Ilia grunted a noncommittal response as someone from the back stepped up to murmur something urgent in his ear. I tookthe opportunity to take in our surroundings. More siren soldiers lined the wall. They were men and women in varying sizes, all with their masks and hoods down. They stood at attention, legs hip-width apart, hands behind their back, facing the king.
Varying shades of blonde, red, and brown hair were braided back and away from their faces, and part of me wondered if I was seeing Hush’s face for the first time and didn’t realize it.
I forced myself to glance around the rest of the room, where more siren soldiers stood at attention. Ilia must have gotten word we were headed his way when we got off the train. He clearly wanted to intimidate us, otherwise, he wouldn’t have lined the walls of his court with so many of his militia.
Interesting. Was he truly that scared of Audrey?
“I find it suspicious.” Ilia leaned to the side on one of his elbows, rubbing his jaw with his hand. “That you three came to visit during Bandthral.”
“My sister wants to maintain our peaceful treaty.” Liam stepped forward to stand next to Audrey, leaving me behind the two of them. At his approach, I noticed Caelena’s gaze lock on him. “She sent me here in good faith, to ensure the halfling and human treat the siren celebration with utmost respect.”
“Hmm.” Ilia’s lips flattened at that.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Something felt off. I couldn’t name it, though.
“Does everyone from outside of Lyndoruun receive this same interrogation?” Audrey asked, clearly feeling the same thing as I. But Ilia didn’t cower. Instead, he stared at her with a judgement only a disappointed father could produce.
Ilia leaned back in his chair, before addressing all the soldiers in the room with a command in his native language.
Most of the soldiers turned on their heels and marched out of the room through side exits. Liam, Audrey, and I all shared curious looks with each other.
“Come.” Ilia gestured for the three of us to approach him on the dais, excitement lighting Caelena’s eyes as she focused on Liam. Liam went up first, then Audrey, then me. Once I stood next to them again, I checked Audrey to ensure the heart-eyes Caelena was giving Liam wasn’t affecting her. Thankfully, Audrey wore a cool mask of indifference.
“You’re lucky, human.” Ilia’s voice sent a sharp, sick feeling in my stomach as he leaned forward to study me, but I held my ground. “No human has borne witness to Bandthral for hundreds of years.”
“I’m honored.” I gave Ilia a smile that I didn’t try to pretend wasn’t fake, as I slid my gaze over to his son, whose nostrils flared with my approach.
Audrey and Liam flanked my sides at the same time that Ilia lifted his hand to gesture to the side of the dais.
“Please be patient while my staff finds you accommodations.”
Chapter 15
Ihad no idea what I was expecting when Hush originally said the words “mating ritual” back at the Sun Bean, but it wasn’t this.
About thirty minutes after the court cleared out, someone produced cushioned stools for the three of us to sit on. All I could think in the moment was,what a great place to start getting cramps, becauseof course,I would start to cramp during this whole experience. There was no backrest, and the ottoman was just small enough for a butt to sit on. I couldn’t even sit crisscross apple sauce. Was I really expected to just sit on this for an hour? Or however long this ritual would last?
Liam originally moved to sit next to the king, but Caelena quickly cleared her throat and tapped the ottoman next to her, which would place him right between Audrey and Caelena.
Which left me sitting right next to King Ilia.
I immediately tried to fidget less on the ottoman. I didn’t want him getting offended and sending his men back to kidnap me in the human realm again. I wanted to end this one-sided beef once and for all. Being cordial was the way to go.
“Do you know much about our culture, Van?” Ilia asked. Part of me liked that he didn’t use my full name. I liked the respect afull name provided, like when Drew used it, and one thing was for sure: I did not want respect from someone like Ilia.
“I know little to nothing about your culture,” I replied.
“Oh?” He lifted a blond eyebrow at me, shifting in his seat to rest his fist on his cheek. “I’m sure your friends have informed you of their…perspectives.” He grinned, and I blinked at him because of how similar his son had grinned at me moments earlier.
His son, who had disappeared somewhere.
I lifted an eyebrow at the king before shrugging. “I know that sirens like to keep to themselves, which is fair.” His eyebrows rose at that, surprised. “And…that sirens are shapeshifters.”
“True.” Ilia nodded.
“And…that’s pretty much it.”
He chuckled. “I’m surprised you know so little.”
