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Mer didn’t believe him.

A Sirenidae wouldn’t have been able to return home to her people through the ocean. Mer was sure Keventin hadn’t sent her along with any money to make her way home.

Either Phia was in a watery grave, or she was being kept somewhere.

Mer guessed the latter.

A Sirenidae held value, and with the proclivities of the duke, she doubted he would let something he deemed valuable slip through his fingers.

That evening, she sat on a plush divan listening to a bard sing about love as Keventin had his pregnant wife rub his shoulders. Mer stared, feeling her hackles rise.

Sienna had dark bruises beneath her eyes as if she hadn’t slept all night and a beard burn along her neck and shoulder. The poor girl looked as if she were about to pass out on the spot.

“If you stare any harder, you’ll turn him to ash,” Gideon whispered in her ear.

Mer scoffed. “He’s lucky that I don’t lunge from this couch and rip his heart out.”

Gideon dramatically gasped, blue eyes flaring wide. “My queen, how could you say such things?”

She quirked a smile at the ambassador. She’d met many people since arriving in Methi, but the fair Gideon was one of her favorites. There was something so likeable about him.

“Hush, you two,” the king rumbled from her left, his face a mask of boredom. “Or you’ll offend our host.”

As if Raz really cared about that. Mer had been listening carefully over the last week, and he’d had no problem putting Keventin in his place. If anyone had offended the duke, it would have been the king.

The duke in question pulled his wife into his lap as the bard changed his song.

“I thought your culture didn’t accept public affection?” she hissed, wanting to tear the man’s hands off of the girl.

“This is not public, and Laos is more... relaxed,” Raziel answered, sipping his brew from the silver chalice. “In fact...”

She squeaked when he wrapped his arm around her waist and hauled her against his side.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

“Cuddling my wife as everyone expects me to,” Raziel grouched softly.

Mer shifted, aware of each place they touched. Her skin warmed and hummed, and the desire to lean into him was almost overwhelming.

Until she glanced back at the duke.

He caught her eye and winked while laying kisses on Sienna’s shoulder.

“Deep breath,” Raziel murmured. “Ignore them.”

“Is that what you do?” she whispered back. “Ignore the child brides around you?”

The king stiffened. “No, but I can’t control everything, even though I wish to.”

“You are the king,” she whispered harshly. “It is your duty to protect your people, especially those who cannot protect themselves.”

“I agree, but it takes time.”

Time girls like Sienna didn’t have.

Mer swallowed hard and focused on the bard’s song, knowing she would do something drastic if she watched the duke’s display any longer.

The young man sat on a stool, his voice ringing out clear and pure: