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I pass a shelf displaying an emerald amulet stolen from one of the Undine and wonder if I should just return to the sea.
Without my Ocean Voice, I won't be able to communicate or create sound waves to protect myself from predators or lure a man to the depths, but I won’t have to live in this castle either.
I won’t have to pretend there’s some purpose to all of this after failing the task the Undine entrusted me with. I won’t have to spend the rest of my days in a marriage with a woman who never loved me, even though it’s probably better that she didn’t.
I lift my foot to scratch at the itchy outbreak of scales on my ankle. She’d be horrified if she saw this part of me.
Why would Cosette send me here with a full moon deadline knowing this would happen to my body? She would’ve realized that murdering Darcy or returning to the sea would be my only valid options.
I envision Orla’s board game, a piece moving across my mind. Everything the sea witch does is by design.
She never meant for me to have my happy ending. No, she pushed me here for her own reasons.
But I have my own in mind, my true purpose finally coming into focus.
All of my work has led me to the true enemy of the Undine–the one who abused their sacred magic and turned it into something monstrous.
On the full moon, I’ll become a human and sneak away after the wedding. I’ll live in the shadows as the Undine did, and I’ll be the one to stop Cosette.
I smile at Darcy, waving away our argument. “Yes, let’s start again.”
24
CORDELIA
My countdown until the wedding shrinks as the moon swells.
I hang on to my purpose and do everything the Duchess’s family demands of me—smiling for guests and showing up to dinner in pretty dresses. I spin in circles on the dance floor until my feet can’t take it anymore, and I sip bubbly champagne when Darcy announces that four of the rune-locked beasts are no longer a threat.
Each night, after my duties are finished, I lock my chamber door and whisper to my pendant, “Are you coming?”
Zephyr is always there to throw me on the bed and ease the tension from wearing a mask all day. They curl up in my hair and disappear in the morning.
When the sun rises on my wedding day, I wake up and run my fingers through my waves, wishing I could keep them with me.
The maids will be here soon. I bathe and pull on my hosiery and chemise, breathing to keep myself steady as they come knocking.
They’ve begrudgingly accepted my recent modesty, but today they fuss at me for tending to myself on such a special occasion.
“This is a rare event for the village,” a maid named Susie says, fitting a hip pad below my waist. “I don’t think there’s ever been a time when us common folks have been invited to such a grand celebration.”
“Yes, we need to show you off as the new Duchess,” her companion agrees and reaches for my pendant. “Why don’t you take off that gaudy necklace?”
“Sorry, but it holds too much sentimental value,” I say before she can attempt to remove it.
For several hours, the women work to layer me in fine clothing, brush my hair, paint my lips, and pluck any little flaws away.
A pale blue corset embroidered with fine white tentacles is laced tightly over my cream bodice, nipping my waist in sharply before flaring out into a full skirt edged with foamy waves of lace.
I look in the mirror, and I don’t even recognize myself. Every visible inch of me is polished, glossed, and powdered, but I’m not glowing from within.
My reflection shows what it will mean to be fully human. In a few short hours, this transformation will become permanent. I run my hands down to my concave stomach, my chest tightening.
“Are you alright, Miss Dee?” Susie asks.
I force my remaining air out of my lungs. “I’m fine, but if you don’t mind, I’d like some alone time.”
“I remember how nervous I was on my wedding day. I’m sure you need some time to reflect. ” She pats my hand and whisks my food tray away as she leaves with the other maids.
