A shuddering sob escaped Manannán as he floated among the waves, still clutching the wood, and he gave a slow nod.
Poseidon’s laughter cracked through the sky as lightning struck the sailor, jolting his body and sending magic skittering across every inch of his skin.
When the lightning faded, Manannán’s body trembled with fury,the water lapping at his waist. “You may have thrust the Kingdom of the Drowned upon me, but I will always be a man. I wasn’t fashioned out of sky and stars like you were... I will never forget my boy’s fearful eyes as he was tugged from my arms. I will never let go of the pain, and I promise you, Poseidon, God of Seas and Skies, that will be your downfall.”
Poseidon’s booming laughter echoed as Manannán—the man—was dragged beneath the waves, where I knew he would soon become the God of the Drowned.
The sacred temple swam back into view as the Mer priestess at my back gently pulled me from the glittering water. I spluttered, shaking with tears, as I rested my forehead against the basin.
“The dream magic is powerful. It is normal to feel disoriented,” Peisinoe said gently as she wafted to my side.
Across from me, Finn was drawn from his stone pond by another Mer priestess. His dark fringe dripped across his forehead, as he brushed it back his eyes were intent on mine.
Peisinoe knelt beside me. “Did you have a dream of the prophecy?” She was no longer a powerful Siren queen—she was simply a lover, eyes pleading for a cure to her husband’s sickness.
I flushed as my vision came flooding back. I hadn’t dreamed of the prophecy’s location. I had been distracted by the statue and dreamed of Manannán, the love of Siana’s life. The thing that, perhaps at one time or another, she had desired most.
Heat crept to my cheeks and ears as Peisinoe surveyed me. I shook my head. “I didn’t, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She touched my wrist gently, but her tone was filled with anguish, and she turned to Finn. “How about you?”
“Yes, I know where it is.” Finn exhaled, the breath laced with relief as his gaze met mine again.
A cold knot formed in my stomach. Hot tears filled my eyes, and I pressed my lips together to stop them from trembling. Muttering apologies to the Mer priestesses and Peisinoe, I stormed from the temple, cursing myself for not mastering my mind.
26
Morgana
My stomach was a distorted mess of knots as I paced back and forth in my chambers. I’d planned to dream of the prophecy, then leave Finn and find it alone. But instead, Finn had seen the vision, and all I’d seen was Manannán.
I stalked the length of my magnificent stone-hewn room for the hundredth time, hair streaming behind me with each restless stride.
I’d meant to feign belief in Finn’s words, to uncover everything he and his father knew. But I’d let my anger win and had ruined that, too. Now, he might set off without me to find the prophecy, which would mean I’d failed to honor the Captain’s dying wish—the wish he’d given his life to protect, hoping I would see it through.
In short, I was failing at everything. I sank onto the spongy bed and put my face in my hands, my red strands curling around me to offer comfort I didn’t deserve.
I hadn’t left my chambers since the morning’s dream ceremony, but Icould tell night had fallen by the darkness which had crept over the waters around me. Had Finn left to find the prophecy while I was here, stewing?
After hours of mulling everything over in my mind, the only conclusion I could arrive at was that I’d have to convince Finn to take me, but now that I’d told him I wanted nothing to do with him, that might prove... difficult.
Swallowing my churning emotions, I flung open my door and strode down the stone corridor to the room I’d seen Finn slip into after our disagreement the previous night.
I wrapped my knuckles against the door. No answer.
I knocked again. When there was still no answer, I pushed it open.
Finn was floating in the room’s center, using straps to buckle daggers to his chest, his dark hair caressing his face.
“Morgana!” He startled when he saw me, drifting away, one muscled arm pressed behind his back. “What do you want?” His expression darkened, as though my cold words still haunted his mind.
The anger I’d been grappling with since I’d first laid eyes on Finn at Archon Agorá rekindled, searing through my veins and bubbling to the surface. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you? That’s why you didn’t want me to have a dream... So you and your father could find the prophecy without me.”
“No, that’s not it at all,” Finn breathed, dragging a hand over his face.
“I—I want to come with you.” The plea tasted like acid in my mouth, but my promise to the Captain burned sharper.
Finn’s face hardened. “I’d have thought the idea of being alone with me would repulse you, after what you said.”
