Page 76 of Ensnaring the Siren

“For what?”

“For making you feel like I didn’t believe in you. I do believe in you, but sometimes, despite our capabilities, we still get hurt. I mean, just look at me. I’ve a long history of bad consequences for my risk-taking.”

“I know you don’t want to see me hurt,” Nireed conceded. “You wouldn’t be much of a sister if you did.”

“I want you to be happy. And if this Reid, the shallows, or even the Land Above the Water makes you happy, then I’m happy for you, and more than anything, I want you to live the life that keeps you happy. But you better come back to visit me at least several times a year, or I’ll have to drag my old tail up the shore and get you.”

Nireed threw her arms around her sister, hugging and rocking them both. “Parts of the Land Above the Water are more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined, and I want to explore them all, but it will never be home. Not fully. Not like here. You’re not going to lose me to it.”

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Reid came home to find a new note in the waterproof journal. Already it was making itself useful.

Good news. Made up with my sister. We have her blessing now.

Was hoping to see you. I’ll visit Lorelei for a little while and return this evening. Hoping you’ll be back by then.

Miss you.

-Nireed

He traced a finger over Lorelei’s name, then Nireed’s. The shock hadn’t worn off and probably wouldn’t for a long while. All these years, he had a sister, and she was friends with his Starfish. What a strange twist of fate.

In a roundabout way, Nireed had brought this heavy secret to light. If he hadn’t mentioned her name, if his mom hadn’t gotten squirrelly, and he hadn’t followed her, he’d still be in the dark about all this.

Now was probably a good time to text his therapist, but he didn’t want a professional opinion just yet. He wanted to talk to Nireed first, someone who knew his sister and could tell him what she was like without being dragged down by painful memories.

He uncapped a pen and committed the secret to waterproof paper. Just three simple words.

Lorelei’s my sister.

There was so much more to say, but that was all he could manage.

His hands shook as he returned the journal to its pouch, installed on the side of his boat.

Evening was hours away, forever when the same obsessive thoughts cycled through. What he needed was a distraction, but he wasn’t going to get it inside. Every spare inch of his home reminded him of Nireed. Her sweet, sea-salt-tinged scent lingered in each breath he took, and her silver scales still clung to his sheets like glitter.

God, he wanted to talk to her.

He stripped down and swam until his body and mind were numb.

Sometime later, someone was shaking his shoulder and calling his name. He swung his legs out and bolted upright with a start, ready to yank on his gear. It took him a second to register where he was—standing off the stern of his houseboat and not in the middle of a berthing area.

Nireed stared up at him from the water with wide, glowing eyes, clutching the waterproof journal in her hand. The last thing he remembered after his swim was sprawling across the diving platform, letting the sun rewarm his skin. He must’ve fallen asleep.

“Starfish,” he said weakly. “You read it?”

She opened her mouth, then shut it, bowing her head to read the words again. They had rendered the siren speechless.

He began pulling on his clothes. “Kinda glad I’m not the only one surprised by this.”

“I know what these words say, and yet, the more I try to read them, the less I understand.”

“I know. I only found out today.”

Dressed, he flopped back down onto the platform, crossing his legs.

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