Out of Tune

by Amy Sumida

  “You need Verin; only he can save you,” she said, practically quoting Daha.

  “I do have other options,” I murmured.

  “None that appeal to you as much as my son,” she said with a proud smirk.

  “You sound as if you want me to take him for a lover,” I noted. “And I can't imagine why you would. Verin told me that you were in a harem once. He implied that you were mistreated.”

  “Not mistreated; neglected,” Savassa whispered. “I was the Blue Dragon King's first wife; his queen. But once he began building his harem—after I'd given him an heir—he gave me very little attention, with the exception of court duties.”

  “That is a type of mistreatment,” I said adamantly. “I'm not always able to... accommodate every whim of every man I love, but I try my best to make sure they all feel my love.”

  “And that is why I approve of you.” She nodded decisively. “You will be good for Verin. You can show him that love comes in many forms. That, often, it is a give and take; not just one or the other. Such a basic premise and yet it's difficult for a king to grasp, especially my king.”

  “You're implying that I'll make him stronger in return for the sacrifice of sharing me.”

  Savassa inclined her head. “There is that as well.”

  I saw a glint in her eye; a shrewd glint. This was a woman who had been forced to use her wits, not just her body, to get what she wanted. In fact, it sounded as if her physical appearance didn't help her much at all. At least not with her husband. She likely transferred her love from husband to son and focused on Verin's needs. But he was a king now. What more could she hope for him?

  “Tell me that you're not scheming to have Verin conquer the other undersea courts,” I demanded.

  “Not at all,” she protested. “I wouldn't want that kind of responsibility for Verin. I'm scheming—as you put it—to give my son more than the sea.”

  “You want him to leave the ocean?” I asked in shock.

  “Not forever. I want Verin to reclaim the land for us. I want the Lóng to remember that we can have both water and earth. We simply need someone to show us the way back to the surface; to learn about the world we left behind and discover the tricks of the Beneath so we can navigate that world smoothly.”

  “You want Verin to learn how to blend in with humans so your people can return to the surface?”

  “Precisely. And you will do that for him, Elaria. I have seen it. You will show him the bounty and beauty of the land above and put a desire in him for both the surface world and love.”

  “What about his kingdom here?”

  “I will rule in his stead. I've done so before.”

  “Ah.” I grinned. “I get it now.”

  “No, you do not!” She slammed her hand on the table and startled me. “Do not ever question my loyalty to my son! I want what's best for him and our people. I don't scheme to unseat him or steal his kingdom. I want him to—” her voice cracked. “I want him to live free. To stand in sunlight that hasn't been created by magic. To feel the warmth on his cheek and smell unfiltered air. To see what I once beheld.”

  “You've been to the surface?”

  “We started there,” she said gently. “And what a life it was. Castles along the shore. Horses that could carry us faster across the land than we could run. Basking in the sun then diving into the water. With our power and magic, we should have it all. Everything we desire. And yet we deny ourselves. We hide beneath the waves. I know Verin can free us, but he needs you to give him a reason. A little push. Show him the way, Elaria.”

  “My husbands don't want me to take another lover.” I leveled a grim stare on her. “They would approve of a temporary agreement only. They want a man who will be able to leave me after the Witches finish the spell.”

  Savassa nodded as if she already knew this.

  “That's why you're okay with it,” I concluded in epiphany. “Because I wouldn't hold Verin forever.”

  She shrugged.

  “But what if neither of us can let go? This isn't about sex. The Rooster Spell needs love to fuel her. Verin and I must fall in love for this to work and although there is an overwhelming attraction between us, there is no love. And, as you said, there is little time.”

  “There can be love between you; very easily. Trust me,” she brushed off my concern. “And Verin is strong in both body and mind; he will get over you. In fact, I believe that loving you will benefit him. It will open him to the emotion and show him there's nothing to fear. That even when you lose love, it's better than never having it at all.”

  “That's an old saying and a trite one.” I grimaced. “I think it was made up by people who don't love completely.”

  She raised a brow at me.

  “I love completely,” I declared. “When I love someone, it's forever. So, I can say with absolute certainty that if I love your son, I will never get over him. And if he were to get over me, it would hurt all the more.”

  “More than losing the other men you love?” She asked with a cunning twist of her lips.

  I let out another sigh. Point to her. And it was a sharp point; one that pierced me right through the heart.

  “No, it wouldn't hurt more than losing them,” I finally conceded.

  Savassa leaned forward suddenly and took my hand in a strong grip; one she looked incapable of. “Take him with you.”

  “What?”

  “When you go to free your Gargoyle, take my son with you,” she begged. “You still need him, Elaria; I swear that you do. And I will tell him so; that I saw it in your reading. He will help you because he already admires you and the thought of you being hurt will upset him.”

  “The damsel in distress,” I huffed.

  “My son doesn't gravitate toward damsels in distress but a strong woman who needs an ally? That appeals to him; it allows him to show his worth to her without diminishing her.”

  Queen Savassa's words didn't surprise me. From what I'd learned of Verin, it sounded on-point. I remembered Verin's behavior after he saved my life. He hadn't lorded it over me, even after he discovered my polyamorous lifestyle and was disgusted by it. Oh, yes, we went through a rough patch for awhile. Verin had believed that I was using my magic to make him attracted to me; to force him into my harem as his mother had been forced into his father's. When the truth came out—that our attraction was real—he'd apologized sincerely. I think that says a lot about a person; when they can admit to flaws or mistakes even when they don't have to. It's an especially rare trait to find in a king.

  “You need him, Elaria.” She hadn't let go of me. “And he needs you. Let it happen; don't fight it. When it's over, you will both be better for it. More importantly, you will live.”

  “This is the strangest conversation I've—” I suddenly remembered threatening Gargo once; telling him that I'd die before I allowed him to rape me in my grandfather's body. “Okay, it's in the top five strangest conversations I've ever had.”

  “I'm not bartering for your sexual services,” Savassa chided me. “Only asking that you keep an open heart when dealing with my son. You said you'd repay me. This is the payment I require; take Verin with you, draw the love out of him, and don't hold back from loving him in return.”

  “Is that all?” I chuckled. “I thought this reading was the payment?”

  Savassa let go of me and sat back. “I've demanded far more for summoning the dead before.”

  “I'm sure you have.” I sighed.

  “It won't be easy to convince Verin to join your family. I know he's already confessed to you a little of his distaste for harems but it goes far deeper than you know. I'm surprised he confided that much to you, and I'm rarely surprised. Which gives me hope. I believe you can work past his issues.”

  It would be good to have the option, Kyanite pointed out. And the others already expressed a type of approval.

  What he said, RS chirped in.

  Savassa was waiting.

  “All right. You'll have your
payment, but I'm not guaranteeing the result you want.”

  “No, but I'm guaranteeing a result you'll want,” Savassa said in a way that sent chills down my spine.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Queen Savassa and I found the men in a feminine sitting room, drinking coffee from silver mugs and speaking animatedly. They got to their feet chivalrously when we walked in.

  “What has all of you so worked up?” I asked.

  “Trapping the Jinx,” Saif said with a grin. “When you cast him out of your lover, you will be in control of him. You could force him into a containment unit while he's in his spirit form and then we'll be assured that he won't be able to hurt my people.”

  “Like you did to your Goddess?” I asked as I sat down.”

  “It's the best way to imprison a Jinn.” Saif shrugged while he and the other men resumed their seats. “And we need this particular Jinn securely trapped if we're going to avert the prophecy.”

  “The Jinx?” Savassa asked.

  “We believe that Idrisanigal is the Jinx; a Jinn who has been foretold to end the Jinn Race,” I explained. “He has great powers that other Jinn don't possess.”

  “Ah,” she murmured.

  “Mother?” Verin was staring at Savassa suspiciously.

  “I can't see the outcome for the Jinn; neither the race or the Jinx,” she said gravely. “But I know that you must help them, Son. They won't succeed without you and so much rests upon this mission. You must help them with everything you are; all of the power inside you. Hold nothing back. This endeavor will not only save your friends, and possibly an entire race, but it will also help our people. I urge you to go with them.”

  Verin blinked once, slowly, then looked at me.

  I clenched my teeth. Everything Savassa said was technically accurate; Daha said we needed Verin and Savassa swore we still did, his help could save my family and the Jinn, and, if I did my part, he could be swayed into bringing his people back to the surface, which may be a good thing for the Lóng. Still, I didn't feel right about deceiving Verin, even if it was only a twisting of truth. He was a straightforward man and he deserved a straightforward answer. But I couldn't give it to him; not without betraying his mother's confidence and possibly risking the men I loved.

  I looked at my men for their counsel and consent; they nodded.

  “We would appreciate your help if you could spare the time away from your kingdom,” I said as diplomatically and unemotionally as I could. “But if—”

  “If you need me, Elaria, I'm yours,” Verin declared then his expression shifted as if his mind had just caught up with his mouth. He cleared his throat and added, “All of you fought to free the oceans from the threat that Gargo posed. How could I refuse you now?”

  “Indeed,” Savassa said smugly.

  “Thank you; we deeply appreciate your assistance,” Darcraxis responded since all I could do was gape at Verin. He glanced at my men and added, “We know it's a lot to ask.”

  I looked away from Verin and tried not to look back. I can lie if I need to, but this charade had me twisted up in ways that compromised my talent for subterfuge. I had to keep reminding myself that we did need Verin, just probably not to trap the Jinx. Mainly, I was conflicted over the possibility of accepting his help in the fashion his mother had suggested; the fashion everyone seemed to be suggesting. Even my men were being swayed onto Team Verin; a development both unimaginable and astonishing. But the two people who would be most affected weren't onboard; Verin, because he didn't know about my condition and me, because I... well, I guess I was in denial. I was still hoping for a miracle.

  “Do we need a special container to hold the Jinx?” I asked Prince Saif, both to change the subject and to give me someone else to focus on.

  “Yes. I'll have to go home and commission its creation.”

  “We'll go with you,” Torin offered. “We won't be able to do anything without the bottle anyway.”

  “And I would like to see your home world,” Verin added.

  “Perhaps I can arrange a tour while we wait on the container.” Saif grinned; our potential victory had lightened his mood considerably.

  Verin grunted eagerly.

  “That would be lovely. Thank you, Saif,” I translated the grunt. “And thank you again, Queen Savassa for your help. I don't know what we would have done without you. But we should probably head to the Jinn Palace as soon as possible.”

  “El, it's late,” Gage reminded me. “We all need some rest. Especially you,” he said the last pointedly.

  He was right. I couldn't risk stressing the RS with anything, not even a lack of sleep. Any strain could send her into a downward spiral.

  “Then you must take your rest in my home,” Saif offered. “I can have our sorcerers work on the bottle while you sleep. If we have time, we'll tour the city in the morning.”

  “Perfect.” I stood up and the others followed suit. “Your Majesty, it was a great honor and pleasure to meet you.” I held a hand out to Queen Savassa.

  She used my hand to pull me into a hug and whispered in my ear, “Take care of my son, Spellsinger—both his body and his heart—or I will send the dead after you.”

  Okay, that was a first.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  With Savassa's threat still ringing in my ear, I prepared to travel to Dahabi with the others. Usually in such a situation, one of my husbands would offer to transport our male guest. Even though Verin had his own means of travel, he'd never been to the planet Zuja before so he'd need a guide. But none of my men offered to escort him. In fact, they looked at me expectantly.

  I sighed and went to offer Verin my hand. He took it with some surprise; his grip strong but his skin soft. I flinched. The juxtaposition hadn't surprised me. When you're a powerful magic-user, you generally don't have to worry about calluses and that goes doubly for being an immortal shapeshifter. No, it wasn't the fineness of Verin's skin that sent a jolt through me; it was simply his touch.

  I couldn't help feeling that my life had become an unavoidable sinkhole, pulling me down to a fate I had no choice in. But then that's what fate is, isn't it? A lack of choice. A track laid by someone else for your train to take; the only track you've got. Despite that, the feel of Verin's hand in mine masked any despondency or apprehension I might have felt. I don't know if that was a good thing or not. A feeling like that could make me reckless, and that was the last thing I needed.

  What I did need was sleep.

  Gage was right; it was late and I'd been going at full speed from the moment I woke that morning. My exhaustion trumped both worry and attraction. I looked at Verin, he nodded, and, without a word, I took us to the Jinn capital.

  We reformed before the palace, in the same spot we'd arrived in earlier that day. Saif didn't need a stone or charm to move through the Realms; he had a natural ability the Jinn called Ree. He traveled in his spiritual form and then returned to physical when he arrived. That return was a bit of a spectacle. First, Saif's eyes appeared—twin flames in empty air—then a translucent body came into focus around them. The spirit hardened into a physical shell, color washing through it like ink through water.

  After he'd solidified, Saif grinned broadly and waved his hand toward the palace. “Come, my friends, I'll see you settled for the night before I seek the Royal Enchanters.”

  I started forward.

  “Elaria?” Verin's velvet voice stopped me. It also sent a shiver down my spine.

  I swallowed past my dry throat and looked back at Verin. He squeezed my hand. I frowned in confusion. He looked down pointedly... at our joined hands.

  “Oh! Sorry.” I let Verin go and hurried toward Saif to cover my embarrassment.

  Verin made a growling rumble that I think was meant to convey nonchalance but sounded slightly annoyed to my ears. I couldn't confirm it with his expression since I was steadfastly looking away from him. Saif, however, glanced over my shoulder then at me with lifted brows. I stared back steadily, daring him to
say something.

  “This way!” Saif said brightly.

  The Jinn Prince didn't lead us to our guest rooms as he'd implied. Instead, he pawned us off on the first servant we came across, instructing the man to take us to the Gold Wing and install us in guest chambers. Then he left us to find his enchanters. Not that I could blame him. Saif was trying to save his entire race after all. Civility be damned. Honestly, I was equally eager to get the process started.

  The Gold Wing was aptly named. In addition to gilded ceilings, the marble floors were also accented with gold designs and every statue, knickknack, and picture frame were also gold. Even the damn drapes were shot through with gold thread. I was shown to my suite—with its golden door—first and can honestly say that I'd never been more grateful for the chance to retreat. I kissed my men goodnight and fled.