Page 94 of Voice of the Ocean

Kiyami stood before her, holding keys. The door was open.

“Celeste,” she said, voice cracking. “Oh, Celeste, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” Tears streamed down her face as she fell to her knees. “I should have stood up for you. Everything happened so fast. I had no idea you were a—I saw them capture the siren—your—friend, and I thought they t-told you.” Her body shook in Celeste’s arms as it all came pouring out of her. “I didn’t evenbelievein sirens until I saw her, and she was writhing and looked so very monstrous. But when I saw you with her—everything felt sowr-wrong.” Her hands shook as they unbound Celeste. “Raiden said we still need you, to be sure there’s nothing on the island that we’re not prepared for but—but Icouldn’t—I couldn’t l-leave you here.”

“It’s okay,” Celeste said, pulling Kiyami into her arms. “It’s okay.”

She had never seen Kiyami cry before. Not like this. In fact, she had never seenanyonecry like this before. And although it broke her heart to see Kiyami hurting, there was something wonderful in it too. In some ways, Kiyami had given her a gift. A gift of her vulnerability. And for the first time, Celeste got to see from the other side.

And the tears did not make Kiyami weak, in her eyes.

The human girl pulled away, cheeks shining softly in the moonlit room. “I waited until the captain was asleep, and I stole the keys,” she said quickly, gripping Celeste’s hands. “We don’t have much time. I need to get back to the wheel before anyone notices I’ve gone.”

In a moment, Kiyami was on her feet, pulling Celeste with her.

“What if he finds out you did it?” the siren protested, taking a step back. “You could risk your chance to help your family.”

Kiyami smiled, if a bit sadly. “I’ll figure something else out,” she said, shrugging. “If I left you here, I—I’d never forgive myself. You’re my family too, Cel.”

Celeste gave her a watery smile. “And you’re mine.”

Hand in hand, the two crept swiftly through the belly of the ship, avoiding every creaky floorboard on their way up the stairs and past the room of sleeping crew. It was a special sort of bittersweet to know this would be the last time she would see theRed Revenge. Despite everything, it was a place she had just started to consider home. With a pang, she realized she wouldn’t get the chance to say goodbye to the Admiral.

As they stepped out onto the deck, Celeste once more felt the soothing touch of salty wind against her face. She would miss this. Miss the ship rocking beneath her feet and the wind in her hair. The sun on her face. The feeling of rope in her hands. It was the last night before the eclipse, the moon full in the sky. Dawn would come too soon.

Kiyami drew her into a fierce hug.

“May our God keep you until we meet again,” she whispered into her hair.

“No siren swims alone who has family,” Celeste replied. “Until the tides turn.”

They parted, and Celeste laughed lightly, seeing Kiyami’s eyes glistening with tears, for there were tears in her own eyes as well.

“We should hurry,” Kiyami said, squeezing Celeste’s hand and pushing her toward the lifeboat. Celeste nodded, realizing with a twist in her gut that she’d still need to see the Sea Witch to get her fins back. Perhaps then she’d be able to swim home and warn her mother about the king’s plan to steal the Voice of the Ocean.

Kiyami pulled at the ropes that lowered the lifeboat toward the dark waters below. It dropped slowly. Inch by inch.

“Wait.”

The word did not come from Kiyami.

Celeste turned her head to see the captain, frozen at the top of the ship’s stairs. His chest was heaving up and down, and there was panic in his eyes, as if he had been running. Perhaps he had gone to check on her and found the cell empty.

“Go, Celeste!” Kiyami said, her hand finding the hilt of her sword.

But the lifeboat was nowhere near the water. She’d have to cut it free. Celeste’s hand went to her hip, but her knife was gone.

How could she have forgotten? They’d taken it from her when they bound her.

Just like they’d taken everything.

“I want to call in the favor I won from you,” Raiden said.

Celeste met the captain’s fierce gaze. But he didn’t look like Captain Raiden Sharp. He was just Raiden. A cloud passed over the stars, blotting them from the sky.

“Name it,” she said.

“Stay.” His face was open, vulnerable. It wasn’t a demand, but a request. A hope. “Please,” he added, his voice breaking.

Strong winds blew. The sails flapped. Celeste stared, unable to move beneath the gaze of the one who betrayed her. The man she loved.

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