Page 15 of Voice of the Ocean

“I’m sorry,” Celeste whispered to Maeve, before she raced toward him.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Lightning cracked, revealing the churning world below. Celeste towed Bastian along the surface with one hand, pulling her spear free with the other. When he was far enough away from the others, she released him. Then she dove straight for the general and the prince. Her spear spun around in a graceful arc, dull end connecting with Xandra’s back. The general jerked, her grip on the prince releasing. Thunder cracked. And it was as if time slowed and held its breath. Her head turned, meeting the princess’s eyes. Xandra froze, a spear tip at her throat. For the first time, Celeste saw surprise on the general’s face.

“Princess, what are you doing?”

“Staria is peaceful,” Celeste’s voice cracked. “This is... slaughter.”

“Get back in formation.”

Behind the general, the prince kicked his legs, propelling him toward the surface. Toward Bastian.

“But... what have these humans done wrong?” Celeste kept her gaze on her general, afraid to alert her. “There must be another way to?—”

“I am not arguing with afryin the middle of the Song.” Xandra’s jaw tightened. “You knew what you signed up for.”

It was true. Shehadknown what she signed up for. She grew up knowing the Chorus drowned sailors. But these humans didn’t match the descriptions she had heard in the stories. Humans were bloodthirsty, murderous, depraved, emotional creatures. These people looked as though they were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe her mother was right. She wasn’t cut out for this.

A body fell into the water. Then another. And another.

“I don’t care who your mother is. Get back in line.”

“No.”

Humans rained down. Five, then ten, then fifteen. Until the water was churning with them. A mass of writhing limbs. They fell upon each other, kicking and clawing to reach the calling sirens. Celeste lowered her spear, moving to help them somehow.

She heard the weapon before she saw it. A faint whistling just behind her head. Celeste twisted and knocked Xandra’s spear away. The general’s nostrils flared, black eyes glinting. There was nothing of her leader in that gaze. Only rage. Celeste was now another threat to be eliminated. Regaining control of her spear, Xandra thrust toward Celeste’s stomach. This time the princess was not quick enough. It struck against the leather of her armor, stealing the air from her lungs. Celeste doubled over, gasping.

She would not win a fight against Xandra. The general was nearly twice her size and had three times her training. She had to think of something. Quickly. But the blows kept coming. Celeste swept her spear over her head. Although she blocked the impact, pain shot down her arms.

“Look at them, Celeste,” Xandra said, yellow eyes flashing as she pointed at the lovesick men above. “You would betray your people for these animals?”

That only reminded Celeste of?—

Without warning, Celeste launched toward the surface, disappearing into the chaos and tangle of humans. As she emerged, one reached for her, grabbing as if to use her to propel himself forward. She dodged him easily. Her eyes remained on the ship, searching for a pair of floppy ears.

She found none.

Heart plummeting, Celeste scanned the water. There was no sign of the animal. Instead, she found the prince. His head rested against Bastian’s chest, face tense until at last his shoulders sagged in relief.Alive. Celeste’s shoulders fell as well, drawing closer. The prince looked up, catching her eyes with his. But there was no fear. Only a question.Why?

Celeste wished she knew the answer.

Around them the humans blindly thrashed until they reached the siren calling them, only to disappear beneath the waves.I can’t save them all. The thought was a stone in her stomach.I can’t stop this. They won’t listen to me.

And so she did the only thing she could think to do.

She fled. Taking the human prince and his friend with her.

* * *

The human prince kicked and struggled, shouting words she had not learned in training but could surmise were rather rude. She should have expected it. She was a siren. Her folk were attacking his ship. But had they not shared a moment before? Surely he understood she did not intend to drown them. Apparently, that wasn’t enough for him to trust her.

Despite the prince’s protests, her grip did not loosen as she pulled them by their shirts. Bastian, luckily, did not fight, but only because he was still very much unconscious. She swam with abandon. Fleeing the very sirens she’d sworn to obey. Somewhere along the way, it started to rain. Fat drops fell upon the sea, so numerous they drowned out the distant sound of the Song.

Eventually, the prince ceased his fighting, choosing to stare at her darkly instead. She supposed he was waiting to see what she would do next.

That made two of them.

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