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“Your insults make me weary.”
“Then kill me. Because keeping me alive will only ensure I keep giving them to you.”
He releases me. “You think to taunt me so I’ll send you into whatever awaits beyond this life. But I won’t kill you, Carleah. Even if it takes years to earn your love, I will have it.”
“Why?” I choke out. “Why do you want me?”
“Because we are both the only ones of our kind. Without you, there is no Son of Flame. Without me, no Daughter of Ice. And what better match for fire than ice?”
“Ice puts out fire.”
“And fire melts ice. But only with the chill can you appreciate the heat.”
I shake my head. He speaks in comparisons that make no sense. How did I miss this madness before? How did I never see just how incredibly insane he was? “I will die before I let you use me.”
Patrick chuckles. “You won’t. Because you know I will only pull you from the water and chain you in my room should you disobey me. Lose the fight, Carleah. There is no one left for you to love except me.”
He turns and begins to walk away, but the ship hits something hard, and the deafening echo of wood splitting fills my ears as I fall forward. I hit the deck with a heavy thud, my ears ringing. Around me, chaos ensues. Sailors sprint back and forth, lowering life boats and trying to save themselves.
Knowing this might be my only distraction, I jump to my feet and sprint to the edge of the boat. A woman sits in the water, her glorious brown hair sparkling beneath the sun. Eyes the color of plums stare up at me, and she smiles then holds up a hand and gestures for me to jump.
Siren.
I recall what Fort had said about them. About the way they will enchant and torment.
“Don’t you dare!” Patrick bellows behind me. I look back just long enough to see him sprinting toward me. And, knowing I have no other choice, I pull myself up on the edge of the boat and jump.
The water is icy cold around me. Hands grip my ankles, pulling me down to the depths. I struggle against them, terror making me realize what a huge mistake I just made. But then—the siren comes into view, her hair flowing around her head.
She smiles, leans forward, and blows a bubble that attaches itself to my mouth.
I suck in a breath, then another, until I am breathing clearly. She takes my hand and pulls me through the water, and I no longer fight.
Behind me, I hear thrashing in the water, and when I look back, I take note of the sirens swimming like lightening through the cerulean depth. They slaughter the sailors, killing them one by one and leaving their bodies behind.
The siren continues pulling me away. Faster and faster. Until ground slopes up at my feet, and soon, I’m standing, breathing crisp, uninhibited air as I surface.
She gestures for me to continue to land.
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“You are most welcome, Your Highness.” She dips her head, the melodious sound of her voice music to my ears. “You must run as fast as you can. Do not go back to Soreno. There is nothing for you there, and the realm needs you to survive.”
“Patrick—”
“The king of Soreno will not be fooled by the Sirens,” she says. “For his blood is not that of a human. Just as you cannot hear our song, neither can he. You must get to the Land of the Giants and drive a blade through their hearts before they ever awaken.”
“Blade, I don’t—”
“Please, Your Highness. Please move quickly.” Without another word, she turns and dives back into the water.
I gather my skirts and continue up toward land, adrenaline still pulsating through my body. So much has happened. So much to process.
As soon as I reach the shore, I throw myself onto the sand and close my eyes. Tears burn in them, streaming down my cheeks.
“Do not go back to Soreno. There is nothing for you there.” Her words are a dagger. Does she know something I do not? Did Patrick truly order them to be killed?
I open my mouth and scream, letting out all of my pain. Anger. Fear. And as soon as my throat is raw from it, I push to my feet.
