“I could never win a fight with a siren,” I said. If I needed to, I would be defenseless. The helpless thought made me sick.
“With a bit of wit and determination, I think you could stand a chance,” Nixie said as she circled me, analyzing my pose. “Plus, sirens are cocky. You can always use that against them.”
“Speak for yourself,” Morvyn retorted from across the room beside Raylik, who watched too. Both pretended to find interest in my progress, but something told me they were given orders to keep an eye on me.
No one spoke of my strange outburst, or the calling out to my dead mother I surely did in my torments. Thank the Guardians. I wanted to forget it all for as long as I could.
“Keep your feet flat, and drive that big toe into the ground,” Nixie ordered. “You may even be better than some of the finned folk because your feet have more dexterity,” she encouraged me, then gave my shoulder a firm shove, the connection feeling good as I stood my ground.
“Fantastic! Now, step toward me and lock back into that position.”
I did as she instructed. But her next shove sent me off-kilter.
Raylik walked the distance between us.
“The best way to remain standing in a fight is to avoid getting hit at all,” he said, even-toned. “Avoid her blows.”
I reset the pose, and Nixie prepared to strike, but I stepped backward, avoiding her.
“Good!” Nixie praised.
Raylik nodded his approval.
Nixie lunged at me again, and I sidestepped her shove. As she increased her speed, I dodged again, a triumphant smile stretching my lips.
“Verygood!” she exclaimed, then reached for me once more. I stepped back as I had before, but this time I collided with something at my calves, sprawling onto the unforgiving stone floor which bit into my ass.
Morvyn let out a hearty laugh, his finned foot protruding. He had tripped me.
“You bastard!” I hissed, but I couldn’t even feign anger. I laughed too, despite everything.
“You’re late. I’ve been here at least thirty minutes alone,” Arlo said, hunched over the virginal, heavy eyebrows knitted and wearing a grimace to match. He turned to face me. Instantly, his features smoothed and softened.
I collapsed onto the couch.
The restless night plus the hard training I had forced Nixie to push me through had me exhausted. But my mind still raced. Thoughts ofwho was after me spun, chased by my mother’s words of pure and utter treason.
“Any luck finding thefix?” Arlo asked, meaning the portal out of this damned place.
“No.”
I was further from answers than ever before. Morvyn had left my side only long enough for me to spendsometime alone in the library with Arlo, but I knew he loitered protectively at the base of the stairs.
They were all on guard after last night. I hoped by now I’d garnered enough trust to wander Naiadon freely to look for the portal, but it seemed I was back at the start. All because someone here plotted against me.
Arlo crossed the room, boots clacking on the marble. He stood before me, his eyes cross-hatching my face.
“Stop that,” I said.
“Stop what?”
“Looking at me likethat.” Like he could read me like a damned book.
And when that handsome, annoying bastard looks at me, for the first time in all of my life, I feel seen.
Infernum. This was all such a disaster.
Arlo kneeled before me. Those eyes of pure sunshine landed on my skin, trying to burn off the storm clouds rolling through my soul.
