Read Online Siren Slave by Aurora Styles - Free Book Online

worries. “I…I said something to Mother and Father, but I feel badly now.”
    “Well, apologize,” Berengar said. “That’s usually the best thing for it. And usually you do just that. Why not this time?”
    “I couldn’t apologize because I finally said it, the truth. I said I was ashamed of them for not standing up to Rome. I’m not blind. I’ve always known they’re Rome’s puppets. I am ashamed of them.”
    That point had been driven home when Pompey grabbed her breast and no one around dared intervene, except Etainen. Not that her parents could have done anything at that moment, but an action like that should have had Remi warriors leveling spears at Pompey, not standing aside.
    Did she feel so bold to speak of her parents like this because she knew they weren’t her real parents? No. Her fey parents didn’t have the guts to claim her as their own daughter.
    “Because of the pirate threat,” Berengar said. “That Siegfried has—”
    “I know what he’s done.” Freya growled. That sounded like a real growl, perhaps another strange effect of her powers. She didn’t need any more weirdness, not now. She continued on, not wanting to let anyone think about the feral sound. “He’s fought for truth and all that’s good and right. He is the beacon of—”
    “I know you admire Siegfried, but when you have others depending upon you as your parents do, sometimes it is best to take the road of lesser resistance.”
    “The Romans take and take and take,” Freya said, tears starting in her eyes. “The less we resist, the more they take. Siegfried is the only one who takes back.”
    Pompey would have taken her if it hadn’t been for Etainen. She could’ve fought back, used her new power, but she would’ve enjoyed it too much, the feeling of not being helpless, of being able to intimidate.
    “You should not be thinking on this, but thinking on your future husband,” Faramund said, in his usual calm tone. There it was again, talk of Siegfried turning to Etainen. What was the worst that happened if Siegfried didn’t come? She’d be married to Etainen. But somehow, that didn’t seem quite so hellish as it did before. Etainen was hardly the man she had imagined. She didn’t think he’d beat her, not that he could, not now that she was fey. He might protect her, as if he could do that, either. He had no idea about her immortal enemies.
    Freya shook her head at Faramund. “Not a good argument. Why shouldn’t I be thinking of rebellion? Especially considering my future husband is nothing but a lousy playing piece on the Romans’ hnefatafl board.” She was being hard on Etainen. It was difficult to imagine the man she’d seen being anyone’s playing piece.
    “Please don’t tell me you were in the audience when Pompey was welcomed into the palace tonight,” Berengar said.
    “Fine, I won’t. But that’s when I said what I said to Mother and Father. And stupid me mentioned Siegfried, too.”
    Ale spluttered, tankards dropped, good ale wasted on stone.
    Hartwin wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She was glad for the warmth. A chill had gotten into her because of the storm that hovered over Folkvang. The hair on her nape stood up.
    “What happened? You’ve kept silent all this time,” Berengar said. “You’re going to have to mind your tongue with Etainen. You know he supports Rome. If he hurts you, we will see him dead, and then we will have war with Rome. I don’t know how readily King Vercingetorix would accept our help. You need to be wary of what you do and say, because they will not hesitate to be rid of you and appoint a new ruler.”
    “I’ll just tell Vercingetorix that I’m Swan,” she said. “I’ll tell him I’ve been freeing his people.”
    “You have to marry Etainen, Freya. If you don’t, it will insult the honor of the Remi,” Berengar said.
    “Honor? We lost our honor a long time ago when we greased our asses with olive oil and spread our cheeks for Rome. My