He reached into his sleeve, pricking his finger on the tip of the dagger hidden there. The pain brought clarity, and with it, Agüero remembered his plan. His overconfidence had led him to underestimate the power the siren's song would have over him; only his instincts, which screamed caution—instincts kept alive by the tenuous resistance afforded by his power as a member of the Great Families—kept him from immediately jumping into the sea to join the false you in the waves.

He barely resisted the urge to glance over his shoulder at where his crew waited. It would reveal that he had freed himself from the sirens' hold. He simply had to trust that they were ready to act when he was.

As he leaned forward on the railing, he forced the smile back onto his face, smooth and silvery as his blade. In the corner of his vision, he saw the other mermaids emerging from their perches on the nearby rocky outcrops.

"Come on, Agüero," the fake you repeated. "Don't we deserve a break? Come with me, I want to swim with you."

"Okay," Agüero said, faking a fond laugh.