“Oof. Is that a nice way of saying I’m really strange?”
She laughed, melting into my arms. “I like strange. Strange is exciting and surprising.”
“I think that depends on the kind of strange. If you’re talking basement-dwelling-collector-of-weird-things strange, then you’ll be glad to know that’s not me. I like to think of myself as more of a connoisseur in the art of witty repartee.” I wrapped my arms tightly around her, content to hold her as close as epidermically possible.
“Of course,” she agreed playfully. “Although, I do not believe that Hippocrates enjoyed your witty repartee last night when you likened him to a prawn, with his rather flimsy outer shell of arrogance, a fleshy center of self-pity, and similar intellectual capacity.”
My stomach lurched. “I didn’t!”
“You did.” She shifted her head to a more comfortable position on my chest, and I felt her shoulders shake with suppressed laughter. “You even said that, if you were to roast him, you were entirely certain that he would turn pink and taste delicious with a side of… what did you call it?”
“Mayonnaise.” The memory rushed back in mortifying Technicolor. Hippocrates—an Atlantean philosopher who seemed to serve no purpose whatsoever—had slimed his way up to Kaya, lauding her with so many sleazy compliments that I hadn’t been able to control my ambrosia-loosened tongue.
“Yes! Mayonnaise! That was it!” She draped her arm across my waist, and I duly sucked my stomach in—a vain attempt to conjure up some abs. “I do not know what mayonnaise is, but he seemed outraged. Although, I doubt he has any knowledge of mayonnaise, either. The prawn part, I think we all understood.”
I gave a dramatic facepalm. “I’m sorry, Kaya. I may have just lost you your first admirer.”
“Nonsense. It was fairly simple to remedy the situation with a few words of apology. You were correct in your assessment of his intellectual capacity. Men of his like are easy to placate; all it takes is a touch of flattery and everything is resolved. He went on his way with no residual resentment.” She hugged my waist tightly and touched her lips to the top of my chest. “Yet do not be disappointed if he avoids you during any upcoming engagements.”
I snorted. “Oh, I won’t be.”
“Otherwise, last night was wondrous, was it not?”
I nodded, unable to hide a wince. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a night like it. My head certainly hasn’t. I feel like I got run over by a bulldozer while I was sleeping.”
“Did you not sleep well?” She raised her head and propped her chin on my chest, staring at me with those enchanting eyes. A hint of concern glittered there.
“I slept like a log. It was the waking up part that wasn’t pleasant.” I brushed more errant strands of hair from her face so I could get a good look at her. I probably looked like a sick, exhausted ghoul. But she looked refreshed, aside from the tinge of red around her eyes, a remnant from the sadder part of last night’s celebrations.
She chuckled. “I could not be gladder to wake up, now that I have you here. Truly, when I first stirred, I was afraid that I had imagined it all, and I would open my eyes to find my bed empty.” Her laughter faded. “I do not know how I could endure what’s to come without you. Already, you have proven to be my protector in all things. Had you not been there to hold me after I bid farewell to my father, I honestly believe that I would have crumbled to a miserable pile of shards, from which I would never have been able to piece myself back together again.”
I leaned down and kissed her on the nose. “I’m here to pick up any and all pieces. I just don’t want you thinking that you’ve got to be all tough and queenly, after you just lost your dad. It’s going to take time to heal and mourn, and I’m ready to provide anything you need, to make it easier on you.”
“I have no time to mourn,” she said simply. “I have to be strong, even in moments of overwhelming grief, and I always have to be queenly. Atlantis is relying upon me. I cannot allow any weakness to show.”
“Then don’t show it to Atlantis, but you can show it to me. When you want to cry, you’ve got my shoulder. It might not be the broadest or brawniest, but it’s comfy, and it’ll do the job.” I let my smile fade, to show her that I was being genuine. “You don’t have to be strong in front of me. We’re married now. When you hurt, I hurt. When you’re down, I’ll help you get back on your feet. When you’re sad, I’ll make all the terrible jokes you could ever want—even the ones you don’t understand.”
She smiled and kissed my chest again, making me feel unbearably light. “I have no doubt that I will be grateful for that in the days and weeks to come. After all, I cannot do what must be done without you.” She sighed softly. “My father has only just passed, and yet the crown already weighs heavy upon my head. It is comforting to share that weight with you. However, there is much work to be completed. Difficult, strenuous work, which will require both our efforts.”
“Anything,” I promised. “I’m ready.”
“I pray that you are,” she replied. And although her face seemed gentle, her tone suddenly darkened. “In order to ensure that Atlantis rises, thus saving our nation and bringing peace and prosperity to the surface world, a formidable Sanguine spell must be performed.”
I brushed my thumb across her cheek, the motion feeling like the most natural thing in the world. “Hey, it won’t be my first blood spell, and it won’t be my last. Whatever you need, I’ll help you get it.”
There was a pause as her eyes trained on me intensely, but then her sweet smile returned. “I am pleased to hear you say so, my love.” She lowered her gaze, her teeth grazing her lower lip in thought. Suddenly all I could think about was kissing those lips. “However, this is no ordinary blood spell. This particular Sanguine spell is one of the mightiest in known history and has only been used once before—to submerge our great nation. But this time, we will bring about the reverse. Nevertheless, it will require the same ingredients and the consent of every single Atlantean within the queendom. In addition, it will require a single drop of every citizen’s blood, as that is, in truth, the main ingredient.”
I frowned, my thoughts pulling away from her full lips. “Do you think any of the Atlanteans will say no? It’s a pretty big thing you’re asking. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for grand ideas and a bucketload of imagination, but this might be more than they’ve bargained for, and there might be some pushback.”
“I hope there will be no resistance.” She laid her cheek to my chest again, and I felt her jaw moving against my skin as she spoke. “I shall make it undeniably apparent, through the decree that I will announce this day, that my plan for Atlantis and its future is necessary for our survival. By the time I am finished, they will understand that there is no hope for Atlantis down here. Indeed, it would be tantamount to a death sentence. It would be utterly foolish to refuse, considering that this is their only salvation.”
My mind spun with the realization of what she was suggesting. She wants to raise Atlantis. Yes, that’s right. It’s all in the legend of the Luminary. I had a vague, blurry memory of writing some note about it. But what had I intended to do with it? I didn’t have the note anymore; I knew that much. I’d ripped it to shreds last night and used it as confetti. I forced myself to focus, to try and unblur the edges of the memory and recall what it had said.
Ah, that was right… I’d planned to remind myself of Kaya’s scheme to raise Atlantis, so I could reach out to my sister and warn her. But what was the point of that? It didn’t make sense to warn anyone, since there was nothing to be afraid of. I supported my wife’s endeavors, and now that she’d explained it to me, I realized she had everyone’s best interests at heart. Both down here and on the surface. Right?
A weird, nagging sensation prickled inside my head. I believed in Kaya, but my brain was less trusting. It was as if the gremlins had come back and were fighting to be heard.
“But what if there are Atlanteans who’d rather die than live on the surface? What if
they don’t like the sound of it?” My question surprised me, as if someone else had voiced it.
Apparently unoffended, Kaya held me tighter, her hand clasping my waist. “That is not the Atlantean way. It is rare to have dissenters in our ranks. Once they are aware of the severity of the situation, they will offer their consent.”
But I couldn’t stop the questions. “Okay, I get that, but what if? Just humor me for a minute. It’s good to look at things from every angle, so you don’t get any nasty surprises.” I paused, rising slightly in bed. “And, to be honest with you, the idea that you might fail scares the living crap out of me, because I don’t want to see you disappointed… or worse.” I looked down at her with a new and deep concern. “I don’t think you’ll fail, for what it’s worth, but I need you to tell me you’ve got some kind of backup plan if things take a turn you’re not expecting.”
Didn’t my mother say something like that, once upon a nightmare? Backups for backups for backups… I couldn’t hold on to the memory long enough to be sure that she’d said it. It was more of a feeling—a dark, sick kind of sensation that always accompanied thoughts of Katherine Shipton.
Kaya propped herself up on my chest and looked me square in the eyes. “I hope that it will not be necessary, and that my belief in my people is well founded, but I do have a contingency plan.”
“You do?” I pressed.
Kaya nodded. “Nash revealed to me, prior to that unfortunate business with Erebus and Apollo on the pier, that he is a potent Sanguine of Atlantean heritage, born of dissidents who fled our magnificent nation. I had suspected his lineage, considering his appearance, but I needed confirmation.” She stretched forward and kissed me tenderly on the lips, no doubt to stop me from making any kind of ill-timed quip, before she went on. It worked, and Kaya continued unabated. “Naturally, I do not blame descendants for the actions of their forefathers. Had I known sooner, I would have welcomed him back to his homeland with open arms. But I digress.”
“Wait. This has something to do with Nash?” An uneasy feeling came over me, starting at that nagging epicenter in my head.
She smiled, taking the edge off the jitters. “If there is dissent of any kind, no matter how small, I will replace the blood of those who refuse with that of Nash. That is the beauty and value of a Sanguine’s blood: it can be utilized as a substitute in any spell ever created by magicals, ancient and modern alike. And, as we do not have any of our own Sanguines at present, I must believe that Nash is another gift from Chaos, to ensure that our rise will come to fruition.”
I gulped audibly. “You’re going to use his blood?”
“If I must, though that is not my primary choice.” She flashed me a megawatt smile that melted away my worries. When she looked at me like that, I had no reason to fear anything, least of all her plans. I had almost lowered myself back to the bed entirely when she continued. “Speaking of your friends, I have a surprise for you.”
Three
Finch
Chaos help me, anything but breakfast. Food after a heavy night could be almost medicinal, but I was fairly certain it would kill me now. Not literally, which made for a nice change, but I didn’t know how the Atlantean elite would view their new prince consort if they saw me hurling torrents of red stuff into the nearest plant pot.
“Are you quite well, my love?” Kaya asked as she led me out onto the terrace. Not our terrace but one I hadn’t seen before, crowded with people. It looked out onto the city, with cacti and spindly shrubs dotting the sandy landscape. A few crumbling pillars protruded from the ground, but it didn’t look like they’d crumbled naturally. No, this was all by design—a weird, pseudo-ancient bit of landscaping that had gone a little wild in a way that reminded me of a theme park.
I nodded, swallowing bile. Gross but true. “I will be.” I glanced at her enviously. Getting up in the first place had been a mistake. The second I was out of bed, the hangover had hit hard, and it was getting worse. “How come you aren’t suffering like me?”
She weaved her arm through mine as nearby guests nodded in greeting. “Atlanteans have a hardier constitution than surface dwellers. It would have taken far more ambrosia to make me feel the way it appears you feel.” She cast a teasing glance in my direction.
I smiled through the pain. “That bad, huh? I thought the magic cream on that makeup desk of yours was supposed to get rid of any clues that I’m not feeling so hot.” Along the terrace, I spotted serving staff preparing trays of food and fought hard not to gag. It appeared breakfast was imminent. As long as I didn’t smell it, I’d be fine.
Kaya laughed. “I think you are referring to my vanity. And that cream can only do so much with the raw materials.”
“Right, so it is that bad,” I grumbled. If this was the surprise she’d set up for me, her timing couldn’t have been worse. Not that I was ungrateful. I mean, it was the thought that counted. And the fact that it came from my perfect wife… well, that made it even better.
“You look as handsome as ever.” She tugged me toward the table in the middle of the terrace, on a raised plinth.
“You see, you’d think it was a compliment.” I reluctantly allowed myself to be pulled closer to the food. “But you just said I didn’t have much going for me in the way of raw materials. So if I look as handsome as ever, then you’re basically saying I usually look like a goblin.”
She flashed me a grin that almost made me forget the hangover. Almost. “There is nothing wrong with your raw materials, but you are unwell, albeit with a self-inflicted illness. So you cannot expect to be at your best. Nevertheless, I think you look good enough to eat.”
“Hey, these buns are off the menu.” I waggled a finger at her, feeling like a teenager again. I’m totally besotted with this woman.
“A true shame, though I would not want to share them with our guests, anyway,” she replied, sharp as a tack. I grinned involuntarily. Man, smart women were unbelievably sexy. There really was nothing as tantalizing as being kept on my toes.
With Kaya around, it was hard to see anything but her. But, heaving myself up the short stack of stairs to reach the table, I managed a look at our guests for the first time. She’d invited some of the old familiars, like Apollo, Faustus, and Thebian, along with a bunch of other nobles I’d probably met last night but whose names I’d already forgotten. The terrace was packed with people, including many guards, who stood watch around the table as if the enemy could strike at any moment. Whether they were protecting Atlantis from outsiders or protecting the Atlantean elites from other Atlanteans, I had no clue.
As I was about to sit down, Kaya nudged me. “Your surprise has arrived.”
“I thought breakfast was the surprise.” I followed her gaze to the terrace entrance but couldn’t see what she was referring to.
“In your condition? Why, that would be a punishment, not a surprise.” Kaya slipped her hand into mine, and I gave it an instinctual squeeze.
“What am I meant to be looking at?” I mumbled, confused.
Kaya smiled proudly. “You will see.”
A moment later, five figures shuffled through the doorway. Well, four and a half—or should I say, fur and a half. Huntress led the way across the terrace, her sharp fangs gnawing a huge silver bow that’d been tied around her neck like a ribbon of shame. Nash came after her, dressed in a snazzy suit that matched his pupper’s bow. Behind them walked Melody and Luke, also gussied up in Atlantean finery—a flowing gown of pale blue silk and a suit of sapphire blue, respectively. I grinned at the sight, noting that it would’ve been a way better surprise if Luke had been wearing the gown.
But as they neared us, it seemed like humor was the last thing on their minds. They walked toward the central table like they were walking through a swamp: slowly and against their wills. Even when they clocked me looking at them, they only managed a set of identically flat, strained smiles. It wasn’t quite the reunion I might’ve hoped for.
“They don’t look too chipper,” I noted.
But I quickly shrugged and turned to Kaya. “I guess they’re still annoyed about the whole prison thing, huh? It’s okay, I’ll have a word and make sure they understand that it was for the best. What else could you have done, knowing they might try to stop the wedding?” I made to go toward them, so I could rattle out a barrage of apologies and explanations, but Kaya pulled me back just as one last figure stepped onto the terrace. Someone I’d almost forgotten about.
Ryann… My heart did something odd, hammering as though I were about to go into cardiac arrest. And with that hammering came a faint stab of pain, right in my chest. I put a hand up to the spot where it hurt. Almost immediately, the dull pain went away.
Seriously, this hangover is going to end me. Forget Erebus, forget Davin, forget my mother—it’s this that’s going to do what they couldn’t.
I watched Ryann join the rest of my friends a short distance away. Too far to talk to them without shouting, but too close to avoid their grim expressions. I found it hard to look away from Ryann as a handful of blurry memories wobbled into my head.
I was in love with you once, wasn’t I? That seemed ridiculous to me now. Kaya was the woman for me, and the way I loved her couldn’t be put into words. She and I were just… meant to be together. We shared a love that was nothing short of cosmic, guided by fate’s hand.
Ryann… The voice in my brain whispered her name again, like it meant something. But when I looked at her, I didn’t feel a thing. A platonic affection and some relief that my friends weren’t still ocean-deep in prison, sure, but no residual pain. However, seeing her did bring back one particular memory, which was slightly less hazy than the rest. Ryann had a piggy-backer—Lux, Child of Chaos and the shining pain in my ass.
Wait. Is she a pain in my ass? This is what she wanted, right? I thought about it. If memory served, Lux had wanted me to end up with Kaya. So maybe that meant she wasn’t one of the bad guys. Maybe she’d been working for Papa Chaos all along. I wasn’t sure why I thought of Chaos as a man, but folks tended to add a dose of masculinity to godly beings, so it was probably just my human conditioning talking. Either way, Kaya knew all about Lux already, thanks to Erebus trying to snatch a kiss from Kaya and getting burned for it by his wifey. That was the least he’d deserved for making moves on my wife.
Harley Merlin 16: Finch Merlin and the Blood Tie Page 2