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Patches of blue opalescent fabric are scattered all around them. I scoop some up in my hands, letting out a silent scream when I see their tattered wings.

I clutch the precious pieces to my chest in vain. They all fly to the floor as I put my face beside Zephyr’s.

“It’s ok,” I whisper. “I’m here. I’m going to get you to a healer.”

All they can manage is a whimper.

Cosette opens the beaded curtain separating her living room from her kitchen. She’s wearing a white gown that’s even finer than mine is, an intricate web of seed pearls stitched onto her white bodice.

“They did this to themself.” She turns herself sideways, stuffing her ample tulle skirts through the doorway.

I stare in horror as Zephyr’s fingers twitch on the shears. “You used my voice to compel them into hurting themself?”

“They were being impatient, trying to fly away to get you, so I made them stay.” She taps Zephyr’s ribs with her shoe. “See, silly. I told you she’d show up here anyway.”

Something snaps inside of me, a crack in my heart I swear I can hear. “Do not touch them.”

“There you are, little tempest.” She beams. “That is the rage that wrecked ships all those years ago in Seshly.”

I ignore her and wrap my hand around Zephyr’s, trying to get them to hold mine back. They’re shaking as badly as they did that night they sailed across the Undine Sea for me.

Fury whips up to the top of my head, but as always, there’s no release. I have to calm the storm inside to think clearly. I need to keep my wits about me.

Float away, float away.

“I bet you’d bring this storm down on all of our heads if you had access to your Ocean Voice,” Cosette says.

“You’d drown, witch,” I lash back.

She cackles. “Amazing.”

There’s a slight pressure around my fingers. Zephyr’s voice is just as faint as their grip as their words find my ears. “Do whatever it takes to get yourself out of here.”

Get myself out of here. As if I’d leave them.

They didn’t leave me when they had the chance. I won’t either.

We’ve been stuck together since the very first day we were bound by their aether.

Cosette continues to provoke me. “It’s a shame your father was so afraid of your potential, he decided to mute it. Cowards will do anything to protect their own power.”

“You stole my Ocean Voice, so you’re not much better.”

“Stole it? Oh no, dearie. I only borrowed your Ocean Voice to help you unlock it.” She strokes her shell pendant. “I could never wield your gift as well as you, stormsinger. I’ll return it to you once our ritual is complete.”

“What ritual?” All sorts of spell-casting tools are strewn about the cottage. Rune marks are carved into the floor and painted on the walls at random.

There’s no order to it. My skin itches at the chaos. I can’t determine what any of it means.

“We’re going to bind our lives together and rule over the Heartbreak Isles forever,” she says, and my blood runs cold as she kneels beside me.

I use my body to buffer the space between her and Zephyr. “You’re mad. Why would I ever do that?”

“Because I hate to be disappointed.” She runs her nails down my cheek, and I become viscerally aware that she has no intention of letting me leave if I don’t give her what she wants. “And it may be hard to believe right now, but you’ll love it once you step into your power. We can wreck the noble houses with a storm and start all over.”

She hums a tune, and the wind howls in response.

“All of the nobles of the Heartbreak Isles are here for the wedding,” I say. “You planned this.”