The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,90
up so Brigitta and Gwennore could also read it. Then Leo started reading the second page, which was a list of Embraced children living in a village on the Isle of Secrets.
“But what about Maeve?” Luciana asked. “Is she all right?”
Captain Chapman nodded. “Yes. According to the prince, she’s fine.”
Luciana blinked. “Prince? What prince?”
“Queen Esther’s son,” the captain explained. “And heir to the throne.”
Leo paused in his reading. “I thought her daughter was heir to the throne.”
“So did I.” Luciana frowned. “I know the queen had two sons, but they both drowned at sea with their father. I remember the whole island being upset . . .”
“One of the sons survived,” Captain Chapman admitted. “But Prince Brodgar rarely comes to the island. He suffers—”
“Prince Brodgar?” Luciana asked.
“Aye.” The captain nodded. “He suffers from a curse that keeps him from taking his human form—”
“Brody?” All three queens screeched so loudly, the captain jumped back a step and nearly fell off the pier.
Leo exchanged a shocked look with his wife, then turned to the captain. “Brody is your prince?”
“Aye.” The captain stepped away from the dock’s edge and adjusted his hat, which had listed to the side. “Only friends and family call him Brody. Ye must know him?”
Luciana nodded, her eyes still wide with shock. “Aye, we do. Quite well.”
“Not well enough,” Leo muttered. “I can’t believe that rascally dog is a prince.”
Gwen huffed. “I can’t believe he never told us.”
“I always knew he had some secrets,” Brigitta added. “But I never guessed he could be a prince.”
Luciana gasped. “And Maeve is smitten with him!”
Brigitta grinned, clapping her hands together. “This is better than one of my stories! Maeve found herself a secret prince!”
“But the two of them are in danger,” Gwennore reminded them quietly.
“Yes.” Luciana winced. “We’ll have to hope their story doesn’t turn into a tragedy.”
Brigitta tilted her head, her eyes narrowed. “I wonder if he’s told her yet.”
Silas held up a hand. “I just got a message from Aleksi. The elfin navy has set sail. I told him they need to head toward the Isle of Secrets.”
“Good.” Leo turned his attention back to the papers he was holding. The third page listed the Embraced army and their powers. Only eight soldiers, including the Chameleon, whose real name appeared to be Kendric. Odd that he possessed a royal Eberoni name. Some of the soldiers were very young. Leo felt a twinge of guilt at the thought of fighting children.
He passed the third page on to Silas, then read the fourth and final page. Another note from Brody. Or Prince Brodgar, he corrected himself with a snort.
Leo,
You should know the truth about the Chameleon. He’s Kendric, an illegitimate son of your uncle, King Frederic. He was born Embraced, but Frederic was reluctant to have his own son killed. He passed the babe on to Lord Morris, who made arrangements for Kendric to be raised by Cahira on the Isle of Secrets. In his attempt to take over Eberon, Kendric killed his own father and half-brother, Tedric.
Leo stiffened with shock. His grip on the letter slipped, and the paper fell to the ground.
“What’s wrong?” Luciana grabbed the paper.
He motioned to the paper, and everyone gathered around Luciana to read it over her shoulders. Her gasp was echoed by the others.
Leo took a deep breath and flexed his gloved hands. The Chameleon was his cousin. And if Brody didn’t kill him, Leo would.
Chapter 18
Impersonating the Seer, Brody hobbled down the hallway alongside Maeve. In one hand, he gripped the Seer’s staff. His other arm was looped around Maeve’s shoulders as he pretended to need her assistance. He slowed his steps to a mere crawl to allow more distance between them and the guard who was leading them to the Great Hall.
After sleeping most of the day, he’d been awakened at sunset by Maeve, who had given him some bad news. They were both required to attend a dinner party this evening, a party to celebrate the return of Kendric. As if that murderous bastard deserved a celebration.
Maeve had helped him dress in the fancy new clothes that Cahira had given the Seer. Now they were headed down the hallway with glass doors that opened onto the long balcony. He recognized it as the balcony where he had first spotted Cahira and Maeve when he’d arrived at the castle.
A cool breeze swept through the open doorways, fluttering the purple silk curtains. He peered at the sky, noting the darkening of twilight. Tonight, after everyone