Kai
Chapter nineteen
Holy & Haunted
“How close are we, Jay?” The sun is just beginning to stretch its golden limbs across the horizon, my favorite time of day.
The world bathes in amber, shadows long and soft, and the ocean shimmers like molten gold beneath us.
There’s something sacred about this light, like the sea is holding its breath, waiting for the day to start.
“I’d say we’ll be there shortly.” Jay takes a drag from his pipe. “Mermaids, Cap? That’s what you’re after now?”
I cut him a look, sharp and quick. “We’re not after them to hurt them. We’re after answers.”
“Aye, and what of the one that always used to pay you late-night visits?” he says.
I hold his stare. “We are not to speak of her. Not with Mira on board this vessel.” My voice doesn’t falter.
Then, after a beat: “Mira is something special, isn’t she?” His glance is sly, half-curious, half-knowing. He shouldn’t ask, but if anyone could, it’s Jay.
“Yes,” I say, my gaze turning forward again. “She is. And if you ever see her in danger, especially if I’m not there, I want you to protect her with your life.”
Jay doesn’t hesitate. “Understood, Cap.”
I leave him at the helm and head down to the main deck.
Morning silence wraps around me, broken only by the rhythmic crash of waves and the occasional whistle of wind through the rigging.
I lean over the edge to watch the dolphins trailing us, sleek, silver shapes leaping in and out of the surf like they’re escorting us home.
The scent of salt and damp wood fills my lungs.
The deck slick beneath my boots, still holding the night’s chill.
There’s nothing like the sea at dawn, silent and waiting.
And then, just ahead, I see it—Wonder Lagoon, rising from the ocean like a secret whispered by the tides.
A crescent-shaped sliver of land cradles a lagoon of impossibly clear water that shimmers in shades of turquoise, jade, violet, and gold, revealing coral reefs below like a painter’s palette spilled across the ocean floor.
Schools of fish flicker between them like living jewels, while the lagoon curves in a perfect U-shape, hugged by lush trees, wildflowers blooming in every color, and crystals that glint like scattered stars under the sun.
The reefs form a natural barrier. No ship could dock near their sacred home. Only those they allow in ever reach the shore. And they always know when someone’s coming. It’s up to them what happens next.
I move to find Mira, to warn her, tell her to prepare herself. But when I turn, she’s already there, standing beside Jay like she’s been part of this crew her entire life.
Her long, dark curls dance in the sea breeze, catching streaks of gold from the rising sun.
She’s wearing a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to reveal her forearms, tucked into a snug black corset that hugs every curve with wicked precision.
Her dark pants lace at the sides, and her boots, scuffed and worn, look like they’ve seen battles and begged for more.
And atop her head, her father’s captain’s hat tilts low over her brow.
She looks like the fiercest damn pirate I’ve ever laid eyes on. And she’s mine. She must feel me staring, because her gaze flicks down for a second, that soft, knowing smile playing on her lips. That smile is the most dangerous thing.
Mira descends from the helm toward me, every step confident, calculated. “Morning, Kai. Looks like we’ve made it to Wonder Lagoon.” Her voice is thick with sleep, rough around the edges.
“We have,” I say, eyes lingering on her. “You ready?”
She cocks her head, that half smile curving higher. “I always am. The question is, are you?”
I grin. “Bold words for someone who still has yet to outsail me.”
She raises a brow. “I wasn’t aware this was a competition.”
“Oh, with you, it always is.”
She chuckles, brushing past me, her scent of vanilla and sea salt following her as her shoulder intentionally grazes mine, a silent challenge. I turn to follow, grinning like a fool. Whatever waits for us in that lagoon… I already know the most dangerous thing is walking just ahead of me.
As we near the lagoon, Mira stands beside me, calm.
There’s something about her stillness that unsettles me, like she already knows what’s waiting for us and has quietly made peace with it.
I haven’t. Whatever fate lies ahead, I will never accept one where she’s hurt, or worse, lost to me.
Feelings I’m having to get used to now. There’s no more fighting the pull I feel towards her.
Adella’s warning echoes in the back of my mind. She said Anya couldn’t be trusted. Called her venomous and manipulative. Veyra said the same, and she’s not the type to toss around judgment lightly. However, she’s the one who sent us here.
Sure, Adella’s words that night were laced with jealousy, that much was obvious.
But even in her madness, she cares in her own twisted way.
She wouldn’t say something just to get under my skin.
Not about her. She’s not reckless enough to cross someone like Mira, not the daughter of the Siren Queen, not the new Soul of the Ocean.
I’m still trying to make sense of how I ended up tied to a woman like that. A woman no man deserves.
If Adella had anything to do with sabotaging Mira, she’d be as good as dead.
No one would protect her. Not even me. So if she’s warning me about Anya?
I’m listening. Because Mira’s walking into that lagoon like she’s ready to face a storm.
And I’ll be damned if I let her face it alone.
So I’ll go in with my guard up and I won’t leave Mira’s side. Not for a second.
The lagoon is breathtaking, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It feels like a dream, like if I blink too long, it’ll vanish.
At the center of the lagoon, a massive rock formation juts from the water like a throne carved by the tides. It has to be Anya’s.
We lower the small boat to head toward shore. In the distance, I catch the movement of mermaids and mermen. Their laughter echoes faintly over the water. Younglings dart between them, fearless, playful. This is their sanctuary, a hidden world for creatures too mesmerizing to exist anywhere else.
One by one we descend the ladder on the side of the ship to board the boat.
First me, then Jay, Smith, and Nate, another crewmate Mira insisted on bringing.
When it’s Mira’s turn, I place my hands on her hips and lift her with ease, steadying her as she steps aboard.
Her fingers linger on my shoulders before she settles beside me.
I’ll take any excuse now to touch, especially after knowing exactly what she tastes like.
A splash to my right draws my attention. I glance into the water.
“You two must come alone. No one else.”
The voice is sweet, too sweet. A mermaid rises from the lagoon, wavy green hair cascading down her back like her hair was made from seaweed, eyes the color of blooming red roses, and a shimmering green tail that flicks lazily behind her. Her beauty is sharp, stunning, like it was crafted to disarm.
“Keep the ship safe,” I tell the others. “We’ll return shortly.” Jay looks like he wants to argue, but one glance at Mira tells him now’s not the time.
“I wonder why she wants us to come alone,” Mira murmurs, head on a swivel.
I grip the oars and begin to paddle us forward.
“Privacy,” I say gently. “This place is their sanctuary. They’ll only allow in who they trust.” I do my best to sound sincere, even though a knot of unease coils tight in my chest. I hate that I haven’t told her about my encounter with Adella yet, or about Adella at all.
We glide through the glittering water, the boat silent except for the soft dip and pull of the oars. The lagoon holds its breath with us.
I glance forward and I see them. Eyes. Dozens at first, then more mermaids and merman. Even younglings. Slipping up from the water’s edge, watching with unreadable expressions, their gazes fixed. There must be over a hundred. They’re waiting, expectant.
Mira and I share a wordless glance. We came here for answers. For guidance. For a path to the fountain. But right now, we’re more lost than ever.
A few mermen begin to push the boat forward, their sleek tails slicing effortlessly through the water.
They guide us toward the stone formation that rises like a throne, anchored in the very heart of the lagoon.
With a soft thud, the boat touches the edge of the rock, and silence falls like a curtain.
We step out, our boots crunching against the sand that sticks to the slick stone.
The quiet isn’t just still, it’s weighted and thick with tension.
Thoughts buzz around me like screams with no mouths to voice them.
No one speaks, but the magic here does. It pulses in the water and thrums in the stone, humming through my bones like a warning.
I hate this kind of uncertainty. I wish I could use my magic to read mermaids and sirens the way I can with humans. But it doesn’t work on them, at least, not yet. Maybe I haven’t unlocked that part of myself, or maybe it’s locked for a reason.
Beside me, Mira’s heart pounds like a war drum. I reach for her hand without thinking, lacing my fingers through hers, brushing my thumb across her skin. Her breath hitches, then steadies. We don’t speak, both bracing for whatever comes next.
All eyes shift at once. I follow their gaze just in time to catch a dark shape slicing through the water with alarming speed.
Her tail skims the surface like a shark’s fin, sending sharp ripples across the lagoon.
Instinct takes over. I step in front of Mira, arm out, bracing for whatever is about to happen.