Chapter 20

I had zero idea of the words coming from her mouth, because surely they weren’t in English.  “Who are you?” I repeated, my voice less shaky but much quieter. Her words seemed to dial down my volume. “What are you doing here—in my bedroom? And how do you know Kaius?” “Technically,” Freesia said, drawing closer. “It’s one of Kaius’ bedrooms. And I’m here because he asked me to.” She paused. “I know Kaius because we’ve been friends for forever. I’m surprised he hasn’t’ mentioned me.” My back pressed firmer against the vanity, trying to keep as much space between us as possible. The look in her eye unsettled me. Friends. They’d been friends? Kaius said he had no friends. But that wasn’t what I was most focused on. “And where is he?” “Didn’t ask. Probably the Market. That’s where he goes when he’s low on herbs.” When she saw the look on my face, she sat down on her bottom, her dress pooling around her. Up close I could see that her toes dipped into a blue color, an ombré effect on her stark skin. “He has told you jack shit, hasn’t he?” My spine snapped straight at her words. “Do not swear in front of me,” I ordered her. One thin, black eyebrow rose on her forehead. “Snippy, aren’t you? That’s okay, I like it. You’re already better than the last one.” “What last one?” I demanded, the hairbrush lowering in my grip. Now that my body registered that the threat had passed, holding the hairbrush like a shield seemed stupid. “The last girl. Jeez, human, keep up.” She leaned back on her hands. “Speaking of, what’s your name? You got one?” I briefly wondered if sharing names here was a form of giving up power. I could remember from a few fairytales that Anna had told me that names were sacred in the magical realm. But was that only between magical beings? She had given me her name, but was it a false one? “You know a lot about the magical realm,” Freesia commented from where she sat, pressing her forearms on her knees. “Kaius shared a lot with you. I’m surprised.” Okay, I was starting to get flustered about her referencing other people in Kaius’ life. If Kaius had had other women here, surely he would’ve said something to me. “How can you read my mind?” I asked her, feeling violated on so many levels. “And if you can stop it, I’d surely appreciate it.” I learned that Freesia’s smile was as terrifying as could be, because her teeth were sharp and small, all lining just behind her wide, wide mouth. “It’s a skill we sirens have. I can see inside your soul, too. Don’t worry, I only smell good within you.” I glanced down at me. My smell. “Sirens. Like crashing-boats sirens?” “Oh, good you’ve heard of us,” she said with a smile. “Be careful when you go to water—many of us are enraptured with human women beauty.” My grip on the hairbrush tightened. “So, come on, human. What’s your name? I’m thinking Delia. No, wait! Celia. Ophelia?” If she could read my mind—smell my soul—lying was useless. “Amora.” I left off the princess part with a twinge in my chest. That part of me was gone, gone with the cut of my hair. But, of course— “Princess Amora!” she exclaimed, and this time she jerked back. Her head knocked against the wood of the footboard. “No way.” She began to shake her head. “No, no, no, he did not take you.” For some reason, this made me stiffen. “He did.” “Gods, has he lost his beautiful little mind? Surely, if he kidnapped you.” I climbed to my feet then, staring down at her figure with a frown. “I don’t know who you are, but I’d like you to leave. Now.” She still carried the dumbfounded look on her face, staring up at me with giant eyes. “I can’t leave, Princess Amora. Kaius has asked me to guard you until he returns.” I set the hairbrush back down on the vanity. “Surely you can guard me from another room.” “Well, he did tell me not to engage, but I got to break some rules now and again.” “Why are you guarding me anyway? I’m perfectly fine. I’m going to be sleeping.” Or I was, until she spooked the sleepiness right out of me. “I’m not going to wander around at night.” Not again. Freesia ran her fingers along her legs, feeling her skin as if she weren’t used to it. “When Kaius leaves the property, the ward he has on the house vanishes. Thus, leaving you vulnerable to outside attackers.” This time, I raised an eyebrow. “Like you?” “Absolutely.” Again, her teeth flashed. “But he knows that I wouldn’t touch a hair on your precious—royal—head. I still can’t believe it. You. Princess Amora.” I bit my lips, but I couldn’t keep them together. “I get it, okay? I’m the daughter of the most vile man alive. And much like you, I wish it weren’t true.” Freesia tipped her dark head, her hair falling into her face. It was a bow of sorts, but her smile was understanding, less erratic as before. “Amora,” she corrected herself. “No wonder that he chose you, though. I’m not surprised.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” She didn’t answer that question. “I’m sorry if I offended you. I try to start off on the right foot, but that doesn’t always happen.” Though her appearance was very off-putting, there was something about her that, as she spoke more, seemed to settle my mind. I tried to tell myself that that was probably her effects—she was a siren, after all—but my mind didn’t really care. I took a step toward her, my nightgown tickling the tops of my feet. “You said that I was one of many? That Kaius has brought to Gossington?” “Well, many may have been the wrong word,” she murmured, seeming almost sheepish. “And I doubt he would’ve wanted me to repeat that.”