“In the throne room, language is universal,” he answered, still sharing an intense but unreadable look with his mother. Calliope moved nothing but her gaze shifted from her daughter to her son to me and back again.

“Why?”

“Because this is where they kill the men they seduce. Their captives speak many languages, so this room has magical adornments that allow everyone to understand one another.”

I nodded, wishing I hadn’t asked. Now I’d be looking out for human adornments in addition to the bone-tiled floor.

Lorelei dismissed her subjects with a flick of her wrist. The sirens all dove or dipped back under the water and out of sight.

The Siren Queen scraped a fang across her lip. “You’ve been a busy boy, Lander. Many of my people have suffered and died at your hands over the years you’ve been gone. And now, I’ve just been informed that General Mersia and her people are dead. That’s six hundred warriors.” She chuckled with a sick mirth, as if the thought of such enormous death flummoxed but did not bother her. “I’m not sure if I should be impressed or furious.”

Rylander relaxed his shoulders for the first time since we entered. He adopted that familiar, lilting grin that made his dimple pop. “I’ve killed many in preparation for the true target of my blade.”

Lorelei’s next laughed wasn’t as jovial. Rage burned behind her eyes. “You want to kill me because I kill the humans?”

“Unless you’d like to surrender and cease your bloodlust?” Rylander’s brow lifted. “Then yes.”

Lorelei’s sculpted face cracked, puckering around her eyes and the taut corners of her mouth. She angled her head, studying me. As if licking flames sprang from her eyes, heat trailed her gaze from my head to my boots then back up again. “All because you think you love this disgusting creature?” She held out her hand, taloned fingers like knives pointing in my direction.

Rylander’s lips disappeared into a thin line.

The Siren Queen leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “Answer me!” she shouted.

The rocky ceiling trembled in the echo of her deafening roar and tumbled down into the water. I shuddered. The sirens underwater wriggled clear, their faces upturned just below the surface, their interest finally piqued.

So, this was the queen angry.

Rylander sighed like a parent dealing with a child’s dramatic outburst. “My feelings for Captain Lou have nothing to do with my desire to preserve human life. You are not the gods. You have no right to kill, steal, and command as you’ve been doing. And need I remind you, you killed our sisters, sirens all, because they didn’t share your thirst for death. There are three siren bloodlines. Not one.” He snarled. “There are consequences for your behavior.”