If you asked me what had drawn me from sleep so violently the following day, I wouldn't have been able to tell you. It felt like someone had taken my heart and crushed it into smithereens. I threw on a shirt, slinging my cloak over my shoulders to get out the door. I swam faster than I ever had, the rushing water mingling with the roaring in my ears.

The sun had barely risen, weak, pale rays drifting into the water. When I finally reached the open water, a mermaid floated a few feet away, her back to me. Time had turned her hair grey with a few lingering red strands mixed in, and her dress was threadbare, but... It couldn't be. When she turned to face me, I faltered.

Her face was the same as it had been all those years ago, minus the wrinkles and crow's feet around her eyes. Unable to help myself, I put my hands out in front of me. "N-no." Unable to even begin to hope this was real. My voice—strangled and hoarse—was barely more than a whisper.

Tears gleamed in the mermaid's eyes—eerily similar to those of Ella, whose grave I had recently visited. "Drew?" Hearing the mermaid's voice, I choked. All the water left my body in a rush as if someone had punched me in the gut.

It couldn't be... I hadn't heard her voice in over two decades, yet I knew I'd never forget it.

"C-Carla?" My birth mother. I didn't stifle the cry that slipped from my lips as her hand reached for mine, nor did I notice the wince that crossed her face at my use of her name. At first, I was tentative, but when her fingers brushed mine, they felt... Real. Solid.

I fell into her arms then, much like Thalassa had with Ani. Her warm, firm arms came around me and squeezed—the same that had held me when I was little, that had soothed me whenever I'd had a nightmare. I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the moisture on my cheeks. "Oh, Drew," she murmured. "I missed you so much, baby."

As the last word left her mouth, I froze. Judging by the fact that I hadn't seen her in over two decades, I was willing to bet she had no idea about Faye's death. That realization only made me cry harder until it felt like my heart was physically breaking in half.

"Drew?" Carla pulled back, scanning my face. "What is it? What happened?"

Everything was happening too fast. I rubbed a hand down my face, steeling myself. "There's something I need to show you." That hollowness returned to my voice, bringing with it that familiar emptiness that had haunted me for so long. I carefully took her hand, still scared to touch her lest she vanish before my eyes.

We swam in silence until we came to three graves, side by side. Carla's gaze swept over the stones, her face crumpling as a heartbreaking wail shattered the silence. "N-no... H-How did this... H-how did she..." Any other words were lost in tears as she faltered, sinking to the seafloor before the graves. I didn't flinch as a raw, heartbroken scream ripped from her lungs.

There were no words to describe my feelings or the emptiness inside me. After a few minutes, Carla straightened, wiping her eyes. "I'm so sorry." My voice was hoarse. I hated having to show her this, but she deserved to know the truth.

She swam back to me, sniffling, and clutched my hand. "Don't be. Thank you for showing me. I just wish... I wish I had been able to hold Faye in my arms one last time."

I stared at her as her words slowly sunk in, hitting me with the force of a speargun. She thought Faye had died decades ago when Ella had—the former as a baby and the latter no more than five years old. Tears threatened, but I shoved them down. I knew I would break down entirely if I shed even one tear.

I took a steadying breath and blew it out slowly, repeating the motion until I felt that cold aloofness take over my body—the only thing that had gotten me through the news of Faye's death. I didn't let my mind drift back to those agonizing moments after Dr. Murphy had swum back into the waiting room, nor did I let myself recall the gut-wrenching sobs that had come from her lips.

Keeping my voice emotionless was an act of sheer will as I breathed the words that still made my chest tighten to the point of pain. "Faye died four years ago. An insane and jealous merman killed her—murdered her with a crossbow bolt to the back. It..."

I trailed off, exhaling a trembling breath. Swiping at my eyes, I forced myself to hold Carla's gaze, even as I felt my heart break anew. "It grazed her spine before the tip lodged itself a scale's breadth from her heart. We found out later that the tip had punctured her spine. The doctors did everything they could, but... It was too late."

Carla let out another raw, heartbroken scream as she faltered again. I caught her quicker this time—before she could hit the seafloor. When I felt her breath hitch, I tensed right before her fists met my abdomen. I didn't flinch as she landed blow after blow, letting her take as long as she needed to process what I had just told her.

When I could speak again, my voice was hoarse. "I don't understand. I thought... I thought Noah killed you."

Tears glittered in her eyes as she took a shaky breath. "He was going to, but... Everyone—Noah included—had been distracted by Ella, so I managed to swim away without him knowing. I hid in an abandoned house for years, scavenging for food. I wanted to find you, but when I heard the king and queen of Pelathas had adopted you and Faye, I couldn't bear to separate you from the only family you knew."

The hurt in her eyes made me open my mouth before I was even sure what to say. She shook her head, taking my hands as she continued. "Don't be sorry. It was agonizing having to stay away all those years, but... Fearing Noah would kill me for good if I came looking was the incentive I needed to stay away. I couldn't be more grateful that David and Isabella took you and Faye in. Loved you like you were their own."

As her voice broke again, I swiped at my own eyes, surprised to find tears sliding down my cheeks. Only when her words sunk in did I remember Mom, Dad, and Ani back at the palace. They were probably worried sick—especially Ani, given recent events.

My voice was hushed when the words came out—as if I feared voicing them. "Why don't you come back to the palace with me?" If Carla was shocked at my words, she didn't show it.

Even though I desperately wanted to introduce her to Ani, Mom, and Dad, I had another reason for wanting her to return with me. Naia and Brandon were still out there, and I shuddered to think what would happen if they got wind of Carla's reappearance.

Carla scanned my face as if judging the truth in my words, then cautiously nodded. When she took my hand again, my breath caught. I was still having trouble processing the events of the past half hour. I almost didn't believe that Carla was really here—in fact, if it weren't for the feeling of her warm hand in mine, I probably wouldn't have gone near her otherwise.

Carla was silent as we swam, but her breath occasionally hitched when she looked at me. She was having trouble believing this was real, too. I looked up when I heard Ani's voice, my heart thumping in my chest. "Drew!" She rushed toward me, wrapping her arms around me.

I could feel Carla's gaze, but I didn't say anything. When Ani and I broke apart, she blinked upon seeing Carla. "Oh, hello. I'm Adriana. You must be... Carla?"

She remembered the stories I'd told—clearly—but hearing and seeing were very different. When she looked back at me, I saw a glimmer of fear cross her face. Though it was gone in a heartbeat, a sliver of guilt struck my heart. She was obviously still reeling from Della and Dathan, and to have this thrust upon her...

"When I woke up and couldn't find you..." She trailed off, and it was then that I realized she was trembling. I hated that I'd been the one to cause that fear. It sent a jolt of shame through me.

I cupped her cheek. "I'm sorry for worrying you. I'll explain everything when we get back to the palace." As Ani surveyed our surroundings, the meaning of my words began to resonate.

It wasn't wise to be out in the open—especially now. Ani nodded and looked over at Carla. The latter smiled, her eyes softening. "It's lovely to meet you, Ani." Though grief still lingered in Carla's eyes, her smile was genuine.

As we swam, I lowered my voice to speak to Ani. "Any update on Della or Dathan?" I would update Carla later on everything that had happened, but... we had seventeen years' worth of lost time to make up for.

"Mom is with Della. Before I left, they were in the sitting room talking. Last I heard, Dathan was going to suggest stationing guards at checkpoints surrounding the palace to your dad. I'll update Mom and Della on..." She swallowed. "What happened."

I could tell she was just as shaken—if not more so—by Carla's sudden reappearance. I nodded. "I will re-introduce Mom and Dad to Carla, then explain what happened. Meet back up in an hour for breakfast?" As the last word left my mouth, my stomach grumbled.

Ani giggled while I smiled sheepishly. I kissed her cheek before she swam away. When I turned back to Carla, she was staring after Ani with tears in her eyes. "Are you okay?" I asked softly.

Carla sniffled as she met my gaze, smiling through her tears. "It's wonderful to see you so happy. All I ever wanted for you and Faye was to be happy. I just wish I had been around to see it."

When we arrived at the palace, Carla gasped. My heart was pounding as I gripped her hand, and it was all I could do not to drag her inside. The swim to Mom and Dad's suite was simultaneously quick and long. I paused in front of their door, taking a deep breath. I knew Mom and Dad would have questions, and I would do my best to answer them as truthfully as possible, but... I was still pinching myself.

"I meant what I said, Drew," Carla said softly, sensing my nerves. "I couldn't be more grateful to Bella and David. Now I finally get to tell them myself."

Her words gave me the courage to knock, the sound reverberating through the otherwise silent hallway. A minute passed before the door opened, Mom's face peeking out. She smiled when she saw me. "Drew! We were wondering where..." Her words fell away as her gaze landed on Carla, a muffled cry escaping her lips as she staggered backward.

I heard Dad's voice, muffled but getting closer with every breath. "Bella? Are you okay? What's going..." Dad's eyes widened as he trailed off, unable to look away from the mermaid beside me. As if he, too, was afraid she might vanish.

None of us spoke for several moments. When Carla finally did, her voice was barely a whisper, and regret and remorse filled her words. "Hello, David. Isabella. It's so great to see you again."

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