“What then? Would you have gone back to him? Played happy family after everything he’d done?” His jaw was stiff as he stared back at me. Blood was leaking from the wound I’d left on his shoulder.
I held his gaze, refusing to back down. Several beats of silence passed between us, and still he said nothing. I could feel the tacky smear of blood on my hands and beneath my nails. Parker’s blood. I hated Aranare for being here, but most of all, I hated myself—hated the monster I’d become.
“I willneverforgive you for this,” I finally hissed, letting cold hatred work its way into my features.
“I understand, and I’m sorry.” Aranare’s shoulders sagged, his chest heaving as his scales disappeared and his wings melted into the flesh on his back. “But I would never forgive myself if I’d done nothing and he hurt you again.”
“Get out!” I sobbed, returning to Parker and drawing his limp torso up to my chest.
Aranare surveyed the scene with sad eyes before striding out of the room.
14
Morgana
Skye and Aranare were not at the jetty, where we had planned to meet. It was biting cold, and I nestled my fingers into the pockets of my grandmother’s fur coat, my dagger strapped around my waist.
The sun had almost set, and my gaze kept returning to the horizon. If they didn’t arrive soon, I would have to go alone.
I made my way to the water’s edge, the last blush of sun fading behind the sea. Golden light stretched across the dark waves as I craned my neck, eyes flicking toward the path from the town.
My heart beat faster with each passing minute—both of them were late. Too late.
If I had to go alone, at least Aranare would be here to watch over Skye. Still, I’d give them one more minute. I tapped my foot in the sand, nerves prickling beneath my skin.
Wind tugged at the loose strands of my hair, and the cold crept up mylegs as I stepped into the tide, dread twisting in my chest like seaweed, wrapping tight. Where were they?
Sneakers slapped on slick concrete, the rhythm was stumbling and frantic. Skye emerged on the boardwalk, breathless and streaked with... blood?
It stained her sweater, smeared her hands, and painted the side of her neck. Her eyes met mine, and the knot in my chest tightened.
“Whose blood is that?”
“Parker’s.” Her lip trembled.
I gripped her wrist, pulling her to a halt. “Where’s Aranare?”
“He won’t be joining us anymore.” She wiped a tear from beneath her eyes, but her lips thinned as she turned back to me. “Come on, let’s go.”
My stomach hollowed out. No Aranare meant no more training, but something in Skye’s expression told me now wasn’t the time to press her about what had happened. And we had a sunset to catch.
I took her hand in mine, and we stepped into the waves. The chilly water kissed our skin, and magic hummed beneath my ribs.
“I-I don’t know if I can.” Skye’s hand trembled. The sun had almost dipped below the horizon.
“You are much better at magic-wielding than I am. If I can do it, so can you.”
“It’s not that. I’m just not sure Iwantto.” She stopped, waist-deep in the waves.
I gestured to the sliver of sun left on the skyline. “You can stay here, but I have to go.”
“I can’t stay here, not anymore. Parker... the police...” Skye sobbed, and she pushed past me, striding out into the surf.
I followed, clearing my mind, blocking SSJones’s Ladyfrom mythoughts and imagining myself free-falling into the sea. The salty waves welcomed me like an old friend.
With one last look at the fading sky, we dove.
The ocean embraced us as we vanished beneath the surface to become wild creatures of the sea.
