Page 110 of Mermaid's Song (Dark Sea Academy 1)

I give him another double-take. Much more of this and I’ll get whiplash.

“Your pop isn’t the only one who likes to travel back and forth between the two worlds.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

His brows knit together. “You know exactly what I mean.”

“He’s not a killer!” I press the points to his neck.

“You don’t know him very well, do you?”

“I know him better than you do!” I push harder, this time drawing blood.

Something sounds behind me. “I knew I’d find you here,” says a feminine voice. Coral.

“Take another step and I’ll—I mean, don’t move an inch or I’ll kill your husband!”

“You’d kill your sweetheart’s uncle? I thought you cared about him.”

“I care more about him than you do!” Then a horrible thought strikes me. “Where is Bash? What did you do to him? How’d you get free?”

She giggles. “So many questions. Let my husband go, and perhaps we’ll talk.”

I dig the points further into his neck. Finally, some fear shows in his eyes. He grasps for the rod but yanks his hands away as if shocked.

Good trident.

It glows brighter.

Something hits the side of my head and I lose my grip. My weapon falls from Shane’s neck. Fingers squeeze my neck. Shane pulls out a sword and holds it over his head. I struggle to breathe. To free myself from the chokehold. I kick my tail toward Shane, but I do little more than make the water wave and push my trident away from me. He reaches for it, but lets go right away again.

Still struggling to breathe, I reach back and try to pull Coral’s hands away. Her grip tightens. I twist, turn, and fight to push my weight against her. I manage to force her against a wall, but she digs her nails into my skin.

Stars dance before my eyes. Everything is taking on a white hue. I’m going to pass out soon. Shane lunges at me, his sword aimed right for my chest. Everything seems to move in slow motion. I try to move to the right so he’ll stab Coral instead. Can’t get enough momentum.

The blade is coming closer. Closer. Almost to my shirt.

Something slams into Shane, forcing him and his weapon in the other direction. No, not something. Someone.

Bash.

He’s alive. And he just saved my life.

“Marra!”

I turn in his direction.

He tosses the trident to me. That’s when I notice he’s bleeding and bruised. His eyes, nose, and mouth are all swollen.

The shock jolts me, and I nearly miss my weapon. I grab it, and a blast of energy surges through me. I pull away from Coral’s hold and gasp, struggling to breathe. I aim the weapon at her, ready to end her.

She cries out, “Bash!”

I freeze, terror gripping me.

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