Page 63

Gavin

I leapt over a vine of writhing kelp, glancing over my shoulder as Marin dropped to her knees. Sea glass spilled from her fingers, and her gaze locked with mine, a smile breaking through the pain contorting her features.

“No!” The witch screamed, racing toward me, her glittering wrap tangling around her legs.

Behind me, Bowen hacked at the creature, stumbling into the sand, and Cass thrashed against the kelp.

This was it. Our last stand.

My boots pounded down the beach, breath ragged. Each step was a fight not to collapse. And the shoreline was still so far, receding more with each wave. The weight of everything—the fight, the thought of losing Marin, the sheer exhaustion—should’ve dropped me.

But I kept running.

The witch raised her staff. Magic cracked through the storm. Coral spikes erupted from the sand at my feet. Another, then another, rising like a cage of bones. I dodged one, then two, but they kept coming.

One spike slashed through my shoulder. I roared, wrenching free with a guttural shout. Blood soaked my shirt as I stumbled short, steps faltering, trapped before I’d reached the water’s edge.

I hurled my weight into the bars, pain spearing through my side, but the cage held. A prison around me and the shard. Air rushed from my chest, blood diluted by the rain and dripping into the sand as I slumped against the coral.

A wicked smile slashed across the witch’s face, her teeth bared as she strode toward me. Her bare feet bit through the sand, black hair writhing in the wind.

“You fools!” she spat. “You think you can trick me? This is over!”

She thrust her hand through the bars and ripped the sheath from my grip. But then she stopped cold. Her violet eyes narrowed, confusion bleeding in.

The sheath was empty.

I leaned against the bars, crossing my ankles and folding my arms across my chest.

“And then, the first rule of thieves: never keep the prize where they expect.”

“What?” she hissed.

Her head snapped up. She whirled.

Marin was already sprinting the final steps into the surf. Her hair clung to her rain-slicked shoulders—a stunning sight as she pulled the glowing shard from her boot and dropped to her knees.

She raised it high over her head.

“Always trust your partner,” she shouted, voice ringing above the storm. A grin broke across her face.

Then she slammed the shard into the sea, driving it deep into the sand.

A massive burst of light exploded from the shard, illuminating the waves. Energy surged across the beach, shattering the coral monster into pieces. Its chains clattered into the sand. My cage broke, splintering into shards that scattered in the wind.

The witch shrieked.

Magic spiraled around her, a vortex of light and water. It spun faster, tighter, sparking with purple light. Her body twisted, arms thrashing from the force.

The witch screamed again—cut short as the wave solidified, driving like a stake through her chest. Then the wave collapsed in on itself, her form turning to sea foam, sizzling in the rain. The last of her hissed into the sand, and she was gone.

I sank to my knees, a harsh laugh breaking in my throat. My shoulder throbbed, blood still seeping from the wound. I could barely lift my arms. My legs felt like driftwood. But all I could see was Marin.

She pulled the shard from the surf and tucked it into her belt. Then she stumbled toward me, her boots waterlogged, clothes stuck to her skin, steps unsteady. Marin collapsed into the sand next to me and threw her arms around my shoulders.

I pulled her closer, through the pain, my hands threading through her hair. She trembled, and I dragged her into my lap, bracing her cheeks with my palms.

“You did it.”

Marin blinked away the rain, blue eyes shining with so much emotion I nearly crushed her to me again. It was too much—more than I’d ever hoped—and now that I’d seen it, I was more certain than ever that I could never get enough.

She reached up, brushing the hair from my temple. “No,” she whispered. “We did it. Again.”

“Partners,” I murmured.

“Always.”

A little way down the beach, Cass pulled kelp from her hair and tossed it with a snarl back into the sea. Bowen left his axe in the sand, gave me a nod, and then headed up the cliff path to check on Annie.

The witch was dead. Our hunt was finally over. Even the clouds were parting, the rain turning to a light mist. Symbolic? Sure. But gods, I was ready for the storm to be over.

Marin’s gaze dropped to my shoulder, a hiss sliding through her teeth. “You’re bleeding.”

“You’re beautiful.” I adjusted her legs around my waist and shifted her closer.

She scoffed under her breath. “Really? Not even a coral monster can knock the charm out of you?”

I shrugged, stifling a wince. “I’m fine. It’s barely a scratch.”

Her fingers captured my chin, eyes flaring with mischief. “I’ll decide when you’re fine, Gavin.”

“Mmm…” I leaned in, brushing my mouth against hers. “I like the sound of that.”

Sunlight speared through the clouds as Marin looped her arms around my neck, her lips finding mine.

Waves crashed. The salty air warmed. This was our beach. The sea was no longer a vast, cruel thing that had stolen everything from me, but a deep force that had given everything back.

A strange sound rode on the wind, and Marin pulled away to look toward the sea. The waves parted, glittering like sapphires as a woman rose from the depths. A crown of coral and gemstones rested on her head.

Other mermaids rose too, filling the sea with an audience. The Sea Queen crooked her finger at Marin. My arms tightened instinctively, unwilling to let the sea take her back.

“It’s okay, Gavin. We made a bargain. ”

Marin slowly pushed herself to her feet, swaying until I steadied her arm. I followed her into the surf, the water swirling around our calves. Cass had stepped to the water’s edge, too, her gaze wide as she peered almost unbelievingly at the mermaids.

The Sea Queen spoke, her voice an echo over the wind. “Marin—of the sea, Tivara is dead, and our bargain is complete. My kingdom thanks you for your service.” She raised her hand, rings glinting in the sunlight. “Your sentence has been served, your curse lifted.”

She paused, her gaze lingering on Marin. “Your duty is done. But you will always be one of us, Keeper. Guard our magic well.”

The Sea Queen spiraled her fingers into a fist. Bubbles roiled in the water at our feet. Marin gasped, a sharp breath rushing into her lungs as her eyes drifted shut with a sigh.

“The curse is gone,” she whispered. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Marin, your hair…” Cass pointed to the blue strands near her temple. The color faded, returning to its natural dark brown.

Marin rubbed the strands between her fingers, then looked back at the queen.

“And my friend? Sirena Cook?”

“She will be granted a pardon and released as we agreed.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Marin bowed her head as the Sea Queen turned and sank back into the depths. The other mermaids followed, disappearing into the waves like it was all just a myth.