Now that I’m no longer touching her, the fear drains away like smoke in the current.
I don’t feel threatened anymore.
But something heavier still lingers here. Something deeper than the queen.
Myko doesn’t let me ask the next question, he answers.
“This is the only ocean capable of containing the power of the sky’s fiercest light—not the moon’s quiet gleam, like in Mal-El, but the fire of stars and the blaze of sun. Even if a star were to strike the sea here, the Sur-El bloodline would survive it.
But the others? Any merfolk not marked by that lineage would burn.”
Bay nods quietly—looks like he’s talking to both of us now.
And for once, I’m glad we’re all hearing the same thing.
We’ll need it, whatever waits inside.
“Do not cling to me again if you want your life intact.”
I turn to Onyx, my voice cold as ice. It’s better if she fears me. Better than having her latch onto me the moment we enter—flooding me with her emotions when I need every ounce of focus to hold it together for all of our sakes.
I’m here to help the city.
But I can’t look like I’m losing control in front of them.
Her eyes go wide just before she mutters something that sounds like an apology and swims quickly to my aunt—now a safer target than me.
That’s better.
Bay doesn’t say a word. She probably understood why I scared her.
She just grabs Onyx’s arm and starts guiding her toward the golden star gate ahead.
“Don’t worry,” Bay says softly. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Don’t show them you’re scared.”
I don’t have time for this.
I swim ahead—fast—only to be stopped as long, sharp golden spears cross my path just before the entrance.
A mermaid guard blocks the way—broad-shouldered, muscled, her long braid streaked with golden stars woven into her soft pink hair. The Sur-El star mark’s on her chest.
She glares at me, furious. “Where do you think you’re going? This is Sur-El territor—”
Her cold warning cuts off the moment her eyes land on me. On the marks carved across my body.
She freezes. Then drops her spear.
“My apologies!” she blurts, quickly bowing.
She raises one hand and signals the five other guards behind her. They respond in sync, sliding their spears back behind their shoulders. The shafts shorten automatically, locking into slots beneath their gold-plated armor.
“You’re… the Great Depthborne.”
Her voice trembles. She straightens slowly. “My Queen has been expecting your arrival.”
She gestures toward the star gate, which now begins to rise—its points folding up and back like petals, clearing the entry path.
“Follow me. I’ll take you there.”
