by Starla Night
“Chocolate ice cream? Yes, I also enjoyed this food.”
Soren grunted.
Elyssa dropped her head to Kadir’s chest again. Their aerodynamic shape improved. “Did you have a good time?”
“No.”
“No?”
“She is infuriating.”
“Infuriating? Aya is? You were offended by Aya?”
“Stop saying that name!”
She started.
Kadir growled deep in his chest.
Soren fell back, chagrined, and kicked hard to catch up. “You are swimming fast again, my king.”
He was? Kadir lengthened his strokes. He did not feel any stronger in his back or his legs. “I have found a faster micro-current.”
Elyssa nestled against Kadir. “I just can’t believe A—my cousin, uh, made you angry. She’s a master of diplomacy and she’s never ruled by her emotions.”
Soren huffed. “She insisted… She insulted our ability to protect a bride.”
Kadir grunted. On the sacred islands, brides were raised never to question the covenant. “She is a modern female.”
“Even so.” He seethed. “We left and secured the swimming areas while we awaited your return. Do you know humans pay no attention to predatory signs? They dangle young fry in the same currents as bull sharks! Madness.”
“Sharks!” Elyssa reared back. They flew hard off-kilter, throwing the other warriors off. Her white face darted in all directions, high alert, seeking an enemy. “I was so excited about becoming a mermaid that I forgot. The ocean is teeming with Jaws.”
“Jaws are easily avoided.” Soren frowned at Kadir’s abrupt struggle. “Most sharks live at the top of the water column. Those are easy to outrun.”
“Oh. Good.” She partially relaxed. “We can outrun them.”
“Not you.”
She jolted.
Conscious of his vow not to allow dishonorable words in her presence, Kadir amended Soren’s statement. “Not anyone with human feet. The mer can easily outrun sharks. You will also when you can make fins.”
She tightened on Kadir. Her earlier relief was gone; she remained stiff. The current turned rough against him.
“I will protect you. Believe.”
“I do.”
“Do not let human fears poison your new life.”
“I’m not. Totally not.”
But her body remained stiff and her light remained dim, giving up the truth of her lie. With Lotar in the front, Soren and Iyen parallel, and Ciran behind, they made the safest possible formation through the rough, wild seas. She could not trust in that.
She could not trust in him.
Soren finally realized his role in alarming her and kicked. “You will see the truth. Lotar will find sharks for you.”
“Oh, uh, you totally don’t have to. Don’t go out of your way on my account.”
“It is not out of our way. We are crossing shark fields now.”
“Shark fields. Oh god. Tell me you’re kidding.”
“No.” Soren swam ahead to Lotar easily.
Kadir labored. The water pressed in, heavy and not. Her fear was like a weight dragging him down. “Rest your head on my shoulder again.”
She obeyed reluctantly. The currents eased, but her stiffness remained.
“Release your fears,” he ordered. “We do not fear sharks at the surface.”
“It’s not only that. I just can’t believe it.” Elyssa traced the silver tattoos to the jagged scars interrupting them. “Aya’s so careful. If even she made you guys angry, what hope do I have?”
“You are not Aya.”
She snorted. “That’s what I’m saying!”
He tried to formulate his true thoughts. That he had chosen her because she was not Aya. Her strengths were different.
Her tone dropped. “There’s just no way I can be a queen.”
His heart thudded heavily. Even though she was in his arms, speeding toward Atlantis, her wishes placed her miles away. The surface. A sandy shore, and a white lounge chair, and a distance he could never cross.
“You do not have to assume that role,” he said, even though the words cut his throat like little shards of broken shells. “In Atlantis, you will be accepted the same as any warrior until you are ready for more.”
He deliberately said “warrior.” Although she would automatically be accepted as a bride, he wanted her to fly freely through the city, confident of her place. Queens belonged. Warriors belonged.
Finally, he broke through her resistance. She eased against him with trust. The water didn’t feel quite so thick. He propelled them onward.
“I do want to try to be a queen,” she insisted, even though every fiber of her being — and her soul light — declared that she did not want to try, and in fact, accepted Kadir’s offer with her whole heart. “I’m just terrified that I’ll get off on the wrong foot. Or wrong feet.”
“Your feet are not wrong. Some brides never make their fins for their whole stay.”
“Which is two years? I read the contract.”
“Yes.” That was roughly the same time as the old covenant. “But it does not have to be.”
“It doesn’t have to be two years?”
“Correct.” He hoped it would be the rest of both their lives.
“So it could be a lot shorter?”
Unease slid into his spine. Why was she asking this? “Yes.”
“What would, uh, cause that?”
The bride’s wishes. The dissolution of Atlantis. Kadir’s death.
He enumerated the reasons under the old covenant. “If the bride cannot adjust. If the pairing is unsuccessful. If her warrior is gravely dishonored.”
She dropped silent. Thinking hard about her wish to be only a bride? She clearly held that preference. But he did not wish to return her to the surface. Not now, not in a month, and not in two years. They had barely begun this journey and already he felt like she was slipping away from him. Even within his own arms.
“I will instruct the others to treat you as a warrior if that will ease your discomfort.”
“Oh.” She was distracted. “Thank you.”
“A great feast awaits your arrival. You will make the welcome speech of a warrior and receive all the appropriate honors.”
Her tone flattened. “Speech?”
The water grew rough again. Kadir focused on maintaining his speed.
Soren dropped back to their position. “Lotar senses a migration of hammerheads.” He pointed off the current. “It is a short distance.”
Elyssa’s light flickered. The water dragged. Neither his body nor his soul could compensate for the heavy doubts of his bride.
Lotar looked back.
Kadir signaled. “We will detour.”
She relaxed. “Thank you. I’ll see them later. Thanks.”
“He meant detour closer,” Soren said.
She stiffened.
“Relax,” Soren snapped. “Why do you insult us? We have already told you sharks are not to be feared. And even if they were, you further insult our ability to protect you.”
She wriggled away from Soren. “I’m sorry! I watched too much Shark Week, okay?”
“No, it is not okay. Every vigorous movement like you are making injures Kadir.”
She stopped. Her soul light dipped. “What?”
Kadir growled. “Speak honorably in front of my bride.”
“It is truth.” Soren’s dark eyes snapped to Kadir. “Lotar sensed she is the reason for your uneven swimming. When she moves wildly, it increases your weakness.”
Her light dimmed. She sank heavy in his arms. This was the cost of Soren’s dishonorable words. Even if they were truth.
No male would injure his bride.
His anger grew. “I warn you.”
“You drag your bride through the water like pushing the flat side of a wall.”
Kadir snarled, dropped Elyssa to one arm, and surged forward. She gave a surprised shriek.
&nbs
p; Soren jerked away, his trident rising instinctively to protect his face. Kadir grabbed Soren’s throat and dragged him close to his enraged face. The powerful warrior twisted his trident at the last moment to thump Kadir’s forearm with the flat side of his blade.
In any true battle, Soren was the superior warrior. They had been friends since they were youths. Soren was the one who had planted Kadir’s Life Tree seed and led the band of rebels who rescued him from prison. But Kadir had the superior rage.
“Do not speak dishonorable words to your future queen. You will honor her!”
Soren’s deadly black-tattooed face clenched. “She refuses those honors. Everyone has seen her soul light darken. She does not love Atlantis.”
“She will love it in her speech.”
“Words mean nothing! Only action matters. She is no queen of mine!”
White hot anger burst in Kadir’s chest. He bared his teeth to make Soren submit or die trying.
“Stop!” Elyssa wrapped her arms around Kadir’s chest. Her legs secured his waist and she hugged him from behind. “You have to stop. I’m so sorry. I’ll try harder. Please don’t fight.”
Soren snarled as if he didn’t hear her.
Her desperate heart raced in her chest, sounding an alarm call in his head that could not be ignored.
Kadir released Soren abruptly.
The other warriors hovered around them. Frightened and unsure.
This was a mistake.
He sucked in cool liquid and tried to get his calm back. Defending Elyssa hurt his warriors. Injured his friendship with Soren. Ripped their fragile alliance apart and threatened the integrity of Atlantis.
She crawled around to his front and cupped his cheeks. “I’ll make the speech. I’ll look at the sharks. I can adapt to the ocean. I’m not afraid anymore. I promise.”
His stomach turned.
He should have listened to his warriors. He should have selected another bride. Choosing Elyssa and forcing her to come had driven her to this. Pain. Sadness. Desperation.
“I’m not afraid.” She stroked his cheek. “Let’s go. Let’s go right now.”
Lies.
Sweet, honest, heartfelt lies.
And despite all that, he received comfort from them. Tension deep in his soul eased. She saw him. She cared for him. She felt concern because of his actions and her worry made him feel good.
He disgusted himself.
Kadir peeled her hand from his cheek and ignored the stab of sadness. He did not deserve to feel happy. “Lotar. Resume our course. Forget the detour.”
They turned to make the formation. Soren kicked back to his position. His rage silently seethed. Kadir had never treated him so roughly. It was too late to undo his actions. They were done.
Kadir kicked. His chest felt dull. His body ached. “Rest your head on my shoulder.”
“But wait.” Elyssa placed her hands where Kadir put them but she would not mold to him. She kicked, as though her human feet would help him, and sought his gaze. “I told you I want to see the sharks.”
“You have seen enough for one day.”
“I mean it.”
“You are frightened. There is no need.”
“Please!” She grabbed his cheeks and forced him to look her right in the eye. Hers were not white with fear. Her expression was fiery with determination. “Please take me to the sharks. Now.”
Chapter Eleven
Elyssa had done everything wrong.
She had promised to be a queen, and her fears had caused a fight with Soren. She had promised to try to help Kadir, and she slowed him down like pushing a wall through the water. She had promised to try her hardest to fit in, and the moment they offered to show her their world, she closed herself off in fear.
Right now was the moment. She gripped Kadir’s silver-streaked cheeks and held his matching silver-flecked eyes. There would not be a second chance. She had to prove her dedication to him and to herself.
“Take me to the sharks,” she repeated. The tremble in her tone was just the unfamiliar feeling of her chest vibrating. “Please.”
He studied her for a long, hard moment.
If he said no, then she would know it was already too late. She had failed to reach him. He would take her to the surface as soon as her presence caused the Life Tree to grow a new blossom.
She tightened. He had to give her this chance. She would make it matter. Please. I believe you. Please.
He nodded slowly and gestured to Lotar. “Go.”
Lotar cut sharply to their left.
Kadir followed. The others moved also.
Relief made her tremble. She had another chance. It wasn’t all over.
He pressed her head to his shoulder. “Increase your glow.”
She collapsed onto his hard, solid strength. He pushed her head deeper into the comfortable hollow by his neck and shifted her thighs so they straddled one leg. It was too intimate. Nerves fluttered and warmth glowed in the places he touched. His heartbeat seemed to sync with her chest. She was warm and safe, embraced and loved. The promises this intimacy whispered to her were dangerously appealing. She could love him. Trust him. Give him everything.
That was why she kept stiffening and reacting. It was all in her head. The promises were poisonous but seductive. Resisting them was like trying to resist sleep. They were so deliciously hypnotic.
Worse, when she gave in, Kadir seemed to move more easily. So she had no choice. She tried to force the tenseness to leave while still resisting the overwhelming desire to give in.
Kadir’s voice rumbled in his wide chest. “Relax.”
She tried. While still resisting. “I’m sorry.”
“That word.”
“Hm?”
He was silent for a moment. It felt as though he changed his mind about what he was going to say. “On the surface, you fear sharks because they are hidden beneath layers of water. But now, you can penetrate what was hidden. Look and listen.”
She opened her eyes. The sea stretched like a limitless sky and they flew across it, free and uninhibited. Fish sang all around them. In the distance, the mass of sharks formed a gray river. Their song was unique yet strangely familiar.
“It sounds like a fire truck,” she said, finally. “The second half of the siren. It goes down in pitch.”
“It is loud and easily avoided. Yes? If we persist, as now, the tone changes.”
The hammerhead siren grew louder and the pitch began rising. Several sharks darted out of the stream, feinting at Lotar.
She tensed.
“They are establishing borders and warning off interlopers.”
Lotar swam straight for them.
Elyssa’s heart thudded. “We’re not stopping?”
Kadir’s jaw clenched in iron determination. “These sharks are shy. They will move away.”
She was making it harder for him to swim. She knew that. But there were sharks, hundreds and hundreds of sharks, and Lotar was swimming right for them. “There’s so many!”
“Trust, Elyssa.”
She bit the inside of her lips. It was possible to trust and still be scared spitless, something none of these arrogant, overly-muscled males appeared to take any notice of.
Kadir gestured.
Even though Lotar faced away, he somehow sensed Kadir’s order. He canted up, swimming toward the glistening surface. Kadir and the other warriors followed. Beneath them, the hammerheads dove deeper, avoiding the mer.
And he was right. The sharks did not attack.
Their flat heads and long bodies undulated beneath her. They were migrating, traveling just like her, from an old home to a new one. Their gray fins fluttered and they were suddenly, strangely beautiful.
The two groups passed by each other cross-ways, the mer headed deeper into the Atlantic. The sharks journeyed north in search of cool.
She melted against Kadir once more. “They did move away.”
He seemed lighter and stroked her back gently. “Yes.”<
br />
“Are all sharks like that? Or all undersea creatures? Am I like a master of the sea?”
“No.” His chest moved. He was laughing at her. “We travel in groups this size because it discourages most predators.”
She let out…well, not a sigh because her lungs were full of water. A watery sigh. “I want to see more.”
“Predators?”
“Everything. I mean, if it’s safe, like the hammerheads.”
His hand paused. “You trust us?”
“I always did.”
Lotar looked back at them. Was she tensing again and slowing Kadir down? She tried to relax more. But it was hard like this, having an argument.
“You did not trust us,” Kadir said.
“I so did.”
His low rumble disagreed.
Maybe her problem wasn’t that she made mistakes.
“Fear and trust aren’t opposites,” she said. “If you pick up a hot coal, you’re going to get burned. There isn’t a way to talk yourself out of it. You told me to pick up the hot coal anyway. I trusted you.”
He grunted. “A shark is not a hot coal.”
“Sorry, I’m not explaining myself clearly.”
“That word is forbidden.”
Huh? Oh. Right.
“Sorry.”
“Elyssa.”
She tightened her diaphragm. “The point is, I’m scared of a lot of stuff. Like the speech. I’d never want my first meeting with someone to be a speech, and I’m terrified I’ll say something wrong and offend everyone. But I’m still going to try. Actions are more important than words, right? I’ll try not to complain.”
He was silent for a long time.
“How do you normally meet someone for the first time?” Kadir asked finally.
“A personal introduction. Like, you know. ‘Hello, my name is Elyssa, nice to meet you.’ One by one. That kind of thing.”
“For us, it is traditional to give a speech.” He ground his teeth. But he was thinking about her, which touched her. “It is normal to explain why we have been exiled and demonstrate what strengths we pledge.”
“Exiled?”
“No warrior willingly leaves his Life Tree.” His lips pulled back in what was almost a smile but didn’t quite reach beyond a grimace. “Except to come to Atlantis.”
If it was tradition, it was tradition. Heads of state always made speeches. “I’ll make the speech.”