by Starla Night
No one, not even a queen, could stand in the way of a warrior claiming his bride.
“You do this?” Uvim breathed.
“My bride has already promised me a room in her castle.”
“Home,” Dosan corrected. “Human home. And I will remain with my bride as well.”
What? Dosan had also found his bride? Uvim forced his lax jaw to move. “But you are number twenty-seven.”
His friend’s lips twisted. “Spoken by number twenty-eight.”
“You have no offering. No flower.”
“My bride Jen does not care.” He glared at Uvim. “And I honor my bride. Her wish is to be with me no matter what. I will not refuse her.”
Duty warred with Uvim’s deep shame. “Queen Zara is queen.”
“On her orders, would you force an injured Bride Milly to the surface?”
He flinched. Their roles in harming Queen Zara had caused splinters of rebellion to grow in their minds. All bore the scars.
“I would not,” he said.
“Neither would I,” Dosan replied. “I would not take Bride Milly or Bride Jen or Bride Sid-o-ney.”
“Sydney,” Xalu corrected.
“Sid … doney.”
“Sydney.”
“Bride Syd-nee,” Dosan stated. “I will stand by them. All of them. And you must as well.”
Could Dosan be correct? They had a higher duty to brides than to their queen. A higher duty than to their elders.
Xalu growled. “Do you dare—”
Dosan placed a quelling hand on the taut warrior’s smoke-black forearm. “He will see reason.”
Xalu subsided.
There was one other major problem.
“The Sea Festival is at risk,” he shared. “Because of the mer. We endanger all. Queen Zara wishes us to leave so we carry away the danger.”
Both warriors puffed up with pride.
Xalu spoke. “We have already defended our brides from attack. We will collect your bride and protect her.”
“Milly is with Queen Zara and First Lieutenant Elan.”
The warriors relaxed.
Queen Zara and First Lieutenant Elan were both, together, the most powerful warriors in Dragao Azul. And Queen Zara, being human, could see enemies on the land.
His unease remained. “You will not depart before the Sea Festival?”
“We wish for acceptance,” Dosan said, and Xalu nodded. “Welcome in the city of our brides. Human cities are vast. Brides Jen and Syd-nee have explained it is impossible to greet the citizens of ‘Atlanta’ in one location.”
“Recording the Sea Festival and transmitting our welcome over the ‘internet’ echo point is best to greet all,” Xalu decreed.
And it was important to Milly.
Now, important to the mer.
Very well.
Then, he would support his warriors. “Show me the place where you defended your brides from attack.”
“It was not here. It was at a warehouse.”
“Show me.”
They walked through the house and exited to the car.
The two women were waiting. Both of their soul lights flared with a warrior’s challenge.
As the warriors crossed the warm stone, the women straightened. The first, Sydney, put her hands on her hips.
Uvim stopped.
His warriors passed in front of him, continuing toward Ian’s car.
Sydney waggled her finger at Xalu. Her brown-black hair were pinned. Soft, gold-colored fabric pants and shirt caressed her full curves. “Where do you think you’re going?”
He halted. “The attack site.”
“Not without me.” She lifted her chin. “I’m your bride and I say you’re not going anywhere without me.”
He swept her into his arms and lowered his voice. “Yes, my Sydney.”
“That’s right.” She snuggled into his embrace.
The woman from the tour boat, Jen, blocked Dosan with crossed arms. “And you’re not going anywhere without me.”
Dosan eased onto his heels. “But I must find another grenade to jump upon so you will find me a heroic and handsome warrior.”
She eased into a smile, her tense shoulders relaxing, and slipped into his sheltering arms. “I already think you’re heroic. Don’t get hurt.”
He stroked her cheeks with his thumb. “You must stop me.”
“I need you, Dosan.” Her thick lashes fluttered, and she melted into his kiss.
Their soul lights glowed in unity.
Uvim’s chest squeezed. A happy, heartfelt pain that celebrated their unions and worried for how best to protect them from the dangers of the unkind world.
No, he could not order these warriors away from their brides.
Milly had hesitated to become his.
These brides did not hesitate. Their souls synced without restraint. For the first time, Dosan’s quips brought joy. Xalu’s devotion was honored.
They had found their matches.
Uvim would not order these males away from their brides.
Milly had been right. About everything.
Then he must defy Queen Zara and reclaim Milly.
Dosan and Xalu were right.
Milly was his bride.
Defying Queen Zara twisted his stomach. But he must confront her.
First, he must make Milly safe and stop the violence against the Sea Festival.
He strode past the couples to Ian’s car. “Show me the attack site. We have a short time to find and defuse the Sea Festival bomb.”
The other warriors and brides entered the car, conferencing about how to help him.
They would work together. Mer and human. He would defeat the enemy. Make the Sea Festival safe. Redeem himself.
And then Milly would welcome him.
And then he would challenge Queen Zara once more.
Chapter Thirty
Just as Milly pulled away from the house to begin her journey, Zara called out. “Wait!”
Milly pressed the brake.
Zara approached her sedan with a now serious, frowning Zain balanced against her hip. “You can’t take this on yourself, Milly. I forbid it.”
“Too bad.” Milly rolled down the window so Zara could hear with no glass between them. “I’m reporting this warning to the police. I’m finding Uvim. I’m calling the army. And I’m telling them it was your idea. So if you’re going to stop me, you come too.”
Zara folded her lips.
“We’ll win.” Milly raised her fist. “We’ll arrive in force, wow the good guys, and show the world we’re not afraid.”
“Even if we are afraid?” Zara asked.
Her son fussed. “Down. Down. Down.”
Zara bounced him, not putting him down, and sighed. “Well, whatever. It’s a free country.”
“Zara, Portugal is a free country. But Dragao Azul isn’t. And you’re their queen.”
She rubbed her forehead and groaned. “If I’m their queen then why do the elders question everything I say? I can’t get Zain to stay in his bed at night. He keeps starting the bathtub at midnight and swimming until he overflows it. I don’t feel like a queen.”
“But you are. If you tell your warriors to surface, they’ll do it. If you tell them to jump on dynamite, they would do that too. If you tell them to take a long walk off a short pier, they will.”
“Why do you defend these idiots? Where’s the common sense?”
“It’s not common sense. It’s respect. What you say is law. They’re warriors, Zara. Weren’t you telling me about warrior culture in your social justice classes? They don’t have money. All they have is honor.”
“That’s why I don’t want you involved with them, Milly. I’m their stupid ruler now whether I like it or not. If I say the wrong word, you could get hurt.”
Milly waited.
Zara bounced fussing Zain. “You aren’t giving up on this, are you?”
“The fate of the mer depends on us.”
“You have
changed.”
Milly had. The old her would have collapsed on her bed, cried her eyes out, and withdrawn.
The new her wasn’t standing around.
A sigh pushed out of Zara’s lips. “Be safe.”
“You too.”
Milly left Zara with her mer family in front of their house.
First, she dropped off the warning paper at the police station.
The police confirmed high Sea Festival security. Officers from all islands concentrated on Faial.
“We have made additional arrests,” Inspector Periera assured her, clicking his pen. “We will interview all criminals. If there is a bomb, we will uncover it.”
Good. Maybe the police could stop the bad guys before they planted the bomb.
But just in case, she wanted answers.
Milly drove to Ian’s vacation rental.
No one answered her knocks.
Huh?
She called Ian. His phone went to voice mail. So did Jen’s number.
Her stomach dropped.
Could she have missed them? Were they at the beach having a send-off? Ugh. Bad timing! Dutiful jerks.
She drove to the beach.
The lockbox stood strong. Nearby, kids ate an early dinner. An older uncle strolled far down the beach supervising.
Zara had refused to help. But asking for help had secured the lockbox.
Asking for help wasn’t always wrong.
Milly removed her clothes, contorting in the car, and wrapped a lavender sarong around her nude body. She took out her contacts and left them in her emergency travel solution case under the front seat. Milly clambered out of the sedan, leaving her phone hidden under her clothes on the passenger’s seat, and locked up. Then, holding her keys in one fist, she minced across the gritty parking lot and scrambled over the rocky beach to the crashing shore.
No warriors.
Milly waded into the waves. Rough and strong, they knocked against her shins and dragged at her sarong. Rocks and seaweed tumbled beneath her feet.
She pushed deeper.
A wave crashed against her waist and rushed back out to sea.
She dove.
Water caressed her with welcome. Releasing her breath, she unwound the sarong and kicked. She zoomed across the shallow rock, deeper and deeper, until the lava cone of the island tilted into the depths. Gorgeous coral, shimmery fish, and haunting eagle rays soared across the active channel. She dragged in a mouthful of warm water. The shift seemed easier this time.
Milly searched the infinite distance.
No warriors.
Okay. One more idea.
Milly followed the spiraling coral down to the small cave Uvim had shown her. A wheezing noise filled the ocean and a small cave guardian popped out.
“Has Uvim been here?” she asked the cave guardian.
He snort-squeaked uncertainly. He didn’t understand her question.
“The warriors? Have you seen three warriors today?”
He darted as though seeking the warriors.
So, that was probably a no.
“Do you still have Uvim’s daggers and trident?”
The cave guardian jetted into the cave. He returned moments later with the wrapped metal blades.
Uvim’s blades.
He dropped them on the ledge and eased into the cave.
“Wait.” She gave him back the blades. “It’s okay. I don’t need them. Oh, actually, I have something for you to guard. If you don’t mind.”
He danced on his ledge, pretending to walk on his fists. He didn’t mind.
She folded her sarong and handed it over along with her car keys.
He clinked the metal in fascination.
“Don’t lose it,” she said. “I need that back.”
He stowed her items inside the cave, buzzing with his duty.
She somersaulted, studying the vast ocean. Where was Uvim? The ocean was dangerous. He wouldn’t have left without his blades. She—
Fins!
“Uvim!”
She somersaulted after the disappearing fin tips. He’d snuck up on her. She kicked faster to reach him.
But the faster she paddled, the faster the fin tips disappeared…
Because they followed her.
Oh! They were her fins!
Milly stopped, folded over the front way, and stroked the rubbery toes and stretched-tight skin. Her plain fins trembled, ticklish like the skin wanted to snap back into the shape of her human foot.
She stretched wide and kicked.
Great scoops of water propelled her. Like her plastic scuba fins only firmer, more powerful, and better control.
Awesome.
She kicked along the beach for the sheer joy of flying.
And still, Uvim didn’t come.
She needed to decide. Climb out of the water to search for him and risk losing her nerve? Or go alone to the echo point and risk losing her life?
Uvim had left his trident and blades…
But she wasn’t a warrior. She’d cut herself before any enemy.
She needed help.
Who could help her?
A symphony of terrible noise erupted in the ocean. Punctured bagpipes and un-oiled brakes. A giant shadow rose from the depths.
“Clifford!” she cried. “I’m so glad to see you.”
The giant black octopus wrapped Milly in gentle tentacles. She hugged the one closest to her. Clifford stroked Milly in happiness, squealing and buzzing, and held up her injuries. Her stubby tentacles had grown a few feet.
Milly focused on the problem. “We’re in real trouble and don’t have a moment to waste. Can you escort me to the echo point?”
In answer, Clifford wrapped a tentacle around Milly and dropped into swift water.
This current flowed to the echo point. Not only did Clifford understand; she also heard Milly’s panic and helped without hesitation.
They stormed across the ocean. Clifford’s size and evasive maneuvers scattered fish and frightened off predators.
Milly spent the time fantasizing about Uvim.
She would hunt him. Catch him. And demand he satisfy their soul connection with his promised five pleasures in one joining — every night for the rest of their lives.
They arrived at the echo point. The still waters engulfed Milly.
It was time
Clifford stayed outside the still water, swerving across brisk currents.
Milly swam through the conversation threads until she reached one that felt right. The next echo confirmed her feelings.
Dosan, report! Honorable Warrior Xalu, report! Second Lieutenant Uvim, report!
Her stomach dipped.
What if asking for help went wrong? What if she got Uvim in worse trouble? What if no one responded to the call? Or, worse, what if everyone responded and got hurt?
Now or never.
She made her chest vibrate fit to shout.
“I summon the army of Dragao Azul to the surface. By the order of Queen Zara.”
The giant octopus squeaked.
Take responsibility. Asking for help is not wrong. Be a queen.
“And Queen Milly!”
Chapter Thirty-One
There.
She had done it. Asked for help. Awaited their answer.
Hours later — at least, it felt like hours — the answer from Dragao Azul echoed through the still water.
The army comes.
And then she and Clifford crossed the vast ocean to return to the shore.
Milly radiated power. Together, they were unstoppable! The ocean responded.
Swift blue sharks respected them. The buzzing curtain of jellyfish parted for her. Bottlenose dolphins dove close to get a look. Groupers the size of sheep cast curious eyeballs her way and deep-water fish, like the schools of mammoth tuna, rose from the depths just to watch her pass.
She was the Queen of the Ocean.
And it was awesome.
As Uvim was about to find out.
/> Back in the shallower water, Milly stopped at the small cave to collect her sarong and car keys. She bid goodbye to Clifford and then rode a wave to standing-water height and stumbled out of the ocean.
Her fins tangled in her sarong. She landed on her knees on the rough volcanic rock and crawled. Her feet snapped to human.
Air hit the back of her throat and she gagged.
A young woman ran up to her. “Est ce que ça … eh, you okay?”
She accepted the slender woman’s help, got her feet under her, and tightened the dripping sarong around her breasts. “Merci.”
The friendly French-speaking woman rejoined her family.
Crowds thronged the volcanic beach, cars overfilled the parking lot, and a hundred languages passed over her ears as Milly navigated between the tourists snapping photos.
How many days had passed?
The sun seemed higher in the sky as if it were earlier than when she’d left. It was probably a different day.
Milly reached the parking lot.
Chalk lines marked her sedan’s tires. But, no tickets. Lucky! Or maybe she had to thank Vaw Vaw’s family. She waved at the kids — different kids playing on the beach with their families.
She jammed her still-dripping keys into the driver’s door and opened the car. A puff of hot air bathed her in sweat. She moved aside her folded clothes. There, her phone. She hit the power button.
The screen flickered.
Uh oh.
She’d meant to shut it off. But she’d forgotten. It blinked with a red sliver of battery.
The date was four days into the future.
The Sea Festival had already started!
She had six voice messages and a hundred texts.
Only one was from Zara. Come home.
The rest were from Brody. She scrolled through without reading them and then dropped the phone on the seat and wriggled into her hot shirt and capris, ignoring her four-days-old, sweaty undergarments.
Her heart flopped in her chest.
Didn’t Uvim miss her?
Well, he didn’t have a cell phone. He couldn’t text.
She wanted to text him. Wasn’t he proud? She’d summoned the warriors by herself. The army of Dragao Azul was coming. She’d summoned them as a queen and when they arrived she’d lead them like a queen, too.
She checked her voice messages.
Brody again!