Page 8 of Voice of the Ocean

Io shook their head. “Daylight offers little protection. The element of surprise is paramount, and it’s better for the Chorus to be in position and focused before any humans raise the alarm. Not to mention it’s easier for humans to see and use their weapons during the day.”

“Right, of course,” Leif replied, nodding. “I hadn’t thought about how the dark might protect against their cannons and guns.”

A sigh escaped Celeste’s lips. It seemed all the others were gaining useful knowledge from their mentors. And despite having the highest-ranking member assigned to her, Celeste gained nothing more than assurance that she should listen to her superior. A fact she already knew.

“All right,” Io called after a moment, “I hope you all feel a little more comfortable around your new companions. Let’s fall into line and practice our formations. This will feel different, especially with a larger group. The key is to think as a group. Don’t leave any gaps.”

The sirens swam into position, Celeste and Echo falling into line at the end.

“Ray!” Io bellowed, making the accompanying hand signal.

As quick as a sudden storm, the group arranged into a perfect diamond.

“School!”

On and on, Captain Io tested them on each and every formation, reminding the initiates which ones would be used on their mission that night. It was strange to adjust to the senior members, who responded so quickly Celeste had to focus to keep up. Each movement was completed wordlessly.

“The Chorus must move as one mind,” Io shouted. “More often than not, you won’t use your spears. The Song is your true weapon.”

Staria had a large military, but the most elite and specialized of those formed the Chorus. As children, sirens were schooled by their family members. Only at the age of seven did they begin a more formal education. Celeste and Maeve, like most children of prominent families, were taught in a private school on the palace grounds. When a siren reached the age of thirteen cycles, they underwent a series of tests to help align them with a job or role within the kingdom. It was tradition and ensured that each siren had a place in society. A way to contribute.

After testing, young sirens were given two or three options for their role in Staria from which they could choose. Celeste, however, was not tested. Royal children within the House of Neris did not have the option to become such things as a teacher, a storyteller, or a craftsiren. At birth, Celeste’s future was decided for her: to be a figurehead and perform royal duties. A role that didn’t suit her at all. Celeste always talked too much during social appearances, making speeches that were entirely too long or went off topic. But when she didn’t speak, she found it difficult to sit still. To focus on what was happening. So many times the queen suggested she stay at the palace. Focus on her studies.

“A princess’s first priority is to her people,” Queen Halia had told Celeste on her thirteenth birthday, when she’d cried and begged to be given a test like Maeve. “Our role is to protect the kingdom.”

Which had given her an idea. For it was true, her family had a long tradition of fighting to protect their people. Why, even Queen Isla herself was known for her strength. So when Celeste asked if she could join the Chorus, to fight for her people as Queen Isla had, her parents agreed. Having a member of the royal family join the military had happened before, and having one in the most esteemed division looked good. For the Chorus protected the kingdom from humans. They were heroes. And it didn’t hurt that her best friend, Maeve, had planned to join as well.

They’d done everything else together, after all.

* * *

After finishing the final test, Captain Io dismissed the ragged initiates. Maeve and Celeste fell into rhythm, swimming together toward the atrium. A nagging feeling tugged at Celeste’s heart. She felt guilty lying to her friend about why she’d been late. She wished more than anything to tell Maeve about the ship she had seen. The human prince. Their music. Celeste didn’t have many friends. It was only ever her, Maeve, and Sephone. Halia preferred to keep her daughter’s group small. But now with Sephone gone, Maeve was the only one Celeste could talk to, the only one she might tell.

And it had been a while since the two had time together. Maeve was busy with her new girlfriend, and Celeste—well, she was practicing. Or with her family. Or sneaking out to get some air. She missed the times when the two had been inseparable. When they would stay up late together trying to catch seahorses with their hands or swapping stories of the human world they had overheard.

But now they were soldiers.

Celeste looked at her friend, lips pressed closed. What would Maeve say if she told her about the prince? Would she be curious? Angry? Did she ever have doubts about the humans too? Time was running out to ask.

“Care to float around a bit?” Celeste said, bumping her shoulder into her friend.

Maeve’s face fell. “I have plans with Serafina.”

Serafina.Thatwas her name.Not anLname, then. Serafina, the weaponsmith’s apprentice. They must have been seeing each other for quite some time now.

“Oh! Oh, of course,” Celeste said, then added in a singsong tone, “sounds serious.”

Maeve whacked Celeste on the shoulder. “Don’t say it like that!”

“Are you inloooove?” Celeste teased, batting her eyelashes. But instead of laughing, Maeve froze. As she averted her eyes, bright blue rings appeared all over the cecaelia’s body. Celeste let out a gasp. “Wait—are you?”

“I—let’s talk later, all right? Maybe tomorrow! After the mission,” Maeve stammered as they continued out of the building, catching sight of Serafina.

“All right,” Celeste said, shoulders sagging a little.

She watched as the two of them swam off, Maeve sharing the news of their new mission. Celeste’s heart squeezed a little in her chest at the sight. If Maeve was in love, why hadn’t she told her? Celeste hadn’t expected that anything serious was going on. Maeve was always dating someone, after all. She flitted between love interests so regularly it was hard for Celeste to keep track. Celeste never thought Maeve would be the one to settle down. Many sirens never partnered. But this—she’d never seen Maeve react that way before.

Celeste wasn’t a stranger to romance. She was merely a stranger to it being reciprocated. When she was seven, her first love was a siren boy whose family worked in the palace. She saw him almost every day and fell madly in love with him. It took her three cycles to confess her feelings. But when she did, he admitted he loved her older sister, Sephone. The little blowfish then proceeded to tell the tale to every siren their age, boasting about how he turned her down. Celeste had cried herself to sleep for a week.

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