Page 91 of Voice of the Ocean

“So everything was a lie,” Celeste said, her voice cold.

“Not everything,” Raiden said, although his voice did not soften. It was as if he always knew this was coming, “I didn’tintendfor anything to happen between us.”

Her chest hurt. “But you certainly used it to your advantage,” Celeste said.

Once more, he said nothing.

A crack formed within Celeste, her trust fracturing. She was foolish. Foolish for trusting a human. Foolish for thinking she could stop this silent war between their kinds. Sirens may be cold and emotionless, but they werehonest. They didn’t toy with feelings like some sick game, using them like pieces. How could she have been so naive? To fall in love with this man. And he had played his part beautifully. The tragic Prince of Pirates. How much of what he told her was just to get her to feel for him? To help him?

And she’d fallen for it.Fallen for him.

Pain ripped through her, greater than any wound. She tilted her head back, releasing a horrible keening sound. She couldn’t control anything anymore. All the rage and fear and horror came flooding out all at once, darkening the air around them.

And suddenly she was a child again.

A child learning that her grandmother had been killed by humans. The one after whom she’d been named. Celeste. Child of the stars. She had wailed then too.

The sound of her cries filled the cell, echoing off metal and wood and water. It vibrated, shifted, grew. Until one by one the crew crumpled to the floor, their bodies falling like stones. Just like before. Just like every other time she’d lost control.

But Raiden remained upright. He did not so much as flinch as he watched her, pain painted on his beautiful face. The cry died in her throat as she looked down at Maeve and saw the darkness pooling around her on the floor. This, too, had happened before... but... not like this. She had always been in the water before, assumed it was the water’s color changing. It’d never been like this.Like... shadow?

“You’ve always been full of surprises,” Raiden said.

She ignored him, placing a hand atop Maeve’s heart. Beneath her fingers, she felt it.

A weak heartbeat.

She lifted her chin and met his eyes, hatred burning in her gaze.

“Get out of my way,” she said, her voice low.

“No.”

She did not ask a second time. Celeste pulled Torben’s knife from her waist and launched herself from the floor.

He saw her coming. With one smooth motion, his hand caught her wrist and twisted, pinning the knife against her back. Celeste swore and struggled, but his grip tightened. He shook her, trying to get her hand to drop the weapon.Once again your emotions got the better of you, Celeste, she thought bitterly.They made you weak. Sloppy.

But then a new voice spoke.

No... I’m not.

It was quiet at first but spoke again. Louder.

I’mnotweak.

She gazed upon the unconscious bodies of her friends around her.I’m sorry,she thought.I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

Then she curled her free hand into a fist and swung it backward.

Right into his manhood.

Raiden crumpled to the floor with a groan. It would only distract him momentarily, but it was enough. She ran to Maeve, scooping her limp body into her arms. Her thighs screamed as she stood, trying to adjust the weight of her friend in her arms. But Celeste was strong enough. She had to be. Long tentacles dragged against the floor as Celeste sprinted from the brig, slamming the door behind her with her foot. She raced to the stairs, taking them two at a time. Each step was clumsy, slow. Celeste had just reached the top of the deck when she heard the door below slam open.

“Celeste! Wait!”

The captain was coming.

“Maeve, wake up,” Celeste whimpered.

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