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February 21 - March 27, 2025
“Lies aren’t answers.” “But they sound so much better than the truth.”
I’VE MADE A MISTAKE. It started with a prince, as most stories do.
“You should assume,” she says,“that everything I say to you is an insult. One day the world is going to run out of luck to give to you.”
“Wars aren’t won by running,” she says. “You can’t win a war,” I tell her. “Someone else just loses.”
Everything is muted and as Lira swoops her blade down on mine once more, I let it all fall away. My mission, my kingdom. The world. They exist somewhere other than in this moment, and now there is only this. Me, my ship, and a girl with oceans in her eyes.
Two kingdoms that come with responsibilities we each have trouble bearing. Him, the shackles of being pinned to one land and one life. Me, trapped in the confines of my mother’s murderous legacy. And the ocean, calling out to us both. A song of freedom and longing.
Some people burn so brightly, it’s impossible to put the flames out.
If your only instrument is a sword, then you will always strike at your problems.
“You should be careful,” I tell Yukiko. “The thing about taking something that’s not yours is that there will always be someone out there ready to take it back.” “I suppose I’ll have to watch my back, then.” “No need,” I tell her. “I can see it perfectly.”
“Are you ever going to kiss me?” Slowly, Elian says, “That’s not a favor.” His hand moves from beside mine, and I feel a sudden absence. And then it’s on my cheek, cupping my face, thumb stroking my lip. It feels like the worst thing I’ve ever done and the best thing I could ever do and how strange that the two are suddenly the same. How strange that instead of taking his heart, I’m hoping he takes mine.
By falling for a monster, I have become one for her.
Any human who takes a siren’s heart will be immune to the power of their song. Only Elian didn’t need to take my heart; I gave it to him.
She clutches on to the collar of my shirt and I wrap my arms around her waist. It’s like holding a story rather than a person; she feels wild and infinite in my arms.
