Page 4 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

“Were there casualties?” I asked, wracking my brain for all of my secret knowledge of siren kind. It wasn’t much, and most of what I did know was archaic and forbidden information.

No one had discovered where the sirens had built their stronghold after their exile, but my father suspected it was somewhere inhospitable, the people further cursed by their betrayal. When they attacked our shores, it was primarily to steal supplies, raiding our stores for the crops they couldn’t grow or trade for.

“None,” my father said, looking at me over steepled fingers. “But we were caught unawares. They took out the sentries and managed to make it a mile inland before we routed them.”

“A mile,” I repeated, frowning at my father. “Is that far for them?”

He nodded, sighing heavily. “The Siren King is old and cunning, Marina. With a single word, he could ensorcell you and bend you to his will. He will stop at nothing to try to retake these islands, or starve us out of them. For five hundred years, we have held them, but only just. Imagine what he could demand of me if he captured you?”

I blanched, my mother’s face paling visibly as she took my hand. “That is why you must not leave without an escort, Marina,” she said gently. “You are too valuable. Too precious. What if you had been captured out there? Or if your lungs had acted up? If the sirens took you, your father would be forced to give upeverythingto get you back.”

“And I would,” he assured me, looking at me like I was the tiny, sick child he had played with and read to on days when he and my mother feared I might stop breathing as I slept. “Seas help me, Marina, I would give them anything if they took you. Which is why,” he finished, the misty-eyed father replaced just as rapidly by the fearsome Selkie King, “I must protect you, since you won’t protect yourself.”

“I didn’t know,” I argued, feeling again that shame and rebellion warring within me.

“Because I want to protect you from hard truths, Marina,” my father said, sighing heavily. “But it seems I can no longer afford to do so.”

“If you let me learn to defend myself,” I began, hesitating when I saw my father’s eyes widen in furious disbelief.

“It is not proper, Marina,” Mother chastised, looking at me with disapproval. “Your role as a future queen does not include fighting or wielding a weapon. Your mate will protect you, as will your guards. Besides, your lungs are too fragile for training.”

I scowled at my mother, fighting down the words of denial, the argument that I could handle it.

“And you,” my father added severely, “will be sensible. You will not wander about unprotected. Not anymore.”

I gritted my teeth, feeling furious and infantilized and guilty all at once. I knew my duty, but I didn’t think it was so terrible to wantmorethan that. My heightened emotion was making my breathing more tight, and I cursed my lungs. Today was clearlynota good day for them.

“Which brings me to my next piece of news,” my father said, looking at my mother, who nodded her agreement. Dread pooled in my stomach at whatelsethey could tell me that would make them look so serious.

“It is happy news,” my mother said, her smile a little forced as she patted my hand.

“What is?” I asked warily, looking between them.

“After discussing the matter with my advisors,” my father said, “and with the various clan leaders, we have decided on a mate for you.”

“You’ve decided,” I said slowly. “Without my input.”

“Marina,” my mother said gently, looking at me with both appeal and warning. “You know this is how it is done among our people. Especially the ruling families.”

“I—” I cut myself off, taking a deep breath as I tried to calm the raging panic that was beginning to overtake common sense. “I know, Mother. I just hoped I would have some say in the matter. You were able to fall in love with Father before you were mated.”

Mother had been of noble birth, but she’d had a great deal more freedom than I had growing up, and she’d met my father multiple times before their families agreed to the match.

“Yes…” my mother said hesitantly. “But I was younger than you, my dear. Is there…” she paused, glancing at my father. “Is there someone you have in mind that we don’t know about?”

I felt myself flush. This wasnota conversation I wished to have with my mother, and especially not my father.

I’d had a few romances, mostly casual dalliances that were more borne of rebellion than actual desire. But there was no one I particularly cared for, especially with the added difficulty of sneaking around under the moonlight with a lover, coddled and protected as I was.

“Well, no,” I said, feeling my cheeks burn.

My father cleared his throat, looking a little more pink than usual as he turned back to me. “I think you will be quite pleased. He’s…ahem…” He trailed off, looking to my mother for support. She raised her brows at him, a smile tugging at her lips as if she found his flustered state amusing. Father coughed, clearing his throat again. “He’s very handsome. And he’s not a stranger to you. It will be a worthy match.”

My brain didn’t have time to laugh at my father’s appraisal of my betrothed mate’s handsomeness before my stomach sank. Dread filled me as my father confirmed that his choice for my mate was the very last male I would have chosen for myself.

“You asked to see me, sire?” Captain Vitulus said from the doorway to the dining hall.

No. No, no, no.