Page 41

Mer flinched. One point to the old queen.

She’d die before she gave the Methian king heirs.

“What I don’t understand,” the dowager queen continued, “is why jeopardize the treaty between our kingdoms? It doesn’t make sense to send a royal assassin. Nor does the Sirenidae attack at sea. Just what is your grandfather after?”

Attack at sea? Mer cocked her head, forcing her expression into one of serenity while she processed the information that the dowager queen had given her. Sirenidae couldn’t survive the cold water of the north. “Sirenidae attacks here?”

The queen nodded.

That wasn’t right. “Where did the attacks happen?”

“North of the Wasting Corals.”

Mer’s brows rose. “Why do you believe it was a Sirenidae attack?”

“Because the fishing vessel had been run aground on the poisonous coral beds, and their hearts had been torn from their chests. They were way off course.”

“Torn from their chests?” Mer echoed. That was brutal. The strength necessary for such an act of violence would have to be substantial. Even the strongest Sirenidae wouldn’t have enough strength to accomplish such a thing. “Not possible.”

The dowager queen’s eyes glittered with anger. “I assure you it most definitely is. I saw the bodies with my own eyes. The bodies of children.”

Mer flinched. Sirenidae cherished children. Anyone who hurt wee ones was punished by death. It was not tolerated in their culture and extremely rare. “It was not Sirenidae then.”

“This is not the first time your kind has targeted our ships, but this will be the last.” Her voice held a threat.

Mer’s eyes narrowed at the queen. She threw back the covers and slowly climbed to her feet, toes digging into a soft fur rug. Staying in bed any longer felt too vulnerable. “My grandfather desires this union. He would not have risked it for the lives of a few fishermen.” The dowager queen opened her mouth to respond, but Mer held her hand up. “What’s more, as a whole, our people cherish children. Evenifa rogue Sirenidae had theoretically attacked your fishing vessel, they would have left the wee ones alone. That was not us.”

It was obvious the Methian had heard horror stories about the Sirenidae. While she wouldn’t perpetuate the notions, she wouldn’t put herself at a disadvantage by admitting her people couldn’t travel through the cold Methian waters. Unfortunately, fear did lead to power at times.

“What’s interesting,” Mer continued, “is the fact that you didn’t strike me down the moment I climbed on the dock. You thought we’d committed an act of war, and yet here I stand.” The dowager queen didn’t react, which was telling in itself. “You must need something desperately from us.”

Her mind ran over the dowry her grandfather had sent. Riches, yes. Herbs from the trench, which wasn’t a surprise—everyone wanted to extend their lives. And healers—a plethora of them. She pursed her lips in thought. The healers: that’s what they were after.

“Who is ill?” she asked. “Is it you?”

The dowager queen stood from her chair. “I’m in excellent health.”

“Then the king.” Mer smiled. Perhaps the king would die of natural causes. Well, hopefully after she’d made his life a mess.

The dowager queen scowled. “Don’t look so gleeful. He’s healthy.” She frowned. “Why do you hate him?”

Mer picked at the silk nightgown she presumed Levay changed her into. “He took something precious from me.”

“To my knowledge, you’ve never met.” Her gaze was shrewd.

Mer wished she hadn’t met the king. “And yet he still managed to destroy my life.”

“Because of the arranged marriage?”

“Something like that.”

“Did you not choose this path?”

Mer smiled bitterly. “I was given an ultimatum. Marriage to your son was the lesser of two evils.”

The dowager queen walked across the room and stood before Mer, smelling of lilacs. She appraised her, making Mer want to shift, but she kept her head held high. “You have demons haunting you, but you’re not the only one to suffer. We need your healers, but not enough to keep you alive if you try to kill the king again. You are replaceable.”

“You threaten the queen?” Mer murmured. That was bold.