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Ethan’s eyes burned back at me.

“Evie…did you do that to…me?” Ethan whispered.

He knows, I thought, swallowing hard as the ache in my chest grew.

The spellbound look on Preston’s face, the hollow and compliant voice that answered my siren’s call. It killed me, knowing I’d done the same to him. But the worst part was that now, he knew it too.

He has to know the truth—all of it.

Turning back to Preston, I continued, my voice layered and echoing with power.

“Tell me the truth about what you did to me. About what you did to Evelyn Graymore.”

Preston’s eyes glazed, his mouth struggling to remain shut, he fought against the compulsions’ command. As hard as he tried, my magic was sound, ripping the truth from deep inside him, a truth he’d thought would stay drowned forever.

“I killed you,” he said, voice strained. “I killed Evelyn Graymore.”

His words came out flat and lifeless, and the confession hung in the air, prickling my skin like static.

I’d waited so long to hear those words. To feel seen. Heard. No longer the unknown girl who just disappeared, leaving Dad to die on his own.

Preston Willows did this to me—murdered me—took everything from me.

Ethan’s mouth opened to speak, but no words came out.

“Why? How? Say it.”

Preston groaned against the compulsion’s magic, finally giving in. “Because she said no.” His voice was hollow, just like him. “I cornered her, beat her, and took her on the yacht….” Preston shook his head, trying to force his lips shut.

“AND?” I demanded, my voice sharp.

“...I tied her up and threw her into the Bay. I wanted her dead.”

My eyes stung.

“And my Dad?” I didn’t even use my magic this time. “Say it, you bastard.”

Preston scowled. “We kicked him out after you disappeared….shut the business down and sold the property right after he died.”

A small gasp escaped Ethan’s lips.

Luminous tears fell from my eyes, the weight of grief too much to hold back. A sob broke through the walls I’d built since the night he’d killed me. I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying to hold it all back.

Pain was etched on Ethan’s face, and he looked like he might cry as well.

“He died thinking I left him,” I sobbed, my voice breaking. More tears streamed down, glowing in the darkness. “He died alone. Waiting in a hospital room for me to come back. I–I couldn’t tell him goodbye. I couldn’t tell him how much I loved him. I couldn't⁠—”

Grief was a hand around my throat, choking my words. I turned back to Ethan, his eyes filled with sadness.

He finally knows…

Ethan reached for me. “Evie…please...”

My gaze returned to Preston. I didn’t know what it would feel like when I finally heard the words, when he admitted what he’d done to me. There was no sense of satisfaction. No vindication. The pain was still there, clawing at my insides.

Evelyn Graymore was gone, drowned in the Sound, and my Dad was still dead.

Nothing was going to bring them back, but the rage within me still blazed, hungry to consume the world around me. A world that had failed me and so many other women.