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She looks over her hand at me. “Thank you for reminding me of reality. The wedding will go as planned, but maybe after we can set sail⁠—”

The boat lurches violently, and I fall back. Darcy is already on her feet and racing for the door as a sharp cry rings out on the deck.

“Stay here,” she says, but I need to see what’s happening.

I rub the healing wound on my fingertip. The kraken can’t be attacking. I’ve already released it.

I move up to the deck behind her, bracing myself in the doorframe as the vessel leans to starboard. A man named David slides across the boards, grabbing onto the railing.

Water sprays his face, washing up from the currents spiraling around the dark funnel opening before us.

“Grab the harpoon on port,” Darcy calls to one of the strikers as she pulls herself close to the rail of the stairwell leading to the upper deck. “I’ve got starboard.”

Zephyr rushes past her, and the boat groans, knocking them off their feet. They slide and grab a post near David.

I’ve barely seen them since we set sail. I’ve only passed them long enough to tell them that I think our plan to break Cosette’s hold worked.

Obviously I was wrong about that.

Our eyes meet, and their voice whips up on the wind. “Get downstairs. You know you don’t have to worry about me.”

But the boat tilts toward the darkness, and a long, rubbery rope of flesh shoots out of the vortex. Its tip slithers between the railing, the pink suction cups covering its crimson underbelly puckering.

The tentacle wraps around David, smashing the wooden beams as it yanks him back. Bile rises in my throat.

Another tentacle tip swats past the upper deck, flicking a woman into the waves.

“Cordelia, go!”

I take a step back, shaking.

A sheet of water splashes over the deck and soaks my skirt as a tentacle wraps around my waist and lifts me high in the air before dragging me down into the water.

Icy liquid bites at my skin, and I struggle to pull air in through my neck, forgetting that my gills are sealed.

I kick in vain as the suction cups suck on my dress. My pendant lights up, sending blue light sparking across the kraken’s golden eye.

Zephyr appears beside me at their full height, their body shrouded by their glowing aura. They’ve already got their knife out, and they’re reaching for their sword.

“You’re the one who released me,” the kraken says, and another tentacle curves around to tickle under my chin. “I’m not going to hurt you, but this is the only way I can truly be set free.”

I realize what’s happening. They’ve been waiting for us to come with our weapons.

I shake my head, unable to tell them it doesn’t need to be like this.

A harpoon hits the water, its point diving between their tentacles.

“Don’t you fret. It’ll be over soon,” the kraken says. “My mate and my children were all stolen by the Mer-King, and I cannot return to the fae realm.” The tentacle pats my head softly. “Please know there’s no other way to escape the long years ahead of me.”

My lungs yearn to expand, but my muscles are constricting against the frigid temperature.

A harpoon shoots past my ear, and my whole body bleats with panic as it pierces the arch of flesh above the kraken’s eye. Another harpoon comes from above, and the kraken’s head blocks it from moving any further.

Inky blood plumes out from several wounds. The monster’s pupil dilates, and their tentacle uncoils, releasing me into the darkened water.

The current is still tugging us toward the kraken, but the pull isn’t as intense. Still, I can’t swim against it.

Zephyr grabs me by the elbows and pulls me to their chest, carrying me back above the water. I’m too weak to do anything but slump against their body, searching for a shred of warmth.