Beautiful. Haunting. Terrifying.
Jewel gasped, her fingers clutching his chest as her eyes widened in horror.
“My sisters.” Her voice shook with dismay. “They’re calling the village men.”
He heard it too now—woven through the storm, the siren’s song, thick with compulsion.
“Jewel… what’s happening?” he asked.
She shook her head, fear clear on her face. “I don’t know. But I can feel my mother. She’s angry. So angry.”
He landed by the boulders—their boulders—where they’d met each morning.
Jabir crouched, placing her gently into the shallows. As her body touched the water, she released a shudder of relief. He could see the color slowly returning to her face. She slid deeper, her eyes locked with his even as her fingers clung to his hand—tight, reluctant—before they slipped free.
“I’ll find out what’s happening,” he promised, his voice low. “I won’t let whatever is happening keep us apart.”
Her jade eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Be careful. Please.”
Then, with one last look, she turned, disappearing beneath the surface in a flash of silver and blue.
Jabir stood there for several minutes, his chest heaving. The siren’s song still echoed over the water, but he ignored it. Only one siren could ever claim him… Jewel.
In his heart… a shadow of dread curled cold around his dragon’s fire.
He had a sinking feeling that whatever was happening—whatever had awakened the fury of the lake?—
It had something to do with him.
And he feared the cost of loving Jewel might be more than either of them could bear.
Palace of the Isle of the Monsters
* * *
From her perch atop the upper palace balcony, Nali watched the horizon beyond the jagged cliffs of her domain. Mist clung to the mountains like a shawl, parting just enough to reveal a glimmer of movement—large sails catching sunlight.
She narrowed her eyes, one elegant brow lifting.
Drago’s airship.
Her gargoyle Captain of the Guard had informed her of its approach less than an hour ago, the massive creature landing with an impressive crunch and bowing low as he told her, “A dragon airship approaches, Empress. It bears the royal insignia.”
Nali hadn’t been expecting Drago’s visit. Normally, he sent a missive informing her of a pending visit. It gave her time to warn the sea monkeys to behave. For some reason, the mischievous creatures took equal delight in tormenting Drago, Ashure, and Koorgan.
Now, as the majestic carved dragon’s head of Drago’s airship came into full view, cutting through the clouds with the slow grace of a sea creature breaching, Nali’s curiosity stirred.
“Well, my love,” she murmured with a twitch of amusement, folding her hands along the cool stone rail, “it seems we’re about to receive visitors.”
Beside her, Asahi stood with his arms folded across his chest, his short black hair ruffled slightly by the breeze. “Unscheduled ones,” he noted. “Think Drago’s here for tea or to return the sea monkeys again?”
Nali laughed softly. “More than likely, the sea monkeys. Ashure and Koorgan have taken to setting my pets on him lately. I’m surprised Ashure isn’t tied to the mast. I guess we should greet him properly and find out what’s going on.”
Wings unfurled from her back—glossy and smooth like obsidian glass—and she leapt gracefully from the balcony. Asahi’s wings flared beside her, the wind rushing around them as they descended in elegant tandem.
The palace docks bustled as always, but heads turned and bows deepened as Nali and Asahi landed just as the airship released its final hissing breath and settled into place.
Nali waited as the gangplank dropped.
