Over thirty sirens, the only guards Lorelei had left, stilled their retreat and looped around for battle. They moved in fast, on foot and by water, but Apollo and I didn’t slow. I jumped on a rock and slashed three sirens, bringing them to their knees. They splashed into the water, dead before they hit the surface. I ran through a fine mist of blood, summoned by my hand. Spears soared from all directions, but as if time slowed, I saw them all coming and dodged each one with the grace of the gods. The wind whipped my wet hair behind my shoulders as I jumped from rock to rock, climbing and descending when needed to slit the sea creatures’ throats. Sweat and sea water coated my skin, my water-logged clothing steaming. With an unyielding grip, I used the dagger to drop two sirens with deep gashes across their calves. I pounced, driving my blade through one’s throat then rolling onto the next one, plunging it deep into her stomach. I carved a jagged path to my ultimate target.

The waters themselves rose to Lorelei’s defense, leaving the pool. Waves doused me—an extension of her power. I fumbled backward. Lorelei’s magic sucked my feet into a torrent, a current yanking me back while foaming crests smashed my legs, my waist, my torso, my face. Each water blow shoved me, but I held my ground and fought upstream. I spat water out of my mouth. “I grew up wrestling sirens and playing in monsoons, sister! Nothing you can throw at me will matter.”

She howled.

A streak of honey drew my eye to the woman who should have been fighting at my side, her body now drifting, disturbed by Lorelei’s wakes. Fire reignited my soul.

Lorelei lifted her hands, raising the entire pool of water into a cresting wave, with her in its fold. Encased in water, her legs sewed together, black scales unfolding from her waist to her feet, which fanned out into a tail fin. Her plait unbraided and released her wine-colored locks.

Not giving her an opportunity to use it against me, I hit the cascade of water headfirst, slamming through the suspended surface. I’m coming for you, I sent the message out in the vibration of the waves. Bubbles raced up around me in trembling trails as more sirens fell into the water, dying by my father’s hands. They sank to the sea floor, landing on top of their own kills. I kicked toward my sister, killing any enemies who dared shield her along the way.

My dagger carved into an arm. Another dead.

My blade pierced an ear. Another dead.

My weapon nicked a shoulder. Another dead.

Apollo dove in. His blond curls clung to his forehead. He fell in beside me, stroking in tandem. We fought the angry waters until we reached the Siren Queen, who hovered in the red-stained pool.