A problem? My problem?
Wait—how is this connected to me?
“I—”
I try to speak, but Alin answers before I can.
“A problem that never would’ve existed if it weren’t for me,” she whispers, swallowing hard, forcing back tears.
“He’s in Kolox,” she continues, turning to Pedro again. “Please, get him back. Quickly.”
Kolox? A code name? A hidden location?
No. I shouldn’t interfere with the business. I’ve learned that the hard way.
I swallow, forcing my voice steady.
“I’m sorry… Alin. But what did you mean about my sickness? Do you have the medicine for me?”
She looks up at me, eyes shining with something unnameable.
“I can get you the medicine,” she says at last.
I gasp, my breath catching in my throat. Relief surges through me—I might stay sane long enough to save Diana.
“But I won’t.”
Malec
King Volar and Queen Cortier are seated on a massive black stone that stretches and coils like a serpent frozen mid-motion, forming a cushion wide enough to swallow them both. Its surface gleams under the throne room lights, unnervingly smooth, almost too perfect—as if it shouldn’t exist in nature. There’s some unspoken power that makes my chest tighten.
Before I can examine it further, five mermen glide in, moving with fluid precision at the top of this impossibly overbuilt castle. The echo of their fins cuts through the stillness, each one radiating authority, and I can’t help but feel like an intruder in a world that wasn’t built for me.
It wasn’t until Myko’s fierce command scattered the dragonfish into retreat that Lurx finally deigned to appear, his presence was looming, scolding us for being “late” to meet the royals. Every movement he made rippled tension through the water, like a storm about to break.
“I’m rethinking eating that one…”
I smirk despite myself at Myko’s retort, and Bay’s snort beside me comes out too loud. We both got the message—he’s not kidding.
"Be my guest."
“We apologize for being late,” the five mermen say in unison as they bow deeply. “Mother.” They rise once, then bow again. “Father.”
Strangely, all five have the exact same tail—a dark chocolate hue, perfectly uniform. It’s as if they were duplicated, each scale a perfect copy.
Even on my own silver tail, a few scattered golden scales break the uniformity.
The king shares that same deep brown tail. Is this some bloodline color for their males?
The queen, however, doesn’t resemble Onyx at all—her tail is a bright, gleaming white, her eyes an almost blinding amber, like twin gems.
“You may rise and present yourselves to The Great Depthborne,” the king commands.
They straighten immediately and turn to me, bowing again.
“Welcome to Kolox Palace, Great Depthborne,” they chorus. “We are blessed by your presence and grateful for your help.”
Onyx shifts behind me, and I sense the tight coil of tension in her movements.
