Page 98 of Gods of the Sea

Luc’s true name was Rhys.

I then realized that somewhere in that rosy lake was my true name as well.

Something in me split in two completely. There were two separate griefs: wishing to see my father at home again, and realizing that I had a home here too.

Jacques grabbed me as I started to faint, holding me up by my arms.

“Passing out is a little dramatic, don’t you think?” he asked.

I met his gaze. Even though his voice and face were stoic, I knew he was teasing me. He brought me up to my feet again, holding me steady.

“Do you believe now?” Jacques asked. “Do you realize the weight of everything?”

I swallowed, looking at Luc. His joy as he stood next to the king broke my spirit. I wanted that joy. Something in me was thirsting for it more than anything. But I also couldn’t abandon my father.

“I feel it,” I replied. “I can’t even describe to myself, but I know I’m meant to be here somehow. I felt it when those sirens were cursed. I felt it the moment we stepped into the den.”

“But…?” Jacques prompted.

“But…I miss my father still. If I never returned home, he would be so broken. Regardless of my desire to be here, I still love him.”

“Idiot,” he said, “who told you that you had to love your father less?”

I couldn’t read his eyes as he said it. Perhaps it was another unintentional way to console me. He held out his hand again. I glanced over his shoulder at Luc, who was still speaking with the king. King Melchior turned to look at me, then smiled and nodded to encourage me.

I swallowed. Jacques held out his hand once more.

“Come on,” he said. “You’re next.”

I inched my arm toward Jacques. He took hold of my wrist, with a firm but considerate grip, flipping my arm over to read. His eyebrows matted, and his pause was far too long for me to remain comfortable.

“What is it?” I asked.

“You said your human body was a descendant of one of the Guardians, was it?”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Then…do these names mean anything to you: Alain, Juanell, Neva, Silvan?”

My mouth gaped. “Neva. Neva was my great-great-grandmother.”

His eyes met mine with a grave expression. His eyelids fluttered as he exhaled through his nose.

“Can you see her charge, Jacques?” the king asked.

“I can,” Jacques replied, still staring at me.

He paused again, his firm grip on my wrist slipping.

“These are the names of four of the Guardians of the Eros,” Jacques replied. “The four Guardians that you killed over two hundred years ago, Esmeralda.”

CHAPTER 32—CURSES

I stumbled back, not understanding what Jacques was saying.

“Killed?” I repeated. “That’s impossible. I could never…”

“Your pure soul wouldn’t understand your tainted soul,” Jacques said, repeating the king’s words. “As you’ve suffered, your morality has purified. The woman standing in front of us wouldn’t be capable of the same sins.”

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