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Chapter 26
Itake in the statues of past kings and other royal leaders. The floral arrangements and some photos from my dad’s life prior to his banishment to land. Basically, I look at everything other than the casket containing his body.
I’m the only one on the front row with one empty seat on either side of me. Middlebrooks is in the back row, only two rows behind me. Nine chairs total.
Tiberias wasn’t kidding about this being a small gathering. In fact, the room is smaller than my old bedroom not far from here.
Someone plays soft music on an underwater harp up front near the casket. It’s soothing but can’t distract me from the reason why we’re here. And I’m nervous about what will be said of him. He wasn’t a nice merman, but he was my dad. The speakers should say nice things.
A servant claps his hands. “King Tiberias is here. Rise from your seats.”
Getting up is the last thing I feel like doing, but I do anyway. He was kind enough to put this funeral together for my benefit. If I didn’t want this, none of us would even be here.
My uncle enters, but he isn’t alone.
I can hardly believe my eyes. My mom is at his side. My mom! He found her, and he didn’t tell me. It takes all my self-control to keep from racing over to her and throwing my arms around her. Tears well up in my eyes. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see her again, despite my uncle promising to look for her.
Then I notice something more surprising than her arrival. Her fingers are intertwined with my uncle’s. They aren’t just holding hands like mourning siblings-in-law. It’s far more … comfortable.
Mom hasn’t noticed me yet, and she glances at Tiberias. The look they exchange is more than comfortable. It’s adoring, from both of them. She smiles, appearing happier than I’ve ever seen her.
Does she think Tiberias is my dad? Or does she have a twin I don’t know about?
What in Hades is going on around here? And why at my dad’s funeral—of all times?
Mom turns from her husband’s brother and finally, our gazes meet. Her expression lights up, and she races over to me, nearly suffocating me with her embrace. “It’s so good to see you again, sweetheart! I wasn’t sure we ever would.”
I wrap my arms around her. “I’m thrilled to see you, but I’m seriously confused. Why were you holding hands with Uncle Tiberias? You do realize that’s him and not Dad, right?”
“I know, baby girl. We have a lot to talk about after the service.” She kisses my cheek and sits next to me.
My uncle kisses my left cheek and then my right before he takes the seat on the other side of me and winks at my mom.
I stare, flabbergasted, trying to make sense of this.
The servant claps his hands again. “Everyone, have a seat.”
After everyone is sitting, a priest makes his way to the podium and speaks about family.
Unfortunately, I can barely focus. My mind is racing, trying to figure out what my mom is going to tell me after the funeral.
Middlebrooks sobs loudly, and that makes me think of the dance when Dad announced his engagement to her.
Could that be why Mom and Tiberias are holding hands and looking at each other like long-lost lovers? Are they trying to stick it to Dad at his memorial service?
That thought makes my stomach turn at the disrespect of the whole thing, but on the other hand, I can’t deny how fitting it actually is. Especially with Middlebrooks being here. That might be the only reason she was invited.
The priest invites my uncle up to share. My heart leaps into my throat, worried what he might say since he’s being so obvious with his take-that attitude toward his dead brother.
Happily, he shares some fond memories from their childhood together. He even smiles a few times and seems to genuinely miss him. It’s hard not to miss the kind Drake Ayers—the one who didn’t make enough appearances in his lifetime.
Once my uncle is done speaking, the priest returns to the podium and offers a prayer. Then it’s over.
That was it, the entirety of the service. Not that I can complain. Any other king wouldn’t have allowed my dad a memorial service. Traitors never get such an honor.
Servants escort the guests out, starting with Middlebrooks until only my mom, my uncle, and I remain in the room with the priest. He bows, then Tiberias rises and Mom and I follow.
My uncle threads his fingers through my mom’s, then he leads us out into the hallway. They continue their handholding as we make our way to the throne room. He takes the king’s seat, of course. Then Mom takes the queen’s.
