My legs, having a mind of their own, propelled me forward. I had never seen a siren up close before. They were beauty laced with evil. Their eyes though… colorless, like crystal or diamond, so much like Rylander’s.

I wedged myself between Bernard and the captain.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Rylander asked. He yanked me back by my waist, twisting me away from the sea monsters.

I attempted to push out of his arms, but his hold tightened. His proximity stirred the traitorous, dormant attraction coiled inside my chest. It had perked its head up from the second he’d boarded my ship.

“Don’t touch me,” I spat, more at the curled feline purring inside, heating my neck.

Rylander barked, “Then cast aside your death wish and keep back. You are unfamiliar with their powers.”

“And you are unfamiliar with my capabilities,” I huffed.

“You’re plenty capable of insolence; that’s for certain.”

“How are you even talking to me?” I writhed, and this time he let go. I snarled in his direction as I took a step back, but Rylander never answered me.

Instead, he neared the silver-tailed siren. Blood dripped off her fangs onto her lips and chin. Her companion’s neck and chest were painted red, as if she’d rolled in viscera. Whose death covered them, and how many casualties had the ship suffered?

As if reading my thoughts, Rylander spoke. “We lost six men to the lure of the sea and their hearts to the siren’s fangs.” He clasped his hands behind his back and faced me like a merchant proposing a new business deal. “You saw plenty others fall into madness and fight their own.” He pinched his bloody shirt. “But we subdued our foe.”

The silver siren threw her head back and laughed. Could she understand us? Was she reveling in her kills?

Rylander used his arm to move me behind him, blocking my view. But I shifted right as he approached the net, curiosity clawing away my better judgement. Was he suicidal or just daft? I shoved my hands into my pockets, moisture building on my palms. How could he get so close? The mounting number of inquiries screamed louder than the sirens.

The captain stared directly into each monster’s eyes. Mesmerized, neither seductress moved. Their fangs retracted, humanizing their faces. He lifted his right arm, making a fist and releasing the pointer and middle fingers. The men removed their ear wax.

“Prepare to question the prisoners,” Rylander commanded.

Lianna and I watched in utter astonishment.

“Captain Rylander, what are you doing?” I demanded.

He rotated. “They cannot use their song anymore. We are safe from their magic.”

I scoffed at his arrogance, but Lianna spoke for me. “How is that possible?”