Chapter 38
Kaid didn’t know what he expected his mother to claim was the war-ending weapon, but he never expected it to be a hair comb.
The siren empress had signed fervently back and forth with Asta regarding the missing siren antique. Their pace was so fast that Kaid hardly had time to interpret a sentence before they were already three ahead of him.
Asta summed up their conversation—the sirens have always believed that the fae stole the trident in an attempt to restore peace between the seafolk species.
To a degree, the fae had always felt responsible for the ongoing feud between merfolk species since they directly contributed to creating the sirens.
However, on a more selfish perspective, they also likely concealed the trident to prevent the sea war from progressing onto land.
Since the comb and mirror had not been recovered in thousands of years, Queen Arielle speculated that the fae had also hidden them in their peace efforts.
However, from the selkie reports, there were not even whispered discussions regarding the comb and mirror in fae culture. The items were truly a mystery.
Naturally—and to no surprise to Kaid—Asta saw this as a challenge. She wanted to be the one to return those items to their rightful owners, and he was sure she would succeed in that. Asta was not the type to let anything get in the way of what she wanted.
The next morning, Asta and Kaid prepared to return to Orntali and begin their search.
Kaid had his first nights sleep in his true home and he had never slept better.
Between the soft glow of the pearlescent walls and gentle sway of the sea sponge bed, mixed with the exhaustion of being abducted for the last few days and also the emotional toll of finally meeting his mother, it was no surprise that Kaid had drifted off easily.
Amazingly enough, he started to grow accustomed to the cuff and chain on his arm.
They felt like an extension of himself and he no longer felt their presence when he rested.
Asta had slept in the guest suite across the hall and as much as Kaid wanted to protest it, he hadn’t had the energy at the time.
Now, though, he wished he had. Their only night spent together thus far was spent in pain within a cold, damp cave and Kaid desperately wanted to rectify that.
He supposed he would have the rest of his life to do so, but he did not want to waste any more time spent without Asta.
His blonde princess knew how to command a room when she was human, but now that Kaid had seen her siren form, nothing could top that.
She wore her fin as if she’d been born with it and moved underwater with such grace.
Seeing her as a mythical creature felt so natural that it was odd to think she was originally human.
However, it was time to return to land and complete their mission. Asta packed up her bag and prepared Thurs for the venture. Luckily, the other kelpies were healed from their assistance in Kaid’s escape so their herd was full once more.
Kaid hugged his mother farewell and he knew exactly what she had meant when she signed, “See you soon,” meaning she would accept no other outcome than Kaid returning to Naltania.
Asta pulled herself up onto Thurs while Kaid accepted the seat offered to him by another kelpie.
He knew how important it was that the kelpie had offered him a ride, as the elusive sea horses did not like to be touched or tamed.
The reality that Asta had managed to tame Thurs—in the loosest definition of the word—was a testament to her tenacity.
“Your Highness!” Kaid heard a male’s voice behind him. “Wait!”
Soren rushed over to them, a pack slung across his torso. Revna swam up behind him, keeping pace but looking far less winded than the orange-finned warrior.
“What’s wrong? What’s happened?” Asta asked.
Soren grinned. “Nothing is wrong, besides the fact that you lot were attempting to leave us behind.”
“Leave you behind?” Kaid shook his head. “You are intending to join us?”
“We are not intending to do anything. We are coming with you,” Revna stated plainly. “You are our prince, who had been lost since his birth. We swear our allegiance and lives to you. We will accompany and protect you, from now until the currents retrieve our drifting corpses.”
“To you, and to Princess Asta,” Soren added.
Revna sighed, mumbling to herself. “Speak for yourself.”
Soren elbowed her in the side, though she did not flinch.
“Very well,” Kaid waved a hand. “Find some kelpies willing to offer you rides. If you can each find one, you can come.”
When the two siren warriors were offered rides from multiple kelpies, Kaid concluded that they were likely better off taking the warriors anyway. And so, they returned to Orntali.