by Starla Night
“Yes, I betrayed you.” Warlord Yashu shook his head and barked a laugh. “How amusing to hear that again. I had no idea a queen’s touch was so powerful, or I would never have let her anywhere near Oska. How close he came to getting out the truth. ‘…u betrayed me.’ He meant ‘Yashu,’ but all I had to do was look at Lotar and the whole city turned on him. Again. All because you, Falki, trained them to believe that a second son was not the greatest blessing we have experienced since the sacred brides dwindled, but instead, that he should never have been born.”
Lotar’s father gripped Lotar’s still-bound hands. His fingers trembled with weakness. He scratched at the bindings.
“I told your father many things since he turned to me for guidance,” Warlord Yashu said conversationally to Lotar, “but that strange denial of you originated with him. Perhaps he feared that his blessing would be taken away if he embraced it. But his attempt was for naught because he will lose you both after all.”
Lotar’s heart thudded faster and faster.
He could barely hear.
His gaze tunneled in on his father and the sharp trident point jutting from his skin. The taste of coppery blood filled the cell and Lotar’s mouth.
“I had to get rid of your bride, of course. But I could not allow you to leave. The elders were always in favor of making you a second prince. With Oska and Falki out of the way, they might make you king. And if you left again, you might someday come back. Or realize my deceptions. But…” Warlord Yashu’s eyes lit. “Now, I think it is fitting that you trick your father into freeing you, steal his trident, and stab him in the back. Yes. And when I come to his defense…”
Warlord Yashu wagged the trident.
Lotar’s father stared into Lotar’s eyes. He looked furious. And his silent wish was not difficult to interpret.
Avenge me.
Warlord Yashu shoved Lotar’s father down.
His father yanked Lotar’s wrists to his chest as he fell.
The trident point scored Lotar’s left forearm to the palm with a sharp bite.
The bonds slipped free, and his wrists separated.
His father collapsed on top of Lotar’s torso. Warlord Yashu pinned his father—and also Lotar—to the cell floor.
“Now I will wrestle the trident free here.” Warlord Yashu yanked the trident out, causing his father to spasm and blood to spray. “It is a shame that I had to drive you away, Lotar. I do feel guilty about that. You were always so good at everything. Amplifying your father’s insecurities was tragically easy, and such a waste. You would have made my son an unstoppable first lieutenant. But…” He hefted the trident and aimed it at Lotar’s head. “Now I have to kill you. In self-defense.”
He brought the trident down in a killing blow.
Lotar jerked to the side.
Warlord Yashu grunted in surprise.
Lotar scrambled free.
A high, clear pitch filled his ears. This male had stabbed his father and poisoned his brother. He would end him.
Warlord Yashu kicked back, evaluating Lotar as they squared up to fight. “Give up. I have the only weapon.”
He flexed his fingers. “I am the weapon.”
Warlord Yashu hesitated.
Lotar attacked.
He dove at the elder, arms out to grapple the trident.
Warlord Yashu dove to the side and slashed. The king’s blades sliced the water before his fingertips.
Lotar shifted his fins to feet and kicked off the floor, again diving at the elder.
Warlord Yashu kicked out of his way.
Lotar’s fingertips brushed the base of the trident prongs.
Warlord Yashu jabbed the sharp points at him.
He hooked the base and yanked.
Warlord Yashu’s eyes flew wide. He whirled and twisted, wrenching free. Then he kicked back, hard, deep into the interior, and held up the trident, his lungs sucking in water, the exertion clearly surprising him.
He had manipulated Lotar’s father for years. The elders, advisers, and warriors even longer. He had been careful for so long.
And he alone had always seen Lotar for exactly who he was.
Now he saw the promise in Lotar’s fury.
Lotar was going to take back his father’s weapon and kill Warlord Yashu.
And the traitor could not stop him.
Warlord Yashu backed away, keeping the trident pointed straight at Lotar. He raised his vibrations to a shout. “Guards? The prisoner has gotten free. He has—oh no. Stop. Traitor! He has murdered the king!”
Curse it.
The shouts of answering warriors approached the jail cell.
Warlord Yashu smirked. “Your move, second son.”
“I will end you.” Lotar floated by the entrance, fading into the shadows. “You only delay your inevitable doom.”
Warlord Yashu’s smile faltered.
The warriors streamed in, surrounded his father, and spoke over each other. “The king! He is still alive but unconscious. Quick, the healer. We must get him to the Life Tree.”
Lotar darted from the jail.
Warlord Yashu’s vibration shouted after him. “There. He flees. Do not let him escape!”
Lotar veered from the Life Tree.
As soon as the warriors organized, they would spread Warlord Yashu’s lie. And without any witnesses, they would condemn and execute Lotar, leaving Warlord Yashu all the time in the world to ensure his father and brother followed him into the blacknight sea. The assassin’s plot would be complete.
Lotar needed a method to counteract the lies. Stop everyone, make them listen. Shield his father and brother so they could heal…
How foolish to think he could succeed by himself.
He had stumbled from trap to trap, making the same mistakes as in his youth, ignoring Hazel’s greatest power: She spoke her truth fearlessly. Even more than her queen powers, her fierce words were his greatest allies. She was the defender he needed.
And he’d pushed her away.
Lotar needed Hazel.
He kicked through the open territory, leaving the city behind. The warriors would have escorted her along the old routes to the sacred island’s shore. He pumped his legs, ignoring stealth for speed. If she returned in time—if she healed his father—the other warriors would learn the truth. At least enough to imprison Warlord Yashu and save Oska.
Lotar swam over the final rise.
And right into the line of the massive, heavily armed, conquering All-Council army.
Thirty-Four
Lotar’s mom swooped and twirled, sang, and darted after curiosities—taking, in Hazel’s opinion, far too much time.
“We’re almost there. We really should go,” Hazel called as Lotar’s mom chased after a wolffish with a snaggle toothed mouth.
She pinched its gelatinous cheek and swam on. “Young people always want to go faster. Old people relax. Enjoy the ride.”
“I know, and I’m sorry to cut short your new retirement, but I can’t help feeling like there’s a disaster happening and we’re not there to stop it.”
“A disaster?” Lotar’s mom squinted into the distance. “Such as a giant army surrounding the city? Yes, that’s possible, true.”
“What?”
Uh-oh.
Sure enough, masses upon masses of warriors filtered the glow of the Life Tree. It was as if the All-Council had realized they could not rule the oceans as they had before and so they’d combined forces into a super army.
And Lotar was trapped in a hostile city with a traitor.
Hazel’s stomach dropped.
How would they break through?
Lotar’s mother chased a flickering see-through tube fish. “Ooh.”
Hazel’s fear combined with irritation, and she snapped. “Would you please focus?”
“Bah.” But Lotar’s mother drifted back into line with a sigh. “This is your first time facing an army, huh?”
“It’s not yours?”
Lotar’s mo
ther laughed uproariously. “Young people are so funny.”
Oh, good Lord. “Well then, you tell me how to get through.”
“Normally, it’s a problem.” Lotar’s mother flexed her fingers. “But you say we have superpowers. Now I know kung fu. It’s a movie, get it?” She laughed again.
At least one of them was having a good time.
Warriors surrounded the city like a sphere.
“There’s no way in,” Hazel vibrated. “We took too long.”
Lotar’s mom rubbed her jaw.
Movement flashed beneath her.
Hazel rotated down.
A familiar angular warrior moved like a shadow close to the coral.
She squeaked and dropped on him. “Lotar!”
He looked up. Shock changed to relief, and he rotated to catch her.
She zoomed into his arms.
He hugged her so tight she could barely vibrate. “I am so mad at you.”
“I know.” His soft vibration soothed her.
She would not be soothed. “We agreed to do this together. You undermined me, hurt me, and you broke your promise. And it doesn’t matter that you had the best intentions because—”
He covered her mouth with his hot, hungry, demanding kiss.
She lived in this moment. He was alive. His arms welcomed her, and he wanted her.
And then he vibrated what she least expected to hear. “I was wrong.”
She tore her mouth away to gaze into his sincere gray eyes. “You were?”
“In every way. I needed you. Need you.”
Aw. Tenderness seeped into her heart. “I’m here.”
“Praise the Life Tree.” He hugged her again, so close, and his arms trembled.
He really meant it.
Her eyes burned with tears.
“Here.” She tied the shell necklace around his neck. “This is yours. We’re going to raise our baby together. Never take it off again, understand?”
“I vow it.” He adjusted the tie and fitted her to his body. “Now we must fly. Warlord Yashu stabbed my father and blamed me. He will murder Father and Oska if we do not stop him.”
“So we have to get inside.”
“A coral tunnel runs beneath the city. I hid until the army passed over so they would not find the entrance.” He glanced behind her. “Who is the other mer?”
“Huh? Oh. So, yeah, I also brought your mom.”
His brows lifted. “Mama?”
“Lotar.” His mother reached past Hazel and cupped his cheek. “You have grown into a fine man. Now take me to Syrenka. I need to sort something out.”
It was not the tearful reunion Hazel had imagined, but that was fine. They were short on time.
Lotar skimmed over the surface of the coral, silent and careful, and ducked beneath a ledge. He twisted and contorted through the long, spike-filled cave, flying faster than she was comfortable. “What are those spikes?”
He veered within a hair’s width. “Blackthorn coral.”
She clung tighter.
“Do not fear. This is one of the many races I won.”
Hazel closed her eyes. She trusted him.
They emerged beneath the king’s castle. His mother lagged far behind. Lotar swam up to the dais of the Life Tree.
Elders argued. Warlord Yashu lurked nearby, dropping hints that surely spelled someone’s doom.
Injured warriors rested at the Life Tree, the bodies slumped by the king and Oska. The healer moved from one warrior to the next, patching and binding. They must have skirmished with the army outside.
“So how do we heal your brother?” Hazel murmured. “Just sneak in? Or…?”
“Lotar!” First Lieutenant Anik flew with a unit of injured warriors toward the Life Tree. He darted for them, trident raised. “You dare show your face? After you betrayed us to the All-Council?”
“You are acting the jerk,” Lotar told him. “Atlantis is anathema. We did not draw the All-Council army here.”
“Lies!” Anik kicked forward with a jutting trident.
Hazel flashed up her shield. It glowed marshmallow white. “Back off.”
His trident bounced off it.
The elders grew silent. Warlord Yashu’s nostrils flared as he gripped his trident. He was a spider who lurked in shadows.
Anik jerked back. “What is this?”
“Powers that could save Syrenka,” Lotar said evenly. “If it is worth saving.”
Anik’s eyes narrowed, then he frowned. “Who is that you snuck in?”
Lotar’s mother kicked up to join them. “Ah, this is familiar.”
Hazel craned her neck. “This is familiar?”
“Last time I came, there was more chaos.”
“You snuck in a stranger?” Anik rasped in fury.
Hazel straightened. “She’s the king’s wife, okay? She’s the prince’s mom.”
Anik blinked.
“No, no, no.” Lotar’s mom swam abreast of them. “I have a name.”
“Oh, God. I’m so sorry.”
“Irina.” She nodded at the first lieutenant. “Nice to meet you.”
Anik looked nonplussed.
But the elders murmured in shock, and Warlord Yashu’s face drained of color. “You.”
Irina grinned with devilish pleasure. “Yashu. Long time I’ve been thinking of you.”
“Do not threaten me.” He curled his lip. “The old king is not here to protect you.”
“The old king made his rules not to protect me.” She flexed her fingers and rolled her shoulders like a warrior preparing for a fight. “He protected you.”
So there was history.
Another warrior hurried across the open water between the first castles and the Life Tree. “Have the elders chosen a new king to parlay? The All-Council general will not wait.”
The elders turned en masse toward Lotar.
Now, in their darkest hour, they put their faith not in Anik, but in him.
He straightened. Taller than before. Broader. Proud.
And Hazel snuggled close.
He held her to his side, ready to face the new challenge.
The head elder held out his hand to beseech him. “Warrior Lotar, the elders of Syrenka ask you to take the honor once bestowed upon King Falki and Prince Oska and become King Lo—”
“No!” Warlord Yashu swam forward. “You must select Anik. King Falki would have chosen him. He is the worthiest warrior.”
There was an awkward pause.
“Warlord Yashu, do not question the ruling of the elders,” the head elder said.
“But you have made a mistake. Lotar has not swum in these waters for years. He does not have the respect of his warriors.”
“Lotar beat Anik fairly at every test of skill.”
“Years ago.”
“They remember, as we remember.”
“But Lotar has murdered—”
“Father.” Anik leveled his trident at his father. “Do not speak lies.”
Huh.
Warlord Yashu licked his lips. His gaze skimmed over Lotar, Hazel, and Irina. Something had given his plot away to Anik. Was his son was trying to save him from himself?
Did Anik know the full truth?
The head elder spoke into the silence. “Your protests, Warlord Yashu, come from the chest of a proud father, and so we will overlook your gross overstep today.”
“But Anik is the most worthy of becoming king.”
One elder intoned deeply, “Whoever faces the All-Council army will likely die, Warlord Yashu. They will kill him to make a point.”
Sure, no wonder they wanted Lotar.
Lotar glanced down at her with a slight grin. Even though she hadn’t spoken her snarky comment aloud, he must have guessed her thoughts. And she could almost hear his confidence.
Yes, nominate him to deal with the All-Council. Yes, the All-Council would kill any other warrior, but not Lotar.
He had Hazel.
She was a queen.
And the elders were no fools.
Warlord Yashu, perhaps sensing that his moment was slipping away, grasped for it. “The All-Council will not kill Anik. They will recognize his authority and disperse.”
The elders regarded him like he was crazy.
“Why would they recognize his authority?” the head elder asked, then rotated to Anik for an explanation.
A shadow of dread crept across Anik’s features.
Warlord Yashu urged his son to parlay. “Declare yourself and negotiate. You can convince them to leave with few demands and only small changes to our city. Claim your destiny as the rightful king.”
Anik’s eyes narrowed. “Few demands? Small changes? Father, I am loyal to Syrenka. When you vibrate these words, I do not know you.”
Warlord Yashu insisted. “Think. You can save Syrenka.”
“I will negotiate the terms of the All-Council surrender, or I will fight.” Anik lifted his trident. “To the end.”
His warriors repeated his gesture and growled, “To the end!”
Warlord Yashu lifted his hands, his movements jerky, panicked. “No, my son. Do not act so recklessly. You must not leave it to this traitor. He murdered his own family. And now he has brought back his poisonous female—no, two females—to finish them.”
Anik stared at his father for a long, hard moment.
Then he shook his head.
“Yes, my son,” Warlord Yashu insisted.
But Anik kept shaking his head. A strange smile cracked his face, and he laughed, but the sound was brittle. “Do you know the last thing Prince Oska said to me before his solo patrol?”
“Son, concentrate.”
“He said he wanted to see Lotar one more time.”
Lotar stiffened.
“Yes. What a surprise, eh? Lotar?” Anik waved his trident at them. “My father said he saw your shadow nearby. Had you come to meet Prince Oska secretly and caused his death? Where were you? Where had you gone?”
“I told you already. We were never here,” Hazel said.
“A troubling denial, yes, but you had no proof. And then, Lotar, you went straight to that bag of poison. I was so relieved. ‘It was him,’ I thought. ‘His reign of terror stops now.’” Anik laughed again, that harsh, choking laugh. “And what should happen but while he was in jail, his message from the Dragao Azul echo point arrived.”