Perusing a Siren

Cassian's POV

“Cassian, it’s such a pleasure to be here with you” Fallon oozed out. “Lochlyn is such a beautiful city, and I just can’t wait to be living with you!” 

Oh Fallon. I mean sure, any man would love to get their hands on her...those curves, and especially in that tight little dress. Damnit. My mind was swimming with thoughts. She was sexy, gorgeous even, but why do I have the urging desire to get away from her as fast as possible? Sure, we were engaged. An arranged marriage my father, the king, had ordained just a few days prior. Something just wasn’t right though. Maybe it’s because my father was forcing me to marry this woman. Even though I had no desire to be held down. Maybe it was because he thought her kingdom would keep me from trying to take the throne from my brothers. Little did he know I couldn’t give a rats ass about the throne. 

“I’m so happy you find it to liking your highness.” The words sounded hollow in my ear. “Please feel free to explore as you wish.” 

“You’re not going to explore with me?” Her pouting face turned up towards mine as she took a step closer. 

Breathe Cassian. Just make a polite exit. 

“Unfortunately, I’ve been called away for a few days, I have urgent business with some merchants on the docks.” Lies. “I’ll return as quickly as possible”, I quickly added when she looked like she might burst into a flowing volcano of tears. 

Turning away from her I headed for my bedroom. I just needed a few things before I made my way down to the sea. The oceans waves always helped to calm my thoughts, and that was exactly what I needed right now. I grabbed my bow off of the wall, a smile breaking through as I thought about the archery contest I had just won a week prior. 

She was right though. Lochlyn was a beautiful bustling city. Generous farmlands to the north, with a steady fishing market to the south. Why wouldn’t I want the throne? For starters, I was third in line to the throne, my two i***t brothers were before me. When tasked with shooting a bow, they could barely notch it back. When asked what the lands laws were they were dumbfounded. I didn’t dare think about how the kingdom would suffer if the land ever fell to them, but them again, it eventually would. Which took me to my second point to myself. I never wanted the kingdom. Point. Blank. Period. I didn’t want to command a whole city. I didn’t want to be responsible for the people. I would much rather be out on the beaches or fighting on the streets, or seducing young women. Fallon’s face ran through my mind’s eye. No. Not that woman. A chill traveled up my spine. She was much too sickly sweet. She wanted something. 

The full moon was cresting over the city, and as I climbed out the window, my preferred way to exit the palace, I could swear I heard a melody floating off of the waves. It reminded me of all the stories my mother used to tell me in the dark. She would always start the tale with the melody of the sea, echoing off the beaches and cliff sides. She used to whisper that it was the music of the Mers, tending to the sea’s creatures. Her eyes would light up as she told me about the fantastic colors of the oceans, the creatures that lurked in the dark. It was the siren’s song my kind was terrified of. Too many had fallen prey to the Mermaid’s whispers, and even now, our sailors sometimes didn’t make it back from their journeys. Unlike everyone else though, my mother seemed to believe that the Mer’s were just like us… some good, and some bad. 

I shook my head, coming back to reality. One last look around my room and I jumped. 

I hit the ground quietly and took off. My lungs filling with the fresh crisp air of the night. I didn’t stop until I hit the wooden deck boards that the sea air and water had turned slightly slick after the sun had gone down. There was a little beach a short walk away, where I could lay out under the stars and lose myself in the sound of the waves. I took off in that direction, feeling a desperate desire for that beach more than anything I had ever felt in my life. 

As I wove through a small wooded patch I could hear movement in the water. Probably just a small fish my mind told me, as I shook my head. I scanned the water's edge and my gaze stopped. Breaking out of the surf, was the most breathtaking woman I had ever seen in my life. The simple shift that stuck to her wet body seemed to pulse with shimmers, as if the stars were caught in a spiders web. If I had thought Fallon had curves, I was sorely mistaken. This woman, with flaming red hair that seemed to command the light of the moonlight, was enchanting. Her body floated out of the ocean under legs that I had never seen before. What the hell? My eyes locked on her as she pulled herself up into the sand. I couldn’t pull my gaze off of her face. Her lips parted and the most amazing melody filled the air. I stepped closer, wincing as a branch lightly snapped under my foot, and watched as her wet body dried with a gust of wind that came out of nowhere. I cursed as I tripped over a stump and came crashing through the trees. Praying she didn’t notice. “Damnit.”