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“I made a mistake,” he murmured. Raziel wasn’t afraid to admit when he was wrong.

“As you say, my lord.” Levay pushed her silver-streaked braid over her shoulder and laced her fingers between her knees. “Do I need to pay a visit to your new bride?”

An image of the Sirenidae, bruised, bloody, and shivering, flashed through his mind. He nodded. “She may be concussed and possibly needs stitches.”

Levay sighed and shook her head, then slapped her thighs and stood. “That’s a rocky start to a marriage, my lord.”

“She attacked first.” Raz still didn’t understand it. Surely, the sea king wouldn’t send an assassin to him, especially one of royal blood. So why all the violence?

Levay scowled. “When you questioned her, did she give you any explanation?”

It was deserved.

“No, but she seemed to think it was warranted. I managed to knock her out before she could do more damage.” He rubbed hisforehead, trying to sort through his memories on the dock. They were foggy. His mother had warned him about the Lure, but he’d never imagined that it would be that powerful or potent. He’d lost his bloody mind as soon as he scented her.

Even now, thinking about it, his mouth watered.

Raziel shook his head and grimaced. “What do you know about the Sirenidae Lure?”

Levay shrugged and began cleaning up her mess. “Not much.”

He watched as she bustled around the infirmary, putting things away as well as gathering herbs, tinctures, and bandages into a basket. Presumably for his murderous wife.

“What have you heard, then?”

“There are many myths about the Lure, but what I have surmised is that it’s a biological protection for the Sirenidae people. In stories of old, they were hunted for their scales and the herbs of the trenches.” She added needles and thread to the basket. “Their Lure fogged the minds of their attackers so they could escape.”

True, his body had felt as if it wasn’t his own, but it was more than just mental fog. He’d experienced... overwhelming desire. “And the desire?” he said roughly.

“Depends on the person. Individuals react differently to the pheromones.” Levay paused, eyeing him. “How did you fare?”

Raz licked his lips as a blush tinged his cheeks. He swallowed down the embarrassment and cleared his throat. “Lust stronger than anything I’ve ever felt.”

“Interesting,” the healer commented. She popped one last tincture into her collection and then slung the basket over her arm, the glass jars clinking softly together. “Where is this wayward bride of yours?”

Raziel flinched, not wanting to say. Levay arched her brow.

“My rooms.”

She blinked at him, and then a slow smile crossed her face.

“What?” Raz questioned.

She sauntered toward the door. “Can I offer some advice, my lord?”

“You always do.”

“First, shower before your mum sees you.”

Raziel stood from the cot. “And?” There was always an and.

“And remember the line between love and hate is thin.”

He flinched. “I feel nothing for her. She’s a means to an end.”

“If you say so, my lord. But I wouldn’t put my enemy in my rooms, especially if they tried to kill me.”

Chapter Fourteen