Read Online Siren Slave by Aurora Styles - Free Book Online Page B

and Bow. Small shells sat amongst more decaying flowers on the window sill that looked out at the river. On one wall was a drawing of Siegfried’s boat, the River Queen, on parchment, something she’d gotten from Ulf.
    “Why haven’t one of you posed as a serving maid since I was a child? Wouldn’t that have made your tasks much easier?” Freya asked, crumpling a wilted flower in her fingers.
    “I hate dealing with people. Did I mention that? Quite sure I have,” Hedwig said. “If I’d been stuck in this palace since you were a babe, I would have probably forgotten something important years ago, like not killing someone who irritated me.”
    “That’s not a concern now?” With Freya’s lack of control, she’d retaliate against Hedwig in some awful way if Hedwig killed an innocent. She didn’t know Hedwig’s powers, but it could promise to be an insane battle that would raze Folkvang. Would that be a bad thing considering the amount of Romans and Roman supporters inside?
    “I’d concern myself if I were you. But if I make a mistake, you’d better make excuses for me. I’m here as a favor to you.”
    Freya wanted to tell Hedwig to be careful, lest Pompey or Odilia decide her odd behavior was a sure sign she was a pirate. Instead, Freya sipped some of the blueberry ale. She was proving to be enough of a focus for the two. But if Hedwig’s attitude incited some ire, she probably deserved it for all her scornful remarks about Freya. Freya just hoped she’d be around to watch. What could or would the Sea Witch do to Pompey or Odilia?
    “Oh, gods. You’re depressed now.” Hedwig rolled her eyes. She adjusted herself on the chaise so she was reclining. Her shoes now had heels again. “I’d tell you to go somewhere else or tell my sea beasts to eat you, but I’m not at home, unfortunately. So, let’s hear what’s bothering you.” It sounded like Freya’s troubles were the last thing Hedwig wanted to hear.
    Freya decided to make her listen to every detail, just for the fun of punishing her. She told Hedwig all that had happened since she’d left the fey at the ruins.
    “Who cares about a stupid pledge to Etainen? You’re the one who’s going to have to let him ride you from now until about fifty years from now. A pledge is worth that? And he is going to be really old in fifty years. Probably wrinkly. I know what Morrigan said, but…”
    “What would you do?”
    “Let’s see… First off, I’d show Pompous what to do with his orders and who really is in charge. Next, I’d do the same with Etainen. No, I’d just educate the two at the same time.” Hedwig licked her lips. “Then, I’d quit this place and avoid both men. If you want that Sig-Fry man, have at him. You can stop people’s hearts. Who’s going to want to fight that?”
    “That is actually tempting. Why is that tempting?” Freya started to sit on the bed, then remembered it was filled with those boxes. She elected to stand over Hedwig, arms folded.
    “You’re Hecate’s daughter. Don’t you ever feel the need to do what you want and be happy? That’s what Hecate does. Let me know if you also feel any sort of urge to reanimate the dead. I really wish you’d ended up with that power. That would have been fun. Have a few drinks, make a few people who died violent deaths come back to life, leave them at the homes of their murderers, or even send them to the Roman forum just for amusement. But Hecate doesn’t do things like that. Not since she had you.” Hedwig rolled her eyes.
    “This doesn’t seem real to me. I don’t know what I’m doing, Hedwig. I just know how much this means to my parents, the human ones.”
    Hedwig rose and grabbed Freya’s face. “I don’t care what seems real to you. Stop whining and start doing something about it. You better keep yourself happy. I don’t know if you noticed, but your powers respond to your emotions, the same as Beasts’ powers do. Unless you want to start making people’s