“Kira!”

Akira turned. She’d know Ehren’s voice anywhere.

“My prince, what is it?” she asked.

Ehren didn’t answer. He just closed the gap in four long strides and wrapped her in his arms. Her arms went around his neck but only briefly. She pulled away and turned back to Leiutennet McAlister.

“Leiutennet, how long have you known your wife?” she asked.

“I beg your pardon?”

She’d known the question would irritate him but she had to be absolutely sure.

“You heard me Leiutennet.”

“And why do you want to know something so very personal?”

“If she is who I think she is, she is far older than you think. Take Mavi and Asena for example. They are nearly two centuries old, though neither looks a day over twenty eight. Now, answer the fucking question.”

“I’ve known her most of my life.”

Akira nodded her head.

“I’m guessing Alisdair McAlister was your great-grandfather,” she said thoughtfully.

“How did you know that?” he demanded.

“Have you never seen a painting of him?” she countered.

He shook his head.

“You are the spitting image of him. It’s why I gave you the strange look when you first came up. He captained the HMS Boudica, if I’m not mistaken, and was the last to see The Siren’s Revenge completely intact.”

“What do you mean, completely intact?” the woman beside him asked.

“Search your memories,” Akira told her. “The events of that day should be etched into your brain until the explosion threw you into the icy waters you plundered.”

The woman’s brow furrowed in concentration.

“I remember a fire and beating back the flames but not why,” she replied. “I remember the heat and the searing pain but not how I made it into the ocean. After that, it’s black.”

Akira reached for the pendant that hung around her neck. Freyja had given it to her months ago and told her to never take it off until the right time. It burned in her hand. She tugged on the cord that bound it to her neck. It snapped easily enough, causing the pendant to fall into her hand. She looked down at the pendant then up at Ehren, who still had an arm around her. She kissed his cheek and pulled out of his protective embrace. She went to the edge of the stage and knelt in front of Anwen.

“My goddess gave this pendant to me and told me to never take it off until the time was right,” she said holding up the pendant. “I believe she meant for me to give it to you to help you remember what it is that you have forgotten.”