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But she releases me before I can think of anything to say or do.
She points a finger in front of us. “Fleet! Right there! We’re out of options!”
I take a step back from her.
“Our choices are death, death, or death,” she says. “Go make yourself useful! We need the siren! At worst, she gives all the women a quick death. At best, you use your newfound controlto find us a way out of this mess. You’ve made stopping for water impossible now. This is our only choice.”
I growl. “Damn, Riden.”
“He is the only thing that has kept us alive so far. I owe him my life thanks to what he does to the siren. Now we need her again.”
With everyone looking on, I realize I have no choice. I’m going to have to risk killing them all and hating myself afterward. I have to risk it for them.
***
“You ratted me out,” I say to Riden when I find him belowdecks.
“You did the same to me last time.”
“I don’t see how the two of you expect different results from last time! Bad things are going to happen!”
I feel myself close to hysterics. There is no happy ending I see for any of us.
“I’ve already thought of that,” he says.
I look sharply at him.
“If you hadn’t kicked me out of your room last night, I would have had time to explain.”
I want to snap at him, but I clamp my mouth shut, ready to listen.
“I’ll stay close to you the whole time,” he says. “Last time, all I had to do was touch you, put my face next to yours, and you returned to yourself. This time, I’ll keep you close whileyou submerge. You won’t hurt anyone. And you yourself won’t get hurt.”
It’s—
A good idea.
The fear is still there. I’m absolutely terrified that I will hurt someone. But we are also desperate. And Riden seems so sure that he can help me this time.
And I trust him.
That realization is such a shock, and I find myself giving in.
Sorinda and Mandsy fill the tub. I prepare myself, both mentally and physically. No metal. No laces. No pins or hair ornaments. Breathe in. Breathe out. Try not to kill anyone.
Mandsy stays after the tub is full to help keep me in line should things go south. This time I decide two girls prepared to act if something should go wrong are better than one. I worry that Mandsy won’t be brutal enough to injure me (or more) if need be. I know I can count on Sorinda to do what needs done, but anyone else might hesitate. And a moment’s hesitation is all I need to do some serious damage. The next time, the siren may not be in a playful mood. Maybe she’ll go for the kill right away.
I climb into the tub, my bare toes curling from the promise of power caressing them.
I nearly jump when Riden climbs in with me.
I know this was the plan, but what if it doesn’t work? What if I drown him? Or snap his neck?
I’m edgy, uncomfortable, drained from all the external pressures. He must sense this.
“Relax,” he says.
“You relax,” I snap. “You’re the one who is about to die.”
