“Strengthening his sinndra,” Drustan replied, stepping closer to me almost mindlessly as he addressed her. “Enough to command his guard himself. Enough to manipulate the fae and nereid governments to obey his every word.”
Audrey paled, but Hush didn’t seem too surprised by this revelation.
“The recipes you stole for him the night of Fergus’s party,” I whispered. “That’s—that’s why he felt confident the gates would be closed now. He must have found what he needed to—to—” Drustan just nodded, confirming my hypothesis.
“Why are you telling us any of this?” Audrey glared at the Mad Siren Prince. “If you’re so self-centered enough to happily steal what Ilia needs and to do his bidding, why should we trust you?”
“Because the stakes have changed since you’ve stepped foot into Hyvenmere, halfling,” Drustan lifted a brow at her. “My father is not the prophesied one he has claimed to be, is he?” Audrey frowned at Drustan as he explained, “This means that my father is not as untouchable as the realm once believed.”
“Which is why he needs to go,” Hush confirmed.
“But…” Audrey stuttered. “You’re okay with us just killing your father instead of sending him to the Gravhune? Like you had to experience?”
Drustan gave her a look of disbelief, “I think just killing him would save everyone time and energy. But…” he lifted a shoulder. “I am not as terrified to take a life as you seem to be.”
“Because I’m not a soulless monster,” Audrey grumbled. I flinched at her words, which she clocked immediately. Instead of apologizing as she did before, though, Audrey just held my gaze.
“Will you be willing to do what needs to be done once Ilia is gone?” Hush asked.
Drustan rolled his eyes and scoffed. “I am not meant to rule.”
“You do not have a choice.” Hush stepped forward, her hands out to emphasize her words. “Whether he dies at the hands of rebels, or dies a natural death, you are still the next in line. Our lands will be uneasy, and the revolution will create extremists who will make Ilia a martyr. We need you to guide our people into peaceful living, regardless of who can touch whose mind.”
“Why would you ask the Mad Siren Prince to become another Mad Siren King?” Drustan asked.
“Because you have to,” I chimed in. Audrey glared at me before turning her anger to the side. I knew she was displeased by the conversation, by the reality we all had to face, but Hush was right. We were even shorter on time than we thought, if Amber and Leon were onto us.
Hush and Drustan turned to look at me, but his expression was particularly annoyed at my comment. I stepped towardthem, determined not to shout or yell in case any more of Ilia’s spies were lurking around. If Amber sent another unit to follow her brother’s.
“You have to step up, Dru.” I hesitated. I hadn’t called him that since I thought he was a human. His eyes softened at the nickname, but I was determined to ignore his feelings and get my point across. “Yourpeopleneedyou. You’re in a privileged position here. You can inspirerealchange. Just imagine all the good you can—what are you doing?”
Drustan had taken a few steps toward me, his eyes hooded and focused on my face. “Staring.”
I blinked and stepped back once. “Staring? At—at my mouth?” I ignored Audrey’s judgmental gaze on me as I snapped my fingers in front of Drustan’s face. “You need to focus.”
Drustan shrugged. “It’s just such a pretty mouth.”
“Oh gods.” Hush pinched the bridge of her nose and grabbed Drustan’s bicep to keep him from stepping toward me further. “It’s challenging to believe males like you have more than a pebble bouncing around in your skull.”
Drustan smirked at Hush, igniting my growing curiosity about their relationship.
I held a finger up at Drustan. “Focus. You need to be ready to step in.”
“Okay.” Drustan pressed his lips together in irritation before blowing out an inconvenienced breath. “I’ll be the political figure our people need to feed the illusion of safety in this realm.” Audrey’s shoulders even seem to drop a smidge at that, even though her expression voiced the concerns she still had.
I nodded, “Good, then?—”
“For a price,” Drustan said before his lips pulled back to smile at me. Hush groaned at the same time I blinked at him.
He can’t be serious.
“I’m not fucking you to convince you to be a decent person,” I informed him.
“Absolutelynot.” Audrey snapped, stepping up and putting herself between the siren prince and me. Drustan barked a laugh, as if he truly thought I was funny.
I just stared at him.
“I won’t go anywhere near your cunt—” Why did that word from him make me blushsohard? “All I ask is for a kiss.”
