“What happened back there? I heard you, but the rest was hissing and screeching.” Yemma had spoken in my native tongue at Rylander’s request on The Freedom, but no such courtesies were given here.

“My sister tried to use Yemma’s life as leverage to bring me in, but they’d have killed her even if I had surrendered. I deceived them into letting me use Artemis’s gift on her. She should be safe now.” He paused. “She got away as a deer.” His voice wavered as he averted his head.

I placed my hand on his shoulder. “Hey.” I turned him around. His eyes glistened. “That was smart. She’ll be okay. And later, she’ll be herself again, alive and thankful.”

“You should have… It was awful watching her turn into an animal. I think…” He took a deep breath. “I think it caused her tremendous pain.”

I grabbed Rylander’s face between my palms and lifted my heels, bringing our eyes in line. “Pain is temporary. Death is final. You did her a service. You kept her alive. Do you hear me?”

He dipped his chin, unconvinced. My pulse spiked, my fingers going cold with fear. Apollo had warned me that I needed to make sure he’d stay the course. No matter what. I had to reach him now. “Once we’re inside, you may have to endure more sacrifices like that. Promise me, you’ll fight no matter what happens. Promise you will kill Lorelei.”

The skin between Rylander’s eyes furrowed. “What did Apollo whisper in your ear?” he said in an animalistic growl. “Tell me.”

I kissed him lightly on his pursed lips and drew back. “We will both have to make choices that scare us, but if we stay focused on our purpose, we will prevail.” I lowered my heels and my hands, but not my eyes. “You cannot second guess yourself.”

“Okay,” he breathed.

We closed in on the ivory castle, surrounded by cascades of falling crystal water crashing against black rocks. A mound of steam hissed into the air, rising around the palace like a halo. Amid the froth, the stacked and intricately carved human bones created a two-level citadel with sweeping curves and layers of buttresses.

“I thought you said it was three stories,” I whispered.

“It is. The third level is underwater.”

Although savage in nature, the structure commanded a regal presence. The contrast of white against the richer hues of the landscape suggested a symbol of purity. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. The trim mirrored the scales on the siren’s tails, carved to perfection in the bones.

“Where are the protection runes? The ones that keep the gods away?” I asked, gaze still wandering over the countless details of the palace.