Page 59 of Liar Witch

“Alexandra.” The answering reply is just as curt.

“You’re in the way and without an escort.”

The chuckle from beyond our guide is light and airy, with an undertone that makes it clear Cassandra doesn’t give a shit.

“I’m here to escorther.”

“Mother assigned me the task.”

“And you owe me.”

My escort sighs. “Witch, may I introduce Cassandra…”

“Don’t worry Nilsa, we’re going to get along just fine,” the other siren says, barging past her sister. “And we’re going to have a chat while I give you the tour of Marisang—the part you can visit without drowning, anyway.”

Somehow, despite her eyes being the same pure white as Nos’s, she manages to hook both of our arms into hers and change our course completely, taking us down a side street.

This new siren is bronze-haired and slight where her sister is muscled and dark. Her expression holds a warmth and openness that I haven’t seen much of since my arrival, and I find myself liking her.

“While we’re at it, you need to be brought up to speed,” she continues, pulling us farther into the sunset-dappled city.

“Cassie—”

“You know it’s not fair to expect an outsider to complete a mate challenge, Lexi, so don’t even think about saying anything if it’s not helpful.”

“When did you get so bossy?”

“When our baby brother’s happiness got put on the line.”

“Niklaus will do his duty.” Alexandra doesn’t sound like she believes her own words.

“Klaus will kill himself if Adella wins.”

The wind is knocked out of me. “No.”

He can’t do that.

I can’t sneak back into Marisang to rescue a corpse.

If he does something that stupid, I’ll raise his spirit and bind it to a slug.

Alexandra looks at me curiously. “The rite is honourable. Death by blade is the best ending anyone can hope for, whether it’s at the enemy’s hand or our own. If our brother sees it as a better fate than a loveless joining, then…” she trails off, face settling into an unreadable expression.

She can’t seriously mean that?

“Then you shouldn’t be forcing him into a loveless joining in the first place,” I mutter.

“Thepointis, we have to get you up to speed.” Cassandra waves away my bitterness with a waft of her hand. “Here’s the market, by the way. I promised him I’d give you a tour, so here we are.”

Sure enough, we’re now in a busy square. Siren warriors strut around, a few followed by groups of toga-wearing men who keep pace a few steps behind them.

Their harems, I realise.

While Lunars tend to have a handful of males at most, sirens seem to have any number they fancy. One of the more decorated warriors we pass has a trail of at least a dozen following her. Here, at least, the males seem to outnumber the women.

Most of the vendors are male as well, selling everything from fish to handcrafted jewellery. Not a single woman seems to be wearing anything other than armour.

I’m used to Lunars being in charge of their families, but even to me, this culture shock is jarring. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.