Chapter 18
Athousand thoughts raced through Soulara’s mind as she swam toward the surface. The sun’s light filtered through the topmost layers of water. It was beautiful, and the idea of losing it formed a permanent stone in the pit of Soulara’s stomach. But she couldn’t linger and enjoy the streaks and shards of light.
She was already late. So much for being a great leader. She would have settled for a mediocre one right about now.
Negotiations had seemed never-ending. She’d barely heard back from her father about the Kwights or from Makryn before she’d slid from the palace walls. Fuck mermaids all wanting more than what they were offered.
No, she didn’t resent their taking advantage of the opportunity to make demands. She understood she was asking a lot of fellow tribes who”d had little to do with each other for generations. But she would have appreciated if some of them understood this wasn’t a war she’d instigated. It would be a war she fought instead of allowing her people to succumb to a massacre.
Most of her people had returned with positive news.
Pregtox’s mood had been as bitter as Soulara had ever seen it. But he confirmed that the Kwights would be joining them before the next sun break. This sun break. She hadn’t checked in again with Pregtox before she escaped the last round of negotiations and headed directly for the surface.
Blind trust rankled against her scales, making them itch. But she had to have faith in her father and know he would greet the Kwights as he’d promised. She hadn’t asked what had happened, but she suspected she would hear about it all soon enough. Assuming they survived the attack.
Just another thing she hadn’t realized the importance of—honesty in those she appointed, because there would always be too much for just one person. Again, she realized just how remiss she had been in learning her role as leader of her people.
“I never wanted to be the leader,” she muttered on a stream of bubbles that brushed past her cheeks as she pushed herself as fast as she could.
The light that danced through the water mocked her as she slapped her fluke down. Her body screamed for a break, but she couldn’t stop. She might never be able to stop again.
Nylah appeared beside her and images of Autumn sitting in front of a clear barrier beneath the surface caught Soulara by surprise.
Was Autumn in danger?
As though Soulara had asked the question aloud, feelings of calm replaced her panic. She breathed easier as she sent Nylah a mental thank-you.
The ray swayed back and forth, one side lifting and then the other. Soulara smiled—Nylah was dancing. Because of her thanks? Soulara didn’t ask. She pushed forward to get where she was going.
“Can you take me to her?”
Nylah stopped dancing and sped off. With a quick flick of Soulara’s tail and twist of her hips, she pivoted to follow.
By the time they reached the strange obstruction of metal and glass that seemed to float independently of any coral or land or anything within the water, Soulara struggled to catch enough oxygen in the water.
But she could find more air later. She had to see Autumn one more time.
No. She sharply reprimanded herself.
She would see Autumn again. Soulara would find a way to save her.
A smile spread across Soulara’s face as she drew closer to the clear wall. Autumn’s back was turned toward her, but Soulara recognized the fall of dark hair and the strength in those broad shoulders.
Nylah sent out a panicked cry in her mind.
Soulara turned sharply toward the ray, just in time to see them hide behind a clump of seaweed. The seaweed had a strange color to it. Too light, as though it were a sick version of her favorite treat at home.
The panic radiated from the ray once more, and Soulara took heed enough to move quickly, dashing behind the seaweed to find Nylah curled up in ways she had never seen a ray behave before.
With trembling fingers, Soulara reached out to touch the creature. She hadn’t realized how much she took Nylah’s beautiful appearance for granted until her fingers hovered near the outline of them. There should have been solid resistance, but of course, how could there be? Nylah was a soul. They had no body or form, yet they were more real to Soulara than the other humans Autumn came to her planet with.
While there had been no connection with Nylah’s solid form, there had been something. A tingling sensation not entirely dissimilar to her own magic.
“It’s okay, my friend,” Soulara spoke softly, little more than a trill easily hidden behind the other natural sounds of the water.
Nylah uncurled just enough to lean one fin against Soulara’s hand. Without needing to ask, Nylah sent an image of a man turning toward Autumn, his eyes narrowed on Autumn. But Soulara understood. He faced the water—one flick of his eyes, and he’d have seen Soulara as she drew closer.
But Soulara’s skin crawled at the sneer the man wore. She had to make sure Autumn was safe. Hadn’t Autumn said being in one of the collectors didn’t make them friends? Something along those lines anyway. Soulara couldn’t remember, and her heart sped up with concern.
“I need to check.”
Nylah pushed more of themselves against Soulara’s hand, the concern radiating up her arm.
“I know. I’ve gotten quite used to you, too.” Soulara laughed a little as the ray pushed out of her hand, obviously unimpressed with Soulara’s downplaying of the emotions Nylah had sent to her.
“I’m kidding. I like you, too.” Soulara reached her hand out again and enjoyed the soul’s easy forgiveness. She knew no one else who could have such extreme emotions and allow them to shift so easily and seamlessly. Perhaps having a body did little more than limit their own hearts.
“Autumn.” Soulara took a gulp of the water, this time prepared for the thinner quality and that her head would spin soon.
Nylah didn’t try to stop her again, but stayed at her side, brushing their incorporeal fin against Soulara’s rib, back and forth as they crept out of their hiding space.
The space where Autumn had been was now empty but nearby movement pulled Soulara’s attention: a kraken moving away from that strange metal and glass space.
Nylah tucked under Soulara’s hair, hiding almost in plain sight. Soulara’s lips quirked up at that as she followed the kraken farther into the sea.
They were so close to the monster.
How she hadn’t been seen so far was beyond her. They’d never seemed to miss the mermaids before, always finding them even when hiding.
Soulara struggled to breathe as she got deeper than she normally dove, having to take shorter breaths to keep up and squint as the darkness surrounded her. Closing her eyes, Soulara focused.
If she could use magic to make herself breathe above the water, couldn’t she do the same for the deep soundings?
Pulling the tendrils of magic into her body, Soulara put every bit of focus she had on it. Nylah warmed her as the chilled water brushed against her skin. In an instant, it was already easier to breathe. Soulara pushed forward, following the kraken that held Autumn inside.
She didn’t want to let it out of her sight.
Mark it.
She needed to mark it so when the battle began she would know which one Autumn was in. Grabbing some coral in her hand, Soulara squeezed it hard and mashed it in her fist until there was a neon red paint in her palm. Once she did this, it meant war.
Pushing her fluke down hard, Soulara swam to catch up with the machine that was ahead of her. Nylah gave her extra energy, compelling her to push herself harder. Soulara picked a direct path, swimming until she was right on top of the beast. Two more inches and she’d reach the dome that held Autumn inside and any of the humans in there would be able to see her.
As gently and firmly as possible, Soulara pressed her hand right to the center of the kraken’s head, her palm leaving a mark in its wake. A loud crunching noise caught her attention. Soulara stopped moving, the kraken she’d marked pulling on ahead of her.
A mechanical tendril swiped through the water, and it was too late when Soulara finally saw it. It caught her in the stomach, wrapping around her and pushing her backward. Her breath knocked out of her. Her ribs nearly cracked. But she was shoved back and the mechanical arm left her body.
Soulara held still, watching as the kraken continued forward and deeper into the soundings. It faded into the darkness when Soulara finally tasted blood in her mouth. Reaching up, she brushed her fingers against her lips.
She must have bit her lip when she was hit.
Frowning, Soulara held her ground.
Did Autumn just try to save her?
Soulara stayed put for one more second before she swam quickly. They were waiting for her. It took her longer than she’d anticipated to arrive, but the Talon army along with the Kwights were present. Both were more used to the deeper soundings than those from Reine, so they swam, ready to fight without repercussions. The army from Reine would arrive soon, General Lomat in charge since Honour hadn’t returned yet.
“They’re on their way,” Soulara stated, looking directly at Nepham and Blound, the general from Kwight. “Are your armies ready?”
“Yes.” Nepham eyed her.
She knew that was going to be half the battle itself, convincing these armies that weren’t hers to take orders from her, but particularly for the Talons to take orders from a female. Soulara stilled, giving Nepham the sternest look she could give him. She would take his disdain of her sex and fight him on it tooth and nail.
“Prepare them. We’ll dive as soon as Reine arrives.”
“We’re here, Your Highness,” Lomat said as he stopped next to her, his chest rising and falling. He hadn’t donned his mask yet, and she wanted to reprimand him, but she’d do it somewhere else, not in front of the other leaders.
Soulara straightened her shoulders, pulling every ounce of confidence she knew she didn’t have. She was so far out of her element. “Nepham, come straight on. You have the most experience with them. Blound, from the east, and we’ll come from the west. There are three of them. I’ve had eyes on them. The marked one is Reine’s. You can fight over whoever is left.”
“Are they together?” Blound asked, his hands folded neatly in front of him just like they should be. The Kwights were such a conservative tribe.
“They were when I saw them.”
“They don’t stay together, but in close proximity,” Nepham chimed in. “The farthest I’ve seen them apart is a few leagues.”
“Well, then. We’ll have to trust each other to do our jobs. Yes?” Soulara raised an eyebrow at them before glancing at Lomat. “We do this together. Understood?”
When she got nods from everyone, she dismissed them. Lomat snagged her arm and pulled her close, his lips to her ear. “You should stay behind.”
“It’s not happening, General.” Soulara tried to shake his grip. He was holding onto her more firmly than she’d originally thought. “Let go of me, General.”
“It’s my job to protect you,” he hissed into her ear. “I won’t have a dead heir on my hands.”
“Then it’s a good thing that I won’t be dying.” Soulara ripped her arm from his grasp. If only Honour were here, she would have his head. Soulara clenched her jaw hard. “And put your fucking mask on, General. I can hear you wheezing from a league away.”
Lomat scowled, but pulled the mask over his face as she swam off to address the troops. This was a battle she was ready for. Soulara took the extra mask they’d brought her and slid it over her body along with the armor. She wouldn’t let him push her around.
Because this was her make-it-or-break-it moment.
This was when she was either going to break her promise—
Autumn would drown.
—or Reine would cease to exist.
Swimming along the length of her army, Soulara commanded their attention. The weight of her decisions settled in her chest, the pressure almost unbearable. But this was her home, and she’d defend it to her dying day.
“Let’s fight.”