A New Oshea
Chapter Thirty-Eight
SADIE
The entire pod is gathered within four hours of Kyros’s decision.
The council moves quickly.
Currents clog with bodies as Kyros leads me through Tideborn, the water crowded with more Mer than I’ve ever seen in one location. There must be thousands, and they’re all moving toward the massive, central structure spiraling above the city.
Hundreds of color-speckled eyes follow us as we pass through.
I stay close to Kyros as we move through the currents. The warmth of his hand against mine is grounding, even if it’s a bit surreal. Kyros and I are holding hands, his webbing rubbing against mine. It’s an odd feeling.
All of this is odd.
And I’m still struggling to process what just happened inside the council chambers. Kyros gave up everything for me, and he doesn’t seem the least bit remorseful. There’s still time for that emotion to come, though.
It’s only been a few hours.
The massive tower grows larger as we approach. It’s on the east side of the pod, and unlike most of the other buildings within Tideborn, this one is covered in dark-blue coral instead of white stone. It looks like an open auditorium, with a platform in the center.
It reminds me faintly of the Sydney Opera House…not that I’ve ever been there. But I’ve seen photos.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
Kyros squeezes my hand. “Most ceremonies are held here.”
The closer we move to the tower, the warmer the water becomes. The current itself feels stronger, brushing insistently against my skin. It wraps around my ankles, guiding us inward.
“I look forward to showing you around the pod,” Kyros admits, his voice low. “And when the water cools, I’ll bring you to the thermal vents. We can watch the fish migrate together.”
My cheeks warm, betraying my emotions to the hundreds of watchful Mer looking at me.
They crowd the open auditorium ahead in thick clusters, their tails weaving through the water in flashes of color. Crimson. Gold. Blue. Silver. Even the occasional pink.
It looks like a Crayola explosion.
Every male straightens up, and every female swoons as we pass through. I’ve never paid attention to the way the Tideborn look at Kyros. I’ve always been too busy glaring at the back of his head. But now I see it.
They respect him. Maybe even fear him. From the sounds of it, Kyros is one of the pod’s best fighters, if not the best.
Kyros leads me into the auditorium, stopping directly beside the platform. His grip tightens slightly around my hand before releasing.
I immediately miss the contact.
Mavek and Daros are already waiting on the platform, while Seraya drifts several feet behind them. Her pale expression is perfectly composed, but the strain around her eyes gives her away. She looks exhausted.
Heartbroken, maybe.
A twinge of guilt works its way down my spine. Kyros has admitted to me that they were once intimate, and apparently, that means something to the Mer. She also asked him to spend the red bloom with her, which he said he’d consider.
Then I came along.
I’d probably hate me, too.
“Don’t move from this spot,” Kyros orders. He pauses, clearing his throat, then adds a hasty, “Please.”
He’s learning.
A low humming spreads through the crowd as Kyros joins the council on the platform. Mer bow their heads as he passes, their tails lowering slightly beneath them.
This is sacred.
The humming stops only once Kyros is with the others.
Daros is closest, his scarred cerulean tail flickering beneath him. When he speaks, his voice is loud. Oshea. He lowers his head slightly, not exactly in submission, but more so in respect. You have been a strong leader for Tideborn.
Kyros nods once. I did what was required.
You did more than was required.
Emotion briefly flashes across Kyros’s face. He looks shocked by the compliment, like he wasn’t expecting Daros to give one. Daros doesn’t approve of me. He and Seraya have been on team ‘murder Sadie’ since the very moment they laid eyes on me.
Daros continues. But your time as Oshea has come to an end.
Kyros and Daros turn toward Mavek. Seraya stares blankly out at the crowd, her hands clasped politely and her tail curled softly beneath her. She’s perfectly composed—the picture of poise. If I didn’t know any better, I wouldn’t be able to tell that she’s absolutely seething.
Mavek shifts, visibly uncomfortable underneath all the attention. His orange tail lashes once before calming.
Are you sure about this? he asks Kyros.
Kyros nods. Yes. He looks over his shoulder, his eyes scanning the crowd before finding me. His lips curl before he turns back to Mavek.
Mavek shakes his head. Very well. He exhales, bubbles erupting from his mouth, before he shrugs and straightens his shoulders. Let’s get this over with.
Daros pulls out a dagger, the blade flashing as he hands it to Kyros.
The entire chamber stills.
The dagger is unlike any weapon I’ve ever seen. The blade is carved from black stone rather than metal, and several jagged symbols are etched into its side. Blue-green algae glows faintly within the grooves, pulsing softly beneath the water.
My stomach tightens.
Oh, God. He’s going to cut himself.
Kyros wraps his hand around the handle, holding it tightly within his fist. I cringe, waiting for blood as he faces Mavek. Instead of slicing his palm, Kyros presses the tip of the dagger against the center of his chest. Directly over his heart.
He shuts his eyes as the algae along the knife brightens, the glow spreading along the blade in faint blue lines. When it reaches the tip, Kyros turns the dagger. He moves quickly, pressing the flat of the blade against Mavek’s throat.
Mavek doesn’t so much as flinch.
Kyros speaks first. I release Tideborn to you.
Mavek swallows. And I accept the responsibility.
Will you protect and provide for the pod? Will you place their lives above your own?
I will.
Will you lead with strength when strength is needed, and mercy when mercy is deserved?
Mavek doesn’t hesitate. I will.
Kyros drifts closer, the water shifting around him. And if the sea itself turns against Tideborn?
Then I will stand between Tideborn and the abyss until my heart stops beating.
The crowd surrounding me bows, every head lowering in acknowledgment.
Soft pulses of color flicker beneath nearby scales, rippling through the crowd like emotion made visible, and a low humming begins to vibrate through the space again.
Each individual is quiet, but collectively, it’s almost deafening.
Kyros removes the blade and lifts a hand to his head. Slowly, he removes the pearl-and-obsidian crown resting against his dark hair. The crown nearly disappears against the wavy strands—subtle enough that I somehow didn’t notice it until now.
He places the crown into Mavek’s waiting hands.
I leave Tideborn in your care, he murmurs.
Mavek offers a small smile. And I accept it.
The blade is handed back to Daros.
The Mer fall silent as Kyros faces the crowd. His gaze flickers from person to person, but he doesn’t speak. He’s taking it all in, taking one last moment for himself. The Mer lower their heads and drop their tails.
I hold my breath, waiting to see his regret.
But he shows none.
He smiles—a real, genuine smile.
Thank you all. It was an honor to serve Tideborn as Oshea. He licks his lips. And I look forward to getting to know you all as an equal.
Hushed murmuring spreads through the crowd. Again, soft light pulses beneath skin, the colors shifting rapidly through the chamber as Kyros drifts off the platform. He holds his chin high as he makes his way to me.
Heads turn, following his descent, before returning to the platform.
Daros and Seraya stand behind Mavek, their heads obediently lowered. Several seconds pass before they look up, and the others in the area are quick to do the same.
Kyros stops in front of me, and something vulnerable flashes across his face. What now? The question hangs heavily between us. Kyros has given up everything for me, and neither of us knows what comes next.
Seraya’s voice draws my attention. She’s now standing beside Mavek.
We are down a council member, she says. Daros and I will operate under duo standards until a third has been chosen. Expect updates in the coming days.
Seraya glances toward Daros, her expression sharpening.
This is a big change, but Tideborn will adapt, Daros says to the crowd, his eyes lingering on me. We always do.
The crowd begins to disperse, currents shifting as groups peel away from the building. Murmured conversations spread rapidly through the water.
“Do you regret it?” I ask Kyros.
“No.”
He answers without even a second of hesitation.
I chew at my bottom lip, dragging my gaze from the platform to Kyros. He’s already looking at me, his crimson-speckled eyes boring holes into the side of my head.
“What now?” I ask.
For the first time since meeting Kyros, neither of us is being dragged somewhere by duty.
Kyros shrugs. “The red bloom will be here soon, and we should begin preparing for that. I’d like to find us a private cove. Most Mer will drift outside Tideborn waters, but for your safety, I think it’s best we remain within the pod.”
I nod, unsure. A little excited, too.
Kyros studies me for a moment before extending his hand.
“But for now,” he continues, “I’d like to show you Tideborn.”
I stare at his hand for a long moment before slipping mine into it. This is it. It’s really happening.
The crowd is still dispersing as Kyros tugs me away from the auditorium. Mer continue sneaking glances toward us, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright disbelief.
Kyros guides me into one of the larger currents branching through the city. It leads upward, and Kyros wraps his arms around me as we travel along it.
“This is the best view in Tideborn,” he explains.
He doesn’t let me look until we’re at the very top.
I gasp.
Tideborn is enormous. I’ve always known that, but I’ve never paid it too much attention until now. There was no reason to. It’s not like I was planning to stay.