I didn't remember anything after I closed my eyes. My sleep was deep and dreamless. When I opened them again, I blinked, rubbing a hand over my face.

Studying Jonah in profile, my heart clenched as I glimpsed the grief, anger, regret, and heartbreak etched on his features as he stared at nothing. I hadn't tried to speak yet, but judging from the pain that erupted whenever I swallowed, it most likely wouldn't be possible.

I knew he was also suffering—if not more so than me. The grief, regret, anger, and heartbreak would be smothering him. I knew because it was exactly how I felt when discovering Waverly's secret. I didn't think I'd ever get the sound of Waverly sobbing out of my head. I didn't know what we'd do after this—how we would continue. As I looked around, I noticed Jonah and I were alone in our suite.

When I tried to sit up, my arms shook so badly that I gave up and sank back against the pillows. Jonah scanned my face, placing a steady hand on my cheek. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

I took a shaky breath and exhaled deeply before nodding. Jonah grabbed the notepad and handed it to me, our fingertips brushing together. It took a few seconds for my hands to steady enough to write. I don't know what I feel. It was the truth. There was an emptiness, a... heaviness weighing me down.

I didn't know how else to describe it. One minute, all I could think about was making sure Waverly was okay; the next, I wondered how I could even get out of bed. I can't get the sound of Waverly sobbing out of my head. It was the only thing that pierced through the unending silence.

"Your mom contacted Izzy and Nerissa to tell them what happened. They wanted to see you immediately, but she convinced them it was best to let you recover before you saw anyone." His voice was heavy with exhaustion; it was written all over his face.

I'd been thinking about the Sirens a lot lately—specifically Mica. Knowing what I knew now about them, it made sense how she came to be with them, but why Kailani and Waverly? I knew they came after orphans and those who'd felt ostracized and alone throughout their lives, but why go after two sisters who had both a mother and a father? Was it because of Waverly's connection to me?

A sudden pounding began in my temples, and I winced. Before I could so much as open my mouth, Jonah was reaching for a mug of bubble tea that was on our bedside table. I smiled my thanks and took the tea, slowly lifting it to my mouth. As soon as I took the first sip, I could breathe easier.

"I heard from Laguna a while ago. Waverly..." he trailed off, avoiding my gaze. I squeezed his hand and met his gaze. No matter what had happened, we were friends again, and I still cared about her. "Waverly won't leave her room or speak to anyone. She hasn't eaten or gotten out of bed in days. Not since..." he trailed off again, but his unspoken words were painfully clear.

Since Leena had given her the ultimatum that would change her life forever—since she had nearly killed me. I drained the rest of the tea, setting the mug back on our bedside table with an audible thud. I swallowed hard before scribbling on the notepad and handing it to Jonah. How long have I been asleep? I no longer felt exhausted, but there was a heaviness inside me that I knew would most likely never go away.

Jonah exhaled heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. "Almost two days." My eyes widened at his words, but when I looked out the window, I saw he was right. It was nearing dusk now, another day come and gone.

A knock on our suite door made both of us jump. After a clarifying nod from me, Jonah rose and swam to the door. After a hushed conversation with whoever was on the other side, he swam back into the bedroom, followed by Aunt Nerissa and Aunt Izzy. Both mermaids were crying softly, tear-streaked faces pale and eyes wide. They clutched one another as they scanned me from head to tail.

I smiled gently at them. I'm okay. Really. I mouthed the words, but I could tell they understood them. Aunt Izzy's voice was hoarse and broken when she spoke. "Oh, sweetie. We were so worried. What you must have been through..." she trailed off, covering her mouth as more tears streamed down her cheeks. Aunt Nerissa clutched her daughter tightly, her body trembling.

When I glimpsed the flash of movement from the window—no more than two glowing spots of hazel—I couldn't stop the terrified whimper that slipped from my lips. I clutched the blankets so tight my knuckles turned white; my breathing grew heavy and ragged. Jonah was at my side in a heartbeat, gripping my hand and scanning my face. "Are you okay? What did you see?" His voice was low and worried; his words came out jumbled.

The suite door opened a second later, soft voices carrying into the bedroom. "Is Faye awake yet? David and I brought—" Mom's words broke off as she swam inside the bedroom and glimpsed my face. Her arms were full of takeout bags from the Bronze Mermaid. Dad swam in a heartbeat later, his arms also laden with bags. He looked at my face and dropped them on the ground, swimming to my side and taking my hand.

"Faye? Sweetie, what's wrong? Is she okay?" I knew the last question was meant for Jonah, but I couldn't even open my mouth, much less try to respond to the first two.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from the window. Only darkness stared back at me now, but I knew what I had seen. Or did I? Exhaustion and grief still weighed me down heavily enough that I could have easily written it off as a product of a weary mind. But something in the very back of my mind told me that it was real.

I swallowed hard as I mouthed the words, my hands trembling wildly. I saw him. I'd recognize those eyes anywhere. The question was, why would he come back now?

Confusion appeared on every face as multiple pairs of eyes looked at me. I saw Dad tear his gaze away and swim to the window, looking out into the still water. After several tense minutes, he turned back to me, face creased in concern. "Who, Faye? Who did you see?"

My breathing was quick and panicked; my head spun as spots swam before my eyes. Jonah repeated his question, fear coating the words now. "What did you see?"

I couldn't move. I couldn't think. I was frozen. Was it a premonition? Were we to face something worse than Leena? Before that thought fully crossed my mind, another, equally as terrifying, took its place.

He's here for Waverly. The realization knocked the water from my lungs, leaving me gasping. That's why Zander had Leena come after me first—so he could have Waverly all to himself. He'd truly gone insane.

We all froze as a door slammed somewhere in the palace, followed by shouting and screaming. A familiar voice reached my ears; I cried out as all the strength left my body in a rush. "Where is she? Where is my daughter?" The rage, grief, and sorrow in his words cut me to the core.

With trembling hands, I grabbed the notepad and hurriedly scribbled a message before handing it to Jonah. He scanned the words, then nodded. "I'll find Waverly, Faye," he said, his eyes locked on mine. "I promise." When he moved to leave the suite, I gripped his hand tighter, vehemently shaking my head.

The unspoken words inside me were etched on my face and in my wide, terror-filled eyes. To go out there would be suicide. Zander didn't care who he killed as long as he got Waverly. First, he'd murdered Raina, and then he'd all but killed me. I couldn't live with myself if Jonah died because of me.

I was tired—so tired—of grieving those taken from us too soon. My heart was full of those we'd lost over the years, tucked away in a corner where I'd never forget them. Carla; Ella; Jacob; Raina.

Come back to me. I mouthed the words, my heart aching so violently I thought it would crack. Before Jonah reached the door, it suddenly flew open, slamming against the wall. Zander's eyes were wild as he scanned the room. That wasn't what made my heart stop dead in my chest, however.

Loud, frantic wailing broke the sudden silence that had fallen over the water. Drew caught me just as I began to sway. "NO!" Mom screamed, lunging for Zander and the little mermaid he clutched in his arms. Elle was screaming, her tiny face scrunched up as tears streamed down her cheeks.

At the last second, Dad grabbed Mom's arms and quickly restrained her. His face was deathly pale; the pain in his eyes so raw something cracked inside me at the sight. I'd never heard her sound so frantic. "P-please. David, he-he'll k-kill her."

That's when we heard them. The voices, frantic and getting louder with every heartbeat. "Where is she?" "Where is our daughter?"

Elle began to cry harder, obviously recognizing her parents' voices. Zander smirked, the expression so at odds with the cruelty on his face. "You have a choice, Faye. Watch me kill this little mermaid, then my daughter, or do it yourself."

The scream that came from the hallway was the worst sound I'd ever heard. But I was frozen. When the door was flung open, Aunt Izzy and Uncle Kai rushed inside, their faces red and tear-stained.

I thought I knew true terror. But nothing—nothing—could compare to the heart-stopping, gut-wrenching terror of seeing little Elle in Zander's hands. All of a sudden, a plan started to form in my mind—crazy, risky, and dangerous: kill Zander, and no one else has to die.

A thousand things could go wrong—and probably would—but it was my only shot. Pushing the fury, agony, and fear down until I couldn't feel it anymore, I locked eyes with Zander. Neither of us spoke, but the tension between us was tangible. I knew that if I did this, there would be no going back.

Waverly would most likely hate me forever, but that would be a small price to pay for ending the life of someone so evil. Not to mention the physiological and mental aftermath. I didn't care what happened to me. All that mattered was that our family was safe. I wrapped my hand around the dagger's hilt at my waist, trying to still the shaking.

I thought I heard Mom cry out and Dad shout, but I wasn't sure. I took a deep breath and held it, then drove the dagger straight into Zander's chest. He let out a strangled grunt as his grip suddenly slackened. With my free hand, I carefully lifted Elle out of Zander's grip and into her mother's waiting arms.

Blood gushed from the wound, soaking my arms, chest, and neck. But I barely noticed. The moment the life left his eyes, I went somewhere so deep inside myself that I knew it would take nothing short of a miracle to pull me out. Jonah caught me just before I hit the ground.

The cold, harsh truth of what I'd done hit me with the force of a dozen anchors. In the days, weeks, and months to come, I'd try to rationalize what I'd done—I'd tell myself that I'd done it to save Elle. And yes, that had been part of it.

But there was another harsher, darker reason—one I knew I would never forget: I wanted to be the one who looked him in the eye as he took his dying breaths. I wanted to see him pay for all the horrendous things he'd done. I wanted to kill him.

I wasn't sure what scared me more: the fact that I'd felt no remorse whatsoever or the fact that I wanted to kill him.

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