The early morning sun cast a golden glow over the castle by the sea, its light glinting off the waves that crashed against the rocky shore. Inside one of the highest towers, Uma lay curled in bed, her turquoise hair spilling over the silk pillows as she drifted in and out of sleep. The air was calm, peaceful even—until the sound of flapping wings shattered the morning silence.

A blur of white feathers swooped in through the open window.

“Uma! Uma, wake up!” Scuttle’s raspy voice rang through the chamber. “Wake up! I just heard the news! Congratulations, kiddo, we did it!”

Uma groaned, rubbing her eyes

Before she could sit up properly, Scuttle grabbed her hand, shaking it enthusiastically. “You and Harry, of course! You know, the whole town’s buzzing! He’s gettin’ hitched this afternoon!”

Uma froze, her mind sluggish with sleep and thinks. “Harry’s… what?”

Sebastian, who had been resting on a velvet cushion nearby, cracked one eye open before yawning deeply. “What is this idiot babbling about?” he grumbled.

Scuttle, oblivious to Sebastian’s irritation, twirled in the air and beamed. “Right—like you two didn’t know, huh? Harry’s found himself a bride! He’s getting married today!”

Sebastian’s eyes popped open fully. Uma sat up in a rush, her breath catching in her throat.

“What?” Sebastian asked

Scuttle, completely missing the shock in his voice, picked up Sebastian and ruffled his shell. “You silly sidewalker! I just wanted to wish you luck, Uma! I wouldn’t miss it!”

With that, Scuttle flapped his wings and zoomed back out the window, leaving Uma in stunned silence.

The room seemed to tilt as the words sank in. Harry… married? This afternoon?

No. That wasn’t possible. He had been with her last night—laughing, teasing, looking at her the way he always did. There was no way he’d suddenly…

Her heart pounded as she threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. She barely registered the way Sebastian groaned as she scooped him up and spun around. “This has to be a mistake,” she thought. “It has to be.”

She placed Sebastian down before rushing to her mirror. She fluffed her wild curls, barely taking time to straighten out her wrinkled nightdress before dashing for the door.

“Uma, wait!” Sebastian called, struggling to keep up as she ran down the spiral staircase.

She ignored him.

Her feet barely touched the stone floors as she sped through the castle halls, her mind racing just as fast as her heartbeat. She needed to find Harry. She needed to hear him say this wasn’t true. That Seagull had heard wrong. That it was all some misunderstanding.

But as she reached the grand staircase leading to the main hall, she skidded to a halt.

There he was.

Harry stood at the bottom of the steps, his normally wild grin replaced by an eerie stillness. His expression was blank, almost vacant. At his side stood a woman Uma had never seen before—raven-haired, beautiful , and smug. She held his arm possessively, her red lips curving into a small, knowing smile.

Uma felt her stomach drop.

Across from them, Andrew, wrung his hands nervously. “Well, uh—err, Harry. I-It appears that I was mistaken.” He cleared his throat before turning toward Vanessa with a forced smile. “This mystery maiden of yours does, in fact, exist. And she is… lovely.” He took Vanessa’s delicate hand and bowed slightly. “Congratulations, my dear.”

Uma clamped a hand over her mouth, ducking behind a wooden beam. Sebastian scuttled beside her, equally stunned.

Andrew straightened and cleared his throat. “Of course, I assume you’ll want time to plan a proper ceremony—”

“We wish to be married as soon as possible,” Harry interrupted, his voice strangely devoid of its usual lilt.

Uma flinched.

That wasn’t his voice. Not really. It lacked its warmth, its teasing charm. It was cold. Hollow.

Andrew hesitated, shooting a glance at Vanessa, who merely smiled, her grip tightening around Harry’s arm. “Oh, yes, of course, Harry. But, er—these things do take time, you know…”

“This afternoon, Andrew.” Harry’s voice was firm. “The wedding ship departs at sunset.”

Andrew swallowed. “Oh. Oh—very well, Harry. As you wish.”

Uma felt like she had been punched in the gut. She staggered backward, shaking her head in silent denial. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be.

Her hands trembled as she clutched the beam, willing herself not to fall apart.

Sebastian looked up at her, his own face filled with disbelief. “This isn’t right, Uma. Something’s wrong.”

She barely heard him.

Her vision blurred as she turned on her heel and fled.

She didn’t see Vanessa’s eyes follow her. She didn’t hear the small chuckle that escaped the woman’s lips.

Vanessa lifted her hand to her throat, fingers curling around a golden shell necklace that shimmered in the morning light.

The air around them seemed to hum as the necklace glowed, a faint, sinister pulse of magic thrumming beneath its surface.

Vanessa smirked.

Everything was going exactly as planned.