Chapter 96

Briar’s POV

A figure emerged from the shadows between the ruined buildings—not the ghostly apparition from my vision, but a real siren. She was tall and regal, with silver hair that flowed around her like liquid mercury and eyes the color of deep ocean trenches. Her tail was magnificent, scales shifting from silver to deep blue to purple depending on how the light hit them.

"Welcome, child of Nerida," she said, her voice carrying the authority of centuries. "I am Elder Thalassa, keeper of our histories and guardian of our truths."

"Elder," I managed, not sure of the proper protocol for greeting siren royalty.

"You have questions," she observed, swimming closer with fluid grace. "About your heritage, your mother, your purpose."

"I want to understand," I said. "The ghostly figure showed me things, told me about the tribes, but I need to know the truth."

Elder Thalassa studi