“I’m obsessed with Hyvenmerian fashion,” I announced as I twirled in front of the standing mirror, watching the many layers of my sheer skirts twirl. They were thin enough to see my fingers through, but because of how many layers there were, no one could see my ass through them. They were made of the lightest, most breathable fabric. I was covered but felt naked.
We departed onThe Knotty Boyearly this morning so that Liam could sail us to Catalina Island through the Mellhawn Gates, where I got to show off my fancy Hyvenmerian Grant and be allowed entry. As soon as the shimmering magic revealed Hyvenmere to us, the faint melody in the air that I was desperately trying to hear again was there. It sounded more distant than the first time I heard it, but it was there, nevertheless. I immediately pulled out my notebook and wrote down a few notes I could identify before we approached the gatehouses where the guards were stationed. Sirens with golden eyes were the ones guarding the gates today, and they both gave me a stink eye that made my skin crawl, but allowed us passage into Sammara, where Audrey and Liam took us to get fitted for the party tonight.
“This is more Vanyara fashion, actually,” the nereid seamstress named Áma corrected me with a smile. Her copper-toned hair was pulled back in intricate braids that showcased all the jewelry hanging from her pointed ears, and her lip rings sparkled with her grin.
“This is Fergus.” Audrey lifted her phone, displaying an incoming call as she stepped out of her dressing room. “I’m going to take it really quick.”
“Okay.” I swished my skirts back and forth as she stepped out of the little boutique.
There was a small flatscreen TV up in the corner, and as the copper-haired nereid seamstress came over to adjust the band holding my skirts on my waist, another nereid seamstress with purple hair named Frida flipped through the channels. She stopped at a station that felt a lot like old-school MTV, or some kind of news station that was only focused on gossip. There were no English subtitles on this one, though.
What made me do a double-take as my skirts were being adjusted and pinned by the seamstress, though, was the image of the red-haired, golden-eyed man I saw on TV my first day in Hyvenmere.
I tipped my head to the side and asked the woman, “Who is that?”
Áma glanced up at the TV and replied, “Drustan Shaw.”
“And what is so significant about Drustan Shaw?” Saying his name out loud did things to me. A shiver of awareness danced down my spine with my words, as if saying his name or acknowledging my fascination with the blood-haired, golden-eyed Greek god was putting dangerous energy into the air.
“He’s the Mad Siren Prince of Lyndoruun,” Frida replied with her eyes glued to the TV. Ah, so he’s asirenprince. Because princes are a dime a dozen in Hyvenmere, I guess. That simple answer revealed so much; it implied that the Siren King, Ilia,who hated Audrey and believed thathewas the Chosen One, was Drustan’s father.
“What are they saying about him?” I asked, while noticing how deep in conversation Audrey seemed to be with another prince on the phone through the glass windows of the shop.
“The anniversary of his leaving the Gravhune is approaching,” the nereid who was helping me replied in a reverent tone. “And they’re discussing if he’s still fit to command his father’s guard.” I had no idea what the hell the Gravhune was, but I also didn’t want to pry too much. I watched the broadcast with Frida while Áma finished sticking pins in my skirts.
An older stream of Drustan, shackled, thrashing violently against other golden-eyed siren guards, made my heart jump in my chest. The stream immediately cut to him crawling out of what looked like a crazy large pit, with siren guards pointing swords at him. He was thin, dirty, shirtless, and covered with various injuries as he addressed the terrified guards. Then the stream cut to the same one I saw before, where he marched on the street in that dark leather uniform, looking much more filled out while refusing to look at the camera.
“Anyone would be unwell if they survived the Gravhune,” Frida said absentmindedly, entranced by the TV.
“She forgets that one must be unwell to besentto the Gravhune,” Áma countered with an exhausted scowl in Frida’s direction before whispering to me. “Frida is easily distracted by a pretty siren face.” Frida didn’t argue; she just winked at me. On the TV, a woman making a recording on what I assumed to be her cell phone, took over, speaking in a hushed tone to the camera as she stood outside of a busy establishment. When she panned the phone over to view inside, it looked like a bar. Apparently, that’s where anyone could find the Mad Siren Prince. The woman zoomed in on the camera, just in time tosee another golden-eyed woman dance over to Drustan and delicately plop herself on his lap. He took her invitation without question and offered her some of his drink. She nodded and opened her mouth, and he gave her a heated look as he poured the liquid in.
A sour, burning sensation churned in my stomach watching the exchange, and I forced myself to look away from the screen as Audrey re-entered the boutique. I still had no idea what the Gravhune was, but based on the vibes of our brief discussion, it sounded like a bad place where bad people go. An odd thing for the son of Hyvenmere’s supposed “Chosen One” to experience.
“How much time will you need to make the final adjustments?” Audrey asked Áma as she pocketed her phone. Frida changed the channel, shooting a weary glance toward Audrey as she did so.
“A couple of hours and your attire will be ready for you,” Áma replied, standing tall and gesturing for me to go change in the fitting room. Áma and Audrey continued to chat while I quickly disrobed and returned to my human clothes, shrugging on my favorite leather jacket before I stepped out into the boutique again.
“Let’s eat lunch, then we can come back and grab our outfits before we board the train,” Audrey encouraged as she looped her arm through mine. I squeezed her against me, feeling comfort that I was with her now. Joining her in this secret part of her life.
When we stepped out of the boutique, the soothing sound of that distant, airy melody that only seemed to exist in Hyvenmere, blessed my ears.
We rode the train from Sammara to the nereid capital of Vanhirra, the capital of the nereid territory of Vanyara. We stepped off the train and walked through a coastal forest before approaching a tropical beach. On the beach, a cream-colored stone castle overlooked the ocean, half of it submerged into the gentle waves. Vanhirra was a smaller settlement based on what we saw cruising in, but still beautiful. The white sandy beaches, the green grass leading into a coastal forest just beyond. It reminded me of our little town if it had ancient structures, like castles.
The sun was setting, and it was a warm summer night. The air was comfortable on my exposed shoulders and arms. I didn’t shiver from the coastal breeze that brushed past us as we were escorted to the gates of the castle by more armored nereid guards. They flexed their neck gills as they greeted us with warm smiles. Their breastplates had waves marked on them, which I assumed was some indicator that they were nereid guards, as opposed to sirens or fae.
“Are you ready?” Audrey grinned, looping her arm through mine as we entered the large building. “I’m so excited. Fergus throws thebestparties.”
“I am.” I could hear the music playing down the large corridor we walked in, and nerves seemed to hum on my skin. Our sandals were soft on the floor. They were strappy, useless things that would fall apart if I had to run or walk a longer distance, tied in intricate knots on my calves.
These sandals were meant for fashion and nothing else.
Liam wore closed-toed shoes, but they looked more like slippers than sandals.
We approached large wooden doors, where nereid guards lifted a hand for us to wait while they reached forward to open them for us. It was all so formal, but I only felt out of place for amoment until the live sound from the ballroom filled the space, and music soothed the anxiety inside of me.
“You look hot,” Audrey whispered from over her shoulder. She and Liam were standing one pace ahead of me, leading us through the ballroom doors.
“You do too.” I winked at her, making her grin as Liam lifted his arm for her to take. I was very much a third wheel tonight, but it was worth it to be included.
