Chapter 35 Malec #2
Before I can blink, a sharp, blinding red glow ignites from her eyes, forcing all of us to turn away.
Myko’s roar fills the room, the water vibrating violently around us.
"Morvakar," the word crashes in my mind, filled with venom. Myko spits it like a curse. I’m not sure if I’m the only one hearing it now—but I’ve never felt him this furious.
“Morvakar?” I echo, staring into Onyx’s eyes now. They look just like Bay’s… only hers are like twin blood-red gates to hell, newly opened.
Myko growls at Onyx’s frozen body.
"Mykonian," an ancient, rough voice rumbles from Onyx’s lips, daring, mocking. "You let me rot down here for centuries, and now, when I’ve finally marked my chosen, you come to break the bond?"
The queen lets out a strangled whimper. I cut her a glare sharp enough to tear scales from her face. She’d better stay silent—or not one, but two ancient beasts will wipe out her precious bloodline… and leave me starving.
I don’t know how to break an ancient bond, but I’m willing to try. I promised Onyx. I promised my aunt.
I don’t know where I find the courage… but I do.
“Morvakar.”
His name feels foreign on my tongue, but just as venomous as when Myko spat it.
Onyx’s face jerks toward me, her glowing eyes scanning me from my tail to my head, her lips curling in a deep, guttural groan.
“Tell me your terms to break the bond, and I’ll see it done,” I say, calm and unwavering. He won’t rattle me. I grew up with Myko. I grew up in a family far crazier than this—an angry beast isn’t what’s going to break me.
“Break the bond?”
His snarl warps Onyx’s face into something grotesque. Then her head snaps toward Myko.
“You didn’t tell your chosen one—and the sad excuse of the Coral rebirth—that tiny, critical detail?” His laugh rattles out of Onyx’s mouth. “You merfolk have always been so ignorant… nothing’s changed.”
I glance between Onyx and Myko. Then at Bay.
What am I missing?
Bay starts to move closer, but I raise a hand to stop her before she can approach Myko. She shouldn’t interfere yet. Not until I understand what’s unfolding.
“We don’t choose—” Myko begins in my mind, but Morvakar cuts him off.
“Nothing can break a bond once it’s decided. And neither side gets to choose.”
I don’t like his mocking tone, but something in his words gnaws at me.
I frown. “Didn’t you choose Bay?”
Myko exhales heavily in my head, as if he’s finally resigned to explain.
“We don’t choose. We recognize our anchor the moment we encounter them up close for the first time. The bond attracts opposites—evil and good, grief and joy, pessimism and optimism. That’s why we call them anchors—they complete what we lack, binding us into one.”
I turn to Bay. Her defeated expression tells me she heard it all, too. I wonder if she always knew.
But it doesn’t matter now.
“What do we do with Onyx?”
“Lead her to the beast.”
“What?” I gasp aloud. Onyx’s head snaps back toward me.
“I will not interfere,” Myko rumbles again, his voice crawling across the water toward Onyx. I glance around, unsure if everyone else is hearing it too, it feels too loud to be confined to my mind.
The red glow fades from Onyx’s eyes, revealing her dark, shimmering gems as she blinks, dazed.
“What’s going on?” she murmurs, shaking her head.
“The beast is already awake. The only thing that would keep it from tearing through everything is an anchor,” Myko explains. “We can’t interfere, Malec. I hate to admit it… but he’s right. It’s for the ocean’s safety.”
I clench my teeth so hard I taste blood. “I hate when my hands are tied. I never break my promises.”
Bay drifts closer to my ear after a few seconds.
“It wasn’t your promise to begin with. It was mine. Let me handle it.”
She rests her hand briefly on my shoulder, then glides over to Onyx, guiding her gently toward the far side of the room.
I nod, forcing myself to let go, then turn to the king and queen.
“I need you to coil around Alessio and hold him in a moment,” I tell Myko, glancing at Alessio. He nods back in understanding. If I don’t need the king specifically now, then it’s time.
“Are you planning—” Myko starts, but I cut him off, focusing on the king.
“King Volar.”
I pause, dragging out the words, buying a few crucial seconds. The king suddenly tilts his head sharply, his gaze locking onto mine.
Bingo. There it is.
I fight a smirk. “I need you to take me to the beast’s sealed chamber.”
“It would be my honor,” he replies, glancing toward his sons.
“Lead the Depthborne to the beast’s chamber,” he orders. The queen’s sharp gasp beside him is so loud, I half expect her heart to give out right then—especially with everything unfolding.
“But father—”
“Did you hear me?” he growls at the eldest son, who quickly bows in submission.
As he rises, he turns to me and gestures toward the wide entrance.
“Bay,” I call, turning to my aunt now at the far corner. “You two, follow him.”
The queen grabs the king’s arm. “No—”
“If you want your remaining bloodline alive and well, stay out of matters beyond your control,” Bay snaps coldly, swimming forward as Onyx trails after her, looking like her entire soul has been shattered.
I clench my fists. I broke a promise for the first time in my life. I failed her.
But it no longer matters—we have no choice now.
“Volar! You can’t be serious!” the queen whimpers, but the king silences her with a single wave of his hand. I almost laugh at the scene.
The eldest son stands waiting at the entrance, ready for me to follow too.
“Could you tell me where your brother was last seen before he disappeared?” I ask him, hoping he might know more than his father, I’ll get more details from Mon too. It might save me another headache.
He hesitates, glancing between me and his father, but then nods.
“You can take Alessio out of here,” I add, smirking despite myself. “He’s done his job.”