit reserved, sure, but not cruel. She even defended me, a complete stranger, to her leader. Because she knew what Calypstra did tonight was wrong.
