Page 57 of When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea #1)

Kosta’s guttural scream sent chills down Dax’s spine. Aurora slipped from Kosta’s grasp as they all stared at the ghastly serpent holding onto his neck.

It released him with a sickly slurp and turned its eyes on Mariana.

In a slithering, creepy voice, the serpent said through a mouth not meant for words, “ Go get the amulet, little one .”

Mariana gasped. Indecision clouded her eyes, but Dax knew she had to leave. Otherwise, Halia would catch up with them, and it would have all been for nothing.

Pulling her close by her hand, he met her stare and kissed her.

Her mouth instantly melted into his, her hands coming up around his neck, holding him tight.

He never wanted to let her go, and his heart twisted painfully.

Fear that this was the last time he’d get to hold her close sliced through him like a knife, nearly choking him.

He pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips, “Go, please. Save your sister.”

Nodding, Mariana swallowed hard as he kissed her knuckles and let her go.

“Keep her safe,” he said to Aurora, who nodded and grabbed Mariana’s hand.

Aurora glanced over her shoulder at Kosta and sneered, “If I see you again, I’ll kill you.” Then they jumped off the ship, splashing into the waves.

Aurora transformed and pulled Mariana along toward their forsaken homeland.

Gritting his teeth, Dax closed his eyes. His soul yearned to go with her, as he felt her getting farther and farther away from him. He fought every instinct, every muscle twitch that begged to jump into that water after them. But this wasn’t his journey; it was hers. And he wouldn’t hold her back.

Shaking his head, Dax opened his eyes and turned toward Kosta, his body shaking with rage.

Leaning on one arm against the deck to keep himself upright, Kosta held his other hand to his neck.

Blood leaked through his fingers, his breath coming out in harsh pants through gritted teeth.

His neck was healing—slowly. It was only a matter of time before they found out whether the wound would seal before he lost too much blood.

“How did you do it?” Dax asked grimly.

Kosta winced as he lifted the arm he was leaning on and stuck his hand into his pocket. He pulled out a polished piece of rose quartz with runes engraved all over it.

“Locus stone,” he panted. “Ophelia has the other one.”

Dax hissed a slow curse. Of course, the siblings would have tracking stones. Scrubbing his face with his hands, Dax released a shout of fury. “Do you realize what you’ve done!”

Kosta’s gaze swept past him for a moment, his mouth a thin line. “The moment I saw the way you looked at her, I knew you wouldn’t stop them.” His jaw tightened. When his eyes traveled back to Dax, his frown deepened. “You’re in love with her.”

Dax straightened, his chest flipping uncomfortably. “No, I’m not,” he stated softly.

Kosta rolled his clearing eyes and shook his head. His neck was still bleeding, but the blood was dripping slower from his fingers. “I knew I had to come with you, but I also knew that there was no way I was about to seal our fates with Halia’s wrath. She has my sister—”

“She loves your sister—”

“It doesn’t matter!” Kosta’s mouth tightened. “Halia doesn’t know what real love is. She’d punish Ophelia just for being related to me—a betrayer! I couldn’t let that happen,” he confessed. His throat bobbed.

Dax sighed, recognizing the scared look on his friend’s face.

“Let’s hope you made the right choice.”

Kosta’s mouth lifted, his sad eyes wandering back toward Sirenia. “Let’s hope you did too.”