by Starla Night
“Manners,” Elan said mildly, reminding them like he would any young trainee to consider their positions.
“Thank you,” one of the hunting party called out.
A chorus of thanks followed. They backed off swiftly. Leaving, Milly thought, to eat their food out of sight, where they’d know they were safe.
So, they were a hunting party, apparently. Not a war party after all. Or were they? She coudln’t tell.
Everyone else remained on guard, but a new, cautious hope energized the defenders.
“Let’s go home and have some,” Sydney suggested, surprising the warriors nearby.
“You can’t have special treats every day,” Jen chided her gently.
“We don’t run off invaders every day, either.” Sydney suddenly turned to Xalu. “Do we?”
He pulled her into his arms. “No. We do not.”
“Then it clearly calls for a celebration.”
The other warriors seemed very cheerful about it. Now, knowing they could hunt any time, they had more an urge to enjoy their special flavors.
Elan signaled to retreat.
Uvim and Dosan ordered their warriors to reform and return to the city as an organized patrol.
“Did you figure it out?” Milly asked Uvim. “Were they a real hunting party?”
“Unlikely,” he said. “Clearly they were waiting to meet with us and speak. But why? They did not say much of substance.”
“Maybe they were curious to see Zara.”
“Queen Zara? Why?”
“Maybe they just wanted to see a queen.”
His brows lifted. “Yes, this is very possible.”
Other cities must be interested in emergence of queens but traveling to Atlantis — the focus of the rebellion — risked a death sentence. And any cities loyal to the All-Council had to pretend the mer were still living secretly beneath the waves, not wooing modern women. So couldn’t come right out and ask.
If the young Newas warriors had wanted to see queens, she was glad to have given them a chance. And, to show off how organized and strong the city was, and to advertise that they were friends with a terrifying giant cave guardian, and—
Her guts clenched.
It felt like she’d been punched. Shot. Stabbed.
She bent over. “Ungh.”
“Milly?”
Her cramp lasted forever. A hundred times worse than when she was on her period. She tasted sour poison in the back of her mouth.
“Milly!” Uvim held her face. Panic filled his. “What is happening.”
The horrible pain abated. “Did I get shot?”
“There are no wounds.” He sounded frantic.
Another cramp twisted her intestines. “Oh, god!”
Faces appeared around her. Zara, grim. Jen and Sydney, worried. And Uvim, terrified.
“Can you heal yourself?” Zara asked. “You have that power.”
Milly put her hands on her abdomen. “Feel better and … ungh.”
“Return to the Life Tree at once,” Elan ordered.
Uvim held her tightly. His touch seemed to help. They rushed to the city.
Hundreds of thoughts went through her head between the brain-numbing waves of pain during that desperate flight. Nausea. Was she poisoned? Food poisoning? Was someone trying to assassinate her? Movie plots lodged disturbingly in her mind.
And then a devil stabbed her full-force with a red hot trident. And twisted.
She gagged to throw up.
“Milly.” Uvim stroked her hair. His hand trembled. “Be well. Please. Be well.”
She closed her eyes and surrendered to his care.
When she opened her eyes again, they’d reached the city and Uvim laid her on the mounds of Sea Opals at the base of the healing Life Tree.
Her back rested against its trunk. She braced for the next horrible cramp.
Zara debated her options with the other women.
“Should we rush her to the surface?” Jen asked. “Ian’s wife is a doctor.”
“Look at how pale she is.” Sydney shook her head. “A medical evacuation will take too much time.”
Uvim knelt at Milly’s side and took her hands. “Elan brings our doctor.”
“A warrior doctor?” Zara looked skeptical. “No offense, but you guys are more like witch doctors.”
Milly laughed at Zara. “You know we have magical ‘queen’ powers now because this is a magical tree.”
Zara frowned at her. “Don’t talk. Save your strength. You don’t look well.”
Fine. She did feel a little better though. Not moving and resting against the tree helped.
“Please, Milly.” Uvim rested his forehead against hers. “I cannot … without you…”
She tried to reassure him. “It’s going to be fine.”
Elan pushed through with an ancient elder she’d frequently seen hovering near the king. He made the others move back — except Uvim, who he instructed to remain close as close to Milly as possible.
“She is a queen but she is also a bride,” the elderly doctor wheezed. “She draws strength from the light in your soul. Ahhh. Queen Milly, does this hurt?”
He poked her hard in the gut.
Uvim tensed.
But it didn’t hurt. “No.”
“Here?”
“No.”
“Up here? Here? Behind here?”
“Nope. No. Not at all.”
The elder studied her. “This pain is where?”
“It was like a stabbing pain all around here.” She pointed. “And it just kind of went away.”
He looked to Uvim and back to her. “You have consummated your marriage?”
“Uh…” Well that was a bit awkward to answer with everyone around her staring.
“Yes,” Uvim said without hesitation. “Many times. Explosive pleasure. Five per session, at least.”
The women were surprised.
“Explosive pleasure,” Sydney murmured to Jen and nudged her with an elbow. Jen pushed her away with a snort.
Even Zara, now that the emergency didn’t seem immediately life-threatening, cracked a slight smile.
“This sensation is common,” the doctor told her. “Not usually so strong. You have a powerful abdomen. A hard clench.”
“Thanks?” She had no idea what he was saying. “Er, what’s common?”
“The pain.” He laid a gentle hand across her belly-button. “When the young fry seed plants the root.”
Young fry seed? Root?
Uvim leaned back on his heels. Stunned.
“You will be fine,” the elder told Uvim, as though he needed more comfort now than Milly. “A powerful abdomen is good. She will be a strong mother to grow your young fry.”
“Wait. That’s it?” Milly rested her hand across her flat-ish belly. “I’m pregnant?”
He nodded and kicked away, leaving them in their own happy — or stunned — cloud.
“If this is implantation, good luck with morning sickness,” Zara said dryly, but she was clearly relieved.
Well, heck, if Milly wasn’t going to die … She gripped Uvim’s shoulder. “It’s going to be fine. Ha! Crazy.”
He didn’t seem to fully understand. He just stared at her, neither happy nor sad.
Whatever. He had nine months to get it. And he’d always wanted a young fry, so when the news finally sank in, she was expecting a seriously happy man.
She gripped his shoulder. “Help me up.”
He lifted her above the dais — and then he held her so tight she couldn’t breathe.
His shoulders trembled.
Aw.
She stroked his bulging shoulders. No wonder he was a wreck. Her stoic warrior had gone from not knowing what might be wrong — only that she hurt bad enough to die — to becoming a father in an instant. It took time to adjust.
He’d adjust better in the comfort of his castle.
She turned to kick him through the city.
Warriors parted to let her through �
�� and then she realized that the whole city had gathered around the Life Tree. They were surrounded by worried warriors.
“Do you require this ‘medical evacuation’?” Elder Veno asked, and he looked ready to steamroll anyone who stood in the way.
“No.” She waved off his concern. “Thanks.”
They all looked deadly serious. It was kind of sweet. Really.
And also now it was kind of awkward.
“Um, you don’t need to worry. Sorry. I’m fine.”
They didn’t look reassured.
She tried again. “It was all a misunderstanding. Uh…”
Jen whispered something to Dosan.
He broke into a huge smile and threw out his arms. “Queen Milly carries Second Lieutenant Uvim’s young fry!”
Everyone cheered.
Elder Veno’s frown turned into relief. He spoke with his closest elders. All looked happy.
Dosan practically yanked Uvim off of Milly and hauled him out into the crowd. The warriors crowded him with congratulations. They were truly thrilled. They loved Zara’s baby Zain and were thrilled to have another coming baby to join their city.
“Now we’ve got to have that delicious steak.” Sydney licked her lips and glanced at Milly, then laughed and threw an arm around her shoulders. “Cheer up. Now you don’t have to send baby announcements.”
“Ha ha.”
Milly wanted to die of embarrassment, but she was happy for the second feast in what felt like two days — although Zara assured her time underwater passed differently. Elan tracked days to ensure they would attend their parents’ trial. Zara and Milly were united in their plan and to make sure their dangerous parents never got out.
And now they had an appointment to attend Ty’s trial also.
The Sons of Hercules — whoever they were — was a well-funded organization. Ty had been recruited by email and had started a local club of bitter, violent men. He’d received money, tools, and contacts to construct his bomb. But from who?
The Sea Festival bombing was supposed to have been their big “we exist” announcement to the world. Thank goodness their plot had failed. Even more, it had turned around and become a shining happy example of how mer and humans could work together to conquer impossible odds instead.
Still, reports of violence against mer persisted. Fish traps near the undersea city of Sireno off the coast of Mexico. No one had been killed there, either, but not for lack of trying.
Uvim remained close to Milly throughout their second feast. This time, the feast was held in their family’s castle courtyard. She laughed and chatted and enjoyed herself.
Finally, as the feast wore to a close, Dosan swam to them. “It is time. Uvim?”
“Time?” Milly turned to her husband. “Time for what?”
Uvim flattened his lips like he didn’t know to answer.
Dosan’s brows rose. “You have not told her?”
The other warriors trailed out of his castle. They, like Uvim, did not look happy.
Unease filled her previously cheery belly. Her voice reflected the edge. “Told me what?”
Uvim looked troubled. “They want to perform a New Father Ceremony.”
New Father Ceremony? That sounded fascinating. She wanted to learn everything she could about her new home, and even more so now that she was bringing a son into it.
“Can I come?”
“No.”
Shot down. She rubbed her chest. “Oh. Right. You guys probably want to celebrate with guy things, and—”
“Celebrate? No. It is a ceremony for sorrow.”
“Sorrow?”
“Much sadness. We gather in the King’s courtyard, pass a vessel filled with the bitterest draught, and reminisce of the brides we have lost, the mothers we have never known. We give voice to our pain.”
Wait. “The New Father Ceremony is where a bunch of guys sit around, drink the equivalent of beer, and cry?”
“You are confused.”
“That’s not what I was expecting. I mean, sure, some guys probably would cry when they found out they were about to become fathers. But the mer want kids so badly.”
He seemed surprised to have to explain. “The announcement of the growing young fry meant a warriors time with his bride was now drawing to an end.”
Oh. Right. Because in the old days, they had to return their brides to the surface after the kid popped out.
“Now it’s just the beginning.” She linked their fingers with her promise.
“Yes.” He stared at their smooth, non-pruney, linked fingers and seemed to sigh. “I will go. I will grieve as I always have until now — for my mother, for my grandmother, for the elders who all lost their brides. And then I will return to you.”
And he’d clearly be grateful that, unlike his father and grandfather and everybody, he’d get to remain with her, together, forever.
Matching sadness for his losses filled her throat. She forced a swallow. “Your life was so hard before.”
His brows unfurrowed. “It is now better, Milly. You and the other brides have made it beautiful. Loving. More living than pure survival.”
That was so sweet. She kissed him.
Heat crackled. His tongue pumped into her and his cock hardened against her thigh. She shivered in his powerful embrace.
And then she let him go.
Uvim kicked to the exit. He paused, nodded to her, and then disappeared.
Sadness. Such sadness had once lived in these walls. Milly hoped she could turn this castle and this city into a new places of much more happiness.
Sydney settled in front of her with half a box of that addictive, delicious meat. It was like smoky like ribs and dense like chocolate — savory chocolate — so Milly wasn’t even that sad the mer didn’t have it. Mostly.
While Uvim went off to go have a cry-fest with the guys, she decided they should do something awesome as a girl-fest.
“We should have a girl’s night,” she said.
Sydney lifted her fists like she’d won. “Oh, I want to drink a margarita so bad! It’s been months. I’d rent a machine. I’d make you a strawberry peach passionfruit coconut margarita that would wreck you for all other margaritas.”
She’d said that before her Xalu her life had been such a rut that all she’d done was go to work, come home, and drink. Being sober in the ocean was the first time in a decade she’d felt alive. Down here was no alcohol and she did miss it. That’s why her giant cave guardian was named Captain Morgan. The pet octopus of Xalu’s castle she’d named Jack.
“It would be my first margarita,” Milly said. “I’m barely legal, you know.”
“You are too young to have a baby!”
She snorted. “Twenty-one is not young.”
“Oh, you are so young! You don’t know the pain of watching your youth, your desirability, and your life’s opportunities drain away. “
“I watched plenty of things drain away.”
“Do not make me throttle you! Oh. Haha! I keep expecting Xalu to pop out and say, ‘Sid-nee, do not threaten to injure another queen.’”
“Ha! That’s exactly how he’d say it, too!”
In the end, they enjoyed a sleep-over at Milly’s castle, snacking and talking and laughing.
After awhile, it seemed the time when the guys would return. On the surface she rarely paid attention when time ‘seemed’ like it had come, but on the bottom of the ocean without any clocks, her slight inkling was as accurate as an alarm.
Without her saying anything, the others also began stretching and talking about how much fun they’d all had.
“I didn’t even miss Sex in the City playing in the background,” Jen said.
“Or Friends reruns,” Sydney agreed.
“I’ve never seen either of those shows.” Milly looked at Zara. “You?”
Zara shook her head.
“Oh my god! Were you raised in a convent?”
“Not exactly. But this is my first sleepover.”
; “Me too,” Zara confirmed. “I lived away at college but it was hard to make friends.”
“Oh, you two are so adorable! How was it? Your first sleepover.”
“Super fun.”
“We’ll do it again when Jen’s pregnant.”
“Hey! You could be first.”
“And we’ll do it right. On the surface we’ll have mountains of potato chips, Sex in the City reruns, we’ll do facials and nail polish, and I’ll rent the margarita machine.”
“But if we’re all pregnant, you’ll be the only one who could drink,” Jen pointed out.
“It will be super fun,” Sydney declared, ignoring her. “Just like today.”
Milly laughed. Grateful for the women, for Zara, for their party. She’d had fun.
As she’d predicted, Uvim flew over the courtyard. The other women kicked for the exit, passing with friendly farewells.
Something was wrong.
Uvim hung back. A harsh expression tortured her features. He was struggling very hard with a difficult emotion.
She opened her arms.
He dove into them.
Here she had celebrated her last child-free days with her sister and new friends. Uvim had meditated on all the losses, goodbyes, and the holes in this heart. She couldn’t see the mer soul light, but he hurt with great pain.
She stroked his broad shoulders. “I’m glad you’re home.”
He trembled.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He nodded.
“Where are your father and grandfather?”
“They are touring the outer territory.”
How thoughtful.
“Let’s celebrate we’re together.” She kicked, swimming Uvim to the favorite passageway.
Inside the curving passage, he took over, carrying her to the heart chamber with his powerful strokes. They both placed their hands on the wall. The portal opened, allowing only them inside, and sealed once more. They floated inside the tiny chamber in the innermost heart of his castle.
His kisses fell upon her mouth. Desperate, hungry, and with an edge of terror. He had soaked in sadness for hours. Only two years ago, the tyrannical All-Council still ruled their city, and he would have been forced to lose Milly. And he had nearly lost her too many times already. Their time together was precious.
He would never let her go.
And yet, just now, she had fallen so sick. Unexpectedly. There had been no chance to prepare, no time to steel himself. Thank goodness her cramps had turned out to be positive. But his fear remained. He had feared her loss.