9. Eve #2
Hyra’s face hardens. The room temperature plummets, making me shiver.
“Nixie has wanted to be queen from the moment she got here.”
Venom drips from every word. Clearly, these two females have history together.
“Fucking the king is the closest she’ll get.”
Walking towards me, she settles atop my mused sheets. She smells of salt and the air just before it rains. An enchanting quality about her pulls me in despite my reservations. It must be her magic.
I can’t stop myself from turning towards her.
“You can be more, Eve. You can be everything. My uncle will listen to you and change things.”
Ignoring her pleading tone, I roll my eyes.
“I have no intention of changing things. Or of being his queen. If there isn’t a way back to the surface, then once I grow bored enough, I’ll throw myself into the water and be done with this whole ordeal.”
Hyra gasps.
Gripping my arm, her webbed fingers place cool, sticky kisses against my arm. I jerk back, but she holds firm. Stew sloshes over my bowel and soaks into my pants. I glare between her hand and the stain on my clothes.
“You can’t.”
“Why not?” I snap. “Leri told me mates' souls are not contained to one body. Once I die, another mate will be born. He can try—”
“There won’t be another mate.” Hyra’s blue eyes swirl with the intensity of a thousand whirlpools. “It’s the nature of the curse. My uncle’s mate was to be human with a soul that will be born once.”
Frost licks over my skin. Unease trickles into my stomach.
“For Kraken Kings like Harven, who live seemingly endless lives when the rest of the seafolk do not, you are correct. Mates were reborn. Harven’s father lived through three iterations of his mate, each one living for centuries before perishing.
He also sired Harven with one of his favored Pearls, Mysta.
“The old king had dozens of children and ten full kraken sons who had a claim to the throne. My father, Jarden, was the old king’s eldest.”
“And why is he not king?” I purse my lips. “And how were you born?”
“I was born before the curse was laid. Only full krakens can be male, and the throne will pass to them. My mother had been a siren from a lower house.
“My birth wasn’t celebrated because she was seen as unworthy of the royal seed. I was seen as lesser than. It was King Harven who legitimized me and gave me the title of princess so I could take my rightful place at court.”
The chill in my heart thaws at the soft smile on her face. Still, I won’t be swayed by Harven’s character over one nice deed.
I set my bowl on the floor and cross my arms over my chest.
“Where are the rest of his brothers?”
“Dead,” Hyra says simply. “There can only be one ruling kraken when the king passes. The throne must be secured by blood. Harven was also seen as illegitimate in his claim to rule. A bastard born to a Pearl instead of the former king’s mate.
“When it came time for the duel, it didn’t matter. Strength is rewarded amongst our kind, and Harven is the most powerful kraken in history. He slaughtered his brothers with ease and claimed the throne for himself.”
The most powerful kraken in history?
He certainly looks the part. I felt that raw power when he touched me. His staggering build demands submission. However, hearing the bloody truth of his past makes my mouth go dry.
“A family annihilator. How wonderful.” I shake my head. “All these things I’m learning don't make me want to share my gene pool with him.”
Hyra releases my arm. A soft tentacle skims up my leg in comfort. I withstand the touch and brace myself for the rest of her tale.
“We are all better off with Harven as king, Eve. I’m sympathetic that you haven’t seen him at his best. Believe me when I say Harven is the best king we could’ve asked for given the alternatives.
“His brothers were cruel—my father worst of all. They killed for sport. Raped—pillaged small territories. Conquered settlements for their females and gold. They terrorized the seas for amusement. It’s his brothers’ cruelty, and his father’s inaction in curtailing their horrible deeds, that led to Gyll cursing them.
“She struck before anyone sired a full kraken. She appeared on the night of the old king’s death to lay down her edict.
You must understand, Eve, lineage is everything.
It indicates a king’s strength by how many full krakens he can produce.
It proves his seed is strong. Gyll’s curse bound them.
It decreed that none could produce children with anyone.
“The only one who could bear them an heir would be their fated mate whose soul was tucked away into the human world. Enraged by this, the brothers vowed to breach land and slaughter every human until they found her.
“They agreed that whoever secured the throne would keep her chained to a bed until she bore enough heirs to last for centuries. Once she was properly used up, they would give her over to the tides.”
Dizziness washes over me like a wave. I have to grip the sheets to keep myself upright. Is that Harven’s plan, too? If so, why is she telling me this? Is it her way of saying, supplicate now before things get a lot worse?
Hyra notes my alarm and wraps a soft hand around my white-knuckled fist.
“It was Harven who voiced a differing opinion. He proclaimed whoever his human mate was would be treated fairly—with respect. You must understand, Eve, our society is structured around those with the most magic—the most power—to rule it. And without magic you—”
“Rank no better than the seaweed?”
Hyra cringes but nods.
“Yes. The curse wasn’t just to punish the brothers by limiting their ability to sire heirs. It was to determine who was worthy to rule. A human mate would be seen as sullying the bloodline. The Sea Witch Gyll may seem evil, but she is not. She just is. A piece of the sea from its creation.
“When Harven decreed that his human mate would be queen, many laughed at him. It would be an embarrassment to call such a weak being queen, but Harven wouldn’t hear of it.
His brothers were still laughing during the duel when he tore them to shreds.
It was the first step in passing the Sea Witch’s test.
“King Harven would be a firm, but much kinder ruler than his father—than any of his brothers. But he still had the curse to contend with if he didn’t wish for the kingdom to backslide into old ways.
“If he can’t secure his line with a son to continue his era of peace, there are many that will take us back to the dark, violent days of the past. Where the weaker seafolks are killed for amusement.
My uncle has worked so hard for our people's betterment. It would be a shame to see it all be for nothing.”
Hyra looks at me expectantly.
I avoid her searching gaze and stare into the dark ocean. Had I known what I was going to learn by letting her into my room, I never would’ve opened the door.
Even as I think it, I know the words are untrue.
More annoyingly, I find that the burning rage I had towards Harven is gone. My hardened heart has a crack for him—for the choices he was forced to make. Despite his growled statement at dinner, he hadn’t hurt me. Had not forced me in any way. Not as his brothers would’ve done if they ruled instead.
I want to scream. I refuse to feel sympathy for my kidnapper and yet—
“You don’t forgive him, not yet,” Hyra says. “But all I ask, Eve—all any of us who have seen the good Harven has done ask—is that you give him another chance. He may surprise you. Let him prove himself worthy. You can be happy here.”
“How?” I whisper.
“With the king.” Hyra squeezes my hand. “He has hunted for you for centuries. The lives he claimed would pale in comparison to the ones his brothers would’ve taken. They would’ve flooded the world in order to find you. Hundreds of thousands more would’ve perished, I assure you.”
“A comforting thought,” I mumble.
Hyra’s eyes glow anew. Warmth radiates from her body.
“He longs for you, Eve. In a way he never has for anyone else. You are his mate—his queen. Consider all that I’ve said tonight and give him the opportunity to fix his mistakes.”
Hyra rises with fluid grace. Her silver dress reflects the blue light from my bedside table.
The throbbing at my temples comes roaring back. I don’t even know where to begin with unpacking everything she’s told me.
“I’ll think about it, princess.”
A feral gleam kindles in her eyes.