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Why not? Bash is one of the only people I actually can trust. I take a deep breath and fill him in on everything. Though he knows more than anyone, there’s still so much I haven’t had time to mention up until this point.

Bash blinks a few times once I finish the entire story. “You’re really worried about having to kill your dad.”

“Wouldn’t you be?” Tears blur my eyes. “He’s my dad!”

“I wish I understood.”

“Right. Sorry.” It was insensitive of me to expect an orphan who was raised by people who didn’t want him to understand my dilemma.

He rubs his hand up and down my arm. “Don’t be sorry. What can I do?”

“I have no idea.”

A phone rings.

“Great,” I mutter. “People know you’re with me. I’ve put you in harm’s way.”

“There’s no other place I’d rather be as long as I’m with you.”

The phone continues ringing. He gets up and answers a house line. “Hello?” His eyes widen, then he nods. “Makes sense. Okay.”

I rush over and try to hear what the other person is saying. But I can’t. All I can tell is that it’s a guy on the other end.

“I’ll tell her. Thanks.” He puts the phone back on the receiver.

“Tell me what? Who was that?”

“Your dad.”

I give him a double-take. “Come again?”

“He guessed this was where we went when he heard about what happened back at the academy.”

“And he knew the number?”

Bash shrugs. “He is the king.”

“Not for long,” I mutter. “And I’m probably going to be the one to put an end to that.”

“You aren’t Queen Sirena.”

“No, but I’m following in her footsteps.”

He gives me a quizzical expression.

“Never mind. What did my dad say?”

“He says to either stay here until everything blows over, or go back to land and join your mom.”

I almost can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Until the angry mobs blow over? What’s he smoking? Because I’d sure like some of that right now.”

“Smoking?”

I shake my head. “Forget it. All I’m saying is, this isn’t going to simply blow over. Not a chance.”

“So, what do you want to do? Stay here or join your mom?”

“You’re sure you can’t shift into human form?”