Page 141 of The Hunted

“Her reign is long over—undoubtedly dead. What good would that even do?”

“You know what it would do. And what if her legacy lives on—I was born where the sea meets the land. Children are born to mermaids and landwalkers all the time. It’s rumored that every son born to the Atlas king was a halfling, and they tried to hide it. And that king—wasn’t he the prince that hunted their queen? They say he keeps merwomen to breed. If she carried on her blood, and that blood lives even after her death, your entire rule was built on a lie of your own making.”

Ah, that was why Mav really said nothing about what Zale had done. Not for the king, but for himself. Because if there were offspring from the previous queen, that child would have claim over Zale, his children, and anyone else who thought to take the Blu Sea throne.

“I will use it,” Mav said again, “though it will hurt to do it.”

Of course.

“Where would we even go?” Zale demanded.

“You’ll figure it out. As long as it isn’t here.”

“Zale.”

He didn’t dare turn at the call of his mate. He hadn’t even realized Rosel had left her rooms when the court was stormed by the people, but he wasn’t surprised.

“Please, Zale,” he heard her whisper.

She didn’t know it, but a lot of this and many of the things he’d done that hurt her … well, he did those things for her. Some, because he was scared that she would be taken from him. The very idea scared him to death. Others, because he loved her and it made him oh, so selfish.

He understood that over the years, she’d grown resentful. Of his ways, his treatment, and his demands that felt like a constant hand around her delicate throat.

But she’d been his proper mate.

A good queen.

The perfect mother.

As though Mav could see the change in Zale’s mind through the stare he leveled on the man, the prince nodded. “You take nothing but the child.”

“How long do we run?”

“Until you’re dead.”

Zale chuckled. “I hope the realm you’re willing to slaughter them for is worth the sacrifice you’ll pay to have it.”

Mav nodded. “Me, too.”

“Listen!”

The order cut through the room, blanketing it and everyone inside in total silence. No one had to ask what they were listening for; the call traveling through the sea, filling the water with its faint familiarity.

A call.

A song of a royal.

She was calling for them.

But which one was it?

Mav’s gaze stayed firm on Zale. “Do not be here when we return.”

It killed him.

All he’d worked for.

Still, the king replied, “Agreed.”