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“No!” I hissed. “She’s not for you.”

Serena was a casualty, an innocent caught in our web of schemes. Not only was it unfair that she was here, ripped from the world she’d known all her life, but now we were forever taking that away from her.

Because I fucked up.

I didn’t deserve to taste her, to see if she would kiss me back under the shadow of night—because there was no way she was touching me once she saw my face.

I disobeyed a direct order, and now this woman would pay for my sins. I deserved every bit of punishment that was coming my way in the next few nights when the meeting of the Twelve would take place.

I shoved a hand over my hair, leaned against my palm, and braced my elbow on the tree trunk. Standing there, I watched as Serena played in the waves, growing bolder with each oncoming rush, until she finally jumped into the spray. Her delight was euphoric. Her happiness infectious. Maybe she wouldn’t mind living here.

Maybe she won’t hate me for what I’ve done to her.

With a pleasant family like my aunt and cousin, and a handsome groom, she could learn to like it here.

That was my saving grace. It was all I deserved.

Chapter 9 – Serena

The ocean at night was both terrifying and magical, a vast shadow stretching endlessly until it touched the sky. The moon hung low to the left, its light dancing across the surface of the waves in broken, silvery ribbons. I waded in slowly, the water cool against my skin, sending shivers up my spine as it crept higher and higher. I wasn’t a strong swimmer—I never had been—but something about the dark water called to me, gentle and insistent, like a whispered promise that I’d be safe.

Safer than I was in the nightmarish Land of Nod, where fiends chased me into an SUV, where I had to fight for my life every time I closed my eyes.

It had only been a few days since being kidnapped. I needed time to heal, to process. To feelsafe.That was how the water made me feel. As if the magical realm below the surface would protect me from the dangers of land.

Eventually, I would need to form a solid escape plan. But for now, I accepted every excuse why the timing wasn’t right to leave.

Slipping out of Evangelia’s nightgown—because yes, the woman slept in an honest-to-goodness white, frothy nighty—I tossed the material high on the shore. Her clothing fit well enough that I was able to make do. Although if I was allowed, I would take the hundred-dollar bill hidden in the lining of my clutch to buy some things thatactuallyfit.

But going into town was out of the question.

So I spent the last several days doing whatever chores Dorothea had for me, and on the rare occasion that she had nothing for me to do, she would loan me out to a neighbor. There were at least fifty people living here, judging by the number of houses and the size of the dwellings. Yet it wasn’t until today thatI realized the majority of the dwellers were elderly or families. There were no middle-aged, single people, unless I was missing some detail. When I asked Evangelia why she seemed to be the only one, her answer was evasive. She said there were plenty of single sons and daughters, that they worked the fishing boats or commuted to town, and then she quickly changed the subject. If I had to guess, they were involved with whatever crime syndicate was connected to this place.

Even though my days were filled with physical labor, sleep was hard. When I couldn’t stand being in the thick shadows of that house any longer, I found myself drawn here. Thankfully, the waves did most of the work, because I was an awkward swimmer.

It didn’t stop me from trying.

The water felt alive against my body, slipping over my arms and legs, cool and smooth. I kicked gently, letting the waves nudge me back and forth. It was like the ocean had a pulse, a rhythm that I was slowly falling into. For a moment, I let myself float on my back, staring up at the stars. They sparkled like scattered diamonds, reflected faintly in the dark, rippling water around me. A small laugh bubbled up from my chest. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was the thrill of doing something I wasn’t good at, or maybe it was the beauty of the moment—the moonlight, the waves, the quiet of the night. Whatever it was, it felt good. It felt free. For once, I didn’t need to be perfect. I just needed to be here.

If only I wasn’t a prisoner.

It’s only temporary.

Once I changed that small detail, I was going to live by the sea. Alessandro couldn’t stop me. This was where I belonged. A quiet, simple life—maybe not quite so rustic. But I was hooked, deeply fallen for this place.

“He’ll never let me leave,” I sighed to the stars. It was a dream. Once my brothers got their hands on me again, I would be stuck.

I floated on a briny wave. Drops of the salty spray lingered on my lips. I no longer wanted to spit with each taste. I was simply content to paddle about, staying where I could touch the shifting sand floor as the waves rocked me like a giant hand, pulling and pushing in soft, gentle tugs. The sound of the ocean was different at night—quieter, more intimate. The crash of distant waves on the shore blended with the faint slap of water against my skin.

“You grow bolder each night, prinkípissa,” a deep voice rumbled over the water.

I squeaked, falling back into a wave. Holy shit! Where did he come from? I turned and faced the shadowy shape, black on black against the unlit patch of night.

My legs straightened, but the oncoming wave dipped lower against my body—

Reminding me that I was completely naked.

“Spying on me to make sure I don’t escape?” I called out, dropping back into the water.