by Starla Night
Queen Elyssa. Aya’s stomach twinged.
Elyssa had trusted her. She’d relied on Aya to manage the bride pageant and keep her safe. And Aya hadn’t.
How could Elyssa ever trust her again?
Soren continued his conversation with Lotar. “Not you?”
The gray-eyed warrior glanced at Soren sideways. “I was on my way.”
Soren snorted, then grimaced and held his side. “I cannot tell if you are loyal or disrespectful.”
“I learned it from my commander.”
Again, Soren eyed him. The warrior didn’t elaborate, leaving them to ponder his answer.
Soren flew Aya to an opening in the middle of the castle. It looked like a pinprick from a distance, but was actually a huge tunnel that could fit all four muscular mermen across with extra room.
Inside the castle, Aya craned her neck to take in the amazing space.
Elyssa had described it, but seeing it in person was all new.
The inner walls of the courtyard were punctured with doors and windows. It was like being inside a villa, except the rooms went to the top of the dome. Cultivated gardens filled the courtyard floor.
Floating above the fields, a group of thirty warriors passed food containers, cut hunks of meat and vegetables inside with long daggers, and speared the chunks like a shish kebab. Small bits floated down beneath them on microcurrents to fertilize the fields.
This was the entire population of Atlantis. A tiny band of renegades not even big enough for All-Council city recognition.
They were all tattooed, proud, muscular, and completely naked.
The warriors noticed Soren’s arrival and crowded him with joy. Soren placed himself in front of her protectively.
“Let me through.”
A warrior with heartblood red tattoos pushed to the front and inspected Soren’s wounds. His mouth puckered as he tested the new scar tissue. His musings vibrated in his chest, just like all the other mermen speaking.
“Mmm. Fewer teeth embedded in your skull this time. You have all your limbs, and you are angry as usual… For being alone in the open ocean so long, you look remarkably well, Soren.”
“I would be more well, Balim, if I had been stopped at several entry check points by patrols.”
Balim paddled back, deflecting the responsibility. “There was an important announcement.”
King Kadir emerged from the crowd of mermen. “Soren, Aya. Welcome.”
Soren softened. “Kadir.”
The king looked better than he had at the bride pageant months ago. Then, he had been recovering from his imprisonment. Now, his cheeks were fuller, his ribs were less obtrusive, and his silver-tattooed skin glowed with health. He had survived the attack on Atlantis and Blake’s destruction of the Life Tree with a refreshed, revitalized appearance. His voice was firm and rich with command.
“You have returned at a good time, First Lieutenant.”
Soren shook his head. “Have you not given that title to an honorable warrior who deserves it?”
King Kadir’s smile broadened. “I have.”
He clearly meant that Soren was that honorable, deserving warrior. Soren seemed poised to argue, but instead, he clasped King Kadir’s arm in a gesture of close friendship. “I am heartened to see you so well.”
“It came at a dear cost. But I, too, am grateful for Elyssa’s powerful healing.”
Speaking of it, where was Elyssa?
“Aya!”
Elyssa’s voice jolted Aya like a bolt of electricity. Her cousin pushed through an opening between King Kadir and the merman next to him.
“You’re here.”
Her cousin’s voice was enough of a reminder of the surface world, where they had last spoken to each other, it forced her to face stark reality.
She linked her fingers in front of her. “Hi, Elyssa.”
Elyssa hesitated. “I thought you might not make it.”
Thought? Or wished?
Aya swallowed. The raw fear was painful in her throat. “Sorry.”
“Me too.” Elyssa barreled into Aya and hugged her fiercely, tumbling backwards. “I’m so happy you’ve come!”
Relief washed through Aya. Thank goodness. How had she ever doubted Elyssa? Aya had problems connecting, but Elyssa was universally forgiving.
They floated, rotating upside down. Aya wanted to close her eyes and rest on Elyssa’s shoulder, soaking in her cousin’s healing welcome the way she had been forced to accept Soren’s powerful embrace.
But to do that would be to take advantage of Elyssa’s kindness and obligate her to hug Aya when she most likely had better things to do. Aya stiffened and patted her shoulder.
Elyssa released her, proving she did have better things to do than to hang out hugging Aya all day, and smiled. Her kind face glowed.
“You came at the best time.” She grabbed Aya’s hand. “Can you transform your feet into fins yet? It took me forever to learn the first time. Today we’re celebrating! Sit by me and eat sea bream.”
Elyssa tugged her past the staring warriors to the abandoned feast.
Aya’s stomach rumbled. When was the last time she’d eaten real food? The small bites Soren had hunted for her, had staved off starvation. Before then, she’d eaten, what? A quick granola bar and coffee on the underground dive platform?
“That would be—”
A small, orange octopus shot to Aya’s face.
She pulled up short. “Oh.”
The house guardian gave her the side-eye, then trailed curious suckers along her face and tangled in her hair.
“Ow.”
“Benji, that’s Aya. Let go.” Elyssa tried to untangle the arms. “Sorry. She’s normally not so grabby.”
She was grabby. Grabby as the squid that attacked near the trench. Could octopi smell fear? Dogs could.
“It’s fine,” Aya said tightly. Never insult someone’s pets or children.
“Come on, Benji.” Elyssa tried to tease it away from Aya. “Give her a little room.”
Soren grabbed the small octopus and yanked it off, tearing a chunk of hair with it. “Off.”
What a relief.
“Ooh, Soren, Benji doesn’t like that.” Elyssa tried to make peace between them.
The small octopus thumped him in the chest. He rubbed the bruise with a grimace.
“See?”
Benji nestled in Elyssa’s hair.
Aya rubbed her scalp.
Elyssa patted her small octopus, grabbed Aya’s hand and led her to the place she had been floating before — right smack in the middle of the feast.
“Oh my god, you’re a mermaid now! Who could’ve guessed that back in elementary school when you started the Unicorn Mermaid Girls club?”
Wow, there was something Aya hadn’t thought about in a long time. “You know, there wasn’t actually a club until you joined our school.”
“You’re so sweet!”
But Aya hadn’t said it to be sweet. She’d said it to be literal.
When Elyssa had turned up at the private elementary school shortly after her dad married Aya’s aunt, Aya had talked up her “club” so much that Elyssa had begged to join. And Aya had deigned to allow her in with haughty superiority. Never minding there was only one other member —Aya—at the time.
Elyssa’s friendliness swelled their ranks to four members, then ten, then most of the class. All because Elyssa had that positive, friendly warmth that attracted people.
Like now, as she brought Aya to the place of honor beside herself and King Kadir.
Elyssa handed Aya her own skewer. “You must be starved. There’s so much to tell you.”
Aya took the skewer and bit into the top chunk of rich, flavorful meat. It was smoky like honey mesquite with a tasty kick. Heaven.
With her mouth full, her voice vibrated in her chest. “We have something to tell you too.”
Soren caught her eye. On King Kadir’s other side, he was clearly trying to talk about the megalodon private
ly, but it was impossible because of the other warriors fawning around and the healer stitching up his new injuries with a tsk.
“I’ll go first.” Elyssa put both hands on Aya’s knee and wiggled with news. “The most important thing is I’m pregnant!”
Oh. Wow.
Emotions slammed into Aya in quick succession.
Elyssa was pregnant? She would be a wonderful mother! Except Atlantis was under constant attack. Wouldn’t it be dangerous to raise kids here? Oh, and there was a megalodon.
“Congratulations,” she said unsteadily.
Elyssa’s smile wavered. “Thanks! I think.”
On King Kadir’s other side, Soren’s eyes widened. Pure horror crossed his face. “Your queen carries a young fry?”
King Kadir grinned. Pride crinkled the skin around his silver-flecked eyes and his white teeth gleamed. “Congratulate us, Soren. It is the dream.”
Soren swallowed hard. Apparently, congratulations were not on the top of his mind.
Was there some special danger to children, or was he worried about their young, weak vulnerabilities against the megalodon? Aya would make a note to ask.
“We found out when I went home for Thanksgiving,” Elyssa continued. “Blake’s in prison again. Kadir and I started a lawsuit against Van Cartier Cosmetics for breach of contract and attempted murder. And we decided: You’ll be our baby’s godmother!”
Aya choked. “I don’t have the best track record with children. Or any track record. I don’t want to screw yours up. I’d never forgive myself.”
Elyssa laughed and hugged her. “You’ll be fine! You’ll have Lucy’s to practice on first. She’s coming here to have her babies any day now.”
Another pregnant woman. Who Aya didn’t even know was pregnant. Coming to this city. Any day now.
Soren turned black with suppressed anger. He was about to burst.
Snarling about a megalodon threat would be bad. Starting a panic was the last thing anyone wanted.
Aya unwrapped Elyssa’s arms to face her cousin. “There’s something you really need to know. Coming here now isn’t safe. You’re still fighting raiders, and you’re not recognized as a city by the All-Council yet, and… other reasons.”
“Oh, I told Lucy all that.” Elyssa waved Aya’s objections away. “She’s determined.”
“Maybe you should talk again.”
“It’s probably too late. She left Oregon to sail here a week ago. We already received their last message through the echo points.”
This was a problem. A serious problem. Aya wracked her brain for how to reach Elyssa without outright saying, Stop Lucy and run for your lives because you’re about to be inhaled by a prehistoric shark.
“Anyway, I’ll be grateful to see her, too. We need all the extra help we can get.” Elyssa smiled sadly and twined her fingers with her husband’s long, silver-swirled ones. “I know you’ll help us figure out how to fight off the impending attack of a megalodon.”
Chapter Fourteen
Aya gasped. “You know?”
Shocks rocked through Soren in quick succession.
Queen Elyssa nodded. “You can hear it breathing sometimes. Lotar identified it. It’s creepy.”
“And you’re still here?” Aya squeaked.
“Blake killed Kadir’s Life Tree. I had to use the only seed to bring it—and Kadir—back from the dead. Luckily that’s my mermaid power! That’s why I’m so glad to see you.”
Queen Elyssa carried Kadir’s young fry. Another female was coming here to birth her young fry. Blake had killed the Life Tree when his submersible severed it but Queen Elyssa had brought it – and Kadir—back to life using up the power of the only seed. If the Atlantis Life Tree died again, Kadir would die with it.
They had to fight.
Kadir patted Soren’s leg. His smile was as melancholy as his wife’s. “It is heartening you have returned. We need more friends.”
“And you allow the other warrior and queen to come?” Soren snarled, stuck on the easy fact — that more brides and young fry were coming — than the hard fact that Kadir couldn’t evacuate. “In the face of this threat?”
Kadir grimaced. “It is their choice. I will not force anyone to leave or restrict anyone from entering.”
It was not his desire to damn anyone. Soren regretted his outburst.
“The megalodon has not attacked?” Soren pressed.
Queen Elyssa shook her head. “We sometimes feel this ugly wind blowing through the middle of the city.”
Aya pinched the bridge of her nose. “And you want to stay?”
“Well, not want to. But Kadir doesn’t have a choice.”
“You do.”
Queen Elyssa lifted her chin. “My baby is going to know his father and his mother.”
Her announcement rang across the courtyard. The warriors straightened, invigorated by her declaration. Most warriors never knew their mothers. To know both parents was a dream.
They would all help her wish come true.
“Anyway, it’s okay,” Queen Elyssa continued. “We have a foolproof plan. Now that you’re here, we’ll figure out an even fool-proofer plan. Fooler-proof. You know what I mean.”
Aya crossed her arms. “This isn’t elementary school.”
“Are you sure? We’re both kind of mermaids.” Queen Elyssa rubbed Aya’s forehead. “I think I can feel a horn growing right here.”
Aya’s serious brow lightened.
Queen Elyssa giggled.
Aya smiled. “You’re a nut.”
“One of us has to be.”
Their lights combined to a tinkling brilliance that silenced the castle like the holy shine of the Life Tree. Two women, their pure love and friendship, shining for all to see.
This was why the city had been founded. This was the dream behind Atlantis. Brides wanted to come, and queens stayed.
The rest of it — the queens’ healing connection to the Life Tree, their unusual ability to keep pieces of it alive that would otherwise wither, and their activation of its power to protect and defend — those were not what the mer had expected. Such powers had been recorded, but the history was so ancient it was easier to believe it was an exaggeration or a lie.
Now Soren knew the truth.
The queens would save them.
Even though every instinct fought against it, he would keep Aya in Atlantis. He would keep Queen Elyssa near Kadir. And he would welcome this newcomer, Lucy.
Lucy had been the first modern bride to join with a merman. Her acceptance of Warlord Torun even after his exile had started the groundswell of support in the other underwater cities that broke loose and formed an army. Together, they joined Soren and freed Kadir from the All-Council’s impenetrable prison. Many stayed on to found Atlantis.
And now, many were staring at him with the same faith, determination, and heart.
They would fight the megalodon.
Atlantis would survive. Somehow.
“Okay.” Queen Elyssa made a fist, the universal insult to start a fight.
Kadir caught her fist and flattened her hand. She smiled up at him, knowing she’d made a mistake and that he’d helped her — and his warriors were so inured to her accident they barely blinked.
“Well, we should do introductions. Then Aya can choose her guards, do the ceremony, and get some rest.”
Ceremony?
“You don’t want to work on our plan?” Aya pushed.
“You and Soren both look exhausted. And we already have one plan. You should rest while you can.” Queen Elyssa waved her forward. “Stand and make a welcome speech.”
Aya straightened her shoulders like a proud warrior and launched into a stirring speech.
“Thank you for your warm welcome during this difficult time. I will do my best to serve as your queen. Let this mark the beginning of a beautiful future between human and mer. Thank you.”
Her light shone with stunning brilliance.
Queen Elyssa cheered.
&
nbsp; The other warriors listened respectfully. Soren swelled with pride. No warrior could doubt the strength of his Aya.
Queen Elyssa straightened again. “Now, we’ll do introductions. Then, Aya, you can choose which two warriors will serve as your personal guards.”
“Personal guards?”
“I hate to say this, but Atlantis isn’t perfectly safe just yet.”
Queen Elyssa had chosen Gailen and Tial for her personal guards after they defended her from raiders.
Aya looked out over the warriors. “I already know who I would like.”
The warriors shifted with surprise.
What? She had gotten to know them during the feast? Or the bride pageant?
Queen Elyssa also looked curious. “Already? Are you sure you don’t want to meet everyone formally?”
“I would like to, but it will not alter my choice. Would you like me to announce them now or wait until after the introductions?”
“You can announce them now.” Queen Elyssa smiled with mischievousness. “No need to keep them in suspense. They can turn you down, though.”
“That’s fine.” Aya turned to the gathered warriors.
They all straightened and puffed out their chests.
Soren understood the burning wish, the yearning to be selected. This was a different promotion, one that never happened in the old cities. There, the highest honor was First Lieutenant within the city, or possibly General outside of its borders.
Whose service would be noticed and honored?
Aya spoke clearly. “For my personal guard, I select Faier and Ciran.”
The two warriors startled. Across the courtyard, they looked at the others as though to confirm they’d been chosen, then, with a nod to each other, they kicked forward to stand in front of Aya and Soren.
What united these two? Why had Aya chosen them? They both clearly wondered, as did everyone else. Ciran had escorted Kadir to the bride pageant, and them into the Atlantis today. But she had never spoken to Faier.
Ciran arrived first. His brown and evergreen tattoos intertwined, and he formally made the salute of Atlantis. “I would be honored to accept this position, bride Aya.” His words were precise. Careful and thoughtful.
She nodded.
Faier moved more slowly. He had sustained injuries from the last battle. Not only was his face slashed with wicked scars, but the fin on his uninjured leg was now split. No doubt he still conducted his patrols, working three times as hard.