Page 143 of Silk and Sirens

I didn’t need to torture Renley to heal myself or even be the one to give the final blow, just knowing he was here—restrained, scared, knowing he was going to die, a slow, painful death—because of me was enough. It was better than any fucking therapy.

Caden watched me approach, a faint frown creasing his brow as he flicked his cigarette towards Renley. Without hesitation, I pulled off his mask so I could rise onto my toes and kiss him. It was deep, possessive, and full of everything I still struggled to say out loud.

When we finally broke apart, I rested my forehead against his, breathing him in. “Thank you,” I whispered. “For saving me.”

Caden shook his head. “You saved yourself, Tempest.”

Behind us, Renley hung limp and broken in his chains. The final ghost from my past silenced.

For the first time in years, I didn’t feel powerless.

I felt strong.

I felt free.

Epilogue Part 1

Aeris

One year later

“You said this was a happy story,” Oscar muttered, a little pout to his lips. “She drank poison.”

“Wait, did she die?” August added, his little eyes watering. “Or is she a fish again?”

“A mermaid,” Oscar corrected with all the superiority a six-year-old could muster. “She’s called a mermaid, Gus.”

Now it was August’s turn to pout. “This ending is sad.”

I closed the book slowly, tapping my finger against the cover while trying to think of how to salvage this disaster before Brooke banned me from bedtime stories permanently.

“It’s not sad,” I said carefully. “Not really.”

“But the prince married the other girl!” August yelled over the side of the bunk bed at the exact same moment Oscar demanded, “Does Mum know she dies? I thought this was supposed to be a nice story!”

Brooke was absolutely going to kill me.

“She doesn’t exactly die,” I corrected weakly. “The Little Mermaid wanted an immortal soul more than anything. By choosing to sacrifice herself instead of the prince, she was deemed worthy enough for a soul, something she couldn’t have when she was just a mermaid.”

Oscar narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “So … she’s not sea foam?”

“This story is stupid!” August declared, slamming his palm against his duvet in frustration. “A Kraken would have made it better.”

“Krakens aren’t real, you sausage face.”

“Oh my God,” I muttered. “Don’t call your brother a⁠—”

“Krakens are fish! Look, I can be a fish!” August inhaled dramatically and held his breath.

Oscar burst into giggles before immediately copying him. They both lasted maybe ten seconds before collapsing into loud laughter and gasping breaths.

“I bet I can beat you both,” I said, pinching their chubby cheeks. “I can hold my breath for ages.”

Their eyes widened in disbelief.

“Nah-uh!” August protested.

“Uh-huh,” I laughed, then proved it.