I leapt to my feet. In the distance, a mountainous chunk of land was just visible through a coating of fog. I knew I wasn’t imagining the clouds billowing from the islands: Anyo had told us the Aleutian mountain range was full of active volcanoes.

My breath halted in my throat, and I caught Annith’s eye across the deck. She’d thrown her hands over her mouth.

I made my way to the ship’s nose. I hadn’t noticed until that moment, but the days spent in the empty, endless sea had been pulling at my nerves. The snow-covered hills and billowing peaks evoked a sense of comfort that solid ground was near. At the same time, terror bubbled in my stomach. We were officially within range of the demons’ nest.

The silence grew as heavy as the fog cocooning the islands.

“Think anyone still lives there?” said Blacktail. She leaned against the railing beside me.

“I was wondering the same.”

“Bet they fled to mainland Alaska.”

I shook my head. “I wouldn’t leave Eriana Kwai. Would you?”

She squinted ahead. “No. Guess not.”

“The demons are a lot closer to them,” I said. “Do you think they Massacre too?”

“I doubt it. If they did, the rest of Alaska would help. And if they were helping, we’d know it. We’d be better off.”

The waves lapped against the ship, and I peeled my eyes away from the ghostly volcanoes to watch them. Maybe if we were more important on Eriana Kwai—if we were officially a part of North America, or if we had something more valuable to trade than fish—we’d be getting outside help.

“Maybe the Aleut people died,” said Blacktail hesitantly. “Because of the mermaids.”

“Nah.” I thought of what the US would do if hundreds of their own people died because of the sea demons. “I think we’d know it if they’d all died, too.”

“True.”

I dropped my hands from the railing and turned to her. The wind swept my sticky hair into my eyes. “What, then? They live on the islands, still, but don’t need to Massacre?”

Our gazes locked. I couldn’t help but feel like we were missing something.

“Hop to it, ladies,” shouted Dani, making me jump. I turned. Shaena, Texas, and Akirra were already patrolling the starboard railing, scanning the water as if hoping to be the first to shoot a mermaid in the head.

Mannoh scowled at Dani, then told everyone with even more volume that we should take our positions and be on careful guard.

I ran my hand along my crossbow, the iron smooth beneath my palm. “I’ll take the port side.” I started towards the main deck.

“Meela.”

I kept moving. “I know I’m supposed to take the starboard, but Dani’s toadies are over there and no one’s—”

“Meela,” said Blacktail again, and this time I caught the desperation in her voice.

I stopped and turned around.

Her eyes were the widest I’d ever seen them. Her mouth was open, lips strained tight with horror.

I whirled around, muscles reacting before I had time to think.

A long-fingered hand worked its way up the railing beside me like an oversized spider; the black hair of a young woman followed. Her eyes were large and bright, emerald green, and curiously scanning their surroundings.

Beads of seawater dripped from her sleek hair and down her chest. Her other hand came up to rest playfully beneath her chin.

She smiled.

*****

Author note: If you want to read ahead, you can get this entire book and its sequels – Ice Massacre, Ice Crypt, and Ice Kingdom – in ebook, print, and audio from your favourite book retailer!

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