As much as Lucian drives me up the fucking wall, I can't deny that his ridiculous antics are a welcome distraction from the heavy shit we've been dealing with.
Lucian takes my insult as an invitation to keep pushing. He grins, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "Aww, don't be jealous, Rhy-Rhy," he coos, batting his eyelashes at me. "I'm sure they can find someone to play you too. Maybe that guy who played the Hulk? You've got the whole 'angry and brooding' thing down pat."
I shove him off, but I can't help the small smile that tugs at my lips. Fucking Lucian.
You know what? I take that shit back. Maybe there are some things that I can't forgive after all. Like this asshat and all the bullshit he puts me through on a daily fucking basis.
Even as I think about it, I can't help but laugh at myself. Because honestly? I love the guy, no matter what kind of fuckery he pulls. He's my brother, my family, and that means something.
So maybe, love really does conquer all in the end—even when it comes to dealing with a pain in the ass like Lucian.
Danica
73
Cordelia andCalypso finally decided to put on their big girl panties and rule together like the badass sister duo they were always meant to be. Hallelujah, praise the sea gods! It only took them a thousand years and a metric fuck-ton of drama to get there.
Man, I'd love to stick around and see what these magical mermaids have up their sleeves for this realm. But after chatting with the sisters, it's pretty clear that things are about to get a major facelift around here. We're talking truth-telling, creature-uniting, realm-transforming stuff. It's gonna be a wild ride, and I'm bummed I'll miss it!
But I'm sure this isn't the last I will see of Aquaria.
The Soul Stone's hanging out in my pocket until I can get it home and under severe lock and key. It's whispering sweet nothings, but joke's on it—I’ve mastered the art of selective hearing—thanks to Lucian.
This damn stone—talk about a demanding piece of jewelry! This thing had Calypso playing supernatural UberEats driver, forcing her to collect souls of the recently deceased like they were takeout orders. Untethered souls hang around like awkward party guests who don't know when to leave, and Calypso, against her will, has to vacuum them up into that creepy rock. Not exactly the kind of job you'd want to brag about.
The Sirens were in fact Immune to the curse, just like Seraphina thought. But here's the real plot twist—these gorgeous, mythical beings have been painted as the story's villains for centuries when, in reality, they're about as evil as a basket of kittens.
Sure, they've got the whole "Siren's call" thing going on, the ability to bend minds to their will with just a few haunting notes. But the whole "luring sailors and pirates to their watery graves" shtick? Total bullshit, a complete fabrication cooked up by none other than Cordelia herself.
Not to mention it kept treasure hunters and pirates away from the Lyre—clever but bullshit.
The Sirens knew the real story: Calypso was the rightful ruler. They saw Cordelia's jealousy and bitterness for what it was— a poison that threatened to destroy her soul and the fabric of their society.
People bought it. For centuries, the Sirens have been vilified and feared, their true nature obscured by a veil of lies and propaganda. They've been hunted and persecuted, driven into hiding by those who would rather believe a convenient lie than face the uncomfortable truth—the same for the Selkies.
The Aquanite stone is home in my crown, nestled like a cozy aquatic Airbnb. The moment I snatched that sucker from Cordelia's staff, it practically leaped into place, snuggling up to the other stones like they were long-lost besties.
The feeling was like diving into a cool, refreshing pool on a hot summer day. A wave of calm washed over me, and for a moment, I forgot all about the crazy Cordelia and her temper tantrum.
I'm unsure what to do with this new addition to my magical girl arsenal. But if Cordelia's little display of aquatic acrobatics is anything to go by, this stone is all about emotions and using water as a cosmic conduit.
I will have to be extra careful around any body of water larger than a puddle. The last thing I need is to accidentally summon a tidal wave because I got too excited about a buy-one-get-one-free sale at my favorite shoe store.
Or, turning a romantic beach getaway into a scene from"The Perfect Storm"because Rhyland forgot our anniversary. Yeah, not exactly the kind of "savior" moves I want to be known for.
"I will miss you, Gideon." I give him a big ol' bear hug, and damn, the man smells like he bathed in a tub of rum and sea salt. There's something else in there, too, but I'm not about to sniff a pirate to figure it out.
"Aye, lass. It was an absolute pleasure helping ye. Ye did what ye came to do, and ye did it." Gideon grins, his eyes twinkling with pride.
"You will be written about in history books, I'm sure of it. Gideon Sterling, Pirate sidekick to the Savior." I smile, already picturing the epic tales that will be told about our adventures.
"Aye, love. That would be great to see." Gideon's cheeks turn red, and I can't resist planting a big smooch on one of them.
I mean, come on, the man deserves some love after putting up with our ragtag crew of supernatural misfits.
I turn to Mirella, and my heart aches as I see the tears streaming down her gorgeous face. It's like watching a mermaid version of a Hallmark movie, and I'm not ashamed to admit that it's getting to me.
"Aww, Mirella, don't cry," I say, trying to keep my own waterworks in check. "I promise this isn't the last time you'll see my fabulous self. We're like besties now, and besties don't just disappear on each other."
