by Janelle Peel
Her lips lifted into a devious grin. “Of course not. Your King is coming with me.”
Confidently, Luna strolled through the halls despite the numerous gasps trailing in her wake. The bruise marring her cheek had taken on a purplish hue, yet she wore it proudly.
Befuddled, Jin tried to make sense of her actions and failed.
As they arrived outside a stone chamber, the guard on duty immediately snapped to attention.
“My Queen!”
Luna nodded curtly. “Open it.”
The guard stammered, “Uh, um. The King has decreed that she remain in isolation.”
Her tone brooked no argument. “I am your Queen, and I will not repeat myself.”
With a shaking hand, the guard opened the door and gestured inside. “She is dangerous, my Queen. I will remain for your protection.”
Luna tipped her chin, her expression souring. “Do you not see that one of my personal guards is already tasked with my protection? Remain outside. We are not to be disturbed.”
Without waiting for his answer, Jin closed the door on the guard’s face. Pressing his back to the smooth surface, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting.
The room held only a single chair. A pile of bedding was haphazardly laid out in one corner. With no windows, the small space was practically a prison cell.
Luna seated herself. “Mother?”
The makeshift bed moved. “Come to gloat, my Queen?”
Luna barked a quick laugh. “Actually, no. I’ve come for your help.”
“Why would I help you?”
“Because our people’s lives depend on it.”
Rising from the tangle of blankets, a figure stepped forward. Lit by the small jellyfish swimming above the chamber, Jin nearly swallowed his tongue.
How the mighty had fallen.
Nanu’s gown hung on her frame in loose tatters. Her hair was a snarled mess. Dark circles ringed her blue eyes. She snarled, “What have you done to my people?”
Jin’s grip on his trident tightened at the menace radiating from her.
Luna lifted her fingers.
Light blossomed, stinging Jin’s pupils with its intensity.
Nanu gasped. Shambling forward, she hovered her dirty fingers inches from her daughter’s face.
A single tear trickled down Luna’s cheek. “Titus is not what we thought, Mother. War is on the horizon. Riva is the key. He has ordered her death. If we’re to survive I need your guidance.”
Nanu dropped to her knees. Hunching her shoulders, she whispered, “Then you shall have it, my daughter. My heir. My Queen.”
Luna
It took a moment for the guard outside to come to his senses. Then again, Nanu’s state was so unlike her normal appearance I couldn’t blame his gawking.
Propped against Jin, she looked down the line of her nose as if daring the guard to say something.
He paled under her stare. Looking to me for reassurance, he choked out, “What’s happening, my Queen?”
Gesturing for Jin to get a move on, I answered, “I believe a meeting is in order. Can I trust you to spread the word?”
Mutely, he bowed. “Of course. Might I ask what’s happened to your face?”
I sobered. “King Titus hit me.”
He gritted his teeth, and his voice lowered in anger. “Our people will be informed.”
By the time we returned to my room Judan had already brought Bron up to speed.
Slamming his trident on the floor, he ignored Nanu entirely. “What are your orders, my Queen?”
Peering at my mother for any sign of disappointment and finding none, I nodded. “Take Collin and free the Arcticians. They will need to be armed as well. A meeting has been called. We’re going to overthrow the King.”
Leaning against the wall, Collin drawled, “And what will you be up to?”
Lifting a brow, I snorted at his cockiness. “I will be with our Seer.”
Titus was already waiting for us inside the throne room. Though his smile appeared to be genuine, I saw through it. My cheek pinched as I attempted to return the favor. The motion turned into the baring of my teeth.
He frowned at my reaction, and his gaze latched on to my mother.
It had taken more time than I’d wanted to make her presentable, but judging by the tightening of his eyes, it’d been worth it.
Striding down the steps to her seat, she wore her small crown with pride.
Jin moved to my side. Taking my elbow, he whispered, “Are you ready?”
Nodding, I took solace in his presence. Shunning my throne, I stood tall before my people. “As you all know we’re on the verge of war. Princess Riva has been taken by Poseidon. All is not lost. The heart is shared with another. What you do not know is that we have another enemy. Only, this one is festering inside our Kingdom.”
Audible gasps rang out.
I continued, “Without my knowledge King Titus has ordered the death of our Princess.”
Titus stood and shouted, “Lies! I have done no such thing!”
Mara moved forward with an uneven gait. Her milky eyes instantly brought his outburst to a halt. “Silence!” Turning her back on him, she pointed out a small female Mer. “Come forward, child.”
Hesitantly, she stepped away from her mother’s side.
Mara lowered to one knee with a cracking sound. “Tell me, young one. What is the law regarding violence inside our borders?”
Twisting her hands, the young looked to her father for reassurance.
Furrowing his brow, he tipped his jaw in encouragement. “Answer her, Kune. It’s all right.”
Taking a deep breath, Kune rushed, “Harming another Mer is punishable by lashing or the rack.”
Mara beamed. “Very good. What if a Mer harms the Crown?”
Appalled, the little girl slapped a palm over her mouth. Her jade eyes rounded as she zeroed in on my cheek. She stuttered, “D-death or b-banishment.”
Patting the child’s head, Mara nodded. “Well done. Go on back to your father now, love.”
Nanu stood. Meeting my gaze, she hissed, “Titus has struck your Queen!”
Silence reigned for one moment. Then all hell broke loose.
Titus rushed toward the exit but was forced back by a group of Arcticians led by Collin.
Desperate to protect their leader, the guards who accompanied Titus for his coronation ran forward.
Blocked, Titus dashed toward me with his hands hooked to wring my neck.
Jin roared. He shoved me aside, and his trident swung through the air.
Time seemed to slow as it penetrated Titus’s gut. Blood splattered, spilling across my face in a spray of warmth.
My heart shattered as he fell to the ground. While I wanted him gone, I never wished for this.
A single note tore from my throat in a loud wail.
Reacting to my grief, the ocean above broke through the barrier above with a vengeance.
My skirt split as my scales shredded the sheer material.
Red liquid dotted the water like spills of ink. Hundreds of Mer spun about in the torrent, and all fighting ceased.
Splaying my fingers, I bid the current to slow.
Titus’s body floated to the seafloor. Unchanged, his legs remained human.
Jin’s decision weighed heavily on my shoulders. Not only had he harmed a royal, but he’d also killed the King to protect me.
Skye
Learning to use his tail inside Riva’s well was one thing; putting it to use in reality was quite another. Everyone knew how to swim, but he found the joining of his legs to be ridiculously cumbersome.
It’d taken all night and half the morning to be able to steer properly, and even then he had to rely on the ocean’s mercy. Pushing a little bit of Riva’s magic through his veins, he once again corrected his course.
Images of her slackened face as she fell from the dirigible flitted through his mind on an endless loop. He knew the notion was folly, but he wished he�
�d gone after her sooner.
Leaving Bex with the pearl was cowardly. Paired with Lila, they were sure to raise the Gate. Neither would let Gaz die in vain.
His chest tightened as her bloodied wings flashed behind his eyes.
Silently, he threw up a prayer to whomever was listening. May God open His arms and welcome her back into His Heavenly embrace.
A strange sensation flickered up his spine. Like the strum of a spiderweb, he zeroed in on a school of fish darting through the current.
It must be his lateral line. Interesting.
The school scattered and took shelter beneath a large rock. Confused, he sought the cause for their reaction.
Gliding soundlessly above was what Gideon had described.
Sharp teeth jutted out at odd angles from the half shark’s mouth. Its white belly was nearly indiscernible against the brightly lit surface. Gray scales began near the creature’s midsection and narrowed to a widely fanned tail. Shot through with lines of black, the appendage kicked in an upward motion.
Skye sank to the seafloor slowly. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself.
Abruptly, the Mershark stopped. Opening its wide maw, it shot off in a quick burst of speed.
The beast was headed in the direction Skye was going.
It was almost as if something had called it home…
Bex
Lila stepped to the ledge, her brow furrowed at the cove below. “Tell me the plan again.”
Pointing, Kai rumbled, “There’s a patch of sand off to the left. That’s where I will be waiting if you get into any trouble. You and Bex are going to raise the Gate with magic and bring it ashore.”
Tipping her head, the stars lighting Lila’s sapphire eyes began to turn. “What if we can’t?”
The thought had occurred to me. It took both Air and Earth to create the Gate and move it to our world. We might not have enough power.
Curling my toes over the cliff face, I injected confidence into my tone. “We don’t have a choice. All we can do is try.”
A rogue wave slapped against the rocks below. The salty spray caused goosebumps to break out along my bare skin. I didn’t prefer to go nude, but my leathers would surely weigh me down.
Kai pulled me close. His heat soothed the tension radiating across my shoulders. Gripping my chin, he pressed a chaste kiss to my temple. “You’ve got this.”
Lila snorted. “If you’re done let’s get this show on the road. I have a…” her voice cracked, “funeral to plan.”
Moving out of his embrace, I nodded. “I know.” Raising my hands, I dove into the agitating pool below.
The frigid water knocked the air from my lungs on contact. Acclimating my body temperature, I kicked to the surface. “Come on down! The water’s fine!”
Lila’s dry chuckle echoed to my ears. “Sure it is.” Manipulating the wind, she began her descent. Teased by the breeze, her platinum hair fanned out in multiple directions.
Kai assumed his Demon form and glided down. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Determined, I reached for my well. Clapping my palms together, I slowly peeled them apart. Frost coated my arms as swirls of mist licked off my skin. Sweat broke out along my brow at the magnitude of my task. Slowly, the surface dipped and formed a straight line to the shore. Funneling more power from my center, I bid walls to take shape.
As if Moses were parting the Red Sea, the ocean obeyed.
Dropping to the seafloor, I took a moment to marvel at my creation.
Roughly forty feet tall, shimmers of froth flickered up the glass-like panels in swirls of white. Large black rocks littered the wet sand. Their jagged edges seemed to move as multiple anemones shied away from the sudden influx of oxygen. Curious fish swam along the corridor briefly before dashing away in quick bursts.
With the flick of my wrist ice shot up the walls and held back the enormous weight.
Lila gasped.
Motioning her forward, I called out, “Don’t touch the sides!”
She threw me a queer look as if to say “no shit.” Clutching Riva’s pearl, she navigated the strange terrain with wet squelches. Handing over my backpack, she muttered, “Showoff.”
Grinning, I quickly dressed. “Jealous much?”
Shaking her head, she stared at the orb. “It doesn’t glow for me. Do you think it comes from wherever the Gate leads to?”
Sobering, I directed my magic to clear the path in front of us. “I don’t know, but we’re going to find out.”
Chapter 16
Riva
Pounding on my door, I yelled, “Let me out!”
I’d been at it for hours. My voice turned hoarse long ago, but I refused to give up.
After our arrival, Gideon had been whisked off by a banded Mer. Deep scratches lined her waist as if she’d been tearing at the strange ring. The charcoal material looked light, but she had acted as if it weighed more than her legs could bear. Completely nude, she hid behind the snarled lengths of her turquoise hair. Bite marks littered her skin and were in various stages of healing. None appeared to be life-threatening, but judging by her downcast face she wasn’t going to risk another beating.
Before I could react, a hood was pulled over my head. What I assumed to be a similar device locked around my hips. Unused to the weight, I nearly fell over backward.
Smacks sounded followed by grunts of pain. Gideon gasped. “Riva!”
Blindly, I reached out. “Where are you taking him!”
Only a deafening silence answered me. Hell, I didn’t even know if he was still alive.
Then I’d been tossed inside my cell like a piece of trash.
In between bouts of screaming, I busied myself exploring every inch of my room by touch alone. My hands and knees were raw from the constant abuse, but I just couldn’t stand any longer. The band around my waist made sense. Even if I donned my tail, there was no way for me to escape. It was just too heavy.
I’d never been afraid of the dark, but this was something else entirely. Every so often a hollow keening would screech through the walls. My scalp crawled in sheer terror as I huddled on the floor and prayed for it to pass.
Eventually, even that grew tiresome.
Beating my palm on the smooth stone, I screamed, “Let me out!”
So softly I almost missed it, someone whispered, “Stop it. You don’t want to make him angry.”
My ears pricked. “Who’s there?”
“If I answer will you stop shouting?”
Relieved to hear anything other than silence, I obliged. “Yes.”
“I am Kena.”
Why did that name ring a bell? Crawling across the floor toward her voice, the realization slapped me in the face. “Jin’s Kena?”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “How do you know my Mate’s name?”
My face slammed into the wall. Rubbing the sting from my nose, I located a small crack. Pressing my lips to it, I answered, “I met him. He thinks you’re dead.”
She snorted. “Obviously I’m not. Scared, yes, but very much alive. Berin faked the entire thing.”
“Why?”
“To keep me here for his awakening.”
Luna
My legs had become numb from the uncomfortable throne long ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Fisting the egg-sized topaz dominating my crown, I stared at the vacant room.
What a mess. How could I justify granting Jin’s freedom when I’d been prepared to banish Titus? We needed them to survive the coming battle just as much as they need us.
Judan’s soft voice echoed from the doorway. “My Queen? You need rest.”
Heaving a sigh, I tucked the diadem between my thighs. “What am I supposed to do, Judan? Half our people are celebrating Titus’s demise, and the others are busy calling for Jin’s death.”
Frowning, she padded across the soft sand to my side. “Before all this began you spoke of democracy. Is that still what you wish for our people?”
&n
bsp; “Yes.”
“Then let them decide.”
I knew she was right, but what kind of thanks would it be if they called for his death? Surely his own people wouldn’t stand for it.
She placed her fingers on my shoulder, her jade eyes conveying understanding. “Trust us, my Queen. It is the only way.”
The next morning my stomach filled with dread as I swished through the courtyard.
Every Mer in attendance anxiously fluttered their tails above the pink coral reef, with the exception of Jin.
He silently moved forward. His expression showed neither anger nor fear. He was resigned to his fate.
The Arcticians fanned out behind him with disapproving glares.
Turning to the side, Jin barked, “Stand down! Not a single Atlantean will be harmed no matter the outcome.”
Collin glowered. “It isn’t right, Jin!”
Jin pressed, “Promise me, Collin. Our people will need you if the outcome is not in my favor.”
Crossing his arms, Collin grunted, “No.”
Squaring his shoulders, Jin’s voice lowered to a commanding growl. “By my order, you will obey!”
Grudgingly, Collin acquiesced. Shifting back toward his people, his gaze settled on me. His eyes begged for mercy.
Sadly, I could not grant it. Unable to take his stare, I lifted my hands to the crowd. “King Jin has broken our law. Though he had my own well-being at heart, a decision must be made. A vote will be cast. All those who believe he should be banished, please come forward and speak freely.”
A single child moved through the crowd. I recognized her instantly. Kune, the young who’d been singled out by Mara the night before.
Those near her reached out. Gently, they touched her pale skin and whispered words of encouragement.
Though she must have been afraid, she didn’t balk or cower. Silently, she bowed before me. “My Queen?”
Drifting just inches from her, I answered, “Yes, Kune? Do you wish to cast your vote?”
Her bell-like voice rang out. “I do, but it is not only my vote I wish to cast.”
My brow lowered in confusion. “Whose side do you represent?”