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Dad squeezes me tightly. “I never doubted you for a moment.”

“I’m glad one of us didn’t.”

“I know you got used to the idea of living as a commoner on land, but you’re meant for so much more. We’ll live longer lives down here and be able to fulfill our destinies while breathing water rather than air.”

I pull back and study him. “Fulfill our destinies?”

He nods. “We’re meant for so much more than the surface has to offer us. You can feel it now, can’t you?”

“I think so.”

Dad kisses my forehead. “I know so. Let’s get out of here.” He glares at Coral. “You’re under arrest.”

She smirks. “I know, but I have immunity from execution.”

Dad glances back at me. “Did you promise her that?”

“It was the only way to find you! This is the middle of nowhere. You’d have died.”

He opens his mouth, but before he says a sound, I aim my trident at one of the walls. Focusing on its power, I imagine blowing the wall out. The weapon warms and glows before shooting out a thick ray of light. It cracks the wall until a hole forms. It’s large enough for us to swim out and not have to use the tunnel.

Dad grabs Coral and forces her out, not letting go of his grip.

Bash wraps his arm around me and kisses my cheek. “That was unbelievable!”

“I’m sorry about your aunt and uncle.”

“They had it coming.”

“Do you have anyone left now?”

“You. The band.” He guides me to the hole. “We’d better get out before this place falls apart.”

Once outside, I turn back to him. “You don’t have any other family?”

His mouth twists. “With relatives like that, who needs more of them? I have people who actually care, who have my back.”

“Can’t argue with that logic.”

Coral whips around and narrows her eyes. “Just so you know, nephew, I’m pulling all funding from the Dark Sea Academy. You’ll never graduate or have a future!”

Bash freezes and his face pales. “What?”

“You heard me.” She turns back around.

The worry in his eyes is enough to break me. And the thought of going back without him is enough to destroy me. What will become of him? Of us?