“Enough,” Rylander roared. The power of his voice, magnified by the room and his magic, caused the same effect as Lorelei’s. The rocks groaned and cracked, several pieces tumbling to the pool and bone floor. “I will rule with you. Let her go, and I will become emperor and stand by your side. I will slaughter every other human if you release her and spare her life.”

Lorelei blinked, turning her back to me as she faced her brother. “You’d take a blood oath?”

“Yes,” he breathed.

“No.” For the first time, Calliope’s voice wavered. “You cannot ask this of him. I won’t allow it.”

“You have no say,” Lorelei spat. “You’re a prisoner, not a guest.”

“Please, daughter, please don’t do this. You will damn him from ever entering Elysian Fields. He’ll be a prisoner of the underworld. They’ll do unspeakable things to him.”

“I know,” Lorelei cooed. “It’s what makes this deal so sweet.”

Through the blood and bile on my tongue, I attempted to speak. “What’s a blood oath?” I couldn’t be certain my words came out as anything but mumbled sounds.

Lorelei answered without looking my way. “He’d be bound to this world until he died. He’d have no way to go against his promise. The blood oath would prevent betrayal, sway his actions. He would be the King of the Sirens, the Emperor of the Ocean, and the end of humankind.”

My breath hitched. Apollo’s words rang true because of me. If Rylander gives up, you must take your own life with your gifted blade. Do not let another kill you. Your death will save him; it will save us all.

So many questions consumed me. If I was Rylander’s weakness, why would Apollo push for me to join his mission? Would my death truly save anyone? Would Rylander forgive me for my abandonment? The only certainty I could predict was that my demise would prevent Rylander from entering a blood oath and living in the underworld after his earthly ending. And that was reason enough.

“I need to heal her,” Rylander growled. “I will not give you my oath until her wounds are mended.”

Through my smeared vision, I saw vague movement.

“I accept your offer. Let him tend to her. Release them.”

Calliope screamed.

“Hush her,” Lorelei snapped.

The moment Rylander’s guards lowered their spears, my guards freed my limbs. I waited. The jeweled dagger burned at my ankle as if coming to life for a purpose. I knew which blade Apollo had meant. The note he’d left on my bed with the gifted weapon had said it all from the start. May it bring you good fortune and save us all. But why get me involved? Not that there was time to figure it out. I had to move fast.