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The air returned to the room, though it was still a little too thin for her lungs. Why had she overreacted to the presence of this boy? Nothing had ever shaken her quite like this before, and she didn’t know what to make of it. Lucienne gestured for the group to sit and flashed Ashburn one of her winning smiles.

Jed had taught her to use it as a weapon. “A smile can kill,” he had said.

“Don’t be too overwhelmed with gratitude,” Lucienne said to Ashburn, her enchanting smile aimed right for him.

Ashburn smiled back. “You look different in person.”

“Seeing through the glass is never the same as seeing in person,” Lucienne replied.

Ashburn looked gorgeous in the video feed, but it did not do justice to him in the flesh. Vladimir was ruggedly handsome with a blend of refinement and roughness, but Ashburn was of mythical perfection. His pale champagne hair had dried, flowing down his broad shoulders. It would probably feel like silk between her fingers, she thought. But it was his eyes that held her captive, their ice blue deepening to a dark shade, their power drawing her in.

Everyone sat down except for Ashburn, as if he were waiting for her to come to him, until, at last, Lucienne sauntered toward him. As she got closer, a wave of energy expanded, pulsing pleasantly between them. A magnetism, unseen and unbreakable, lured her helplessly toward him. Lucienne, oblivious to the world around her, wanted only to reach Ashburn.

AndAshburn opened his arms for her. His eyes glistened, as if a predator smelled the approaching scent of its prey and prepared to pounce.

Then the mark on the back of the Siren’s neck flared, sending a hot, sharp sensation down her spine. Her mark had never warned her like this before. Lucienne stopped just in time to avoid throwing herself into Ashburn’s arms. The world and everyone in it swirled back, as if icy water had been poured on her face. Lucienne went white. She had acted like a bitch in heat—and in public!

The tug, however, didn’t weaken. It kept urging her toward Ashburn. The mark on the back of her neck grew hotter as if it would burn her, responding to the call.My mark panics in the face of powers greater than it,Lucienne realized.I must rein in it.She evened her breath and anchored herself by her iron will, disregarding the scorching pain in her chest as she fought the pull. Firmly, she sent a mental message to her mark, demanding it to obey her and have absolute confidence in her. Seconds later, the mark cooled.

The burning in her chest also receded but left hollowness in its wake. Lucienne knew the nagging feeling would go away if she gave in to her desire, but she was not weak.

Kian rose to his feet with an alarmed look; everyone else looked baffled but didn’t know how to react to the interplay between Lucienne and Ashburn. Hissing, Violet jumped out and cut in in front of Ashburn.

Lucienne knew if she stepped one inch closer to Ashburn, the redhead’s claws would go for her face. The girl was marking her territory, defending what she considered hers. Lucienne didn’t move forward; nor did she retreat. She only glared at Ashburn over the girl’s head. Had he exacted some power over her and put her through this? If he had, he’d soon know he’d made a terrible mistake.

Snapping back to the present, Ashburn dropped his arms. The muscles in his jaw distorted, and his eyes darkened, narrowing on her, as if he suspected she was the one pulling this stunt on him.

You gotta be kidding me,Lucienne thought wearily.

At an impasse, Ashburn and Lucienne held each other’s gaze, like a lion and lioness sizing each other up. A second later, Ashburn removed his fiery girlfriend from before him. “I can protect myself, Violet. Besides, Queen Lucienne has no intention to harm me.”

Lucienne drew back coolly, looking at everyone with an easy smile. In a clear, level voice, she said, “Ashburn isn’t cursed. I’ve gotten close enough to test him.” She raised her left hand, flashing the group a dark-matter detector on her wrist. “My scanner says Ashburn Fury is as uncursed as any of you.”

Lucienne knew Kian wasn’t fooled. His shoulders remained tense, but he kept a blank expression. At the moment, Lucienne was more worried about Vladimir’s reaction. She hoped he wouldn’t take this the wrong way once he saw the live feed, but she doubted it.

Ashburn sank back into his chair, suddenly amused, though beneath his amusement was a palpable touch of awe and fear. The energy between them rose again, with the sweetest, most enticing voice of the sea sirens. Aware of its potent power, Lucienne stepped further back from Ashburn and sat near the end of the table. But as she flung a glance at him, she noticed his knuckles turning white around a clay mug in his hands.

Was he resisting the same pull? Did it inflict him physical pain, as it had punished her when she fought it?

Peder and Clement hovered over their son like protective hens. “You’re clean,” they murmured in tears.

“See, Mama,” Ashburn patted Clement’s backs, his gaze remaining on Lucienne, “there’s nothing to worry about.”

Violet tugged at Ashburn’s sleeve to draw his attention away from Lucienne. “Ash!” she called.

“Yes, Violet?” Ashburn looked at the redhead as if waking up from a dream.

“I knew you weren’t cursed, and without a machine telling me,” Violet said.

“I know,” Ashburn said appreciatively, but angled himself toward Lucienne. “Thank you for declaring me clean with your machine,QueenLucienne.”

Does he think I’m a fraud?An irritated look flitted across Lucienne’s eyes. Her Siren’s title was more than a queen’s, and her people certainly regarded her as an untitled queen. “Please call me Lucienne.” Her voice was rich as honey.

“That’s very kind of you,” Ashburn said. His eyes turned silver, dropping their dazed expression, but his undeniable curiosity about her lingered like the residue of ancient wine sticking to the wineskin. “I believe you’ve seen me before, through some fabulous lenses of yours?”

He didn’t bother with pretense, and in the process, tried to strip her off her deception.

Lucienne arched an eyebrow.