Page 155 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

How can I tell him?Nola thought as she lowered her eyes to the ground, avoiding his eyes. How can I tell him what happened on that island?

“Nola,” Captain Lincoln said. “Tell me.”

The girl’s eyes stung as they flooded with tears. “The monsters on the Crotona were sirens, Lincoln.”

Nola watched his face go blank.

“When I was there,” she continued, her voice stammering, “I killed a siren to protect myself.”

He let out a breath of relief and gripped her elbows, pulling her in. “Oh, my beautiful siren. You did what you had to do to survive.”

She shook her head as more tears fell. “After the sirens followed me into the water, I was able to speak with them; they finally came back to reality—back to their true selves, but—”

“Nola, what is it?” Lincoln asked. “You are scarin’ me.”

The siren let out a hard sob. Lincoln’s charming touch had made her feel worse.

“They knew the siren I killed. They mourned for her.” She ran her hand through her hair. “Lincoln, the siren I killed was Sybil.”

Her cheeks reddened with shame and guilt.

Nola instantly felt Lincoln’s hands slack from her elbows before he stepped back from her. She had to tell him everything, no matter how painful it was. The man she loved with all her heart had lost a piece of his soul to Sybil.

“They told me that Sybil came to that island to find the treasure for you as a wedding gift,” she continued, “But the island took hold of her as it did with the others. She forgot who and what she was. They all did when the magic from the awful place warped their minds.” Nola wiped the tears rolling down her face. “I am so sorry,” her voice cracked. “Lincoln, I—”

The captain held up a hand to cut her off and staggered back. “Anaru!” he shouted against the wind. “Anaru, take me back to the Sybil Curse.” He looked up. “Anaru!” he called again.

The beautiful dragon descended to the ship. The captain climbed on her back and held on to her long neck as she took off.

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