I was up hours before the sun rose over the water the next morning, my heart pounding with terror and anticipation. I'd already run through every possible scenario I could think of. Him making me sing until I collapsed from exhaustion; me singing until either my voice or my body gave out; or possibly worst of all, him luring me away until we were alone, then plunging a dagger into my gut, leaving me to bleed out.

I wouldn't cower—I'd be willing to bet that was exactly what he expected me to do. No; as much as it terrified me, I would see this through, then deal with the consequences later.

I'd pulled a cloak on over the dress I'd hastily changed into before leaving my suite, flipping the hood up to cover my face. After everything that had happened, I needed all the anonymity I could get. I had no idea of what to expect when facing Jonah. Aside from our brief interaction at the hospital, I was sure I'd never seen him before. So how did he seem to know me?

I bided my time until noon, nearly bursting out of my skin with anticipation. Silently, I swam through the palace, passing Mom and Dad's suite, then Drew's. I'd left a note in my own, hoping it wouldn't invite too many questions. I tried to ignore the ball of nerves and fear forming in my stomach as I swam, concentrating on my breathing. It wasn't until I'd left the palace and was approaching the outskirts of Pelathas that I heard someone behind me.

Taking a steadying breath, firmly gripping the dagger at my side, I spun around. I couldn't stop the shriek of surprise that escaped my lips as I came face-to-face with Jonah. He appeared unperturbed, giving me a genuine smile and bow. "So nice to see you again, Faye." What looked like genuine worry appeared in his eyes as he noticed my gaze, my stance.

He put his hands out in front of him, showing that he was unarmed. "You have nothing to fear from me. I'm sorry if our interaction yesterday was somewhat..." He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck, a sheepish expression on his face. "Unnerving."

I tried my hardest to banish the one image that appeared in my head as the word left his mouth: the dagger piercing Dad's skin. I took a shaky breath, letting it out slowly. "What do you want?" I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.

To say I was caught off guard by his next words would be a gross understatement. "I know you're a Siren." Before I even had the chance to open my mouth (to say what, I had no idea), he was speaking again. "I'm assuming you are familiar with the name Mica Brooklyne?"

Shivers of fear traveled down my spine as I nodded, swallowing. Jonah took a deep breath. "Two years ago, I was..." he trailed off a second time, again rubbing the back of his neck—a habit of his I was just now beginning to associate with nervousness. "Romantically involved with her. I had no idea that she was a Siren when we got together—had never heard of or seen one in person before I met her."

I gaped at him, my mind racing. I wasn't sure what was more shocking—the fact that I'd never even considered it a possibility that she could be romantically involved with someone, or that the merman in question was floating in front of me. He paused for a minute—undoubtedly to let the bomb he'd just dropped sink in—before continuing.

"At first, it was just stolen kisses or rushed moments in passing. Then it became more—late-night talks and the occasional date here or there. It wasn't until we'd been dating for a couple months that she revealed her secret. I was awed—nearly begged her right there and then to sing for me."

Pain filled Jonah's eyes, voice becoming heavy with regret and heartbreak. "She knew what she was doing. Her plan quickly became clear to me—entrance me with her voice, then use me to help bring in more 'sisters.' By the time I knew what I was doing, it was too late to back out. I'm sure you know how that feels."

I did—I knew almost better than anyone. But I didn't speak. I merely nodded. Whatever he saw in my eyes had his own filling with concern. "I haven't seen her since then—didn't even know where she was until I started hearing whispers of 'the mysterious Sirens'. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I know how you feel. I want to take her down as much as you do."

I was dumbfounded—nearly gaping at him. When I finally found my voice, it was hushed with shock. "Does she know you're here?" After what he'd just told me, I was terrified that she was lying in wait somewhere, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

He quickly shook his head. "No. At least I hope not—I didn't tell anyone what I was doing."

The last word hadn't even finished echoing—it happened that fast. A flash of movement was all I saw before a familiar face appeared behind Jonah, eyes filled with malice. Mica was practically shaking. I could all but feel the rage radiating from her. She gripped Jonah's shoulder with one hand, angled a dagger toward his neck with the other.

Jonah was frozen in place, barely breathing. So was I. When she finally spoke, her voice was dripping with scorn. "Well. Can't say I saw this coming." Her attention was completely focused on Jonah. Ignoring me entirely, it was as if she and him were alone together.

His eyes darted my way once before she pressed the tip of the dagger ever-so-slightly into his neck. Fresh blood dripped onto his shirt, a familiar coppery scent filling the water. He swallowed, wincing. "P—please, Mica. Y—you don't understand."

I wanted to help him, but I didn't dare move. I knew that if I so much as breathed wrong, she'd kill him without a second thought. Mica scoffed as she turned her gaze on me, the malice in her eyes making my heart skip a beat. "And you. Faye Mercer. I know all about you. The orphan who got adopted by the king and queen of Pelathas—after both parents were brutally murdered."

I couldn't help it. I flinched. Hearing her speak so baldly about me—the events that had changed my life forever—simultaneously filled me with anger and sadness. A small part of me, however, actually felt sorry for her. It was clear that—besides Jonah, however fleeting—she'd never had a secure relationship in her life.

I knew nothing about her personal life, but judging from the jealousy all but emanating from her, she'd never had that stable home life that I'd been grateful enough to experience. I put my hands out in front of me placatingly, keeping my voice calm, gentle. "I know it's hard feeling like you don't have anyone to turn to—who will listen and be there for you. I felt that way in the months following our adoption. I felt like I didn't have anyone who would understand what I was going through—not even my own brother."

My voice broke on the last word, but I swallowed the tears, pushed past the lump in my throat. "I'll admit that when you first approached me and told me who you were—who I was—I was terrified, but a part of me felt relieved. Thankful that I had finally found someone who would never forsake me, never betray me. I can't believe I was so blind."

Mica, who'd been quiet until now, inhaled deeply before she spoke. I found myself holding my breath, my heart beating so loud I was amazed I was the only one who could hear it. She cocked her head, regarding me with a pitying expression on her face. "You really thought you could sway me with a sob story?"

I opened my mouth—to say what, I had no idea—but it was too late. I knew I'd hesitated a heartbeat too long when I saw the glint of the dagger in the dim sunlight streaming down from the surface. I lunged towards Jonah, my fingers barely brushing his arm before I heard the agonizingly familiar sound of a dagger piercing skin.

My mouth was open, but I couldn't tell if I was screaming or crying or both. All I knew was the feeling of blood on my arms, my hands, my face. Jonah's face, forever frozen in that expression of absolute terror. He was a deadweight in my arms, but I rallied my strength. Prepared for the dauntingly long swim back home.

It simultaneously seemed to last an eternity and was over in a heartbeat. Before I realized it, the palace loomed before me. Broken, wild with grief, I nearly collapsed as I approached the entrance. "Help! Somebody help!" My voice broke on the last word and I knew I was on the verge of hysteria.

Guards in black-and-red uniforms sped towards us, alerted by my voice. They looked at me first, clearly alarmed by the blood on my arms, hands, and face, then focused on Jonah. "Don't worry, Your Highness," one of them said—I couldn't recall his name—voice calm. "We'll get him to the infirmary. Are you injured?"

I shook my head in disbelief—I think that was when I realized I was in shock—when the question left his mouth. "No! I'm fine. Please, just help him! Please!" The last word ended in a sob as tears welled in my eyes.

When a hand landed on my shoulder, I'd swiped a dagger from one of the guards and was angling it before I'd even registered the movement. Drew looked from the guards to Jonah to me. Saw the pain and grief in my expression. "I'll take her. Make sure he gets to the infirmary—quickly." I would have been shocked at the commanding tone in his voice had I not been so wracked with grief.

When Drew looked at me, it took everything in me not to collapse in his arms and start sobbing. "It's okay, Faye," he said softly, eyes locked on mine. "Come on."

The adrenaline was quickly fading, replaced by overwhelming exhaustion. "I—I tried to help him," I murmured, but Drew was already shaking his head.

He pressed a kiss to my head as we slowly made our way into the palace. "Don't worry about that now. Just get some sleep, Faye."

My eyes were closed before he even finished speaking. I was asleep before we'd even reached my suite.

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