Page 25 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

“Pirate, soldier, poet, king,” Caspian said with a shrug and a grin. “I’m a male of many talents.”

“But…” I wracked my brain, trying to remember what I knew of the Siren King. “You don’tlooklike a king.”

Caspian laughed, the sound reverberating in my very bones. “And what should a king look like?” he asked, preening unashamedly.

“I don’t know,” I began, then stopped as another realization hit. “He didn’t know,” I said, speaking slowly as truths clicked into place. “My father. That you are the Siren King.”

“Obviously not,” Caspian agreed, folding his arms and leaning against the barrel. “Your father would have donemuchmore damage to me had he known.”

“And Vitulus didn’t harm any of your crew,” I added, trying to piece together the truth between my father’s lies.

“I couldn’t risk them to try to kidnap you,” Caspian said, still watching me carefully. “I took that mission alone.”

“And there’s no blockade,” I added, looking at him for confirmation.

Caspian just raised his brows and slowly shook his head.

“How did you escape?” I asked, my curiosity and anger at my father practically burning a hole in my brain. “And why would my father lie? Why tell everyone that Vitulus killed your crew and sent their wings to your king? Why tell us that the sirens blockaded us in, when it hasn’t been true for a hundred years?”

“So many questions,” Caspian drawled, annoyingly refusing to answer. “The only thing you need to worry about is how long it will take for your father to agree to my demands. Nothing else concerns you.”

I narrowed my eyes, a flush rising to my cheeks in annoyance. “You think my father will just hand over our home to you? Because you have me?”

“I hope he will,” Caspian replied, studying me thoughtfully. “But truthfully, I’m hoping I can convinceyouto help me convince him tosharethe islands.”

I laughed this time, the sound lacking any real mirth as he continued to regard me with raised eyebrows. “You clearly don’t know much about selkie culture if you think their king will bow to another. I’d like to go back to myprison, please.”

“Marina,” Caspian said, sighing heavily as if this conversation was not going the way he hoped.

“PrincessMarina,“ I corrected, trying to sound haughty. “And you clearly don’t know anything about me if you think I would betray my own people.”

“I’m not asking you to betray your people,Princess,”Caspian growled, taking a step closer as his frustration clearly got the best of him. “I’m trying to fuckingsavemine!”

I pursed my lips, refusing to let myself be moved by whatever tale of woe he would spin to try to convince me of his righteousness. He had kidnapped me, and now he expected me to trust him? To convince my father to give up our home?

Caspian took a breath, as if willing himself to calm. “Look, Princess,” he said calmly, taking a tentative step toward me. I pressed myself against the cabin wall, and he held up his hands. “I vowed no harm would come to you here, and I meant that. My crew has been told to give you every consideration while you are with us.”

I let out another hollow laugh, and a muscle in his jaw ticced in annoyance.

He continued, still speaking carefully, “We are not monsters. I know you have been told that, but it is a lie. We are a people trying to survive after fate and history have dealt us a losing hand.”

“And you claim no responsibility for that hand?” I asked, incredulous.

“Do you claim responsibility for the actions ofyourancestors?“ Caspian snapped, his jaw tense. “It was not I, nor my crew, nor any siren who damned us to lose our home.”

“The gods granted theselkiesthat home,“ I pressed, trying to hold firm to the conviction, despite the nagging seed of doubt he was implanting. Maybe his siren magic had ensorcelled me after all, but he was right. His crew had been kind. Even friendly. Aside from the stupid net. I shook my head to try to dispel any enchantment that might be upon me. “And there’s nothingIcan do anyway.”

“You could speak to your father,” Caspian tried, his voice sounding like it was pleading now. “I promised to return you safe and unharmed in exchange for a parlay, whenever and wherever he chooses. He knows how to get a message to me confirming the time and place. You can tell him then that we arenothis enemy.”

“You are,” I replied, pursing my lips and crossing my arms tightly, trying my hardest not to get sidetracked and ask about this form of communication. “And I haven’t beenliedto my whole life, which is what you’re implying.”

“You just realized that your father lies,” Caspian pointed out, taking another step closer so we were almost touching. He was warm in the chill night, and I had to consciously avoid leaning into him. “What else might he have lied to you about? To your people? What tale has he spun you to convince you of his faultlessness?”

I clenched my jaw, these truths hitting hard. I knew that my father kept things from me to protect me, but I wasn’t about to admit that out loud.

I looked into Caspian’s gold eyes, which had taken on a pleading edge. “I cannot help you,” I said, more firmly than I felt. “I’m sorry.”

Caspian scoffed, his jaw still ticcing in frustration. “Cannot, or will not?”