“This is so tedious.” Penn stared up at the sky and shook her head. “I hate turning new sirens. Especially thankless ones like you. This is a waste of my time.”

“If you hate it so much, then why did you do it?” Gemma asked.

“I didn’t have a choice. We have to have four.”

Gemma couldn’t take it anymore, and she bent over and started to dry-heave. The thought of drinking blood, together with everything else Penn had been telling her, was too much to handle, not to mention the migraine she was getting from resisting the watersong.

“Oh, my God.” Penn sighed, watching Gemma cough and gag. “You already digested the blood, hence the whole siren thing. What do you think you’re throwing up?”

“I’m not trying to throw up anything. Just the thought of being like you is making me sick.” Gemma stood up straight and wiped her mouth.

Penn narrowed her eyes at her. “You are such a mistake.”

“Then tell me how to get out of this! Tell me what to do to change back!”

“I already told you!” Penn growled. “You have to die! That’s it! And if you don’t stop being such an ungrateful bitch, I’ll be happy to put you out of your misery!”

With frustrated tears in her eyes, Gemma shook her head. She pushed her hair back from her forehead and stared out at the ocean. Thea and Lexi’s heads occasionally bobbed out of the water as they swam around.

“So then tell me how to live with this.” Gemma took a deep breath and looked back at Penn. “You need a fourth, and I don’t want to die. So tell me what I need to do.”

“First, drop the attitude. Then you leave here and come with us. We’ll show you what you need to do.”

“Why do I have to leave?” Gemma asked.

“It’s better if we don’t stay in one place for too long. Things tend to get messy.”

“What about my family? And Alex?”

“We’re your family now,” Penn told her, and her voice bordered on something that resembled kindness. “And Alex doesn’t love you, and he never will.”

“But…” A tear spilled down Gemma’s cheek, and she wiped it away.

“It’s not his fault, and it’s not your fault. He can’t, Gemma. It’s not possible for a mortal to love a siren. I’m sorry.” Penn let out a long breath. “But the thing is, when you live long enough, and you see enough things, you realize that it’s impossible for mortal men to really love anyone. Knowing this will save you heartbreak.”

“How can I believe you?” Gemma asked. “You tricked me and forced me into this. How do I know anything you say is true?”