Chapter 48
Asoft knock on the door pulled Kaid from the best sleep he had ever had. He grumbled, burying his face deeper into Asta’s hair and pulling her tighter against his chest. Frustratingly, the knock came again.
“Umh, I’m so sorry, but we need you in the foyer,” Niklas’s voice was hardly above a whisper. Clearly, Kaid’s shirt on the couch had not scared him off, so it must be important.
Kaid slid out of bed, pulling on his trousers and sauntering over to the door. He slipped out, gently closing it behind him so as to not wake Asta. Judging by the lack of sunlight, it was either very late at night or very early in the morning.
“What could be so important that you’ve dragged me from bed, Niklas?” Kaid leaned against the threshold with his arms crossed.
Niklas pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled. “There is someone here. Someone I think you will not care to wait until daylight to see.”
Was it his mother? Or some other siren? Who even knew where he was?
Kaid told Niklas that he would come down in a few minutes after he had time to fix his appearance.
He went back into the bedroom, waking Asta by peppering her face with kisses.
Another night spent together where Asta had completely forgotten about her hair combing ritual and fallen asleep with no reluctance.
Though, after the journey home then everything they had done last night, Kaid was not surprised that she was able to fall asleep immediately.
He righted his hair and cleaned his teeth, then sat on the couch while Asta did the same. Hand-in-hand, they walked to the entry hall.
As they descended the stairs, Kaid caught a glimpse of the top of his visitor’s head. He immediately knew who it was and began running down the stairs.
Kaid reached the bottom and sprinted directly into his father’s open arms. He didn’t care how childish it looked for a grown man to run to his father. This man had sacrificed more than Kaid had ever known and all he had given him in return was headaches over the years.
He pulled away and Duke Aerik—well, King Aerik—clapped a hand on his son’s shoulder. “It sounds to me like you have had quite the adventure since arriving in Orntali, son.”
Kaid laughed, because that was the shortest, most pleasant way to word it. “How did you get here?”
King Aerik delved into the story of how Annika—in her human form—had arrived in Haalberg to retrieve him.
He mentioned how fortuitous it was that she was the one sent to brief him, as he likely would not have believed anyone else aside from Arielle herself.
It had been a risk, all these years concealing a lost prince and he dreaded the day a half-finfolk came knocking at his door, blades at the ready. Luckily, that day never came.
Kaid grinned widely as he asked, “Father, are you ready to see your wife?”
The look of excitement and longing on Aerik’s face was indescribable, pouring off him and filling the air with hope and love and an aching need. He had not seen his soulmate—his bonded—in over twenty years, and it was time for Kaid to bring his father home.
The room was somber as everyone who was departing for Naltania hoisted their bags onto their shoulders, ensuring their blades were strapped properly and they had everything they needed.
Kaid once again secured the trident to his back and it hummed against him, like the purr of a delighted house cat.
Liva knelt in front of Tova and whispered to her, though her sister was unresponsive.
Tova would be staying here under the protection of Gyrial so she was not in harm's way in Naltania.
Kaid was grateful that Liva had agreed to join them in battle, knowing that having even one sea dragon was better than none.
Kaid watched Asta hug Niklas, then Gyrial, then Dyri, then finally, Linnea. She squeezed her cousin so tightly that Kaid was afraid she would snap her in half from her siren strength.
“Good luck out there, brother. See you on the other side.” Halsten held out his free hand for a shake while the other stabilized him using his cane.
Kaid pulled his best friend into a tight hug, similar to the one he had witnessed between Asta and Linnea.
This could very well be the last time he sees his best friend.
“Get that leg better, and take care of your girl. If I don’t make it back—” Kaid was shoved backward by Halsten, cutting him off.
“You’re making it back. We’re all making it back. And then we’re going to have a joint wedding and marry these ridiculous women and be happy once and for all. Got it?”
Kaid had no idea when his best friend had turned into such a sap, but it was a side of him Kaid was glad to see. Linnea was changing Halsten for the better like Asta was changing him.
Kaid nodded, then everyone stepped out onto the shore and mounted their kelpies, Asta giving Thurs affectionate pats before nudging her with her heels.
The kelpies rode into the waves, their colors morphing from dapple gray to emerald green, and their tails transforming into powerful fins.
Once Kaid was up to his chest in water, he felt a warm sensation through his body, and once he was fully underwater, his royal blue fin hung off the side of his kelpie steed.
Kaid turned around and observed his father in his siren form for the first time.
His face and torso looked the same, but it was incredibly odd to see him with a silvery gray tail fluttering in the current.
King Aerik sucked in a deep lung full of water and Kaid could see the tension in his body dissipate.
He had been a siren for over eighty years before he banished himself to land for his son.
The deprivation of his true self for so long must have been tormenting, and Kaid felt a pang of guilt in his chest even though he didn’t exactly have a say in the matter.
The kelpies traveled at the speed of light, making Kaid’s stomach roil.
He had never traveled this fast before and he could tell they were exerting themselves, but understood the importance of getting to Naltania quickly.
Traveling at this pace had left Liva and Annika behind, but they could take care of themselves.
Every so often, Kaid reached back to ensure the trident was still secured, yet he always knew it was there from the fervid vibrations against his skin.
Kaid let out a sigh of relief when the pearlescent castle came into view.
However, the setting was not like last time.
The light did not reflect onto the castle in a playful manner, no colorful fish danced between the coral, and come to think of it, the coral itself looked more dull.
The somber mood of leaving Orntali had traveled with them.
Everyone and everything knew that a battle was coming.
The kelpies dropped them at the gates, which swung open. Asta and Kaid moved aside, letting King Aerik be the first to enter. Liva, Revna, and Soren bowed their heads as Kaid’s father slowly swam into the castle. Through the doors, they could see the fiery-haired siren queen sobbing.