“She will die?” Kiandra asks as we hurry back to the Sapphire colony.

“That’s what the Enchantress claimed,” I say.

“But all is not lost,” Syren says. “She will actually shift into a child of the sea.”

“Yeah, whenever that will be,” I say.

We enter the Sapphire colony, bid goodbye to our sharks, and swim toward their cave.

“We will not see you,” Kiandra says as Syren goes to rally the kids and Ryter.

“Not for a long time,” Damarian says.

She wraps her tail around him. “You are doing what it best for your fry.”

“We don’t have another choice,” I say. “I just don’t know how Damarian will shift. We can’t keep a pool in the house.”

Damarian slides his hand into mine. “I have found a solution,” he says. “I will do what Kyle did and ask Flora and Kiander to banish me.”

“No,” I say. “I won’t let you do that.”

“I must, my love. It is the only way we can be a family on land.”

“But how do you know what kind of affect being a human long-term can have? What if you can never shift into a merman?”

“I am willing to make the sacrifice. For our daughter.”

I fasten my arms around him. “I know you’d do anything for her, but I can’t let you. We’ll figure out a way. Maybe you can travel to a beach once a week.”

“Cassie…”

“You need not make a decision right now,” Kiandra says.

Ryter and the others have joined us, the kids looking scared and confused. Ryter swims forward. “Cassie is correct. There may be unwanted consequences after living on land as a human for so many moons.”

“We’ll make it work,” I tell Damarian. “We’ll do whatever we can to make sure we’re all safe and healthy.”

“Will…we ever see you?” Zarya asks.

“Of course.” Damarian kisses the top of her head.

“You do not speak the truth. You do not believe we will see each other.”

“I’m sorry, Zarya.” I reach for her. “We didn’t plan any of this. We don’t know what’s going to happen. But it won’t be long until you’ll be old enough to come to land.”

Syren frowns.

So does Zarya. “I do not like it, but I must be strong for you and for my niece. I have not yet met her, but I love her very much. I wish for her to be safe.”

I hug her tighter. “Thanks so much for being so understanding. I’m going to miss you so much. All of you.”

I hug Syd and Syndin, Syren and Kiandra. We travel to Doria’s house to wish them goodbye as well. It’s a good thing they can’t see my tears in the ocean, because I’m sure I’m crying buckets. Then we return to Damarian’s family’s cave.

“You will be all right,” Kiandra says, once again wrapping her tail around us. “And we will see each other again.”

“It’s not goodbye forever,” I say. “Just for now.”

Syren gives me a human hug. “I will miss the two of you very much. And your daughter. But I do not think it would be wise for any of us to visit you. It may cause your daughter to seek answers.”

He’s right. She’ll be safer if we keep this world a secret from her. Until she’s ready.

“Hurry back before it is too late,” Syren says.

We kiss everyone goodbye one more time before we leave. Fiske and Shoney meet us at the exit of the Sapphire colony.

We will miss you both so much, I tell them, wrapping my arms around both of them.

As will we, Shoney says.

Fiske nods.

Damarian takes hold of his fins. Please watch over Zarya and the twins.

He nods.

After hugging and kissing them another time, we get back to land and shift into humans, finding our discarded clothes on the beach. Then we call my family and Leah, Kyle, asking them to meet at our apartment. It’s a little early, but they must sense the urgency in my voice because they agree with no questions or complaints.

When everyone is here, I ask Ruthie and Bobby to play on the computer so we can speak to the adults. We’ll say goodbye to them later.

“Cassie,” Mom says, looking alarmed. “What’s going on?”

“Is this about the baby?” Leah asks. “Is it okay? Are you okay?”

I take a few gulps of air, resting my hand on my stomach. “She’s okay. At least for now.”

“For now?” Mom demands.

“She?” Leah asks.

I hold up my hands. “Damarian and I will tell you everything.”

When we’re done, they look like we hit them over the head. Hard.

“She’s…a mermaid?” Mom asks.

“She will be,” I say. “One day. But for now she’s human and she can’t go anywhere near salt water. Until she reaches maturity.”

“That is why we must live far from the sea,” Damarian says. “We do not want her to be tempted.”

“I was thinking Arizona,” I say.

Louis nods. “That’s a good option.”

“You’re leaving us?” Mom asks.

“We don’t have a choice, Mom. This is for our child’s safety. She comes first. Always.”

“Yes, of course. But are you sure there isn’t another way?” She glances at Louis. “We can’t just pick ourselves up and go with you.”

“I never told you to. Your life is here in Florida. Damarian and I will be fine.” I swallow. “We’ll make it work.”

Damarian wraps his arms around me. “I will do all that I can to ensure my family is safe and well.”

Mom wipes her eyes. “I don’t like this.”

“You can visit whenever you want. It’s not forever. Just until our daughter is ready to learn the truth about who she really is.”

“My family cannot visit us,” Damarian tells Mom. “We do not wish for our fry to ask questions and learn the truth before she is ready. But we will need you and your family to support us.”

Louis nods. “We will help as much as we can.”

Mom grabs me and hugs me tightly. “I’m not ready to let you go. But I need to.” She kisses my cheek. “I’ll miss you so much. And we’ll visit as often as we can.”

I rub my tears away. “Thanks. Ruthie and Bobby? Can you come in here, please?”

They don’t take the news very well. Even Bobby doesn’t try to hide his tears.

I get down on my knees before them. “But you’re going to visit us a lot. Think of all the plane rides you’ll take!”

“Is Arizona far from here?” Bobby asks. “I’ll have to look at a map later.”

Closing my arms around them, I yank them in for a hug. “I’ll miss you so much.”

“Now please go back to the computer,” Mom says. “There’s a lot we need to discuss with Damian and Cassie.”

“If you’re leaving, can I have your computer?” Bobby asks.

“We just bought you a computer,” Louis says.

“But I like theirs better.”

I ruffle his hair. “Nice try.”

Once the kids are back at the computer, Kyle says, “What job will you have, Damarian?”

“Not one in an aquarium,” Leah says. “God, I can’t believe you’re moving.”

I hug her. “I’ll miss you so much. And Damarian can have any job he wants. He doesn’t have to worry about the ocean.”

“You’ll still have to shift into a child of the sea,” Kyle reminds him.

He nods. “I will travel to an ocean once a week.”

“It won’t be easy,” I say. “But we’re both determined to make it work.”

“We’ll help you pack,” Mom says.

“You need to find a place to live first,” Louis points out.

“Cassie will have to transfer to a new school,” Leah says.

I rub my head. “You guys are giving me a headache. We’ll figure everything out, one thing at a time.”

“We’ll do whatever we can to help,” Louis says.

Kyle nods. “Us, too.”

My knees knock into each other. My lower lip trembles. A whole new life. After we’ve fought so hard to live this life, we’ll have to move away and start from scratch.

Damarian takes my hands. “Do not fret, my love. It may be hard to start fresh, but I know we can, for we have each other.” He lays a hand on my stomach. “And we will have a wonderful daughter. This not the end, but a new beginning.”

His sapphire bracelet catches my eyes. We both haven’t taken them off. Ever. Just like we’ll never lose our love for each other. Or for our future family.

I touch his cheek. “You’re right. From this day forward, we’ll start living our new forever.”

He rests his forehead against mine. “Our new forever.”