by Zoe Chant
“NO!” she roared, in a thundering chord that flattened the waves.
The Knight-Commander’s blade dropped from his hand, clattering on the ice. He turned to flee, but Neridia whipped her tail round, catching him across his back. The blow knocked him clean off the iceberg.
But not into the sea.
A huge, gaping maw surged from the water, opening wide as the gates of Hell. The Knight-Commander didn’t have time to scream, let alone shift.
The megalodon’s jaws swallowed him whole. Not so much as a drop of the traitor’s blood tainted the ocean.
“Stop!” Neridia shouted—not at the Master Shark, but at the sea dragons racing toward him.
She knew their exact positions, as she knew the exact position of every creature in the sea for miles around. She was the sea. She knew every wave and every current, as naturally as she knew her own body.
The sea dragons’ war-songs turned into discordant chords of astonishment as they broke the surface, catching sight of her. The sharks who’d been pursuing them broke off too, their bloodlust forgotten. Sea dragon and shark alike stared up at her.
“Empress.”
“The Pearl Empress.”
“The Pearl Empress!”
One by one, the sea dragons took up the whispered melody. The rising chorus strengthened, awe swelling into full-throated adulation. Beneath the sea dragons, the sharks swept in spirals of silent ecstasy.
“THE PEARL EMPRESS!” the sea dragons roared, and the whole ocean echoed their joy.
Neridia was barely aware of the deafening chorus. All she could hear was the terrible silence of John’s heart.
He’d fallen to his back, his crimson blood pooling around him. Jane, sobbing, knelt beside him, futilely trying to stem the tide with her bare hands.
We are the Pearl Empress, her inner dragon said in her soul—no longer a whisper, but a mighty voice that left no room for self-doubt. All tides must obey our will.
Nudging Jane aside, Neridia spread her claws over John’s still form. He was a sea dragon, with the sea in his veins. He was as much a part of the ocean as the waves and the tides.
He was hers to command.
Focusing her power, Neridia drew together the disrupted currents of his blood. She stopped it from spilling out onto the ice, despite the gaping rent in his chest. She forced it to move through its usual channels. She was his heart, keeping life flowing through his body.
His grey pallor warmed…but he still lay motionless, deeply unconscious. Though she could hold his death at bay, she couldn’t heal the fatal wound in his chest.
But she knew someone who could.
She reared up, turning her great horned head in the direction of the glittering lights of Brighton. Her mind quested out, rushing over the city like a tsunami.
*HUGH!* she cried out, with all the power of the sea. *Come, come now! John needs you!*
His soul touched hers, a pure brightness like silver moonlight on fresh-fallen snow. Other minds rose in answer too. Dai, a swirl of smoke and sparks; Chase, swift and unstoppable as a storm; Ash, a veiled power equal to her own, the sun to her sea. They heard her call.
They were firefighters. They knew how to respond to an emergency.
In mere minutes, Chase’s black hooves touched down beside her. Hugh slid off his back, his white hair brighter than the ice. Both the pegasus and the paramedic did a double-take at Neridia’s new form, but quickly turned their attention to John.
“Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” Hugh let out a groan as he saw John’s wound. “You bloody overgrown fish, can’t you even get injured like a normal human being?”
Neridia put out a claw to restrain Jane, as the sea dragon instinctively tried to block Hugh from her unconscious brother. *You can heal him, can’t you?*
“I can heal anything short of decapitation.” Hugh scowled irritably, his long-fingered hands already probing John’s chest. “And I swear to God, one of these days someone is going to put even that to the test. Now shut up and let me work.”
A brilliant silver glow spread out from the paramedic’s hands. It ran over John’s still form, covering him like a blanket woven out of pure moonlight.
A clean, clear scent filled the air, like lilacs, and rain, and the first leaves of spring. Despite everything, a sense of peace settled over Neridia. She had a sudden deep, powerful certainty that all would be well.
“Come on, you bastard,” Hugh muttered under his breath. “If you make me shift in front of all these people, I’ll kill you myself…”
Jaw clenching, Hugh bowed his head as if in deepest prayer. For the briefest instant, an even brighter light flared, like a star set into his forehead. Neridia had to close her eyes against the dazzling flash.
When she opened them again, she found herself looking into John’s.
She very nearly squashed poor Hugh flat, forgetting her current size and strength in her haste to reach her mate. He was still flat on his back, the ice red around him, but his wound was completely healed. Only an old, pale scar marked where it had been.
He stretched one hand up to her. She bent her head to meet him, feeling the sweet fire of his touch even through her armored hide. His spread fingers barely spanned a single one of her scales.
Pure joy filled his blue eyes. He smiled up at her.
“My Empress,” he said.
Epilogue
John would never tire of watching Neridia swim.
No one would ever be able to tell that she had not been born to the form that she now wore. She curved through the water more gracefully than the finest Dancer, and more powerfully than the strongest Knight. She moved like the sea itself.
She was the rarest of all sea dragon colors—a true, deep black, the exact same shade as her hair in human form. As she swam, iridescent highlights gleamed from her sinuous flanks; flashes of darkest blues and purples, like distant nebulas hidden in the depths of her midnight scales.
As the Empress’s mate and bodyguard, he had the honor of swimming closest to her. He took secret delight in trying to perfectly echo every graceful movement of her ebony body. When she dove, he rose; when she spiraled one way, he went the other, arcing around her in precise counterpoint.
Now, however, duty required him to break off his private game. They had crossed from the cold Atlantic into the narrow, shallower waters of the English Channel, and were rapidly approaching the shore. Even though an entire honor-guard of knights flanked them, John trusted his mate’s safety to no one other than himself.
Rising closer to the surface, he propelled himself forward with a powerful stroke of his tail…and laughed out loud as, below, Neridia perfectly matched his increased speed. It seemed that his secret game was not as secret as he had thought.
Her sky-blue eyes gleamed mischievously at him through the dim water. “Trying to out-swim me, my Champion?”
“Never, my heart,” he sang back. “But you must allow me to precede you for a little while. It is a matter of security.”
“You do realize that nothing in the sea can harm me, right?” she teased…but the subtle harmonies she wove around the melody told him that she understood his need to protect her, and loved him for it.
That was another thing he would never tire of—the rich, glorious symphony of her voice. Sea dragons usually learned their native tongue while they lay dreaming in the egg, from listening to their parents. Neridia was the only person who’d ever had to master it as an adult, yet she’d become perfectly fluent in a matter of weeks. It was like she’d already known it, somewhere deep in her soul, and had merely had to be reminded.
“We are leaving the sea, Your Majesty,” he sang. “I am responsible for your safety, and I take that duty seriously. It is a matter of personal honor.”
“Then I am safe indeed.” She looked up at him fondly. “Go on then, my Royal Consort, Imperial Champion, Knight-Poet of the First Water, and Firefighter for the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.”
And there was the th
ird thing he would never tire of—his new name. Even the short form of it sent a thrill through his very bones. No matter how long he lived or what deeds he accomplished, there would never be a greater honor than the first few notes of his name.
Royal Consort.
Pride swelling his chest, he increased his speed, rising toward the surface again. This time, she let him go. Leaving the Imperial retinue behind, he quickly caught up with the two knights he’d assigned to the role of advance guard.
To his surprise, he found them stationary in the water. They were so close to the shore now that the sea was barely deep enough to support a sea dragon’s bulk. Both knights had flattened their bodies along the rocky sea bed as though trying to hide, peering anxiously up at the glimmering surface just over their heads.
“Is there a problem?” John inquired, swimming up to them.
“Imperial Champion,” the first knight gasped, looking immensely relieved. “You have come to lead us in the charge!”
“Charge?” John said sharply. “Against what foe?”
“A great force of dry-landers is arrayed against us, sir,” the second knight said, his crimson eyes wide. “They are flying battle-flags and singing dire songs of war.”
John cautiously raised his head a few inches above sea level…and his neck-ruff bristled in amusement.
“Ah,” he said, sinking back down again. “Yes. Perhaps it would be best if I emerged first.”
The first knight extended his claws. “We shall be at your side, sir! We shall drive back this army!”
“No, no.” John waved them back down again. “I believe I can handle this on my own.”
Leaving them whispering anxiously behind him, he clambered up the sloping shore. As he emerged from the ocean, he shifted into human form.
“Sword-brother Chase,” he called. “Perhaps it would be better if you turned off the music. It is being…somewhat misconstrued.”
Chase obligingly pressed a button on the sound system. The thumping bass and screeching notes fell thankfully silent.
“I told you sea dragons wouldn’t like Beyoncé,” Griff murmured.
“Shut up. Everyone likes Beyoncé.” Elbowing Griff aside, Chase threw his arms wide open, grinning broadly. “Surprise!”
John’s mouth quirked as he took in the scene. “Yes. This is definitely a surprise.”
Colorful bunting hung from striped parasols. Shifter children—Griff’s son Danny among them—ran shrieking with joy, splashing in the shallow surf. Their parents watched indulgently from scattered beach towels. Other shifters wandered about, chatting and laughing in the sun.
A little way down the beach, Dai and his mate Virginia were roundly thrashing a couple of wolves from the local pack at some sort of game that involved punching a ball over a net. Hugh watched over their daughter while they played, an uncharacteristic smile on his face as he bounced the giggling infant on his knees. Nearby, Rose was dispensing chilled beverages from a cooler. Ash stood at her side, calmly flipping burgers over a barbecue.
John turned back to his friends. “Is this another one of your strange human customs?”
“Aye.” Griff clapped him on the shoulder. “The custom of throwing a party to welcome back a friend. We’ve missed you, these past few months.”
“And I you.” John breathed deeply, tasting the familiar scent of smoke on the air. “I never thought I would say this, but it is good to be back on land.”
“Good enough that we can tempt you to stay permanently?” Chase teased.
John shook his head, smiling. “Atlantis will always be my home. But truly, I belong to two worlds. All of us sea dragons do. Hopefully more of us will realize that, now that the Empress has decreed that she will be spending six months of each year on land.”
“Good thing she decided to pick Brighton as the site of her new sea dragon embassy,” Griff said, grinning. “You wouldn’t happen to have had anything to do with that, would you?”
“It was a sound political decision,” John said mildly. “We needed a human city on the sea, after all, with a large shifter population. And if there may have been a few personal reasons for the choice…there are some privileges to being close to the Pearl Throne.”
Griff laughed. “Think you’ll find time to fit in some firefighting amidst all those Imperial duties?”
John raised an eyebrow. “Why do you think I didn’t allow them to make me Knight-Commander in addition to everything else?”
*John.* Neridia’s mental voice held an undercurrent of laughter. *There are a couple of knights here who are very worried about the fact that you’re currently taking on an entire army of land-shifters single-handed. Should I send in reinforcements?*
John chuckled under his breath. *Hold for a moment, my heart. Let me ensure we do not accidentally start a war.*
Catching Griff and Chase’s curious looks, he explained, “The Empress approaches, along with the rest of our group. My brothers, I am overwhelmed by your, ah, enthusiasm, but I fear that the other sea dragons may find it a little too overwhelming. This is the first time any of them have ever ventured on land, and the first time they have met dry-landers.”
“Don’t worry, everyone’s been briefed to keep their distance.” Chase gestured at the assembled crowd. “But pretty much every shifter in Brighton is dying of curiosity. None of us have ever met any other sea dragons, after all. Are they all like you?”
“Wait for a moment.” John turned, taking a few steps back into the surf. “And you will be able to judge for yourself.”
*All is in readiness, my heart,* he sent to Neridia. He hesitated, glancing back at the crowd. *But…there are a great many people here. Do you wish me to send them away?*
*No, it’s fine.* He could tell that she was touched by his concern, but unruffled herself. *I am the Pearl Empress. It’s natural that they want to see me.*
Her sleek head broke through the waters, rising high into the air. Voices stilled all along the beach, every shifter turning in her direction. Neridia met their stares calmly, allowing them to look their fill.
Someone started to clap. The applause speed like fire through the crowd. Neridia dipped her regal head in acknowledgement, accepting the acclaim as her due. Then she shimmered, shrinking down into human form.
“They’re still clapping,” Neridia murmured in his ear, as she smiled and waved at the crowd.
“You are still the Empress,” he replied, taking her hand. “Come. Our friends are waiting to welcome us.”
Tucking her hand through his arm, he escorted her up the beach. Somewhat to his own relief, the applause faded after a few moments, shifters going back to enjoying the party. He was used to dry-landers staring at him…but not cheering while they did so.
“Chase! Griff!” Neridia greeted them with hugs, laughing. “What is all of this?”
“You’re royalty now. You have to expect people to break out the bunting when you appear.” Chase hugged her back. “Is this proper protocol? Shouldn’t we be bowing?”
“That was one of the first things I banned. I hate people staring at my feet when I’m trying to talk to them.” Neridia hesitated, glancing back at the ocean. “John, I think everyone else is too scared to come out. Can you go give them some encouragement?”
John bowed in acknowledgement. “As you command, my Empress.”
“He still bows,” he heard Griff say, as he headed down the beach.
“He’s John,” Neridia replied wryly. “The sea itself can’t change his course…”
Smiling to himself, John waded back into the water. A couple of the Empress’s escort had worked up the nerve to take human form, though they were still chin-deep in the sea. Shading his eyes, John picked out his sister’s indigo hair, half-hidden amidst the waves.
“Frightened, little sister?” he called. “I thought you were eager to finally walk on land.”
As he had hoped, his brotherly taunt drew her out of the waves. Jane strode out with chin up and shoulders squared, the
wet silk of her formal sarong clinging to her legs. Despite her bold posture, her turquoise eyes darted over the crowd nervously.
“There are so many people here!” she whispered, taking his hand. “Why has the entire city turned out to greet us?”
“I am afraid this is just a small gathering, my sister.” John tightened his fingers on hers reassuringly. “I was overwhelmed too, when I first walked on land and realized how numerous the dry-landers truly are. Do not be intimidated. I will be here to help you adjust.”
A few more sea dragons were taking tentative steps up the beach, following Jane’s example. Griff, who seemed to have volunteered for the role of ambassador, went to meet them. John relaxed, knowing that he could trust in his oath-brother’s combination of eagle perception and lion charisma to make the nervous sea dragons feel at home.
“Let us go up to the house,” John said, indicating the large villa overlooking the private cove. “All should be in readiness. You can rest. You don’t have to plunge into the human world all at once.”
Jane took a deep breath, throwing back her shoulders. Some of the usual sparkle returned to her eyes. “Thank you, little brother, but no. I’m not going to waste a single day. I’ve come onto land to find my mate, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
She let go of his hand, clearly intent on starting the search right there and then. John let out his breath in a long-suffering sigh.
“Jane,” he said, as patiently as he could. “You have not yet quite grasped exactly how many people there are on land. The chance of you finding your mate here is-“
He realized his sister wasn’t listening. As if in a dream, she was walking away from him, eyes locked on someone in the crowd.
“What’s up with her?” Neridia asked curiously, coming up to his side along with Chase.
John stared after his sister, barely able to believe what he was seeing. “Apparently, my sister has just found her mate.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. His inner human buried its face in its hands with a groan. It took us two years, and she does it in two minutes?