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“A mermaid?” she says, pressing her hand to her chest. Her nails remind me of Nill’s tooth, which is thankfully still around my neck. “Why would you ever want to be one of them?”

I try not to show offense at her tone. “Because I saw the one that they brought on board. She was so magical and special and I love the sea. I would love it if you could turn me into one.” I make my voice lighter and breathier, as if I’m some idiotic child who wishes to believe in fairy tales.

“What game are you playing, luv?” I hear Ramsay utter under his breath.

I keep my focus on Nerissa, smiling with put-upon hope. If she thinks Syrens are so awful, she may just grant me the wish to teach me a lesson about getting what you wished for. A lesson I’ve certainly learned before.

She lets out another mirthless laugh. “You are quite naïve for a princess. Though I suppose most born into royalty are. A mermaid is something no woman should want to be. Savage creatures of the deep they are. No, I’m afraid that unless I am given a better deal, you are to come with me toNorfinn. And I will return Sedge to this crew.”

“What about the captain?” Sterling speaks up in a belligerent tone. “I was about to declare a mutiny on him anyway. I think this ship has been under poor management for far too long. This is no longer a democracy but a dictatorship! Our food is gone, our money is gone, and now he’s thinking of keeping some dumb cunt instead of trading her for one of our own!”

I suck in my breath, expecting to hear the crew side with Sterling and call for Ramsay to be replaced, but there’s only silence.

“Well?” Nerissa says to Ramsay. “Are you willing to take her place?”

“Will they get Sedge back?” he asks, and I can’t believe he’s considering it.

She nods.

“Then aye, I will.”

My heart drops.

Now a cry goes up amongst everyone.

What on earth is Ramsay doing?

“You see!” Sterling shouts. “He’s willing to abandon his crew for her!Her! What kind of captain is that!?” He comes at Ramsay, and I get out of the way just in time. “Here, I’ll help you get rid of him,” he snaps.

He tackles Ramsay at the waist, pushing him back until he’s pressed back over the railing and Ramsay bashes his forehead against his and then knees him in the groin, which causes Sterling to double over just enough for Ramsay to slide out of the way of Sterling’s oversized body.

Ramsay raises his arms in peace as he staggers toward Nerissa. “I’ll go willing, I—”

Suddenly Sterling rights himself and picks up a musket from beside him and raises it above Ramsay’s head.

“Ramsay!” I yell, trying to warn him but by the time Ramsay whips around, Sterling swings the gun and it makes contact with the side of Ramsay’s temple with aTHWACK!

Ramsay spins around, his eyes rolling back to his head and falls straight down to the deck. He doesn’t move.

“Sterling!” Thane commands as he pushes through the crowd toward him. “Stop at once or you’re going in the hold!”

But Sterling just sneers at the quartermaster and picks up Ramsay, taking him right to the railing before chucking the unconscious captain overboard.

“No!” I scream running to the rail and looking over to see Ramsay fall straight into the sea with a hefty splash. Thane and Sam run to either side of me and stare down into the water.

“He can swim can’t he?” Nerissa asks curiously from behind me.

“Not if he’s knocked unconscious!” Thane snaps at her.

Before I know what doing I’m climbing over the railing.

“Princess!” Sam yells at me, trying to grab my leg but I’m already launching off and swan diving off the railing. Out of everyone on deck, aside from Nerissa, I’m the only one who can breathe underwater, the only one who can save him.

I hit the water more gracefully than I did when I hung off the cannon, perhaps having the confidence that I can swim almost as well as I used to, that I’m no longer just a human.

I dive deep, down and down I go, the water a crystal-clear shade of turquoise thanks to the rising sun. It’s not too deep now that we’re closer to the reefs and shore, but it’s still a hundred feet down and the light gets further and further away the deeper I go. Eventually I see Ramsay on the sea floor, his dark form a blot against the white sandy bottom, the dark blue stretching out into the fathomless void behind him.

I swim faster knowing that time is of the essence. How long has he been under? He must be drowning already.