Page 334 of Kingdoms of Night

GUARDIAN OF THE SEA

THE SEA SIREN’S CURSE

K.N. LEE

PROLOGUE

Hard grit embedded into my flesh. I clawed the grainy earth beneath my face and hands. Tiny particles of white debris covered my arms as I pulled myself further onto the shore.

What is this?

Sore and exhausted, I tried my best to embrace this transition from sea to land.

The tide rolled in and caressed my new land legs with its cool water and promise of solace.

Fear almost gripped me.

I wanted to go back.

But, no, I begged for this since childhood—to walk in the human world—to pretend to be one of them.

Now, I had my wish.

With a groan, I crawled onto my forearms, saddened to leave the sea and its comfort. The sea was my home.

Once I was free of the water, I rolled onto my back and coughed. My lungs were sore, and the air that flooded them was a gift.

A fire burned in my veins as I took the life-giving force of air into my newly transformed body.

I cried out as I stretched my legs and attempted to use them.

They didn’t work yet. There were still shining scales on them, reminding me that this wasn’t my true form.

The roar of the sea beckoned, and I resisted, determined to drown out its call with my willful thoughts.

I’d survived a pirate attack before—a few years back. I’d swam too close to the surface, and they caught me off guard. I’d thought they were normal fisherman, in a row boat.

But, I had been mistaken.

They’d harpooned me, and I had swam back to the palace in the most pain I’d ever felt.

I nearly died at sixteen years of age.

Now, I willingly accepted a mission where I would have to face them again.

Tears trailed from the corners of my eyes at the memory. I peered at the bright moon above. Its luminescent rays beamed down on me. Such magic was unlike that of Celantris, but reminded me of home.

The stars—they were like the ancient drawings on the sea floor.

The wind howled, and the scent of the jungle that loomed over me flooded my senses.

I wiggled my toes, and watched the webbing slowly subside into smooth snowy-white skin.

“Dear goddess,” I said, in awe.

Then, I stood on my new legs, and gathered my wits about me.

I wasn’t a normal sea-maiden. I was a Sea-Knight, and this mission would save my people from a gruesome fate.

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