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“I am not your beloved, and it is my right to die as I choose.”

“And what of your crew? What will you choose for them?”

The undead spill out from belowdecks, carrying members of my crew, of Warran’s crew, and even Dynkinar’s people. There’s not enough room for everyone up here, but Threydan makes sure the people I care about most are within my sight.

Dimella eyes me from between the grasp of two undead. Enwen has his eyes shut tight, trying to pretend he’s in a better place, no doubt. And then there’s Kearan. Held back by no less than five undead, all of them enormous and putting their full weight into him. I try not to stare at him for fear that Threydan will notice.

He notices anyway, his rigid gaze fixing on the man I care for most.

I try to get his attention back on me. “You said you’d give me three days.”

He scoffs. “And you said you would end things with him.” He points to Kearan, as though I don’t know who he’s talking about.

“No, I said I wouldtellhim things were ended between us. And I did that.”

“And then you tried to flee from me.”

“An eternity of servitude didn’t sound like fun.”

Threydan looks as though he wants to hit something. “Are you completely stupid? Did you not hear anything I’ve said to you?” He switches to another language, perhaps his native tongue? His next words are for my ears only. “The panaceum doesn’t make you a slave. You still have your mind and will. You’ll only be invulnerable. Invincible. A queen at my side. The world ours for the taking. All I asked in return was help dealing with the horrible creatures who took so much from me. Is that really so much?

“I have been patient,” he continues. “I have tried kindness and love to persuade you. I wanted you to choose this of your own free will, but that’s clearly not going to happen. So we’re going to jump ahead to the part where you’re like me. And in your gratitude for me freeing you from mortality, you will finally see me as you should.” He takes another step in my direction.

“Don’t come near me,” I say, though I can barely move.

He looks heavenward. “I leave you to your own devices for mere hours, and you get yourself stabbed. You’re dying, Sorinda. I will not let my chances at revenge die with you.”

I cough, and the motion causes unbelievable pain. I fumble with the buckle some more, as though that’ll help anything. “You said it had to be my choice. The panaceum can’t influence me any longer. I have to want it.”

“You don’t have to want it. You only have to accept it. And now your choices are death or eternity with me.”

I laugh, even though it’s agony. “I choose death.”

Threydan stares me down, as though waiting for me to finish the joke. It takes him far too long to realize I’m serious.

“You’d rather die than be with me,” he deadpans. “Even though I can offer you power and forever?”

“I don’t want any of it. Not power. Not forever. And especially not you.”

We’re back to speaking in Islander now, and I don’t care who can hear. What’s he going to do? Kill me? I’m already dying.

And he thinks I’d damn myself for eternity to save myself.

Fool.

Threydan’s gaze lowers to my rapier. He strides forward to protests from my crew and unsheathes the weapon. Alosa’s gift sparkles in the sunlight, and Threydan admires the sword for a few seconds. What’s he going to do now? Speed up my end?

My heart rate picks up, because I have a feeling that’s not what he’s about to do at all.

He turns away from me, strides off in Kearan’s direction with the sword extended.

“Wait,” I say, my voice growing weak. “Stop.” I try to stand, but all I manage to do is topple fully onto the deck. As a sharp pain lances through me, I manage to raise my head just in time to meet Kearan’s eyes. They are unafraid, and he doesn’t take them off me.

I scramble to rise, to stand, to do anything except watch what is about to happen.

The King of the Undersea stabs him through the gut. In and out so quickly I can barely follow the motion. It is only the hordes of undead that keep Kearan standing.

“No!”