I made no move to obey, but nevertheless Rylander tugged me back, almost tipping me off balance. “She will not leave my side.”

Lorelei flicked her hand. Whether or not Rylander’s command maddened her, she stayed composed. “Very well.” Her dazzling eyes narrowed on me. “She is so small. So… breakable. Does she speak?”

Anger boiled in my throat. Never had I been regarded so dismissively, not even by the most repugnant of men. “I speak to those worth my while.”

Poison pooled on the tips of Lorelei’s fangs at the jab, but she smiled as she clapped her clawed hands like I had performed a trick. “Wonderful. Farrington, you say? That name’s familiar.” She paused, rubbing her chin with the knuckle of a forefinger. “Ah, I met a relative of yours some time ago, the captain of The Freedom.” Her tone rippled with mirth, a flagrant attempt at catching me off guard.

At the mention of my father, my chest heaved, and resentment brewed between my ribs. “I am the captain of The Freedom. And yes, I’ve heard of the foul agreement you made with my father for safe passage of our vessel.”

She clucked her tongue. “You say foul, I say clever. Your father had the right idea. Now you, on the other hand…” She tsked. “You very rudely broke those terms without informing me. Imagine my surprise when your donation of men ceased.”

I didn’t bother enlightening her with the fact that I’d had no worldly idea of their truce. Let her believe what she liked.

“Do tell me why you’ve come to my island with dear Rylander, then, if not to renegotiate our treaty? And please consider I’d like the truth.”

Perhaps they could smell a lie as easily as they sensed my humanity. No matter; she already knew why we were here. Why hide it? “We came to kill you,” I spat.

“Shame.” She snapped her fingers, and a guard swimming in the central pool pulled herself onto the ledge at the queen’s fins. “I wish to drink with my brother and his lover. A toast in their honor. Bring us my favorite bubbly libation.”

The servant nodded while two more approached. The four conversed in hushed tones as I whispered to Rylander, “Not what I was expecting.”

No one tried to kill us. His mother had emerged unharmed. And the siren guards stationed around the pool almost appeared bored with the whole ordeal. This place held none of the violent chaos or immediate threats of our encounters in the Caviar Sea, the island’s clearing, and the ivory castle.

Rylander tensed but didn’t respond.

“Why are they speaking my native tongue?” I asked as it dawned on me that I could understand everyone.