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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

“What—what are you doing here?” Celeste demanded. And why do you have legs? Nerissa still looked the same. The same dark hair, inky-blue skin, and bioluminescent glow. Just with— legs . Celeste eyed them warily.

With a laugh, the Sea Witch held up her empty hands. “Looking for you,” she said, taking two long strides into the room. It was strange to see her walk.

“Why?” Celeste said, raising her fists.

At this, Nerissa stopped moving forward and crossed her elegant arms over her chest. “To give a warning. I have an interest in you, Princess. Have you forgotten?”

Celeste grimaced. If it hadn’t been for the dark stain of the crescent moon on her wrist, she might have. Behind them, the two sirens watched, silent and wary. Celeste glanced back at her sister just long enough to see the anger in her eyes at yet another interruption.

“How did you find me?” Celeste asked.

“I followed you,” Nerissa replied airily with a wave of her hand. “I arrived at the ship just as you jumped into the water. I admit—I was curious why you would leave the humans. You were so cozy with them last time I checked on you. Well— with one of them .”

Celeste’s eyes narrowed. “If you followed me, why didn’t you help? I nearly drowned.”

The Sea Witch’s casual manner shifted into something more predatory. “You had nothing more I wanted. And I don’t do charity.”

“Wouldn’t you want to protect your investment ?” Celeste retorted, frustration simmering close to the surface.

“Perhaps,” Nerissa hissed. “But by the time I might have stepped in, you did something—interesting.” Her lips curled up into a smile on the last word.

“You made a deal with the Sea Witch ?”

At Sephone’s voice, Celeste turned, heart sinking in her stomach. “I did what I had to.”

“And now you’ve brought her here! To this sacred island!”

Celeste took in a deep breath, her anger rising to boiling just under her skin.

“I am so very sorry to intrude, Your Highness,” the Sea Witch’s silken voice cut between them as she turned her attention to Sephone. “But I must warn you—when I arrived on the shore of this island, I saw a ship dropping anchor. The human prince’s ship.”

Celeste’s face paled.

“You said they couldn’t find this island without a siren’s Song,” Celeste said.

“I didn’t think they could...” Sephone faltered, looking desperately at Gala. The ancient siren looked as though she was fading by the second.

“Enough talk.” Nerissa’s jaw tightened. “Celeste, you delay your prince. I shall help your sister and her companion escape.”

“I will not leave before the ritual is completed!” Sephone insisted. “I will not be the one who loses the Goddess’s gift.”

“Then I suppose we will have to hold them off,” the Sea Witch said.

Celeste straightened and fixed Nerissa with a suspicious stare. “I thought you don’t do charity .”

“I may be banished, but I am still a daughter of the Goddess.” The Sea Witch looked down her nose at her. Celeste bristled. She felt guilty for assuming the worst of Nerissa. “And I don’t think it’ll hurt to make a friend of our new Voice,” she added with a sly smile.

Ah, there it was . Of course the Witch had some self-serving motivation for helping them. Still, Celeste wasn’t in the position to turn down aid. Her fists weren’t going to do much against a pirate and his crew.

“Quickly now, Your Highness,” Gala croaked, her voice weaker than it had been mere moments ago. With one last worried look toward her sister, Sephone took a deep breath and let out a hum, syncing with her mentor. Their voices melted together, blending once again before opening into song. Without another word, Nerissa strode back through the temple doors, Celeste following behind.

“Why do you have legs?” the princess blurted once they were outside.

Nerissa blinked her large, inky eyes at her. “We are on an island , Princess.”

Celeste felt her cheeks heat, and she fell silent. The painful process of forming legs burned in her memory. She couldn’t imagine performing such a thing on herself.

The familiar song of the ritual drifted out of the temple on the wind, slowly building the momentum it had lost through its multiple interruptions. Of all the ways her reunion with her sister could have happened, she never expected this. It wasn’t the island or even the revelation that her own sister had hidden her powers from her all this time that bothered her most. No, it was the way her sister looked at her. As though she were some blundering fool who could not help but make a mess of things. Not that I don’t deserve it , she thought bitterly. Still, no cut was quite as deep as one from a sister.

Pressing down her feelings, Celeste looked over toward Nerissa. The Sea Witch was dressed in black fitted pants and top with a deep purple cloak framing her large pearl necklace.

“I don’t suppose you’re carrying a weapon beneath that cloak,” Celeste said.

Nerissa cocked an eyebrow at her. “I am the weapon.”

“Of course you are.” Sure, a siren’s best weapon was their Voice, but even the Chorus carried spears as a precaution. She fidgeted nervously, wiping her hands on her hips. After a moment, her curiosity flourished anew. “How?—?”

“Ask one more question, Princess, and I’ll throw you into the sea.”

With a nod, Celeste fell silent. And that was when she heard them.

The humans.

She had hoped the others wouldn’t have come. But from the sound of their footfalls, each as loud as thunder in the quiet of the island, Celeste could tell many were approaching. The Sea Witch glanced at Celeste. Above them, the afternoon sun slipped away from the moon, washing everything in golden light.

Captain Raiden Sharp appeared like a figment of her worst imaginings, framed in the bows of the trees above. Her heart stuttered at the sight. His face fixed into a grimace. Bastian stood at his left, sword drawn. And behind them, Kiyami, Nasir, and Torben wore expressions of discomfort or dread. A crew of ten strangers walked with them. Burly men with wide shoulders, roped in muscle. They were not as tall as Nasir, but they were twice as menacing.

“I hoped you wouldn’t come,” Raiden said.

Celeste lifted her chin. “Happy to disappoint.” He took a step closer, but she refused to yield. “I see you brought new friends. I wonder when you had time to find them, considering how busy you were. Did you hide them in the brig too?”

Raiden’s fist clenched at his side.

“Your captain here had plenty of time to call on his father’s men after Velluno.” The tallest of the strangers smirked. “And thanks to your wonderful navigation, Wayfinder , we knew exactly where to find your current.”

Anger flared in her chest.

Raiden turned and glared at the man who’d spoken out of turn.

“Even then?” Celeste whispered. “Even then you were betraying me?” So it was all a lie, wasn’t it? She blinked against the tears that threatened to fall. But Raiden still saw everything on her face. His hard expression faltered, but so quickly she couldn’t be sure it’d happened at all.

“We only want the Voice of the Ocean,” Raiden said, taking another step forward. “If you leave now, there will be no need for a fight.”

“I’d rather like to fight.” Celeste pressed down her grief to focus on the anger. “I’ve been practicing .” A wicked smile played on her lips.

Raiden cocked an eyebrow, surprise and amusement dancing across his face. “Come on, Celeste,” he said, his voice low. That same damn voice he used on her when they... when she had...

“Get used to disappointment, Your Highness ,” she seethed.

Raiden unsheathed his sword. “Step aside.”

“No,” she said.

“Step aside,” he repeated, frustration mounting.

“No!” she spat, her resentment cracking through her calm. “I will not let you take my sister!”

Raiden’s eyes widened. “Your sister ?” He looked panicked as he glanced between Celeste and Nerissa, as if hoping for one of them to explain.

So he didn’t know.

The tallest of the king’s men had had enough of waiting. He unsheathed his sword, shouldering Raiden out of the way to run at Celeste. With a grunt, he lifted the blade high above his head, swinging it down in a deathly arc toward her. Heart pounding, Celeste spun out of the sword’s path.

The other men sprang into action, Bastian among them. Half ran for Nerissa, while the others surged toward Celeste. A powerful alto poured from Nerissa, bringing three men around her to their knees. The melody was unfamiliar to Celeste, dark and mournful as it wrapped around the men, turning one against the other. The Song pulsed as she attempted to enchant more, but her powers only extended so far. Celeste opened her mouth, unsure how to join.

Bastian lunged at her.

Celeste leaped back, dodging his strike at the last second. But he was not deterred. He kept the pressure on her as other men joined him. She could hardly think, let alone focus long enough to pull at her magic, her gift from the Goddess given for this very reason—to protect sirens from humans. Outnumbered and without proper weapons, it was all Celeste could do to avoid their blows. They backed her toward the steps until she was pressed against the doors. She screamed in frustration, hoping to somehow tap into the same magic she had used to knock the crew unconscious.

Bastian and the men stepped back and plugged their ears, clearly warned about what she could do. But even if they hadn’t, the magic didn’t feel the same. It was as if it was locked behind a door, the key to which she did not have. Still, the break in their onslaught gave her just enough time to focus her energy and attempt to join Nerissa’s song. The bodies of two king’s men already lay motionless at Nerissa’s feet.

A single note spilled from her lips before a knee collided with her stomach. She fell to the ground, gasping. When she looked up, Bastian towered over her, hatred burning in his eyes. This, too, knocked the air from her lungs. His chest heaved as he looked at her. He didn’t see her. He saw only his pain. His loss.

Behind him, a call rang out. Celeste looked up in time to see Kiyami, flinging a sheathed sword toward her. She didn’t know where it came from, given it wasn’t Kiyami’s, but could guess it hadn’t been given freely. Celeste snatched the sword and pulled it free, pointing the blade toward Bastian and pushing him back. Suddenly, Kiyami was beside her, fighting back two of the king’s men, who were trying to run into the temple. Nasir and Torben had joined the fight as well, both of them keeping Raiden busy.

They were helping?

Torben let out a battle cry as he charged, axe raised high. Bastian looked at his comrades, betrayal plain on his face. Celeste pushed herself to her feet and pointed the blade at his throat.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said.

He wheeled on her then, sword flashing. Celeste took a step back, meeting each slash and jab with the clang of her own sword. His sword crashed against hers again and again, blow after blow, beating her away from the doors. Fury and pain fueled every strike. Celeste watched in horror as she made retreat after retreat. Her training from the Chorus and Kiyami were enough to keep her fighting, but his mastery of the sword was undeniable. He cut her across the arm. Shallow, but too close for comfort. She could not think. Could hardly breathe, let alone sing. And soon one mistake became many, and she’d given him an opening. It was only a moment, but it was enough. He raised his sword.

And then his eyes found hers. She watched him as he took in the blood, bright red and running down her arm.

And he hesitated.

A sword cut between them, knocking his weapon from his hand.

“Enough, Bastian,” Kiyami said coolly, hovering the point of her sword inches from the soft skin of his neck.

But there was no victory in it. Not for Celeste.

“Go,” Kiyami said, nodding toward the temple. “We’ll take care of things out here.”

With a thankful smile, the princess pushed through the doors into the temple. But she could see her sister was far from finished.

“If you give me your sister, I promise no harm will come to her.”

Celeste spun around to face Raiden. He’d managed to get past the crew. Past Nerissa. She raised her sword. “As if I can trust anything you say.”

A bitter smile played on his lips.

“I can’t leave here empty-handed,” he said, crossing his sword with hers.

“No.” Celeste slid her blade down his until they were pressed against each other. “You’ll leave here in pieces.”

Metal rang between them as she pushed him with all her strength, sending him staggering backward. But he was quick. Much quicker than she expected. He regained his balance and advanced, his sword a flash of silver.

A rage of fire within her drove her forward. Kept her in the fight and him on defense, if only because she was so unpredictable. They were not training anymore. Their swords clashed as she threw blow after blow at him. But with one step of his impeccable footwork, Raiden regained control, advancing. He knew all her weaknesses. Knew that his long arms gave him an advantage, making it harder for her to get under his guard to land a blow.

And then she made her first mistake. She let her guard down, leaving her right side open. But he did not strike. Instead, Raiden tried to dodge around her toward the pool.

He’s trying not to hurt me . The realization struck as she intercepted him, swinging her sword. He turned his wrist, attempting to disarm her. Somehow this made her angrier. She retained control of her weapon and lunged at him, but he parried easily.

Behind him, the battle pushed inside the temple. Kiyami, Nasir, Torben, and Nerissa continued to do their best to keep the king’s men back, but they were losing ground.

The music rose. Water in the pool began to circle. Within it, tendrils of light circled the sirens. Celeste could see the power moving through them. The transfer was working. She just had to keep Raiden from reaching them. It was all Celeste could do to keep her body squarely between him and her sister as they circled closer and closer to the pool. But he was backing her into the base of the statue of the Goddess. If Celeste changed direction, he could push past her to the pool. Hurry, Sephone. Please.

Suddenly, Raiden twisted in his attack, and Celeste’s sword sailed from her hand. It skittered across the temple floor behind him. There was no triumph in his eyes as he raised his weapon to her chin.

She still couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe that after everything they had been through he would take her sister from her. And what’s worse, a part of her still felt for him. Still would take him back if he only stopped.

Swallowing, she retreated a step. The stone leg of the statue pressed against her back. There was nowhere for her to go. But she wouldn’t let him win. Not while there was still breath in her lungs. With unearthly speed, Celeste kicked, aiming for his manhood. Raiden jumped back, anticipating the blow. But it was enough. She turned and scrambled up the base of the statue, setting her feet upon the head of the Hippokamp and pushing to reach the Goddess.

“I’m just going to borrow this,” Celeste said, perhaps to the Goddess herself, as she grasped the golden trident and pulled.

Much to her surprise, it slid easily from the statue’s hands.

The island beneath trembled. Stone fell from the temple ceiling. With a cry, the fight stopped. Celeste held tightly to the trident with one hand and clung to the Goddess’s now open hand with the other until the shaking subsided. She turned to check on the others, praying the Song was finished. But she froze when she realized the trident in her hands was glowing. Pulsing. A once dead thing now alive.

“It has been claimed,” Nerissa breathed just below her.