I woke up the next morning with a feeling of dread in my stomach. I didn't know why, though. Gods knew I should be sleeping, but I couldn't. I just kept thinking about Ronan.

A heartbeat later, chaos ensued. Multiple voices rose from outside our room, all talking over each other. My heart stopped as I rose from the bed, quickly getting dressed. Where was Kai?

I heard the sound of metal on metal as a guard unsheathed his dagger. The next voice I heard cut through all the rest like a shout, clear and precise. "Isadora, I know you're here. Come on out and see your present."

The feeling of dread quickly transformed into fear as I finished getting dressed and swam into the hallway. Multiple guards lay motionless on the floor, wounds covering their torsos. Ronan floated a few feet in front of me, a smirk on his face. That wasn't what made my heart stop dead in my chest, however.

It was the ring he held in his hand. Mom's wedding ring. "I told you I'd make you pay for what your mother did," he said, voice deadly soft.

"What did you do." It wasn't a question. His lips curled into a smile at my anger.

He casually tossed the ring from hand to hand, as if tossing a cometball. "I paid her a little visit. It'd be a miracle if she's still alive." Before I so much as opened my mouth, he tossed me the ring. I clutched it in my hand as he swam away.

Worst-case scenarios floated through my head, none of them pleasant. Body shaking, I swam back into our room, gaze blank as I stared at the wall. Kai swam to me, gently taking my hand. "I have to tell you something," he said, his voice grim. As the words left his mouth, I noticed how exhausted he looked. Dark circles ringed his eyes, face deathly pale.

Even before he opened his mouth, I had the sudden feeling that I'd need to be sitting down to hear the news. I sank to the edge of the bed, clutching his hand. "Are you okay?"

He didn't answer my question. His eyes were filled with heartbreak and sorrow. "We just got word that Ronan broke into the palace in Aegrem early this morning. Nearly every guard and servant was killed, if not severely injured. Since there was no one to stop him, he managed to make it to the royal suite. It happened so fast, not even your father could stop Nerissa. She'd already engaged him. She fought valiantly, but—" He paused, taking a breath.

The sudden pause made my heart stop. "Are they okay? Tell me they're okay."

When he spoke again, his voice broke. "She's in a coma, Isadora. She sustained major injuries, and her shoulder..." As he trailed off, my breath caught in my throat. "It's not good. Ronan broke her collarbone and shoulder blade, causing the nerves to sever and atrophy. The rest of it he shredded into ribbons. When it heals, she'll probably never have full use of it again, much less be able to use it on a daily basis." While his voice was steady, I could sense a quiet anger brimming inside him.

"Can I see her?" The words came out before I could stop them. As much as it terrified me, I had to see her, if only to make sure she was still breathing.

He nodded. "Your father hasn't left her side since she was admitted into the hospital. He... he blames himself, Izzy." I didn't have to look at him to know he was thinking the same thing I was. Dad was dangerously close to falling into depression. I would do everything I could to stop that from happening, if only to spare him from that agony and torment.

The swim to the hospital was silent, interrupted only by the bursts of conversation from the mermaids and mermen we passed, all of which faded as we swam by them. The sympathy in their eyes was like a brand, but I stared straight ahead, refusing to meet their eyes.

When we finally arrived, the enormity of what we were swimming into hit me head-on. I froze in front of the entrance, breathing shakily. Kai's hand tightened on mine. "Whenever you're ready," he said softly.

When another hand slipped into my free one, I nearly went for my daggers. I looked up and met familiar dark green eyes, filled with a mixture of sympathy and determination. Drew. "We're with you." Even as he said it, I could sense an identical feeling of fear deep inside him. I squeezed both their hands, taking a steadying breath as I swam inside.

I had no idea which room Mom was in, but thankfully I didn't have to wonder for long. A mermaid around her age swam out of a room across from us, her blue eyes widening as she noticed us. "Princess," she said, dipping her head towards Kai and me. "My name is Sirena. I'm one of your mother's doctors." She paused, as if I was supposed to respond. When I didn't, she continued. "She's stable, but there's been no change. Would you like to see her?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice. Tears welled in my eyes as we swam into her room, making my vision blurry. When we crossed the threshold, the sight before me stole the water from my lungs. Mom was motionless on the hospital bed in the middle of the room, surrounded by multiple machines all beeping steadily.

Her eyes were closed, and her eyelids didn't so much as flutter as we approached. My breath caught at the sight of the multiple bruises on her face, ranging from new to old. Anger raced through me as I stared at her, causing my hands to clench into fists at my sides.

I didn't know what most of the machines were, but I recognized the tube coming out of her mouth as a ventilator. I knew that was pushing water into her lungs because she couldn't breathe on her own. Only Kai and Drew's grips on my hands kept me upright. "Mom," I whispered, my voice broken. "Please wake up. You have to keep fighting. You can't give up."

Unsteadily, I swam to her side, gazing down at her. Where was the strong, fearless mermaid that ruled alongside her husband? That could handle anything life threw at her with a smile on her face? She didn't look strong now. She looked... broken.

I spun around when I heard the sound of someone behind me. I hadn't even heard the door open. The mermaid in front of me looked exactly how I felt. Her eyes were dull and filled with tears, her normally tan skin pale. Dad eyed her warily, but didn't move to stop her. "Oh, Nerissa," Aunt Naia whispered. She turned to me, grief etched on her face. "How did this happen?"

Despite everything that had happened, the role that she had played in Ronan's deception, that mask had fallen away, replaced by that of a grieving sister. I swallowed hard before speaking, forcing myself to bring those horrific images to mind. Even though I hadn't been there in person, hearing it from a second-hand source did nothing to expel the images that had surfaced. Or the feelings that washed over me.

I took a shaky breath, running a hand through my curls. "Ronan broke into the palace early this morning. After he'd killed or severely injured the guards and servants, there was no one to stop him when he arrived at the royal suite. Mom fought valiantly, but..." I trailed off as a lump appeared in my throat. Kai squeezed my hand, giving me the encouragement I needed to continue.

"Ronan was too strong. When Dad found her, it was too late. She was already unconscious. He broke every bone in her shoulder, causing the nerves to sever and atrophy. When she wakes up, she'll probably never have full use of it again, much less be able to use it on a daily basis." Repeating those words felt like a punch in the gut. From the way Aunt Naia's eyes gleamed with tears, I knew she felt the same way.

I lapsed into silence as I turned back to face Mom, giving myself over to the negative thoughts and feelings I'd been holding at bay for so long. They swarmed around in my head, tripping over one another. You couldn't stop him when it mattered most. What's going to happen next time, when someone just as bad attacks? Because there will be a next time.

The feeling of a hand on my shoulder tore me from my whirling thoughts. Dad floated behind me, weariness on his face. His eyes were blank, his hair disheveled like he'd been running his hands through it repeatedly.

I reluctantly left Mom's side to go to him, my body shaking with unshed tears. As soon as his arms came around me, I broke down. Great, heaving sobs wracked my body as I clung to him. Grief, anger, and fear poured out of my body in the form of tears.

When we finally broke apart, the look in his eyes nearly stopped my heart again. It was a look I knew all too well. The shame, the hopelessness... It was eating at him, until there was nothing left. I looked into his eyes, forcing my voice to steady. "She'll wake up," I said, wondering who needed to hear the words more. Me or him.

"I hope so, honey," he replied, his voice barely a whisper. My heart skipped a beat as I suddenly remembered Ronan, the ring he'd given to me. I pulled it out of my pocket, hand shaking as I extended it to Dad.

Tears filled his eyes, his breathing unsteady as he stared at it. He faltered, barely catching himself on a chair. When he took it, he closed his fingers around it, silent sobs wracking his body. I knew without him saying a word that memories were running through his head, of a similar situation he'd been in where the ring had been delivered to him. Only this time, the circumstances were much worse.

"I can't lose her again." His words were barely audible through the tears running down his face, but I heard him. "I can't." The grief in his voice broke my heart.

It took all of my remaining strength to turn to the door when it opened again. Aunt Bella and Uncle David swam inside, grief etched on their faces. I didn't see Faye with them, but for once I was glad. She didn't need to see this.

"How is she?" Uncle David asked softly as he swam towards Dad. Instead of answering, Dad threw his arms around his oldest friend, clinging to him. Uncle David hugged him back, not saying a word.

Aunt Bella swam to me, putting a hand on my arm. "How are you doing?" She asked softly.

I didn't answer at first. My gaze turned inward as the negative thoughts and feelings returned, making my mood even darker. "'You couldn't save her. Now look at what happened."' '"You're still the same weak, broken princess. That's all you'll ever be.'"

When I finally answered, my voice was flat. "I should have seen this coming. I should have anticipated this." Even after all my worrying about Dad starting down the same path I was on, I couldn't stop the guilt.

Her grip on my shoulders made me meet her gaze. Her grey eyes were filled with such resolve that I couldn't breathe. "You can't go down that path. You have to believe that she'll be okay."

"Isadora?" The sound of my name had me whirling around. Queen Katrina floated in front of me, her face pale and filled with grief. "I heard what happened. I'm so sorry." Kai swam to her, putting a hand on her arm. In a hushed voice, he began whispering to her, presumably to explain the extent of Mom's injuries.

I nodded mutely. That's when I heard the voice from outside the room, low and cruel. "Isadora? Come on out. We need to talk."

Ronan. I felt Dad tense beside me. My hands were inching toward my daggers before I even registered the motion. I shook my head. "I'll take care of him. Let me know if there's any change."

Dad nodded, though I could see the worry in his eyes. "Be careful, Isadora."

I slipped out of the room, daggers in my hands and eyes peeled. When I saw the merman a few feet in front of me, I had to restrain myself. He wanted to talk, so we would. But that didn't mean I wasn't going to be prepared.

His gaze was locked on mine, a sly smile on his face. "How are you, Isadora? I must say, you've looked better." While his words were calm, they were coated with fury.

"What do you want?" The words came out as a growl. I clenched my hands into fists so tight my knuckles were white.

"Do you know what Sophia said to me right before she died?" His voice was dripping with malice, the smile gone. Without waiting for an answer, he continued. "She told me to find the person that had hurt her and make them pay. So imagine my surprise when I find out that the queen of Aegrem's daughter was getting married. After hearing that, it wasn't hard to put the rest of the pieces together."

Despite my anger, I couldn't help but feel a shred of pity at his words. That was quickly replaced with grief, however, as I remembered the injuries Mom had suffered at his hand. "So you thought leaving my mom on the brink of death would serve as payback for what she did to your sister?" While my voice was filled with malice, there was a shred of incredulity beside it.

He smiled again, the gesture cruel and malicious. "I wanted your family to feel the same grief and pain I had. The helpless feeling when you realize there's nothing you can do."

Any restraint I may have had up until that point shattered at his words. I swung at him, my daggers slicing through the water. Blinded by the haze of anger, I couldn't tell if my daggers made contact, but judging from the sounds of pain he occasionally uttered, I knew that most of them had hit their mark.

All the while, the ghosts swarmed me, their voices mocking and cruel. "'He's right, you know. You couldn't save her. Neither could your father.'" "'How does it feel, Izzy? That enormous hole inside of you, slowly consuming every inch of you until there's nothing left?'"

Hearing the voices only made me angrier. A realization broke through the anger, however, one that nearly made me catch my breath. The ghosts that I'd been seeing weren't from the Lost Soul Pendant. The depression and hopelessness were manifesting as physical beings, if only when I was at my lowest.

When the haze finally faded, replaced by overwhelming exhaustion, I lowered my daggers. Multiple gashes marred his face, one eye completely swollen shut. A sick sense of satisfaction spread over me, even though I knew it was nothing close to the agony Mom had suffered. He spat blood on the ground, breathing heavily.

When I leaned towards him to whisper, my voice was dangerously low. "You are hereby banished from Aegrem and Pelathas. If you are caught within either of their borders, you will be immediately apprehended. I will do everything I can to make sure you never hurt anyone again."

He wordlessly swam away, not uttering a response. When I swam back into Mom's room, I felt more than saw every pair of eyes turn towards me. I tossed my daggers into the corner of the room, swimming toward Dad. "I took care of him," I said, my voice low. "If he knows what's good for him, he won't bother us again."

He didn't say anything. Instead, he just put his arm around me. I leaned into him, my body trembling. We were silent as we stared at Mom, the sadness palpable in the room. I couldn't help but think of Ronan. How would he have turned out had he not gone down the path he was currently on? Would his sister still be alive?

Kai suddenly squeezed my hand, the motion causing me to look up at him. He cupped my face in his hands, kissing me deeply. In that kiss, I read a lot of his thoughts. He would do everything he could to be a worthy and respectable husband. He would be by my side through it all, supporting me whenever I needed it.

As if summoned by my thoughts, Mom's words float through my head, clear as day. "'You are not your past mistakes. All that matters is your future and the choices you make.'"

She was right, I realized. I couldn't change the past, so why did I keep dwelling on it? The only thing that mattered was the future. Mom would eventually wake up and go back to ruling Aegrem with Dad. Kai and I would get used to the responsibilities as prince and princess. Aunt Bella and Uncle David would continue ruling Pelathas.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear my name until it was uttered presumably for a second time. "Isadora." The tone of Uncle David's voice made the good mood building up inside me instantly disappear. He was holding a folded letter in his hand.

Chills ran down my spine as I opened it, scanning the words. With every line, a knot grew in my stomach, coiling tighter and tighter until I almost couldn't breathe. I'll honor our agreement, Isadora, by staying away, but that doesn't mean I don't have resources elsewhere. I don't need to be near you to make you suffer. When you least expect it, I'll make my move. Provided your mother survives, she'll get to see her city reduced to rubble for a second time. He hadn't added his signature, but it wouldn't have mattered if he had. I'd have recognized the cruel wording anywhere.

I swallowed hard as I looked at Kai, my expression betraying my thoughts. He put an arm around me, pulling me to him. "We'll beat him, Izzy. We have to." He'd said that last sentence to himself, probably not expecting me to hear it, but I had. He stroked my curls as I buried my face in his chest, trying to quell the panic attack slowly creeping up on me.

I had to believe Kai's words. We would beat him. Not just for Mom's sake, but for ours as well. And for Aegrem's sake. They needed a ruler. Drew's face popped into my mind, the joy in his eyes when he spoke of winning the cometball game.

I would fight with all I had for him and Faye. They didn't deserve to grow up in a world full of hatred and fear. "We'll beat him, Mom. I promise." As the words left my mouth, I desperately hoped they'd prove true. I would accept no other outcome. We'd come out of that battle victorious... or die trying.

Final chapter! Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed and favorited!