“Thank you for that. I’ll begin now.” Kai cleared her throat. “Manu tells me a small number of you stood at my bedside while I lay dying, and that you asked for my death. I’m here now to say that I live. To show you that I live. I…still haven’t decided if what I saw during my sleep was a hallucination or the truth, but I spoke with my mother and father.”
“Ridiculous. They’ve been dead for years,” Fridericus cut in. “And the dead do not speak.”
“Hallucination,” said another mer.
“Is this why you’ve called us? To discuss dreams?” Lago demanded, glowering down the bridge of his nose at her. “I have matters of great importance to plan, yet we stand here tolerating the mouth of a child who—"
“We’re standing here to discuss my recovery. Manu and Cosmas both told me, in no uncertain terms, that a mer who is pierced in the heart is a mer who succumbs to the Gloom. But I’m here. I survived. When I was asleep, I saw them, and they told me Thalassa herself protected me. I’ve had time to think about that while waiting for you to show up.” Kai’s heart did a nervous skip behind her ribs, making it difficult to breathe. She hadn’t expected them to believe her, but she also didn’t predict they’d all but call her a liar.
“No one’s heard the voice of Thalassa in decades,” Hipponax murmured. “But it could be possible.”
“My mother and father didn’t rise from the Gloom. You were all so worried it would happen to me, that you neglected to remember my parents never rose. All you found were their remains. Don’t you see? This means I can’t be infected. If Calypso could have had my mother and father as part of her army, she would have taken them then.”
A low murmur spread over the crowd of lords, no one voice more comprehensible than the next. Aegaeon held up a hand, gesturing for silence.
“That is a sound theory, Kai. What else did they say?”
“Aegaeon, you don’t seriously believe—”
Her uncle shot Fridericus another dirty look. “Let her speak.”
“That it’s time for me to take the throne. Regardless of whether I have a king or not. You’ve all told me a hundred times that Atlantis is a matrilineal throne. It shouldn’t matter if I have a husband or not, because this here,” she said, thrusting with her scepter, “belongs to the queen and you don’t have the King’s Treasure.”
“Your Highness—” one of the lords began.
“I am still speaking,” Kai cut him off, enunciating each word with force. He blinked at her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Manu, Loto, and Elpis hiding grins. “But I saw it. Just before the attack began, I found a golden pearl just like this one.
“We already knew about the pearl.” At her eyebrow raise, Loto continued. “Cosmas mentioned this to us. We were in the war room planning a retrieval, hoping it’s still there. You dropped it, right?”
Kai nodded. “I did. I had it, but then monsters came out in force. It’s somewhere out there among all the sandworm holes. I think I can take you to it.”
“I don’t need a child to swim in my formation,” Lago growled. “We will retrieve this thing on our own. Someone put her back in bed where she belongs.”
Once again, just as she’d expected, the old men walked all over her and did as they liked.
But she wouldn’t allow it for much longer. Change was coming whether they approved or not.
It wasn’t often that Manu felt the dire need to punch his father in the mouth, but his disrespect for their princess was one of those moments. He clenched one fist and bit his tongue, conflicted when it came to loyalty for his princess versus his sire and his superior officer.
“She isn’t a child,” he said at last, deciding to go for broke. He’d stood up to the old man once and hadn’t landed in jail for insubordination. What was one more time? “She’s our future queen and should be treated as such, with the deepest respect.”
“Future queen,” Lago snarled.
“As I said before, it’s time for me to take the throne. I understand our realm and culture. I know the laws of society.” She raised her chin and stared at them, the defiant and powerful queen Manu had expected her to become one day, there before them now. “And my memories have returned. I know who I am. I know each of you; yes, even you Lord Leonidas. I know my mother couldn’t stand you and called you a greasy little guppy who can’t be trusted. And I know she planned to remove most of you from the Council of Lords. That she planned to organize a system of voting, allowing our citizens to choose new representatives from among the other classes. All the classes.”
As disagreement rolled through the room, shocked voices raising in volume, Manu searched the faces there. Their expressions ranged from horror and disbelief to outright fury, rage turning Leonidas’s face purple.
“It was a foolish notion,” he gritted. “Atlantis has been this way for centuries.”
“Then change is even longer overdue. I will take the throne.” Kai glanced at Aegaeon. “I’m sorry, Uncle, but it’s time.”
He inclined his head to her then shrugged one shoulder. “It is. I’ll do whatever I can to support the transition.”
At that moment, Nammu spun to face him and jabbed a finger in his chest. “You can’t be serious. She knows nothing. She isn’t prepared to take over the rule of an entire kingdom.”
“Neither was I when my brother and Queen Ianthe fell. Yet I made do.”
“We won’t approve it,” Aeschylus said.
“Nor will I,” Lago growled. “I’ve had enough of listening to this girl’s naïveté.” He whirled, cape billowing behind his broad shoulders. With one gesture he ordered the commanders to follow him. Obedience wasn’t an option. They did, after all, have a mission to plan and a magical relic to recover from the ruin of the battlefield once their scouting vessels returned with news.
“Give it time,” Manu heard Aegaeon saying to the princess. “They’ll come around, dearest niece. Give it time. They have no choice in the matter. The transfer of power will occur whether they desire it or not. It’s out of their hands.”
Manu hoped so. Their city had been divided enough by the conflict between Loyalists and the monarchy’s royal supporters. Anything else would rip their kingdom apart and further weaken them against Calypso’s dark machinations.
And as Kai had said, they were long overdue for change.
33
Out of Thought, Out of Mind
After a long soak in the bath to feel human again, Kai emerged from her royal suite to visit the healing house and see Cosmas. According to Aegaeon, it’d be days longer before he recovered and Vitalis released him to return to duty.
Meanwhile, Lago and the others planned to initiate war without him.
“Up for a visitor?” she asked, peeking inside the room to find Cosmas propped up with several bed pillows behind his back. His open shirt revealed a deep patch of color across his ribs. He’d have been cut to pieces by the shattered breastplate if not for the sharkskin padding he’d worn beneath.
“I’ll never turn away a beautiful visitor. But shouldn’t you be resting?”
“Nope. All healed.”
“Ah, then in that case, have a seat.” Cosmas patted the bedside, inviting her to join him. Then his bruised face screwed up into a frown. “Manu already told me about the outcome of the meeting. I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing when it isn’t your doing?”
“Because my father and aunt were there, and they are complicit. I plan to speak with both of them about it.”
Kai gingerly sat on the bedside, afraid of disturbing him too much. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Don’t have to, but I want to.” He glanced at the scepter in her hand. “It looks good with you, by the way.”
“Does it?”
He grinned. “Damned right it does. Look at how it gleams when it’s in your hand. It may have ignited anew when you returned to the water, but it’s never been this bright. Not since your mother’s reign.”
“About th
at…did Manu tell you that I spoke with them?”
Cosmas nodded. “He did.”
“She told me there were changes she and my father planned to implement, but they died too early. They never had the chance. I…think they planned to create a system similar to what the Loyalists want.”
“But that would be counterproductive to their rule.”
“Not entirely. On the surface, we still had a President of the United States who oversaw the country. He wasn’t all-powerful, and our people had a right to a vote. We don’t have to end the monarchy, but we can give others rights.”
His smile dwindled, features turning solemn. “Is this what you want to do?”
Anxiety formed a hard knot in the center of her stomach, occasionally tightening around her ribs, too. Of all the people she thought might oppose her, she prayed her friend wasn’t one. “Yes.”
Cosmas took her hand and squeezed it. “Then you have my aid, in whatever way I can give it. I’ll support you.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Thank you.”
“You’ll always have my support, Kai. But there’s…a matter we must discuss now.”
She canted her head. “What is it?”
“I think we should reconsider the engagement.”
“What?” Aegaeon and Hipponax had made it clear she wouldn’t be considered a true leader of Atlantis without a noble counterpart to assume the role of king. Of all the other eligible suitors, none had held a candle to Cosmas. “You’re dumping me?”
“What? No, I’m not dumping you.”
“Not sure if things work differently in Atlantis, but where I come from, if you tell someone you’re rescinding your proposal, it’s called dumping.”
“Technically, you come from Atlantis, too.”
She didn’t answer, chest hurting too much to deal with sass.
“Come here.”
“You’re injured.”
“Come here,” he repeated. She considered resisting on principle, but tired and irritable and hurting, she went to him anyway, burrowing into the warmth of his arms. Even if he did smell like antiseptic and medicinal seaweed. “Honestly, Kai? I enjoy your company. I’m in awe of your spirit, your dedication to saving this kingdom, and so many other things that make you a wonderful merwoman.”
“But?” she said, sensing the unspoken word on the tip of his tongue.
“Love never entered the equation when my uncle asked this of me. It’s for Atlantis, but I like you enough that I don’t want to force you to marry me.”
“Oh.” A few seconds passed while she digested the news. “I’m not doing this marriage for me. I’m doing it for Atlantis, too. You’re not forcing me into anything, Cosmas. These people want to see a romance like my parents, and if that makes them trust me on the throne, I’ll do it.”
His heavy sigh ruffled her dark hair. “That kind of romance won’t happen for as long as there’s another mer who has your fancy. You and I both know I’m not the particular commander you want. I’ve never been the commander you want.”
Kai jerked back and blinked at him. “Cosmas—”
“I’m not angry at you or him. Trust me. I get it.”
Despite his assurance, the tips of her fingers prickled and tingled. “Did Manu tell you?”
He barked out a sudden laugh. “No. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Saw it?” she repeated, blinking slowly. “We were alone, and it was only the one kiss.” Not that the temptation didn’t come to her frequently, maddeningly, and there wasn’t one thing she wanted more in all of Atlantis.
“I didn’t have to see you kiss him to know there’s affection between you, Kai. I saw the affection between you. Every day that you were together, I saw a man who would protect you with his life not because you are his future queen, but because he loves you.”
“Loves me?” The prickling began in the tips of her fingers again. “Don’t be crazy. Manu doesn’t love me.”
“He does. His eyes shine with love for you the moment you walk into a room. The rest of our world stops.”
Her heart raced a little faster. “You’re wrong.”
“Trust me. I’ve known Manu since we were children. And I heard the words he spoke to you when you lay on your deathbed. He doesn’t know that I heard them, but I stood on the opposite side of the door to your healing suite.”
“Doesn’t matter. Even if I were attracted to him, nothing could be done.” Attracted? A fucking understatement. It wasn’t just attraction she felt for him.
The moment Manu stepped into a room, she felt his presence before she even saw him.
“There’s something,” Cosmas said after a painfully awkward pause. “You can be with him, and I’ll say nothing.”
Her brow rose. “You’re suggesting…?”
“That you either fuck him out of your thoughts and move on, or have him as a lover.”
“But that’s cheating—”
“It’s only cheating if I’m unaware, or if we carry on with the engagement. We aren’t. Neither of us planned for this to be a romantic involvement. I’d hoped in time we could feel something for each other, and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t considered what it would be like to bed you, but honestly…” He tipped his head back. “My heart is with someone else as well.”
“You’re kidding.”
His sad smile said otherwise. “No, Kai. I’m not. Which is why this was a purely selfless act for the kingdom and not for my own benefit. I could happily continue as Commander Cosmas without ever knowing what it would be like to rule as king alongside you, but the merwoman for me is also beyond reach.”
“Who is she?”
“Doesn’t matter. We are not of the same class.”
Nothing could be stupider than the divisive class system of Atlantis. Her lips twisted into a deep frown, but she didn’t push the matter. She hugged him instead and relaxed against his chest when he didn’t draw away. “I’m sorry.”
“So am I,” he said after a moment. “As I said, love never entered the equation. I consider you a good friend, and there are worse fates than marrying one’s friend.”
“I consider you a friend, too.” And there were definitely worse prospects when it came to playing roulette in the high mer marriage sweepstakes.
“But what are you going to do about your attraction to Manu?”
“There is no attraction to Manu.”
Cosmas cocked a brow, staring her down. His mouth flattened into a tight line.
And she was not fooling this man. No matter how much she wanted to lie through her teeth, he saw through her as clear as glass. Sighing, Kai pushed her hair back from her brow. “I want him so badly it hurts.”
“Thank you for being honest about it. At last.” The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Misery loves company, after all.”
34
Bared
With nothing else to lose, Kai knocked on the door to Manu’s cottage.
Common sense told her to flee into the shadows before he answered.
Curiosity bid her stay.
She lingered, anxiety hammering in her chest every second she waited on the stoop under the pale glow of the porch lamp, its silver-blue light cool against her skin.
Pride told her she wasn’t a coward to run from any man, no matter how much she craved him, regardless of how wet the sound of his name made her.
At last, the knob turned after what felt like hours instead of a few minutes. The door opened to frame him, showcasing a man with tousled hair and drowsy eyes, bare chest and sculpted abs a delicious torment she longed to touch so much her fingers tingled with as much desire as the rest of her body.
“Did I disturb your sleep?”
“No.” He flashed a sincere but exhausted smile. “I crashed for a short while but couldn’t remain asleep. Never can hours before an operation.”
“Oh.” Memories of the last time she’d visited his home danced through her mind, her body remembering too well the feel of his fingers on her bare ass,
the taste of his tongue in her mouth. The sinful way it had moved and thrust past her lips, invoking fantasies of how talented it would feel between her thighs. Now or never. “May I come in?”
He moved aside. “As you wish.”
Of all the men she’d ever felt attracted to throughout her life, Manu was the first to make her knees quake and body flush with heat simply by existing in the same space as her. She stepped inside, watching him shut and lock the door behind her.
“What can I do for you, Your Highness?”
Giving herself a little pep talk didn’t alleviate the tension in her chest. Kai studied him, saw he was watching her with as much trepidation as she felt. “You picked out a shark for me.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Manu said nothing, only gazing at her with those sad brown eyes that made her want to take his face between both hands and kiss away the blues.
“Tell me,” she insisted.
“You want the truth?”
“The truth would be nice.”
His shoulders rose and fell with his heavy breath. “All right. The first time I saw Leilei, you were the last thing on my mind. I didn’t go there looking explicitly for a mount to give you, but I’ve been friends with the stable’s sharkmaster since I was a boy. The three of us grew up together. As Cosmas had another commitment that day, Anatolius asked me to come rate the newest batch of sharks with him.” He looked boyish and vulnerable, gazing at her with unconcealed affection in his eyes. “We tested her for the program.”
“But?”
“No one fit her. She was too green, too young and frisky. Anatolius decided she was incompatible with the needs of a Myrmidon, and I agreed.”
“So you decided she was a fit for me?”
The richness of his low chuckle created a dull throb between her thighs. “Her beauty was what took me in first, her fins like the sky over Galveston the first evening I saw you. Purple and pink with twilight, a hundred stars above us. I hadn’t seen a sunset in years, but all others paled in comparison to that night.”
Return to Atlantis: a Fantasy Romance (Kingdom in the Sea Book 1) Page 24