Ghouls scattered as Lurine flowed across the room and wrapped her protective coils around the tank, including me in their circle. She lifted the tank’s massive lid as though it weighed nothing, setting it carefully aside.

The mermaid surfaced, her head breaking water, nictitating eyelids opening to fully unveil her lucent green eyes.

Lurine questioned her in one language.

The mermaid shook her head and replied in another, adding, “I listen long time. I speak some English.”

“Rosie?” I asked softly, leaning forward.

“Rusalka. It is not a name. It is what I am.” With an obvious effort, she lifted one webbed hand toward me. “Thank you.”

I clasped her gray-green hand as best I could, tears stinging my eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

The rusalka drew a long, sighing breath. “I know.”

If I could have stayed there, I would have. But I was Hel’s liaison, and I had a job to do. Reluctantly, I extracted myself from the security of Lurine’s coils. “Take care of her?”

Lurine nodded, tightening her coils around the tank. The ominous expression on her face promised a world of agony to anyone who dared entertain the thought of hurting the rusalka again.

Outside, the Fairfax wolves were drawing nearer, herding their quarry relentlessly toward the Locksleys’ summer home.

Inside, Ray struggled to draw breath. Unsure how to proceed, I glanced at Stefan. Now that the moment was here, I felt scared and uncertain.

Stefan’s stillness encompassed me, cool and soothing. His pupils looked normal, and I could sense the effort it took to maintain his immaculate self-control. “You have a duty, Daisy. Are you capable of carrying it out?”

“I don’t know.” My voice sounded small. “What happens if I do, Stefan? Do I risk my immortal soul?”

He hesitated. “I do not believe so, no. Not for ending the existence of one of the Outcast on the orders of Hel herself. The divine laws that govern the taking of mortal life do not apply in this instance. But I cannot swear it. So I ask again, Hel’s liaison: Are you capable of doing your duty?”

I took a shaky breath, gazing around the room. I had accepted this role. I had taken on this responsibility. My hand tightened on dauda-dagr’s hilt. “Yes,” I said. “If it’s what must be done, yes.”

Stefan took a knee beside Ray’s half-crushed body. “The sentence has been passed, brother,” he said gently. “And one way or the other, it must be carried out. You loved, but I fear that you loved unwisely and committed sins in the process. What will you? I give you the choice: starvation and the void of nonbeing, or Hel’s dagger and the risk of a second chance at divine judgment?”