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“I am,” I murmur back. “The fresh air helped immensely.”

The dagger presses against my ankle as I waddle back up to the castle, and something wound up tightly inside of me begins to loosen. Once Cosette is gone, Zephyr will be safe to go home to their sister and the lighthouse. I want that for them.

For us.

We could make more memories there. They’ll need something to keep them going after my human years come to an end.

Their essence trickles along my neck and wisps between the pearls pinned into my hair. They adore me with their energy, praising me without words because they know I don’t want to hear anything about my beauty today. “Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I won’t allow myself to think about how things might’ve been different if I’d gained the ability to slip between the land and the sea.

“Cordelia, I wish–”

“Me too.”

We both know what we want. There’s no need to speak it aloud.

I have a job to do now. It’s time to stop dreaming of impossible things.

Sensing Zephyr’s absence, I sneak back into my chamber alone, and no one even notices. I’m sitting in my chair, my cheeks and jaw aching from smiling when the maids come in.

They only guide me to the end of the hall, and two guards in deep blue waistcoats escort me down to the lawn where Darcy is waiting.

Silver leaves are embroidered along the edge of the velvet cape flowing away from her well-fitted waistcoat and a pair of trousers that define her slim, athletic shape. Her hair is deeply parted to one side and oiled into sleek waves held in place by a pin of her family’s emblem.

My throat squeaks with a small sob. A month ago, this vision of her would have seemed like a dream come true.

She’s beautiful. I can’t help that I fell for her before I knew the truth.

The golden hour light catches in my hair and eyes, and her arrogant posture collapses when she sees me.

“Dee.” She holds her hand out, and my stomach flips.

It’s not the soft, swooping feeling I get in my low belly when Zephyr sweeps me off my feet. This is my body revolting.

I force myself forward and hook my arm through her elbow, my mouth tasting sour.

“You look beautiful,” Darcy says.

Maybe so, but this isn’t me. I’m floating high above my body as we start walking. “So do you.”

Bells ring on the steeple down in the village, deep metallic bongs that reverberate through my bones. A wind sweeps up from the coast, knocking a few of my curls loose and carrying the scent of smoke and sweat from the villagers lined up on the sides of the street.

They cheer as we pass, whistling and clapping for the Duchesses of Blustery Heights, the sea-blessed protectors of Crossbill Haven. Everyone loves Dee, the fisherwoman from Seshly, but I’m an imposter.

The royal blood flowing through my veins goes back further than any known human’s.

Every time they shout my title, I correct it in my head. Princess Cordelia, daughter of the Southern Sea, and the protégé of Fennelith, the last Undine Queen.

We approach the bend near the end of the path, and the wind kicks up, blowing Bijou’s sheer blue veil against her sad face as she stands beneath our wedding trellis, clutching our hand-fasting ribbon. Nobles from the six islands surround the aisle leading to her, the strip of burlap rippling over the sand.

My pendant rolls between my breasts, and a wisp of energy curls beneath my chin, beckoning me to look to the east. A cloaked figure lurks near the dunes, away from everyone else. Their face is hidden in their hood, but I’d know them anywhere, in any form.

My Zephyr.

My wish. My guardian.

I’m sitting outside of my body, watching as I march forward when I’d rather run to them.