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CHAPTER THREE

“Good tides, Helena!” Celeste said, waving at the guard at the palace entrance.

“Good tides, Princess! Aren’t you late?” Helena called back with a knowing wink.

The young princess grinned. “I’ve got to give Madam Auralia something to complain about!” Helena’s familiar laugh followed behind her as she swam across the palace’s colorful front gardens. Delicate purple coral and red algae swayed as she passed.

Buildings and shops climbed as high as the eye could see, lining the sandy paths through the kingdom. Sirens wove in and out as they went about their daily tasks, stopping occasionally when they saw her and lowering their heads in deference. Celeste darted left, finding herself at the city’s center. In the middle of the plaza sat a grand statue of Staria’s founder: Queen Isla, eldest daughter of the Goddess and first of the Neris line. The sight made Celeste’s rhythm falter.

As a child, Celeste believed the statue might come to life. Her huge tail circled beneath her like a coil ready to spring. In one hand Isla held coral, a symbol of the fragility of peace. While in the other she held a sharpened spear—a symbol of war, defense, strength. Although Isla wore nothing save for her crown, it was Celeste who felt naked under the statue’s fierce gaze. The princess could almost feel her ancestor’s piercing eyes in her back as she turned away. The same eyes as her mother.

With a flick of her tail, Celeste put as much distance between her and the statue as possible. But as the Chorus headquarters loomed into view, white-hot dread filled her stomach. Its tremendous archways stood high above the surrounding buildings, like the edge of a scalloped shell. Depictions of victorious battles and legendary sirens were carved into each column. Beautiful and imposing, the building was where all members trained and conducted business. And, unfortunately for Celeste, it was all too quiet.

Celeste gathered her courage and pressed on, entering the grand atrium. She swam up to the third floor and down the hall until she heard Madam Auralia’s familiar alto.

“Fish guts...” Celeste cursed under her breath.

The instructor obviously felt her movement in the water, because the next thing Celeste heard was as clear as a moon jelly.

“It seems Princess Celeste has not been eaten by a shark on her way to class today.” Madam Auralia turned, towering over her as she entered the room. The instructor’s yellow eyes flashed with unrestrained disgust. Celeste felt herself shrivel.

“Please accept my deepest apologies, Madam.” Celeste bowed her head. “You see, I?—”

Auralia cut her off with a look. It was a shame. The lie she’d manufactured on her way over was one of her best yet.

The princess noticed her instructor’s dress armor. Strange, on such an ordinary day of lessons. But her stingray leather was polished and shining. And in it, Madam Auralia looked downright lethal. Her obsidian hair was braided into a severe crown atop her head, complementing the stripes that covered her from neck to tail.

Celeste glanced down at the sand floor and swallowed, throat dry, hands shaking. Please , she sent up a little prayer to the Goddess, please don’t let her throw me out . She should have stayed within the palace. Should have calmed herself some other way.

“This is the second time you’ve been late, Princess ,” Madam Auralia spat the title as if it were an insult.

Celeste’s cheeks burned red, the gazes of her fellow initiates crawling up the back of her neck. Traitorous tears pricked in the corners of her eyes. Master yourself. Stay calm . She couldn’t risk having another breakdown. But the oxygen felt as though it had been sucked from her lungs. Her mother’s words echoed in her head. “I just don’t want you to get your hopes up, darling.” And suddenly she was back in her room. Suffocating.

“Forgive me, Madam. It won’t happen again,” Celeste said, fighting the tears in her eyes.

Madam Auralia paused for a moment, considering. “For your sake, I hope that is true, Your Highness. I do not give third chances.”

Celeste remained still, keeping her gaze downcast. Was that all? Had Madam Auralia actually allowed her to remain? Don’t cry , she told her watering eyes. Not in front of all of them.

“Compose yourself,” Madam Auralia said, a flicker of disgust in her eyes. “And take your place.” Then, without another look, she launched back into her lecture.

Celeste’s shoulders eased. Why hadn’t she been expelled? Others had been for less... Perhaps Madam Auralia was in a good mood. Or perhaps she didn’t feel the need to remove Celeste. Not when the final test might do that job for her. But Celeste couldn’t dwell on it now. Still trembling, she ducked her head and headed to her place beside her best friend, Maeve. The cecaelia looked at her with concern in her dark brown eyes. She raised a brow and covertly poked Celeste in the side with her magenta tentacle as if to say, Where were you? Everything okay?

Celeste smiled and nodded, attempting to furtively blink the tears away. As children, the two had been inseparable. Close enough to read each other’s moods. To communicate without a word. But Maeve only nodded, not inquiring further.

Celeste looked down at her hands. “Did I miss anything important?” she whispered.

“Not particularly.”

Good , Celeste thought, the tightness in her chest softening. She thought to ask Maeve about her crush. What was her name again? She was sure it started with an L . Lylia? Leanna? It had been ages since they’d caught up. But the question died on her lips when she noticed Madam Auralia’s yellow gaze flick in their direction. Fine. Celeste could live vicariously through her friend’s love life after lessons, then.

The water shifted, alerting them to a presence in the hall.

“That must be our guest,” Madam Auralia said brightly.

Celeste and Maeve exchanged a glance. Neither of them had ever heard her say anything brightly before.

The mystery was quickly solved as the king entered, royal armor gleaming.

Immediately the energy in the room shifted. Backs straightened. Eyes became alert. Celeste’s stomach clenched. Why is he here? She hated that he caught her by surprise. Hated how she now understood why Madam Auralia hadn’t kicked her out, given her father was on his way. And she hated that she wasn’t the least bit surprised he hadn’t mentioned anything to her about this at breakfast. The king probably didn’t want to appear to give his daughter preferential treatment .

“It is my honor to introduce you all to His Majesty, King Tidus of House Neris. Your Royal Highness, thank you so much for coming to speak personally to our initiates. It is our great pleasure to have you,” Madam Auralia said, a smile on her face. Although the instructor maintained her usual stoicism, Celeste could see excitement twinkling in her eyes. Even if it was more common for the king to make public appearances than the queen, it was still a rarity. Staria’s queen was the head of the kingdom and military, but the king was her right hand. Her counterpoint. Her balance. Wherever he went, he represented the kingdom, same as the queen.

Her father smiled and bowed. “The honor is mine, Madam. I thank you for your most gracious welcome and for allowing me to interrupt your day.” He turned and scanned the group, never meeting Celeste’s gaze. She felt herself sink a little lower. “I have the privilege of presenting your first official mission with the Chorus. And your final test.”

At those words, the room thrummed with energy. No one spoke or moved, but they buzzed with nervous excitement. The initiation was supposed to be phases away. And yet suddenly the moment they’d been training for was unexpectedly here.

Before Celeste could wonder why, the king went on in his booming voice. “A ship was spotted today in the waters surrounding our kingdom.”

Celeste stiffened. That meant a Chorus scouting pair was on the surface that morning as well.

“It was reported that the human Raiden Sharp is aboard, son of King Leonidas.”

King Leonidas.

No... it couldn’t be. Cycles ago, King Leonidas had done something Queen Halia could never forgive. Of all humans, he was the one the Kingdom of Staria hated most—and feared. The last time a team of the Chorus went in search of him, none of them returned. Over the last cycle, several other Chorus scouts had gone missing, and reports of a ship with dark sails stalking their borders had become frequent. King Leonidas’s ship.

Celeste didn’t know much about the human king and his son, but she did know they were dangerous. Her eyes widened. The prince. Raiden Sharp . His name sang through her. But the human she had seen couldn’t have been the son of the bloodthirsty King Leonidas.

No wonder her father was here to deliver the news. The majority of the time, Chorus members simply patrolled the waters for threats. Encounters with a human ship were rare and unheard of so close to Staria. Celeste wished her father had mentioned any of this at breakfast.

“I will let your madam explain further.” King Tidus nodded to Auralia, and a small blush appeared on the siren’s face as she bowed. “I expect nothing but perfection from this team. Thank you for protecting the kingdom, and may the Goddess protect and keep you.” His speech finished, Tidus turned fully to Madam Auralia and bowed his head. “Thank you for your work, Madam. Good tides.” With that, he left the room as quickly as he had entered.

The restrained atmosphere of the room shattered into excited murmurs and gossip.

“Initiates!” Madam Auralia’s sharp tone cut through the noise, silencing the group. “You understand the importance of this mission. Every Chorus member has been called to join the Song. We need every siren we have to ensure this opportunity is not wasted. You all will be paired with a current member of the Chorus, who will be your guide. Missions like this are rare; we have time to mount an attack, and it’s important for you to get this experience. It will be dangerous, but it is the prince and not the king himself, and I think you’re ready. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Yes, Madam,” they responded in unison.

Madam Auralia took a moment to scan the initiates, her sharp yellow eyes pinning each one. “The Song is a gift. Tonight you join the Chorus for the first time. The safety of Staria rests upon your shoulders. Remember what you’re doing this for.”