“I think he would have liked to know his journal helped defeat the witch.”
Gavin laughed under his breath. “He’d have taken all the credit, listing his version of the facts while he wiped his glasses clean.”
“That’s true. But I still would have liked to see it.”
“Me too.”
As the light dimmed and the first stars emerged overhead, I reached into my belt and drew out a glimmering sheath. Theshard pulsed softly in my hand, its magic drained, waiting to be filled with the ocean’s power.
Gavin dropped down beside me, digging into the dirt with a spade. Making room. A hiding place for buried treasure.
When he’d dug deep enough, I set the shard inside, then swept my hand through the dirt to cover it.
“You’re part of the legend now, Reid. Keep it safe.”
We sat in silence, listening to the waves break and the wind sailing over the rocky cliff. Gavin reached for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine.
It was cold, but I didn’t feel cold. I felt like I was camped under the stars, a fire crackling, the five of us staring into the flickering flames, exhausted from the hunt, but determined to keep searching.
I leaned my head against Gavin’s shoulder and let my voice break the stillness, telling one last story.
This one was for Reid.
“Once upon a time, a band of adventurous hunters roamed across foreign kingdoms and strange lands in search of a fabled treasure…”
Epilogue
Marin
A few months later…
“Here. Try this one.” I broke off a square of rich, dark chocolate and passed it to Sirena. She leaned her elbows on the rock, seawater lapping against her shoulders. Her tail shimmered faintly beneath the surface.
I sat cross-legged on the warm stone, breathing in the salty air. This was our new ritual, gathering with a delicious treat and sea-faring gossip—a mermaid, and one forever caught in between—but always friends.
Sirena’s eyes closed in delight as she savored the chocolate. “I think that’s better than the honey. I love chocolate.” She wriggled her fingers for another piece.
“Anything is better than seaweed, but chocolate is special.” I broke off two more squares and ate one myself.
“Don’t you ever say the wordseaweedagain. That stuff is dead to me. I can still see the way it bubbled in my bowl like it was still alive.“ She shuddered.
“I think itwas.” I made a face and tried not to gag, which was difficult. I folded my arms across my middle and breathed deeply through my nose. “Tell me, what’s new since the last time we met?”
Sirena brushed her wet hair off her shoulder and shrugged. “I adopted a sea dragon and named her Pearl. She’s a bit temperamental and keeps blowing fire bubbles at my new neighbor—” her voice dropped with a sly twist. “a sea lord I’m currently playing hard to get with.”
“A sea lord?”
“Mhm. Very handsome, doesn’t mind that I’m an ex-con. He says it makes memysterious.He's also determined to help me get my lure back. I’ll probably keep him around for a little while. Just to see if he can.”
She said it lightly, like it didn't still hurt—but I saw the way her fingers tightened against the rock.
My mouth dropped open, and I nearly choked on the last bite of chocolate. “That's amazing.”
“It is. But I do have to keep my options open. Pearl and I are taking the currents by storm. I’m sowing wild kelp, Marin. I’ve got a few solitary years to make up for. I can’t just settle down with the first muscular sea lord who swims my way.” Sirena leaned forward, her eyes glinting. “Unlike yourself, landing a rugged thief who worships the sand you walk on.”
“I know. My wild kelp days are over.” I sighed, the gross, dreamy kind that earned me a splash in the face.
I wiped the water from my cheeks and grinned. Sirena shielded her eyes from the sun and nodded toward the rocky cliff behind me.
