Page 135 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

“What is he afraid of?” Ritter asks, almost before she’s even done speaking.

“The ocean god,” she says with pride, her smile revealing sharpened teeth. “I think Morvock will be forced to leave the Fire Isles soon.”

“Why would he fear the ocean god?” I ask.

“He branded Moriganna. At least, Blackwell did on Morvock’s orders,” she replies, almost as if she’s eager to see devastation befall them all. “She’s our princess. She’s the daughter of the ocean god.”

Ritter frowns right away. “That’sTempest’sdaughter.”

Melona’s dark, doe eyes flash with ego. “Correct, Charles. Which means when Tempest finds out her daughter has been branded, Ta’Kan will no doubt rage the seas for Tempest. Misery willnotmake it home, andthat’swhat he fears.”

Purpose, drive, and rage are ablaze within me. “So then we flush him out,” I say. “Now.”

Her smile stretches further, almost mischievous. “That’s why I like this plan. Force him to leaveearly. He cannot set foot on his own soil until the solar eclipse. Which means the sooner we get him to the ocean, the sooner we make him vulnerable.”

“Then let your sister sirens know,” I order, rising to the call of Jane. “We’ll send a hawk to Liam. He’s still on his ship. We can be in the deep sea by sundown.” I glance down at Anya, the act so out of habit, only to have everything in me halt.

Seeing her there is one of the most chilling sensations I’ve had in a very long time.

How the fuck did this happen?

Stop wasting time over me.

I nearly laugh at the memory of her, knowing that’s exactly what she would say, but my face remains emotionless.

It’s disturbing to see her dead.

“Melona,” I say, staring at Anya’s head. “Can you keep a body preserved?”

“Yes,” she answers, confidence filling her energy.

“Please keep her body safe,” I say. “She deserves a proper Death’s Wing burial. It’s her sacrifice that probably saved Jane.”

“What exactly did Jane do to free you?” Ritter asks.

“She escaped, somehow. Was covered in blood—I assume not her own, not at first—and was incredibly rushed. She found the right key and unlocked our chains before taking off, where I assume she went to free Anya.”

Tears burn my eyes, a sensation I’m not used to in the slightest. In all of this, I’m fucking proud of her. I love that about her, and she’s alone. All fucking alone, yet her spirit isfarfrom dead.

She’s the fire no one can burn out.

I finally step away, knowing I can’t linger, as even seeing Anya in my peripheral threatens my sanity. She wouldn’t want me to, not right now. Her body is almost a call to action, as if she knew it would find its way home. I need to channeleverythinginto action, and unleash my fury once in their castle walls.

It’s when blood is spilled that I can begin to mourn.

I affix the skull mask to my face, and decide I won’t take it off until Jane is safe.

J A N E

I’ve decided I don’t like circular rooms. Or being thirsty. My lips are so dry they’re like rubbing two pieces of linen together.

If my rations are being limited to make me go crazy, it’s working. It feels like everywhere I look is a wall curving in on me, not a corner to be found.

Lying on the bed, I turn the silver pendant Anya gave to me, still hooked on a chain; every time I feel like being weak up here,I think of Anya. It’s been three days since she was executed in front of me, and I still onlyhalfbelieve it to be true.

It’s not fair she’s gone. No one was supposed to follow me here. I eye the wren, the silent object the loudest thing in this room. I never had anything of my mother’s to look at, no stagnant echo of a life that once burned so profoundly.

This pendant harbors many stories that I’ll never know. I don’t knowwhenthey met, only that it was in Death’s Wing. Or who confessed their love first, or who flirted first, or what their favorite trait of the other was.