Pregnant With Their Babes

by Kelex

  Llyr’s father roared with laughter. “You humans really do believe that everything belongs to you. The land. The sea. And everything it encompasses.” The laughter faded, his scowl returning. “You plunder the land and now eye the seas as a means to gain more to destroy. The sea is my realm, not yours, silly boy. And my son belongs to no one.”

  “Except you? Right?” Oz cried. “You’ll marry him off to a child. To gain what? What is it you trade for the life of your son?”

  “What?” Llyr’s father focused on him. “That is not why I arranged your marriage. Alphonse will be the leader of a great nation. With you at his side! You deserve a great merman king as a husband… not a weak, pathetic human.”

  “Does it matter what I yearn for?” Llyr asked. “You never bothered asking me!”

  “No. I suppose it matters not what you want,” Llyr’s father roared. “As you cannot be with these men.”

  “Why not?”

  His father seethed. “You’re not of their kind.”

  “They’re my mates!” Llyr cried.

  His father’s face turned to stone. “I’m aware.”

  Llyr gasped. “You knew?”

  “It was prophesied… that the omega born of the shell mark would be bound to two of human blood.” His father’s face fell. “And that omega’s children would be evil. They would destroy both our worlds.”

  “No!” Llyr cried. His stomach twisted. “That’s impossible.”

  “The Enchantress herself assured me you were the omega of the ancient scrolls. You were born with the mark…”

  Llyr shook his head, doubt filling him.

  “Lies,” Dagr said at his side.

  Llyr’s father ignored Dagr and eyed Llyr. “Why do you think I kept you under lock and key all these years? I was endeavoring to keep you away from them… I was attempting to save both our worlds. And everyone in them. I thought you would be happier if I could prevent your paths from ever crossing. You wouldn’t be forced to walk away from them like you’ll have to now.”

  “Stop listening to him, Llyr,” Oz cried. “What we feel is right and true. I know you sense that.”

  King Augustine pointed his trident at the middle of Oz’s chest. “You have no idea what will befall this world if you three join together.”

  “I remember you spouting a similar prophecy of the world ending when Deandra came to me,” Oz’s father said to the Llyr’s father.

  “Mother?” Oz asked, spinning to face his father. “What does mother have to do with this?”

  Llyr was growing more confused by the moment. He concentrated on his father’s angry face—King Augustine scowled at Oz’s father.

  “And look what happened to Deandra,” his father cried to Oz’s. “You killed her… precisely as I expected you would.”

  “I didn’t kill her!” Oz’s father cried.

  “No. I did!” Oz screamed.

  King Augustine glared at Oz. “You? You put that bullet into your own mother?”

  “No, he bore no fault,” Oz’s father spat, rushing down his dais. “Prince Oswald attempted to fight off the bandits who stopped him and his mother on the road, after they’d killed all the men sent to protect the pair. The bandits aimed at him—and hit her instead. He was only a boy when it happened.”

  Llyr saw the pain crossing Oz’s face. He needed to move closer… to hold his human until the pain passed.

  His father inched closer to Oz. “You look like Deandra… you have her eyes. Too bad you were unable to protect her when it mattered most.”

  “Father!” Llyr cried.

  “Was my mother… a mermaid?” Oz asked.

  “She was,” King Augustine said. “One of the most beautiful to ever swim the oceans.”

  Llyr gasped… that meant that Oz was of both worlds.

  His father continued. “That is—before I exiled her and took her tail away.”

  Llyr hissed. He couldn’t imagine never having his tail again. That had to have been torment for her. His father was cruel.

  “You tortured her— for choosing me over you,” the human king cried. “She never got over the loss of her life beneath the sea. Deandra could’ve had both had you not stolen that from her.”

  “She made her choice,” King Augustine said. “You and the land. And she died because of that choice.”

  Llyr turned to his father, shocked. “You loved another before Papa?”

  “I never loved your Papa,” his father spat. “I learned to never give my heart to anyone after losing Deandra.”

  His father had made him feel guilty for his papa’s death most of his life. To learn the merman had never loved his papa… stung. “No… you never gave your heart to anyone,” Llyr murmured. “Not even your own children.”

  His father glared a moment… and then something seemed to snap inside him. He seemed to lack the same edge to his anger.

  “A scroll was found many years ago. It foretold the birth of an omega prince who would bond with a half-merman and a magical human. That omega would wear a mark of a shell… and his children would cause the destruction of both our worlds.” King Augustine sighed before he spun to Oz and the king. “Llyr wears the shell mark… and I’ve always assumed one of Deandra’s sons might be his mate.” He cast a look at Dagr. “I suppose you’re the one with magic in his blood.”

  Dagr was silent before capturing Llyr’s stare. Llyr sensed sadness there… so bottomless it threatened to swallow them all whole.

  “Together, you three spell doom for the entire world—above and below. Can you all live with that?” his father asked.

  Llyr focused his gaze on Oz and Dagr, anguish filling him. How could the strong bonds they all seemed to sense bring death and destruction to everything they knew?

  Together, they were… right… they all realized it. Everything within him screamed that this was meant to be. He shook his head, his eyes welling. “No… it can’t be true.”

  “Staying with them will mean the end to everything,” Llyr’s father murmured. “I sought to save you this pain, Llyr. And I failed. I’m so sorry I failed you… and them.” He raised his trident. “I will do what needs to be done in order to save our worlds. Even if it means killing your mates.”

  “No!” Llyr screamed, spreading his arms out and using his body to protect the two, but he was too late.

  His father sent a massive shot from his trident—but before it hit, Dagr roared and lifted his hands. A glow of magic came from him and propelled forward—striking his father’s spell. Dagr was no match for the trident’s strength, though. His father’s shattered Dagr’s magic with ease and collided into both Dagr and Oz—as well as the human king. They all screamed and went to their knees in pain. Flashes of magic shot all over them, keeping them in agony.

  Llyr gasped, unable to breathe.

  His father’s magic should have killed them all. Yet they were still alive. His heart soared. Dagr had somehow weakened his father’s spell.

  King Augustine lifted the trident to hit again, but Llyr threw himself against his father. “Stop this! Please!”

  “Leave this world behind. Wed Alphonse and reunite our realms. Promise me you will—and I’ll let them live.”

  “Stay,” Oz said as he trembled in pain.

  Dagr reached for him. “Llyr.”

  Llyr eyed his humans through the shine of tears. “I won’t be the reason our worlds die.” I won’t be the reason they die. His heart shattered into a million pieces, understanding he had to let them go if he was to save them. Spinning, he strode closer.

  “Llyr,” his father warned.

  “You can give me a moment to say goodbye, can’t you?” Llyr refused to wait for an answer from his father. He raced closer, his legs trembling under him. Once he neared them, he reached out and caressed both their faces. “If the only way to save you is to walk away—I shall.” He knelt between the pair and kissed each one, in turn.

  The magic still had them in pain. “Release them from this spell, father.”


  “When we are gone.”

  Llyr cringed, hating to see them in torment. He gave them each another kiss to the forehead and rose.

  “Don’t… go,” Dagr growled. “Stay… with us.”

  Both humans reached for him, but Llyr stepped back, knowing another touch would only make it that much harder to leave.

  “You said I was dangerous and you were right, Dagr. All along, you were right,” Llyr said. He took another step back toward his father, who waved his trident over Llyr, transforming him back into his merman form.

  He looked down at the glimmering tail he’d missed so much. Yet he already missed his legs—understanding what their loss signified. Lifting his stare, he could clearly see the confusion, pain, and shock in their expressions.

  “I love you both,” he whispered.

  Both Dagr and Oz struggled to rise to their feet, but King Augustine waved his trident again. Llyr’s humans crashed back to the floor, roaring in pain.

  “You promised you’d release them!” Llyr screamed.

  “The spell will end when we’re gone!” his father cried, holding out his hand. “I give you my vow.”

  Tears slipped down Llyr’s face. He took his father’s hand. “Take us home. Now… before they suffer a moment longer.”

  His father lifted him from the floor and spun toward the open terrace facing the sea. The Draugar followed behind, scuffling and leaving a trail of gore and saltwater in their paths. His father stepped out onto the balcony, the sun high in the sky. He waved his trident and the hundreds of dead things turned and moved back into the water without a single word.

  Except for one.

  He stood on the beach, staring up at the castle and Llyr’s father.

  That one appeared familiar and Llyr struggled to recall why… but more shocking was the fact the creature refused to follow his father’s silent commands.

  “Who is that?” Llyr asked.

  King Augustine waved his trident again—yet the lone Draugar stood stock still on the beach a few more moments before finally facing the water.

  “Time to return home. I have hope that I can salvage the troth between you and Alphonse.”

  “Please… no, father. He’s merely a boy.”

  “We have been at odds with Atlantia your entire life. With one wedding, we can bind our two realms as one again. Stop being so selfish.”

  Llyr lowered his head. One marriage could save so many.

  A sacrifice he wished he could refuse.

  But would have to face.

  He had no other choice now.

  Dagr closed his eyes and reached deep before pushing against the sensation of burning chains wrapped around him. He sensed the spell break. Panting to catch his breath, he propelled himself out onto the balcony.

  “Llyr! Stay!”

  The Sea King spun, scowling. “How did you brea—” He smiled. “But of course. Your magic.”

  Tears slid down Llyr’s face as he gazed down at Dagr.

  “Llyr… please… don’t go.”

  “We have no other choice,” Llyr muttered. “I’ll miss you both…”

  Without another word, the Sea King hoisted himself off the balcony with Llyr in tow.

  “Nooooo!” Dagr ran to the balustrade and stared down. The water lifted to meet the Sea King, and they slid upon the surface until they finally plunged under the surface. A bit of blue-green tail was the last bit of Llyr he was able to see.

  Dagr screamed in anguish, his scream rocking through him on a sob.

  When he turned, Oz dragged him into an embrace.

  “He’s gone,” Dagr cried.

  “I know…” Oz cleared his throat, fury shining in his eyes. “We’ll get him back. One way or another, we will get him back.”

  Oz held Dagr close, his heart breaking. But his mind was a riot of questions. He noticed his father striding out onto the balcony.

  “Why did you never tell me my mother was a mermaid?”

  “She’d lost that part of her. Once you three were born and it seemed apparent none of you had inherited any of those traits, we assumed there was no point. It was too painful for her.” His father sighed. “She missed the water… but sacrificed it all to be with me. Sometimes I wonder if it would’ve been better for her to remain in her world… to marry King Augustine. But I was the selfish one. I loved her, and I refused to let her go.”

  “From the sounds of it, she lost nothing. Llyr’s father robbed her of it,” Oz spat. “And now he’s robbed us of Llyr.”

  “Us?” his father asked, eyeing Dagr in his arms.

  “Us,” Oz said more firmly. “Me and the man I love.”

  His father’s eyes widened some, but he said nothing.

  “We’re going to get him back.”

  “No, you’re not,” his father replied.

  “You can’t stop me,” Oz shot back.

  “It would be a suicide mission!” His father stepped closer. “I’ve already lost two of my sons to the sea. I can ill afford another. There’s no way you can battle death itself.”

  “How did you protect our realm from them all these years?” Dagr asked. “Surely he could’ve sent them before to bring the Queen back to him.”

  Oz’s father lifted a pendant from his neck. “This was your mother’s. It kept those things at bay—or so I thought. After her death, I began wearing it to ensure the safety of my kingdom.” He shook his head. “Maybe the magic faded after she was gone.”

  Oz slipped his arm from Dagr and moved closer. The pendant looked very much like Llyr’s. “I’ve seen one like it before.” He lifted his stare. “We could potentially use this to pass through the dead.”

  “Did you not just see how easily they attacked? It’s worthless, Oz.”

  “Father!”

  His father scowled, indignant in his outrage. “You heard King Augustine! Your issue would destroy both our worlds! Once you’ve come to your senses you’ll realize this cannot be. You and this merman do not belong together.”

  Oz shook his head, hot tears stinging the backs of his eyes. “He belongs here with us.”

  His father’s eyes widened… but the stern grimace that had tightened the king’s expression softened. “Are you truly that selfish that you would endanger everyone… for one merman?” his father asked him.

  Oz fought back tears. He knew his father was right. The logical part of his brain saw the truth—but his heart refused to hear or accept it. “We’re simply to assume King Augustine is truthful about this prophecy? We need the castle witches to investigate it. See what we can find. I won’t let Llyr go without a fight.”

  “Fine. Have them investigate. Appease your need to rebel against the inevitable, if you must. But if you find that it is as King Augustine says, you will have to let this merman go.”

  Oz nodded, though every muscle in his body tensed, ready to refuse those terms. “I promise. If it’s as King Augustine says… I will let Llyr go.”

  “And you will settle down. Here. Find yourself a wife and start a legacy,” his father added. “You need an heir, Oz.”

  “Fine,” Oz muttered, knowing in his heart of hearts he could never give himself to anyone but the two men he loved. He glanced at Dagr, seeing his own pain reflected back at him.

  Suddenly, the captain of the guard rushed onto the balcony with a few of his men, pointing swords at Oz and Dagr.

  “Stand down,” the king roared, eyeing Oz. “The Crown Prince and the Commander have finally returned home—and saved us from our enemy.”

  The soldiers lowered their swords before punching them high in the air—cheering.

  After surveying the damage King Augustine and his Draugar had left in their wake, Oz turned an eye toward a silent Dagr.

  “We’ll find… something,” Dagr whispered.

  “I hope you’re right,” Oz murmured back before staring out at the sea.

  And feeling its siren song all the way down to his soul.

  At least now he understood why. />
  “I’m half merman,” Oz murmured to Dagr before giving the man a smile. “Guess there’s no denying it now.”

  “Oh no,” Dagr said staring down at his hands. He reached out, as if he was attempting another spell, but nothing happened. “Did you see what I did? It was insane.”

  Oz took Dagr by the shoulders. His hands slid up to the man’s cheeks. “We’re both stronger than we realize. We will get him back.”

  Dagr nodded, certainty in his stare. “We will.”

  12

  A few days later, as Oz set the witches and historians to search for an answer to their dilemma, Dagr took some time to visit his grandparents property, Clyffsyde. He took his time, decades of being asea making him a stranger in his own land. The horse he rode took time to grow accustomed to. He’d once been a skilled rider, but skills were lost with ease when not utilized. So he took the journey slow, observing every tree, every rock, every building… looking to see what was different and what had remained the same. Most was as he remembered it, but there were some new additions.

  New tenants farming the lands to the west of the manor. The silver mine had been expanded and seemed to employ more men and women than he recalled. Much more livestock filled the pens. Rams and ewes grazed the field to the north, munching on the verdant grasses.

  But the sea still thrashed against the cliffs and beaches below. The air still smelled crisp and clean. The narrow roads were still muddy and uneven. And the large, foreboding manor at the end of the long lane still caused his stomach to clench.

  Before he could dismount, the doors were flung open and an older woman came hobbling out. Disdain crossed her aging face as he waited for his feet to touch the cobbled stones of the drive. “I heard you and the Prince had arrived days ago. It took you long enough to make your way here.”

  It took Dagr a moment to recognize his own grandmother. She’d grown white-haired and seemed much frailer than he remembered her. “Well, I’m here now.”

  “That you are. The prodigal son returns.”

  Dagr clenched his jaw. There was so much he wished to say, but there was no point in starting an argument. “Trust me, I won’t be long. I wanted to check in on you and grandfather, to pay my respects.”