I shook my head. “No, but I’ll think of something. Most of the royal guard are dead, besides a force maybe fifty strong who protect the castle. Yemma said the other bloodlines would follow me if I killed Lorelei, so I need only focus on those followers that stand in my way. After my sister is dead, I’ll hand over the island to Yemma to lead and then finally my mother will be free.”

“Well, you better think of something that includes her.” Smitter motioned over his shoulder toward Lou’s quarters. “Your father has seen every outcome, and she’s a part of them all. If you try to evade her, she’ll end up on the island regardless. So do not fight her tomorrow. She will assist you.” His tone left no room for quibbling.

My face heated. I wasn’t going to put Lou in harm’s way, no matter what my father believed. This was my mission, my family’s cross to bear, not hers.

I opened my mouth to object, but Smitter pressed his finger to my lips. “It’s not a command from me. It’s a direct order from Zeus and Apollo. She goes. End of story.”

Chapter twenty-six

Rylander

I woke the next morning to the silhouette of Anthemusa looming in my window. I hadn’t seen it in so long. The distant sight embodied a dream-like quality. In the fourteen years I had been gone, had anything changed? Did the tree I’d used to climb from my bedroom window still stand? Surely, my pet Bunox, Ox, had moved on. What of the swing Yemma made me outside of the ivory castle? Did any of my forts still exist, or had the ocean waves tore at them all? A burn behind my eyes lit as the memories flooded into places I’d been careful to bury. I’d thought about killing the Siren Queen for so long that I’d forgotten about all the reasons I loved my home.

My thoughts shifted to my mother. Would she forgive me for leaving her? Yemma had said she missed me deeply, had assured me she still wished for Lorelei’s demise, but to hear her say those words herself would give me great comfort and strength.

I dressed in haste for a dreaded day I had been preparing for since I left all those years ago. I laced up my boots, slipping a bronze dagger in each and one inside my waist sheath. A red reflection danced on the wall beside me as the sun shone off the rubies of Lou’s jeweled blade that sat on my dresser. I smiled and reached for it. Today was the perfect day to reunite her with her beautiful weapon.