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“I guess, sure. Yeah, a lot of people didn’t know.”
“But Richeal did.”
“Yeah, and if she’d told anyone, Calvin would have paid for what they were doing. He was one of the links between the government lab and the other one. They’d come in the night and pull him away. Our mate... our mate. She would have been broken if that happened. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to keep him alive.”
“So you killed Richeal?”
“What? That’s crazy. No. I would never hurt a mermaid. No, I wasn’t like Calvin. I could never let a female come to harm. No.”
“No?” Annabelle pursed her lips.
“Calvin didn’t harm Richeal either. He could never. He’d loved her before our mate. But then Muster vetoed him. Calvin was my friend, and our mate was kind and let him join the pod. Calvin loved our mate, he did, but he always had a soft spot in his heart for Richeal.”
“If Calvin didn’t kill Richeal, who did?”
“He told the governor. Not Haden—he’s a clown fish. No, the governor at the time: Haden’s mate’s father, a heartless male. And while Calvin became the same, he wasn’t then. No, he wanted the truth to come out. But Haden, and his father-in-law before him, saw our tech as a way of dominating the city. More importantly, if our mermaids controlled the most important pods, we would rule the city.”
It’s a lot to take in, but Little Krill doesn’t miss a beat. She’s nodding along with him. This tracks with the messages from Haden about the “lesser domes.” The Braesen have been simmering a lot longer than anyone would ever have known.
“There would be no more shared king,” Stourch continues. “There would be one king, a Braesen king to rule forever. The governor had Richeal killed. And I altered the evidence to save Calvin from knowing the truth. Though I think he did, anyway. He became hardened inside.” He gulped at his cup. The final sips gone, he let out a gust of seaweed gin breath. “Our son...our son now works trying to undo all the harm his Baba did.”
“Where is your son right now?”
“Oh, I don’t know. He might be with the Kraken. They help him, you know.”
My eyes flick to Annabelle.
“No, I don’t know. How is he helping?”
The male’s eyes go wide. “No, it’s not all out there. But that’s for him to tell you.”
“What’s your son’s name?”
“Fero Stourch, but he’s not done anything wrong. He’s a good podlet. Well, he’s hardly a podlet, but he’s not... not like the others.”
“Of course he isn’t.” Annabelle grasps both of his hands. “I truly am sorry you’re in pain. I’m sure the doctors could help you.”
“I don’t want help,” the senior Stourch says.
Annabelle nods. “That’s a decision you’re making today, but you could make a different one tomorrow.”
I’m half expecting him to scream at her, but he ducks his head. “I’ll think about that.” He takes a sip from his empty cup. “You know, you remind me of her.”
“Your mate?”
“No, Richeal. You’re smart and as kind as you are beautiful. I’m sorry.” He looks up at me. I don’t want to feel remorse for this male. I never feel remorse. But I do. Fucking hell.
I place my hand on Little Krill’s arm. “We should go.”
Annabelle nods. When we’re out in the hallway, I pull the male’s door tightly shut since he doesn’t get up to do it himself. The second I turn around, she throws her arms around my neck. “I love you. You did really well in there.”
“Well? You’re the one who found out all the information, Little Krill. You are the one who did well.”
“No, you didn’t yell at the old male. And you let me ask the questions.”
“You asked the right ones.”
“Ugh, Nico. That’s not what I mean. What I mean is you didn’t lose your temper.”
