Page 122 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

I need to get the sirens out there.

“You must enjoy the ocean,” he comments, looking over his shoulder to the ocean at his back, returning his attention to me. “Given where you’re from.”

“It does have a sense of home,” I reply, forcing a casual tone as I look back at my food.

“If it might help your compliance, I can have a cottage built on the coastline in Boneglass.”

“Boneglass?”

“Where Morvock’s lands are located.”

“A secondary home,” I absentmindedly say, my stomach twisting slightly as for a moment, I consider a reality where Idon’tsucceed.

“There’s a castle that currently exists there. We finished construction last summer, actually. I will spend my time between Ashfire and Boneglass as we build an empire for Morvock.”

Nodding, I’m not entirely listening to him. Irefuseto be taken there. I don’t know what I’m looking for, or what sign I need. Technically, it’s pertinent to act sooner rather than later.

So, why not tonight?

What if I fail?

“Where, um… where willIbe? During all of this? Your travels?” I ask, trying to maintain his attention.

“Your behavior dictateseverything.”His demeanor then shifts, the air between us growing heavier. He leans forward, ever so slightly, looking me straight in the eyes. “You know… I hate to bring this up, but it might be relevant. Tomorrow, Blackwell is going to kill his first siren.”

My eyes widen, the fork clattering on the plate as my hand falls to the table. “What? I’m beinggood.”

Jesper shrugs. “He needs a few,” he says, as if I just have to accept that, his tone dismissive. “I’ll stop him after that.” His gaze locks onto mine, unrelenting. “Make it worth my time, Jane, and I can see if he just sacrificesone.”

“Please, don’t,” I whisper, my voice slightly trembling.

He raises his brows, as if amused by my desperation.He likes the power he has over me this way. “I have an idea. What about a massage?”

“What?”

“I’ve heard a healer’s massage is todiefor.”

Oh, wrong choice of words.“You haven’t received one before?”

“Okay, Iknowthey’re to die for,” he admits with a smirk. “Show me it’s worth having a bride that is also a healer.”

I stare back down at my food, everything before me utterly repulsive now. What the fuck do I do? My mind reels, searching for a way out of this. Gods I miss my rugged mercenary so much it hurts, his energy so vastly different from Jesper; this dumbassdoesn’t even compare. “Let me know when you’re done eating, then,” I say, my tone hollow.

“No, I think you can go ahead and start now.”

Well, do I do it? He’s asking me to knock him out, basically. And a siren will die tomorrow?

In reality, if I don’t commit now, there’s no guarantee this will happen again.Don’t be reckless, Jane…is this reckless? I stand with an awkward, loud scoot of my chair and near him, the man shrugging his shoulders like he’s telling me he’s ready, all the while he keeps eating his steak, his jaw flexing with each chew.

I don’t know if it’s my reckless heart or not, but everything tells me to do this. To risk it all, here and now. Going down to free the sirens, in any capacity, is daring beyond words. So what counts astoomuch?

Soren would know.

I tried to keep thoughts of him far from my mind, but I also know I’d trust any advice he’d give.Jesper is the idiot letting you touch him without knowing your capabilities, like he was, once…Perhaps my mind is officially losing itself, but I swear I can hear his voice as clear as anything else.

I escaped once, didn’t I?

Fleeing this castle isn’t even my prerogative, either. Which makes this task easier, less complications.Less tracks to cover.