“You believe I would leave my ship?” Lou threw her head back with a deep, merciless laugh.

I frowned. Few women had ever mocked me.

“You are even more daft than I imagined. And what do you have to offer us in exchange for facing the brunt of siren attacks? Why would we even need you?” She raked her eyes over my body, lingering for a moment at my mouth before diverting her gaze to my crew. “What do you bring to the table in a battle, aside from a whole ship of liabilities?”

I licked my lips before grinning, taking care to cock an eyebrow. “Other than my charm and devilish good looks?”

“You fancy yourself a little too much, Captain. Be aware that I’ve seen better.”

Despite her show, she refused to meet my stare, which declared her attraction like a gunshot. It wasn’t her fault. I had been born a seducer, a gift from my mother.

“Outside of my charisma, I do have something else unique.”

"Oh?” she scoffed. “And what could that possibly be?”

“Information.”

“And what knowledge could be so invaluable, so tempting, that a crew of unconquerable pirates could profit from it?”

My lips curled. “I know where the Siren Queen sleeps. I can chart her exact location.”

The crew of The Freedom gasped, but to her credit, Lou’s eyes only widened a moment. I ignored the whispers of disbelief blooming on deck. Only a select few knew how I’d obtained that information.

“I don’t believe you.” Lou’s amber eyes narrowed. Her voice lowered, as if murmuring to herself. “No one has been able to find her. Ever.” Her muttering became a thunderous boom. “It’s why the war rages on. Anyone who even nears the shores of the siren island succumbs to the song.”

She wasn’t wrong. No man but I had the ability to get that close.

“How?” Her brows rose as she tilted her head.

“That is not something I’m willing to share until a deal with King Delphi has been struck. Are you willing to at least hear him out?”

Lou ground her teeth, but with a slight bob of her chin, she agreed.

I turned to my crew. “Put away your weapons and return to The Sea Singer. Smitter, take five men to accompany you on The Freedom.”

My crew moved with haste to follow my orders. I extended the crook of my arm to Lou. “Captain, will you accompany me to my ship?”

Lou eyed my elbow like it carried an incurable disease and pushed it out of her way. “Dara, Lianna, and Krinny, with me. The rest of you”—every woman’s spine snapped to attention—“to your posts. Ready The Freedom to sail. We leave for the Isle of Cava immediately.”