Page 64 of Of Song and Darkness

Kai sneered. “I’m not going to allow you to put yourself and the entire ocean at risk to save someone as worthless as me.”

His declaration brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart. “I believe that black heart of yours is starting to beat red. The man I met on the beach months ago wouldn’t have cared about me, or anyone else, for that matter.”

A placid look overtook his features, and he stood up taller. “No words in the world could encompass all the reasons I am wrong for you.” The blood in my veins pumped louder as his grip on my waist intensified. “I am a terrible person and have made all the wrong choices, but being with you, knowing you, has made me want to be a better person.”

Tears etched a path down my cheeks, and Kai reached up to wipe them away. “I’m not sorry that I’ve fallen in love with you, and all I ask is that you trust me. Let me go with Orm and get the trident.”

“I’ll grant your request, but I won’t be happy about it,” Kai said, motioning one of his men forward.

Kai gestured to the dagger and sheath tied to the man’s middle, and he quickly took it off and handed it to his captain. Kai lifted my shirt, his fingertips brushing across my skin. Warmth blossomed in my chest, and my skin broke out in goosebumps as Kai strapped the dagger to my waist.

“If he even looks at you wrong, I want you to carve out his heart,” Kai asserted loud enough for Orm to hear, which, judging by his face, was the intended effect.

My eyes flicked to Orm, who waited in the water. “You have my word,” I promised Kai as I shed my clothing, walked over to the railing, and dove overboard.

My body sang as the cool water encircled me, hydrating my parched skin. I swam back to the surface to find Kai with his hands braced on the railing, tension evident in his taut muscles.

“I’m ready,” I called to the sea witch.

A wicked smile tugged at her lips as she shot her magic toward me.

A scream ripped from my throat as the transformation started. Tears of pain leaked from my eyes, and I wished Kai had changed me instead of the sea witch, but I could deal with the intense pain if it kept his true identity safe.

I breathed deeply, thankful that the whole ordeal was over. My tail ached, and the thought of using it to swim all the way to Aquarius felt like a daunting task. The sea witch’s skill in the transformation process seemed inferior to Kai’s, or she intentionally heightened the pain. Given her nature, the latter was likely the case.

The water beside me rippled. I turned to see Orm’s hand reaching for my shoulder, concern lining his expression.

“Touch her, and I will cut your heart out myself and feed it to the gulls,” Kai warned from above.

Shock rendered me speechless as Orm lowered his arm back into the water. I had never seen Orm back down from anyone or anything. I glanced up at Kai. His dark, unruly hair blew in the wind, and the menacing set of his stubble-lined jaw promised death and danger. Even in his weakened state, he was a force to be reckoned with. I could easily understand Orm’s hesitation.

Kai’s gaze raked over me, and I felt a tug in my chest, pleading for me not to leave his side.

“Let’s go,” I said to Orm as I dove beneath the waves before my emotions argued me out of my mission.

I plummeted deep, hoping the cold water would numb the ache in my heart. The thought of Kai dying before I returned clawed at my mind, making my thoughts dizzy.

Orm caught up with me quickly. He had always been faster than me with his powerful tail. “You think your father will just hand you his trident?” Orm gripped my arm, forcing me to stop.

I knew my father would never give up his trident, and the fact that I would have to put him under the persuasion of my siren song a second time made my stomach sour.

I tore my arm from Orm. “You have no right to ask me anything after what you did.”

“After what I did.” Orm scoffed. “You went to see the sea witch too, and don’t try to deny it. She told me you did.”

“That’s the problem, Orm. I went to see her to save everyone. You went to her to save yourself.”

Orm grabbed for me again, but my senses were on high alert, and I easily avoided him, which seemed to ignite the fire raging inside him. “Don’t you dare judge me for trying to save myself. What you’ve done is much worse.”

“Please tell me what I’ve done that is so bad?” I questioned with a lift of a brow.

“You fell for a land dweller. A killer of our kind. Both of you should be put to death.” Orm rushed forward, gripping me by the shoulders. The force he applied was painful as his breath bubbles flew across my face. “How could you choose him over me?”

My hand went to the blade at my side. I snatched it from the sheath, slicing it across Orm’s face. The water around us turned crimson with his blood. He released me, reaching up to cover his wound. A dazed and angry look crossed his features.

“Be careful,” I warned. “The siren princess you used to know died along that treacherous journey. She is no more.”

Orm’s eyes swept over me in disbelief. “What has he turned you into?” He sneered at me, showing his pearly white teeth.

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