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That wouldn’t do. I couldnotget overly invested in a man who planned to wage war on my home, my family, and my life. He was a monster and the only way this marriage ended was by me breaking my curse and leaving him—whether he loved the real and true me or not.
“Eadaoin,” I spoke up. “How did you and your soldier man fall in love?”
“Love?” She laughed. “I wouldn’t say we’re in love. More like having a bit of fun.”
“Really? Well, you two seem to havefunevery free minute of every day. It’s a wonder to me that you don’t walk with a limp.”
She nudged my shoulder, laughing. “What can I say? When you’re having that much fun, you don’t want it to stop.”
“But the way he looks at you.” We stepped into a darkened hallway—heavy with a damp, musty smell. “With such need and lust like he can’t get enough of you. How do you... uh... invoke that in a man?” I forced out. “How do I makehimneedme?”
“Ahhhh.” She gave me a knowing look. “My lord’s giving you trouble, is he?”
I prayed Meya would open the floor and swallow me.
“Don’t worry, my queen. I know many a trick to bring a stubborn man to heel.” She threw her arm around me. “And may I say, I’m so happy you’re finally partaking in my sexual experience.”
“Or you could just kill me,” I mumbled. “End my humiliation now.”
Naturally, she laughed at me. “All right, first thing you want to do is make him jealous. That’s what I did with Keefe. I started bedding his friend Oisin. After weeks of watching how much fun we were having in the bed next to him, he finally leaped across the room, tackled me off Oisin, and had me right there on the floor.” She shivered. “Mother Meya, it wasgood.”
I gaped at her in horror. “That’s what you suggest I do! Bed another man in front of Alisdair? He tried to kill Bradach for saving my life. He’d tear that poor soul to shreds.”
She winced. “Excellent point. Definitely do not do that. It’d be a violation of your marriage runes anyway.” Eadaoin pointed to one on my elbow. “It’d be enough to give another man your attention. All your attention. Trust me, when you do, our lord will be driven mad with the need to have that attention back for himself.”
I bobbed my head, considering. It wasn’t the worst idea, and besides, Eadaoin was skilled in seduction. If anyone would know how to twist a man around her finger, it would be her.
“In here,” she said, stopping short beside a small, dirt-covered door. “This is where our lord said to bring you.”
One step inside and I saw why.
“Whoa, whoa!” Foalan shouted. “Careful on that side!”
My happiness at seeing Foalan had returned to Castle Riagin in one piece was overshadowed by the spectacle that had the attention of everyone in the dungeon.
A spherical glass tank wobbled and rolled on the dirty stone floor, bouncing off a wall of magic shot by each soldier it tried to flatten. The women, and Foalan, formed a ring around it, sweating hard for the effort of keeping it in— No, of keeping her in.
My feet moved on their own power, bringing me closer to her. Brilliant, iridescent scales caught the orblight and reflected it into a million billion rainbows dancing through the water. Dark ebony hair like silk ribbons swayed with the water, forming a halo around the loveliest face I’d ever seen. Far more lovely than the one I saw in the mirror.
Shimmering, aquamarine eyes beheld me—twisting me in their pools. Dusky, desert-sand skin was smooth and unbroken—never knowing a scar, pimple, or blemish. Full, pouty lipstwisted with her pert, wrinkled nose, and she looked at me like I was the source of her displeasure—or her salvation.
Emiana wasn’t the beauty of the east. This creature was. She was the beauty of this land and every other.
“But she—she’s a—a—”
“Mermaid.” Alisdair stepped out of the darkness. “Otherwise known as...”
My gaze trailed her long, dazzling fish tail.
“A siren.”
“What is she doing here?” I whispered, drawing closer.Her eyes... Such beautiful eyes...
“At the present, she’s attempting to kill you.”
The dry reply only just began to penetrate when that beautiful face morphed. Hard, ridged, scaly lines erupted on her nose and forehead, appearing as fast as the second, jagged row of teeth that descended from her jaw. A fierce, watery screech turned to bubbles in the water as she came straight for me—teeth heading for my throat.
Screaming, I lurched back and she struck the glass head-on—turning purple in her foiled rage.
