Page 27 of Voice of the Ocean

Celeste shook her head.

“Ah, I see. That could make things more challenging. How long is your name? How many letters?”

Although Celeste had never learned to write, she had been taught the letters of her name. She counted each letter before lifting seven fingers.

Kiyami laughed. “Seven! Okay! We’re getting somewhere. Is the first letter...A?”

Celeste shook her head.

“B?”

Another shake.

“C?”

At this, Celeste nodded, practically jumping up in excitement.

Kiyami beamed. “Yes! Seven letters and it begins withC. Hm...”

They continued this guessing game, Kiyami asking letter after letter and Celeste nodding or shaking her head for each. Celeste eventually brought herself to try the bread. It was rather hard and tasteless, but it was better than nothing. Once the food was finished, Celeste felt somewhat herself again, despite the circumstances. Kiyami guessedTfor the sixth letter of Celeste’s name, and the siren nodded again.

“Is the last letterE? Is your name Celeste?”

At once, all the air swept from Celeste’s lungs. It didn’t occur to her how it would feel to hear her name again, spoken to her by a human. It was as though, after days of drifting, she had at last made anchor. Someone in this worldknewher. Celeste blinked back tears, and she nodded.

“Celeste,” Kiyami said again, grinning. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Perhaps names had a special sort of magic. Because as the two looked at each other, something had changed between them. The shift was subtle, barely perceptible, but present all the same. Celeste didn’t consider them friends, nor did she think letting her guard down around any humans was a good idea. But at least she wasn’t afraid of this human. With careful fingers, she touched the painful bruises on her arms, as if to remind herself they could still be just as monstrous—a fact she had so brutally learned firsthand.

Shouting erupted somewhere within the jail, the echoes ringing through the cells. Kiyami turned and leaned toward the bars. They heard the unmistakable thud of a body hitting the floor. And... was that the growl of an animal? Celeste tensed, sliding further from the cell bars. Whatever was happening, she wanted no part in it.

“I think someone is coming,” Kiyami said. “And it’s not the guard.”

Celeste tugged her coat around her shoulders. Whoever had overtaken the guards must be far worse.

Hurried footfalls and the jangle of metal signaled the intruder was entering the hall. Shouts of humans struggling continued. A bang silenced them, so loud it rang in Celeste’s ears. She clutched her head, doubling over. A sound of death.

The cell door clanged open.

When Celeste looked up, Prince Raiden Sharp was framed in the doorway, staring down at her with fathomless dark eyes.

“Hello again.” He smiled.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

“Rai? What are you doing here?” Kiyami picked herself up off the floor.

“I’m here to break you out of jail,” he said with a crooked smile. “Obviously.”

Panic rose like bile in Celeste’s throat. She stood up, using the wall to aid her. But her legs were shaking. The human prince was here? Of all places?

Bastian joined them, chest heaving from exertion.

“Look who’s here.” Raiden’s eyes flicked back to Celeste. “Aren’t you full of surprises?”

“Do you two know each other?” Kiyami looked between them.

Celeste shook her head.

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