Page 40 of She Who Was Once the Sea

That broken smile turned into a ghastly snarl, her teeth clenched together, like she was prepared to bite.

I swallowed.

"I do not reveal myself based on the whims of a child," she spat the last word.

"No?" My voice cracked. I couldn't help it.

That slow, slick smile returned. "No." Her head tilted to one side, studying me like a cat studies a mouse. "I'm here because I believe that insolence should have consequences.

I did my best to keep my back straight beneath her unscrupulous gaze.

"So should cursing an entire generation."

The challenge fell from my lips before I could stop it. For a quick second, Petra's eyes grew wide, like she was just as surprised as me by the infraction.

Then, a dry, ugly sound emerged from her mouth.

She was laughing, I realized. And the thought made my blood boil.

"Oh, sweetheart," she said, once she had seemingly regained her composure. "You're still so angry."

I felt hot all over. Anger slid through all the new blood surging through my veins. When I spoke, my tongue felt heavy, almost like I was drunk. I couldn't quite make myself sound as sure as I felt.

"I've had several centuries to let it grow."

She began walking toward me. I made myself hold still.

"What do you want, Marella?" The sound of my name sounded slippery and foreign.

"You already know the answer to that."

She frowned, mockingly. "Yes," she whispered. "You want your family. Is that right?"

"I want our freedom," I spat.

"And you believe that your little Fratello friend is going to give it to you?"

Something shifted in my chest. I didn't like hearing her talk about Garrett, but I couldn't let her see that.

"He's proving himself useful," I said, as nonchalant as I could manage.

It didn't work. "Oh my." Her face broke into a terrifying imitation of a genuine smile, wide and spread across her entire face. "Have you become protective of the poor man?"

I took a step back. She noticed.

Her answering laugh was low and threatening. Somehow, she seemed to loom even larger over me than she had when she entered the alley. It was as though each word spoken between us fed something inside her.

She looked delighted. "How exciting. A chance for our little siren princess to find love."

"I don't love him."

"Obviously," she sneered, but there was something hiding beneath her words. Something dark and threatening. "A monster can't fall in love with her hunter. That would be stupid."

The sound of my shaking breath echoed off the stone walls.

"You still have five days, dear."

I swallowed. Nodded. Clenched my fists together.