Page 122 of Mermaid on Heels

Faelina had her arms raised high and flailing in the air, singing like a mad woman. If only she had switched back to her own form, it would’ve been better, Liriya thought distastefully; she madeLiriyalook like a mad woman.

Papa tried once more, “Faelina, my daughter, please I beg of you to surrender!”

But Faelina showed no attempts of surrender.

“Faelina! Faelina, are you trying to put Luke under the spell?” Ella called out to her with a mocking edge in her voice. “Then I wouldloveto disappoint you that Luke is immune to your songs like us; he is half merman. Funny you did not know that, playing my sister and all.”

Liriya’s duplicate eyes widened at that. She was listening after all; but she didn’t stop singing.

Luke’s hand slipped into Liriya’s free one and clasped it, intertwining their fingers. Liriya held back tight as she shut her eyes again, pouring her heart and mind into the song she played from the flute.

She continued replaying Faelina’s evil acts.

Sending Liriya to the underwater prison, stealing her sisters and Luke from her, attempting to take over Lectoria, and now, using her gift to enchant people to bend to her bidding—again.

Something shifted inside Liriya and she felt her throat open. Her eyes snapped open to find her replica no more.Faelinastood at the altar. Her sapphire eyes flared, sharper than a sword’s edge, glaring at Liriya as their songs warred against each other.

Suddenly, Faelina’s song stopped, mid note and abruptly. She fell on her knees, mouth open, hands clutching at her throat.

Liriya lowered her flute and caught her breath. She stared at Faelina as she clawed at her throat, making a strangled cry.

It worked. She did it.

Liriya had turned her evil half-sister into a tamed, harmless siren.

Faelina met her gaze and snarled like an animal, her beautiful face twisted in anger and inexplicable anguish. She jumped to her feet and stomped down the stairs of the altar.

Luke yanked Liriya behind him and unsheathed his sword. “Guards, seize her!”

Cedric stepped next to him from her other side, his sword drawn as well. That was when Liriya noticed the enchantment had lifted. Lightness filled her chest. Everyone ever fallen under the trance would be permanently free now.

The guards marched from all corners of the room and seized Faelina before she reached halfway down the aisle. Faelina shrieked and writhed in their hold, kicking and yanking.

Luke turned to Liriya’s father. “What do you wish to do with her, Your Majesty?”

Papa blinked first, and then answered, “She is my daughter, King Luke, even if she almost got me killed. I do not want her in jail even though she put an innocent girl in one.”

“Shall I have her locked up in her room with high security?”

Papa spared a glance at Faelina, his eyes tormented. “Yes, you may.”

Luke turned to his guards. “Bring her to her room—the room she occupied while she was pretending to be Princess Aeira—and lock her up. Tie her hands and two of you stay inside to keep an eye on her while the rest stay outside.”

“Right away, Your Majesty.” The guards began dragging Faelina away.

Liriya watched. The murderous glare Faelina shot her was brimmed with tears. Suddenly, the joy over her downfall didn’t feel as joyous as Liriya thought it would be.

However, there was no denying the victory and the relief.

“Wait!” Luke called out suddenly and the men paused. He put his sword back in its sheath before striding towards them and grabbing Faelina’s right wrist. A glimmer caught Liriya’s eyes and she realized it was the engagement ring. Luke tore it from her finger. “This was never yours.”

Faelina sneered at him before the guards turned and dragged her away.

Luke turned to Liriya, and her attention diverted from Faelina to him, the world around them swiftly forgotten.

Luke closed the distance between them in quick strides and stopped in front of her, reaching his hand to cradle her face. His ocean eyes dampened as they glanced down at her with love and affection, a smile on his lips.

“My beautiful heroine.”

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