Jabir let out a shaky breath. “The dam,” he said, pointing toward the southern bend of the lake. “It has to come down. The river must flow again. The lake has to be restored. Only then can the male sirens return. Only then can families be made whole.”
A hush fell across the dock once more—this time not born of denial, but dawning understanding. The weight of his words settled like morning mist—cool, heavy, inescapable.
Out of the darkness, a powerful, regal voice rang out.
“Then let it be so.”
The crowd turned in unison.
Torches flickered in startled hands. Cory, Jack, and Albacore dropped to their knees in reverence. The firelight glimmered off a regal woman’s dark curls as she stepped forward. She was wrapped in layers of midnight-black silk that shimmered like the lake under moonlight.
Nali, Empress of the Monsters.
Jabir blinked in surprise—until his eyes caught movement behind her.
A blur of colors and excited voices.
Then—
“Jabir!”
He barely had time to brace himself before the Dragonlings burst from the shadows, a cacophony of joy and relief in physical form. Amber barreled into him from the right, nearly knocking him over, Jade followed on her heels, Zohar let out a triumphant shout, and Roam tackled him in a half-hug, half-wrestling maneuver.
“You’re alive!” Adaline squealed, dancing in place.
“Barely,” Jabir wheezed, laughing even as he hugged them all back. “You’re going to break my ribs.”
“It’s good to see you, dude,” Zohar said cheerfully, patting his back a little too hard.
“So who’s this mysterious siren that you are gushing over?” Amber teased.
“She’s amazing,” Jabir said, grinning as the tension finally bled from his shoulders. “You guys would love her.”
That sobered the group as Nali spoke quietly to the villagers. “The young prince is right, the sirens are as much a part of this world as you. To deny one species is to deny all.”
“It was very short-sighted of us, your Majesty,” Albacore said with a shake of his head.
“The responsibility is mine. As Empress, I should have been more aware,” Nali replied. “I will speak with the siren queen.”
“What about the dam?” Jabir asked, glancing up at the sky. “I promised I would return with a resolution before the sun rose. It will take time to remove and repair the damage.”
Nali smiled and rested her hand on Jabir’s shoulder. “You have a good heart, young prince.” She looked with sparkling eyes at the group of teenagers. “I think with a little help, we can move things along until the dam is removed.”
“Oh, Jade and I can help with that!” Amber said, her eyes lighting up with delight.
“We’d better help, or they’ll blow up half the lake,” Zohar muttered.
“I’m in,” Roam said.
“I can create a portal for the males to come through,” Phoenix said.
Alice thought for a moment before she looked at Adaline. “We can help control the water flow back into the river so it isn’t too fast.”
“Bálint and I will warn any creatures along the banks downriver of the changes,” Jabir replied.
He looked over at Nali, who stood silent and regal at the edge of the crowd, watching with a smile on her lips.
“We can help as well,” Jack said, pulling the blanket from around his shoulders. He looked at the gathering of villagers.
