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“You can do this,” Vaughn said. “You can make it happen.”

Declan and Medusa nodded in agreement.

“Remember our pearl dives in the Milky Sea at Selene Haven?” my heir added.

I did. Those were wonderful days.

“We would spend hours in the water searching for those treasures.” Vaughn’s eyes gleamed with the happy memory I shared with him. “I used to make Bartlet necklaces with what I found. He loved them so much.”

Bartlet had been one of Vaughn’s many vampire lovers back in Selene Haven.

Such freer days of runs in the forests hunting humans and diving for treasures without any other cares in the world. Never believing for one moment I’d become the king of the vampires, always the free spirit not made for a crown and a throne.

But Vaughn was right. I could do this. Being able to breathe underwater and withstand pressure of deep diving, I could go down there right now and end this dagger.

“Do you know where the forge is?”

“Twenty-three miles off the Orca Peninsula,” Medusa announced. “One thousand meters deep.”

Along the east coast of the Mer Domain, south of the Human Domain, were three peninsulas jutting out to sea. Orca was the southernmost one, and one of the warmest places in Quintrealm. Home to the holiday destination of Saltwave Port, with plenty of orca in the surrounding waters.

“There are two problems here,” I said, my hope splintering. “Firstly, the dagger is fixed to Paris, and he can’t breathe underwater or withstand the pressure.”

He possessed the mer song, not the ability to breathe underwater like the other executioners had as part of receiving mer blood.

And now seraphim essence?

A truly special elf.

“I need to speak with him.”

“What was the other problem?” Declan asked.

“He wants to kill me,” I answered.

Medusa seemed pleased with herself. “This is where the Orca Dive comes in.”

“What is that?” I questioned.

“There’s a company in Saltwave Port offering diving experiences with the orca,” she said. “You slip on these orca-themed diving suits and go swimming with actual orca. They don’t attack, and you can also do some diving if you so wish.” A slight pause. “Paris so wishes.” She threw me a wink. “According to their website, the suits can withstand depths of up to 1200 feet. Although deep dives are forbidden.”

Declan held up a techpad. “It’s all on here.”

“Because I can’t find the forge or take you there myself, this is the best chance you have.”

“Paris will have to be subdued until you get there,” Vaughn said.

More life knocked on my inner doors while others left the Heart of All. I winced, staggering to the left, leaning on Vaughn for support.

“Sugar?”

Doing this not only ended this curse, but helped Paris begin saving us all.

Did it really all come down to him? Did all this pressure have to be on his head?

I’d be right there with him.

So much for staying apart. And thank goodness for that. No, thank Selene and her intervention.