Page 19 of When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea #1)

Night fell, smothering the world in darkness, but Mariana stayed in the river, her body suspended in the cool water like a leaf caught in a current.

The gentle lapping of the waves against her skin did little to soothe her nerves.

Every instinct told her something was wrong, and she had to return home, but an invisible weight kept her anchored.

The way Dax had evaded her after she asked about her sister made her anxious.

Mariana’s thoughts spiraled, her mind a whirlwind of doubts and fears.

Astra was the only one who knew about Mariana’s visits to Celeste, the only one who knew how close she was to the mortals of Egan Village.

But Astra was fiercely loyal, always putting her sisters’ safety above her own.

Would she really tell Stavros about Mariana, risking her life?

She should leave. Going any further with Dax meant more uncertainty. More trouble.

Lifting her right wrist, Mariana brushed her fingers over the charms that dangled there, each a memory from her days as a youngling.

She found the one the Siren Witch had given her long ago: a dark-spotted, spiraled shell with a large opening at the bottom.

The shell was no larger than the pad of her thumb, yet it pulsed with a latent power that thrummed beneath her fingertips.

She had to speak with her mother. Cybele would know what to do.

She could formulate a plan with the council if she could return to Salus.

Perhaps Cybele would be more open to the idea of Mariana and Aurora traveling to Aurelia to rescue Astra, considering she’d have been able to escape her fae abductor.

Or … perhaps Cybele would lock her up forever.

Mariana hesitated, holding that tiny charm with the power to call for help and staring at it as though it could tell her what to do.

Taking a steady breath, she knew it was time. She had to go back home. If Astra truly needed help, Mariana couldn’t do it all on her own. And if it were a trap … then at least she’d thwart the king’s plans. Now was her only shot at escaping while Dax was stomping around in the forest.

Dipping below the surface, she began to sing.

The melodic tune drifted downstream, carrying her message with it.

The notes were a plea, a call for aid that only those attuned to the sea’s magic could hear.

Her song echoed through the water, a haunting melody that resonated with the ancient spirits that dwelled within, carrying her message.

She rose to the surface and waited, her heart pounding. The seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity, the silence pressing in on her. Then, swirling lights appeared before her near the shore. The witch had heard her message .

“Mari?” she heard Dax shout behind her. She glanced over her shoulder just as he came into view between the trees, his silhouette framed by the moonlight. His expression tight with confusion.

Mariana hesitated for the slightest moment. His boots neared the edge of the river, and their eyes met.

Dax’s hand twitched at his side, like he was fighting the urge to reach for her. “Don’t,” he said, the single word heavy with something she couldn’t name. His jaw clenched, and though his voice was soft, his gaze was hard, unyielding.

Her throat tightened. “I have to.”

Thrusting herself forward, she dove into the portal before he could say any more, the water closing over her head like a shroud. Breathing hard, she watched the portal spin into nothing behind her, disappearing when she entered Salus.

Strong hands gripped her shoulders, pulling her from the depths.

“Mariana.” Her mother’s typically cold voice sounded relieved to see her. Queen Cybele appeared before her, regal and imposing. “What happened? Where have you been?”

Wearing her typical midnight-black cape, the witch came into view behind her, the beady red eyes of the scorpion fish brooch staring into her soul.

“I was taken,” she said quickly, averting her gaze to notice they were alone. The familiar surroundings of the council chamber, with its walls lined with ancient carvings and artifacts, brought a small measure of comfort .

“Who would dare?” the witch questioned in a tone so deadly that Mariana had to remind herself that it wasn’t her the witch was angry with.

“A fae that works for King Stavros.”

“What? What did he want?” the witch asked, her tone turned calm and measured, her eyes dark and piercing as they bore into Mariana’s, demanding answers.

“I don’t know what he wants, but this was the first moment I had alone to send a message for help.” Mariana’s voice trembled slightly, the weight of her ordeal pressing down on her.

The Siren Witch drew near, scanning her for wounds. “I’m glad you did.”

“Are you alright?” her mother asked. The concern in her expression unsettled Mariana. It wasn’t something she had ever been familiar with. Queen Cybele was known for her stoicism, a trait that had earned her the respect and fear of her people.

“I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me. Listen,” Mariana said, shaking off her mother’s hands. “The fae said that Astra is alive but that she didn’t send for me. He wouldn’t tell me any more, but the way he was behaving—”

“Astra is in Aurelia? You’re certain?” her mother interrupted, eyes narrowing.

“I can only assume so, but—”

“If she’s there, she needs help,” the witch said.

Mariana let out an irritated breath. “Something is wrong,” she stated firmly. “I think it’s a trap.”

Cybele’s expression darkened. “What do you mean?”

“The way he evaded my questions, the look in his eyes, I don’t know … I just have a hunch.” She hated the doubt she felt as her mo ther continued to scrutinize her. The queen’s gaze was like a blade, cutting through her defenses.

“A hunch?” The witch’s face remained composed, but her voice carried a note of skepticism.

“Mariana, the fae could’ve led you right to Astra.

They could’ve gotten you where you needed to go in order to stop the king from getting ahold of Seraphina’s amulet.

Have you forgotten what’s at stake here?

” she scolded, and Mariana’s mind began to spin.

“I haven’t forgotten—” she started, but the witch held up a hand to stop her, then turned toward Queen Cybele.

“Your Majesty, she must go back. The fate of our people rests in her hands. She must find the amulet.” The witch’s face was stern, unable to accept any other answer.

Cybele paused, glancing between the two of them. Mariana could practically see her mother weighing her options. “If it is a trap, you must be prepared. Malea!”

The queen’s lady-in-waiting popped inside, keeping her hands locked in front of her and her eyes cast down. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Fetch Mariana’s armor.”

“What?” Mariana breathed with wide eyes.

“Right away.” Malea exited the chamber, returning only a moment later with the armor. The sight of it glinting in the dim light made Mariana’s heart skip.

She couldn’t believe what was happening as Malea strapped the custom armor Aurora had made for her onto her chest and back. The armor was a masterpiece, crafted from basilisk bones and imbued with protective enchantments .

“You want me to go back?” she asked her mother softly. The way Cybele’s eyes narrowed made Mariana regret asking.

“You don’t want to find Astra? Rescue your people? I thought this was what you wanted all along?”

“No, I know, of course it is, I just— ah! ” Agony pierced her skull, her eyes shutting out the sudden tears as her skin began to vibrate. She gripped her head tightly. Voices screeched between her ears like nails, scraping against her brain, ripping it apart.

It was like her whole body was begging, Go back! GO BACK!

“Mariana? What’s wrong?”

Cybele’s words sounded far away, as if she were falling into a black hole of nothing. Hands gripped her arms and pushed her hair from her face. She couldn’t see anything. All she could do was scream.

The arguing voices of the witch and the queen were like pounding drums, breaking her apart. Their words blurred together, an unintelligible cacophony that made her head throb.

“What’s happening to me?” She felt her lips move but had no idea if the words even left her mouth.

“She has to go back! She’ll die!” The statement from the witch broke through the chaos for a split second before her mother’s lips landed on her forehead.

Searing pain burst to life as Mariana’s mind exploded. She let out a guttural scream, desperately clawing at her mother’s hands that gripped her cheeks. The pain was unbearable, a white-hot fire that consumed her.

As she opened her eyes, her mother’s somber expression filled her vision, and her lungs burned. It felt like the sea, the home she loved, was killing her .

“You can do more than you know, my love.” That was the last thing Mariana heard before she was pushed back through the reopened portal into the river.