Page 74 of Liar Witch

“Mother, I don’t need a large ceremony.” She gapes at me for speaking out of turn. “Look, just mate us. Here if you want. I’m prepared to leave.” I’ve had my bags packed for days.

“So eager to disappear,” she mutters.

“You know I’m not made for this life,” I whisper. “I want to go.”

“You need witnesses. Proper ceremony clothes. A reception.”

I shake my head. “All I need is her.”

All I’ll ever need is her.

Perhaps she sees something in my eyes, or maybe it’s the truth in my words which finally gets through to her, but either way she finally turns away and nods.

“Fine. We’ll do it on the balcony. Alexandra, go and grab someone who’s not family to be witness. We can at least make this official.”

Lexi disappears like lightning and my mother wordlessly heads off to the balcony, followed by a trail of my siblings. I want to hang behind, say something to my mate, but the glare the Empress gives me makes it clear breaching protocol to that extent won’t be tolerated.

Fortunately, I lag just far enough behind that I don’t miss Nilsa dragging Cassie closer to her.

“What exactly does a siren mating ceremony entail?” she hisses.

I can’t help the nervous smile that graces my lips at Cassie’s reply: “He’s going to sing for you.”

My palms start to sweat, but I don’t acknowledge it as I walk into the sunlight and blink at the sudden brightness.

My mother stands by the low rail, her eyes on the deep blue as my sisters squeeze into the space around. I drop to my knees at her feet just as Lexi returns, accompanied by two minor nobles in the court and one of my mother’s favourite generals.

A good choice, impartial, and yet trusted enough to not spread rumours for their personal gain.

Nilsa is the last to enter, following Cassie with a wary look at the strangers around her and the dagger in my mother’s grasp. I don’t bother trying not to look at her anymore, and my mother doesn’t reprimand me.

There’s no point, since I will no longer be her responsibility in a few minutes.

“It has been an age since I performed the ceremony for an outsider,” the Empress begins, beckoning my mate to stand on her other side. “Nilsa, you cannot sing as we can, so you must make the blood oath to the Sea instead.”

Nilsa takes the offered dagger without flinching and slices through her palm. Her blood glitters as it drips from the wound, falling to the ocean in fat droplets.

Some part of me settles at the sight of it.

She isn’t backing out.

I have no idea what I have done to deserve her, but I say a small prayer to her Goddess in thanks.

“Repeat after me,” my mother says. “I take this male into my keeping. I will honour him, respect him and protect him for the rest of our days, else the Sea consume me.”

Nilsa doesn’t hesitate. “I take this male as my equal. I will honour him, respect him and fight beside him for the rest of our days, else the Sea consume me.”

I can’t help my savage grin, even as her words sink in for the rest of my family.

My fierce, glorious mate and her eloquent fuck you to siren tradition.

Unbidden, I take the dagger from her and cut my own hand, holding it out beyond the rail to let my blood mingle with hers in the salt water below.

The song that echoes from my mouth isn’t nearly as grand as it is beneath the waves. No siren’s voice sounds true in the air, but the melody contains the same promise, plus something extra.

Sirenae males are encouraged to write their songs from a young age as a gift to their future mate. I spent months as a youngscale with my scribes and tutors, practising an acceptable melody that promised obedience and gratitude. Something full of cheer and warmth, as expected of a prince.

That’s not the song I sing for Nilsa.