As if I’m not the girl that was kidnapped at eighteen.
As if I’m not broken and trapped in a twisted nightmare.
Instead, I’m just his—just his girl.
In this moment, I can pretend this world isn’t so evil.
Yes.Tears cascade down my temples as I smile.I’m tired…
Chapter 19
Kairhyse
We have been on this boat for three days now, and my Gods, do I feel fucking sick. It has nothing to do with the sea itself; I’m tied in knots needing to get to my girl, and the anticipation of finding her is actually driving me to be more of an asshole than normal.
That Sinnix girl—woman, Siren, whatever—has beenasleepsince we set out. She plugged the coordinates into the navigation system, and excused herself. If I wasn’t so desperate at this point, I would have just tied her up by the ankles above the cockpit like the fish she is.
Breathe…
I stand at the bow of the boat, grateful for its spaciousness, since I’ve been pacing back and forth. Above me, just a few steps up, is the cockpit where Sydni sits with Brice. Alaric is there too, constantly monitoring the navigation system. I’ve never sailed before and I’m not fond of open water. I love swimming, but something about not being able to see the bottom unsettles me. This whole experience is completely outside my comfort zone. Alaric, though, seems to be in his element. To be honest, I’m not entirely surprised.
One of the sleeping areas is below me, and I start stomping my way toward the stairs. I need that Siren to wake up. I need answers—she promised to give them to us once she woke from her slumber.
I didn’t realize her nap would last our entiregodsdamn trip!
There are stairs that lead straight to the cockpit and then dip down toward the stern, which has a platform for easy water access.
When Sinnix told me that Xeraphine is currently trapped at the bottom of the sea, forced to drown over and over, I nearly became sick. Poor Sydni cried through her nausea, and while I never want to see my butterfly thatway, there was a small part of me that found some twisted satisfaction in watching her vomit all over Alaric, who’d been standing too close.
No words will ever describe what I am going to do to the ones that hurt her. Her father. Her mother. Lars. Everyone, big or small, they will suffer for doing this to my girl. I know she will fight for her own revenge, but I’m not sitting back anymore. She can wallow in that, becausenoone fucks with what is mine.
And she is just that:Mine.
“We are about an hour out from the location Sinnix marked for us,” Alaric says as I come to sit on one of the two L-shaped lounges, closest to the swivel captain’s chair that he sits on.
My gaze shifts to Brice, who rests on the same couch as Sydni. She looks terrible—worse than she already has lately. I can tell she’s been declining, and I don’t think the rough seas are helping. Between hunger, the sickness from the knowledge of what our Xeraphine has endured, and the constant motion, she’s gone green.
“Syd…” I seem to startle her, and when she lifts her head, she gives me a weak smile. Without hesitation, she moves from Brice’s side and sits next to me. Her head leans against my shoulder, and I rest mine against hers. “Just a little longer,” I reassure her.
She nods, but doesn’t say anything.
That’s when I hear footsteps, dual sets, and I turn my head toward the bow, where Niyla and Sinnix are emerging from the cabin below. The Siren stretches her arms over her head, turning to give me a wave. She’s so carefree, and it pisses me off.
“Slept long enough.” It isn’t me that grumbles out the statement, but Alaric.
Sinnix makes her way up and plops down right beside Brice, shrugging her shoulders as if it means nothing. “Do you know I swam for two days straight to get to that port? Then, had to suffer to shift for thefirst time everinto these walking monstrosities.” She kicks her feet. “Then, learn to ‘walk’,ick. Took me hours. Be grateful. I could have taken my sweet fucking time.”
As she drags her finger from him, to me, I narrow my eyes and ask, “Are you rested enough to tell us what has happened?”
Her smile turns toothy. “Yup, what do you want to know?”
“Why are you helping?” I already know where Xera is, but understanding why is just as important. I know enough about Siren’s to understand they never do anything without a price. What had my girl done to earn the aid of one?
“Listen, that girl is a stubborn bitch?—”
“Watch it!” I snap. “You’ll not disrespect her, ever.”
“Hey, hey.” She waves her hands in front of herself, a laugh bellowing through her words. “She said it herself. That oneknowsshe’s a bitch, and honestly, I respect it.”
