The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,117

all the sea creatures grow.” She screamed when a giant tentacle slithered past her.

The ship teetered as a humungous giant squid spread its tentacles across the quarterdeck and pulled it down toward the sea. The bow rose, and seamen tumbled about on deck.

“Stand back.” Leo shot a bolt of lightning into a tentacle, and the squid retreated into the water.

They were safe for now, but a few of the smaller ships had come under attack from other creatures and had capsized, the men falling into the ocean. Screams filled the air as sailors were attacked by huge sharks.

The giant squid turned its attention and rage toward Rupert’s ship, wrapping its tentacles around the bow and cracking the ship in two. The men scrambled for lifeboats, but Rupert remained in the crow’s nest, frantically blowing the giant creatures out to sea. Unfortunately, with Rupert no longer pushing against Darroc, the whole fleet was being moved farther out to sea.

The whale returned, ramming its head into Leo’s ship. The impact caused the ship to rock violently, and everyone careened along the deck. A few men screamed as they fell overboard.

Rupert managed to shove the whale out to sea, but a gaping hole had been left in the ship’s side.

“To the lifeboats!” Captain Shaw ordered, then turned back to Mikayla, who was crying and clinging to the railing. “Don’t worry, child. We’ll take care of you.”

“Dimitri, fly her to the elfin ships,” Leo yelled over the shouting voices of sailors scrambling to get on lifeboats.

Dimitri shifted, his clothes ripping, and with a gasp, Mikayla fainted. He grabbed her and flew east.

The ship was now taking on water fast.

“Get yourself to a lifeboat!” General Harden yelled at Leo.

“You go!” Leo ran to the mainmast and began to climb. He didn’t dare try a lifeboat. They were all bobbing wildly, with waves splashing in. Some had capsized, dumping the men in the water. The risk of falling into the ocean was too great.

He climbed into the crow’s nest, then looked below. Water was seeping onto the deck. Crap. There was no way out of this. The entire armada was in trouble. Some ships had broken in two. Others were so damaged that they were sinking. Rupert was still in the crow’s nest of his floundering ship, using his power to push the sea creatures farther away. Soon he would be in the water.

Leo surveyed the ocean surface, where hundreds of seamen were clinging to pieces of wood. Dammit to hell. If he fell into the water, his lightning power would kill everyone. Rupert would die. Nevis’s father, who had been like a father to Leo, would die. All the seamen would die.

His heart tightened as the crow’s nest sank lower and lower. Holy Light, don’t make me kill these people.

What could he do? He pulled the wooden-handled knife from his belt. If he killed himself, wouldn’t his power die with him?

Then everyone else would be safe.

* * *

Brody followed Cahira as she dashed into the throne room.

She spun in a circle, looking frantically about. “Guards! Where are my guards?”

“You have none.” Brody pulled his sword and stalked toward her. “If you wish to live, you will remove my curse.”

Cahira backed away. “No. Once I remove it, you’ll kill me.”

“Mother, you have my word.” Maeve strode toward her. “I won’t let any harm come to you.”

“Why should I trust you?” Cahira sneered. “You sided with my enemy! How could you?”

“I fell in love with him long before I knew he was a prince,” Maeve said. “And long before I knew you were my mother. He’s suffered enough! Please remove his curse.”

Cahira snorted. “I should have killed him when I had the chance.”

Brody gritted his teeth. This was taking too long. He couldn’t afford to run out of time in his own body. “An armada of twenty ships is arriving. Your Embraced army will be defeated. It’s over for you. Your only hope of survival is to cooperate.”

Cahira lifted her chin. “Never.”

Brody groaned inwardly. He had no choice now but to attack the woman. And he’d have to do it right in front of Maeve.

“Have you seen Gavin?” Gabby shouted as she ran into the throne room. “I can’t find him anywhere. He needs to be with us so his curse can be removed.”

Maeve looked around, then gasped. “There he is!” She pointed to the throne on the dais, where an orange tabby was curled up, napping on the purple cushion. He raised his head and blinked