by Starla Night
She’d always chased after Jonah’s health, chased second opinions, chased obscure treatments, chased donors. She’d chased more money and nicer apartments and more credentials in her job title. Not since childhood at the mercy of disengaged, neglectful parents had she been forced to wait.
She flexed her stubborn feet more.
Second Lieutenant Ciran floated closer to her. He would lead the warriors to the surface and then take them on a boat to the mainland, where he would work with Dannika, Hazel, and even Starr to keep them safe while the warriors sought and wooed their brides.
Ciran drifted close.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
He addressed her. “If you do not surface, will you go to Healer Balim?”
If she did not surface?
“If you let me,” she answered, still flexing her foot. “If I could find him. Are you upset?”
He looked down at Octopus Kong’s lair, and then to the glimmering new Atlantis. Still floating, a beacon of hope amidst the wreckage of the past.
She assumed he would not answer.
“Healer Balim had no castle in Undine,” Ciran said, apropos of nothing. “Did you know this?”
“No. How do you?”
“Undine was once my home also.”
Oh. “Were you friends?”
“He was not allowed friends. The king punished any warrior who spoke or smiled at him. Do you know why?”
“Yes, he told me how he lost his father and his trainer in one day.”
“The king murdered both.” Ciran spoke the same truth that Balim had told her, but he did not mince words.
“I heard the king can’t commit murder,” she returned, dropping her leg.
“Yes. Just as no Undine scholar acts with passion. And no warlord evicted from his castle and forced to shelter on the ocean floor beneath the city may ever woo a bride.”
She tilted her head. His words were so emotionless and logical. Was he on Balim’s side? He might just be reciting facts. “You followed him here.”
“The elder who succeeded the throne held many of the old king’s ideals. And with Balim gone, his reign would not end soon. Change is difficult to enact in a city that does not tolerate dissent.”
She caught his gaze and held it.
Ciran knew. Otherwise, he would say that the elder was likely to have a shorter reign without a healer. And he was on Balim’s side.
Had he ever expressed that to Balim? Both Ciran and Balim were private warriors. Balim disguised his feelings behind quips and sarcasm, Ciran behind an emotionless focus on logic. They might have benefited from sharing their feelings. Now, it was too late.
She released his gaze and her foot, straightening. “It’s sad that he lost his castle here.”
“It would be even sadder if he lost his bride.”
Anger flushed through her like a hot flash. “He left me.”
Ciran had no answer for that. “Still, it is miraculous a warrior denied every chance has found his soul mate. If even he can overcome his origin, hope shines for all warriors.”
Her skin crackled with his words. Ciran was right. He lit a fire in her soul.
She could no longer wait. She had to act.
“Bella!” Aya waved her over. “Roxanne’s almost here.”
And Roxanne might carry a message from the Sons of Hercules or from Starr. Bella could wait a little longer.
She bid Ciran farewell and wiggled her stubby toes forever to reach Aya. She used to think she was an acceptable swimmer, but surrounded by flitting warriors, she was a heavy-bottomed ostrich ringed by graceful larks.
The group of warriors descended so slowly.
Finally, five warriors from the surface escorted Roxanne, a healthy woman with deep anxiety who vibrated an insistent flutter.
“I’m so sorry I left for that wedding. I didn’t enjoy it, barely tasted the cake, and forgot I had two pieces because my mind kept returning to Pelan. I just knew he was in trouble, and boy, was I right. I should have demanded Balim try me out as his soul mate instead of that Nora, but you know she’s so sweet and ambitious and hopeful, and I’m opinionated and talk too much, and it’s a good day when I look any better than frumpy. Is Pelan all right? I feel like I would know if he wasn’t, but I tell you, I don’t feel too good right now, so the sooner I see him and make sure, the better.”
“He’s this way. And he’s ill, so we must take precautions.”
“Never mind ill. I’ll be thrilled when I see him healthy. And if not, that’s fine with me too. If I’m his caretaker for the rest of his life, we’ll have a very nice life together; just ask my mother, which you can’t because she passed away three years ago, but I let more than one promising man pass me by prioritizing her comfort. Since she brought me into the world, I should bring her out of it. Not literally, of course, but that was my way of thinking. Where’s Pelan?”
“Here.” Aya helped the warriors unlatch her harness from the cable and then clasped hands to pull Bella on one side and Roxanne on the other. “I see you made the shift okay.”
“No problem at all. Balim had me drinking the elixir after my brief cold on account of how I got sick after I returned, probably because that false merman had left powder or dust all over everything, and that elixir didn’t make me feel any better but it ‘arrested’ the sniffles, and I held that position for a long time rather than making me worse.” She latched onto Bella. “The night watch apologized a hundred times for mistaking that faker for a merman. They were just so certain.”
“Do you have any messages for me?” Bella interrupted.
“No, he just needed me to convey that he was so certain because the false merman showed his fins and—”
Her head thunked. “What?”
“Yes! Forgive me. My head’s falling off with messages; I need to see Pelan right away, you see, but I can deliver the messages while we swim. That night watchman and also your friend Hazel says not to worry about your houseplants. She’s watering them.”
“She is…” Bella translated the code Starr had set up before she’d descended. “Did she ‘find’ my ‘houseplants’ okay?”
“No, that’s right. See, Pelan’s filled up my thoughts. Something about her still looking for one that’s missing. What was it? A spider plant? But I didn’t pay attention. I mean, my mind’s been on other things; specifically, on Pelan. Don’t worry, Hazel’s so sweet, if she kills any off, I’m sure she’ll buy you a replacement.”
There would be no replacement for this houseplant, and once Starr found him, the Sons of Hercules would pay.
But Bella focused on her other shocking revelation. “I’m sorry to interrupt you again, but did you say you saw the imposter’s fins?”
“Not me, the night watchman. He showed the fins. The watchman said he wasn’t on the list—he didn’t see the false merman had gotten out of the car like your security video or I’m sure he would have known warriors don’t drive. But you see, he had those shiny tattoos, an iridescent color, and then he took off his ratty old tennis shoes that didn’t fit him too well like he was borrowing them from someone else, and he flexed. I’ve been trying to imitate the movement all the way down the cable. Once I can make my fins, the healing queen powers follow right along, and goodness knows Pelan needs those powers now. Anyway, the night watchman swears the merman’s toes snapped out into those mer fins. I had no idea you could fake that.”
Bella looked at Aya. A merman did work for the Sons of Hercules.
Aya replied, “You can’t. Let us know if you see him again.”
“I haven’t studied the security videos myself, but I will do my best. He wasn’t like any of your warriors but everyone knows the rest don’t surface, so the night watchman thought, well, maybe another had come up and wasn’t in the binder.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Aya commented, swimming them away from the anchor and toward the new city. “The sniffles are terrible.”
“Mitch and I had the same symptom
s, but he didn’t drink enough of the elixir. Or girls don’t get it as bad as boys; the night watchman’s ill, but the lady who substitutes seems to be like me, nominally fine. Now Mitch is in the hospital with a fever. Mine could have been so much worse. Where’s Pelan?”
“We’re heading to him now. And how did you shift at the surface? Did you kiss a merman?”
“I kissed all the mermen!” She wiggled her feet, trying to help Aya along and instead causing drag. “I was so terrified it wouldn’t work, and I just had to reach Pelan. I kissed them all to be safe.”
Aya glanced back at the group of warriors clustered at the anchor bolt.
They had a cocky attitude. The others gathered around with rapt interest.
“I suspect escort duty will be even more popular than it already is,” she murmured. “Ciran will have his hands full keeping the rotations fair.”
“I know it was a bit much, but I had to see him.” Roxanne swallowed, and her jaw trembled. “It was so hard seeing him and talking to him when he was so sick. I just wanted to give Nora a break. She’s the real hero. But when you said that she wasn’t his bride and maybe I…that maybe I could be the one…” She made a determined fist. “I had to get to him as fast as possible.”
Roxanne’s determination was inspiring. She’d known Pelan was her soul mate even as she’d talked herself out of it because he’d been supposed to be with another. But she’d known. And now she had to be with him.
Just like Bella had to be with Balim.
She let go of Aya’s hand. “I’m leaving.”
Aya pulled up. “What?”
“With Jonah, I had no choice but with Balim, I do.”
Aya shook her head in confusion.
Jonah had been sick. If she could have dropped her work to be in the hospital at all hours, she would have been there.
Now Balim was sick in his soul, and she had a choice.
“What about the Sons of Hercules?” Aya asked.
“What if their next message is even more impossible? Coming down here with that vial was a mistake, and if a second one shows up, Balim won’t save me. Our only chance is together. I have to be with him.”
“Me too.” Roxanne tugged her hand free. “You two talk. I can see the city. I’ll swim on, and you catch up. I was a member of the swim team, you know.”
“Oh, me too,” Aya said in surprise.
“See you directly.” Roxanne wiggled her human feet, not put off because she barely moved.
Aya let Roxanne go and tapped her index finger against her temple. “Balim didn’t exactly save you.”
“I am going after him.”
“You can’t, Bella. I’m sorry.”
She smiled archly at Aya. “I’m not asking your permission. I am an adult woman, and I’m giving you the courtesy of my intentions so you don’t worry.”
“You can’t make your fins yet. How will you ever catch him?”
The non-melodious sounds of the giant octopus drifted beneath their argument.
“I’ll ask a friend.” She jackknifed and kicked toward the sea floor. “Octopus Kong? I have a slight favor for a big, strong octopus who kicks megalodon butt.”
The massive cephalopod drifted from his cave.
“How do you feel about going on a wild adventure to stop a plague, rescue a child, and save the mer-human world?”
He warbled an interested off-tune song.
Aya’s lips twisted to the side. “I can’t imagine a safer escort. Bella, I hope we’ll have a picnic lunch with Jonah someday. Good luck.”
Octopus Kong’s tentacle curled around her, securing her at the level of his plus-shaped eyes.
She waved to Aya. “Thank you. Octopus Kong? Time to find Balim.” Searching her heart, she just knew which direction to go and she pointed. “That way.”
The giant jetted across the city, flying over the bulbs until Atlantis was far behind and they plunged deep into the wild ocean. Octopus Kong seemed to enjoy the adventure, romping through the currents, twisting and turning, swooping low over the landscape and chasing giant crabs or strange, eyeless animals and then soaring up to fly with pods of giant blue whales. Great sharks veered away and giant squid fled. No one confronted the giant octopus yodeling like wheezy bagpipes were in style.
Flying with Octopus Kong was exhilarating, like being on dragon-back. With that mindless freedom of the open road—the open ocean, in this case—Bella was left with her thoughts.
Balim was her happiness and her sadness in one. Both feelings were okay. They could exist together. She treasured Balim and Jonah. She needed them both.
The giant thundered over the distance and two small figures emerged against the backdrop of the brightly lit sea. Octopus Kong oriented on them.
The back one stopped and looked. Aha! Nora.
As Octopus Kong bore down on the pair of mer like an off-tune, tentacled cloud of doom, she focused on the warrior.
Balim spun and gaped. “Bella!”
She opened her arms wide, jumped off Octopus Kong’s outstretched tentacle, and barreled into Balim. They flew end over end.
“How can you be here?” he demanded.
“How dare you make me care about you and then break my heart!”
He held her tight and trembled, wordless, as though afraid she was a dream and he was about to wake.
But she was no dream, and there was no waking. They were in it together to the end, exiled or free. “You’re taking responsibility for that right now.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Balim’s heart soared as his beloved Bella crushed him in her embrace. Her fierce love was as brilliant as her soul. They flew end over end in the water, out of control, just like always.
Together, they had the dangerous, overpowering resonance. He needed to control it. Because Bella had let go of her inhibitions.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded for the second time. “Atlantis is safe. Your son—”
“How dare you?” she demanded. “I tried everything not to love you. And yet you made me anyway. We are soul mates. You said it. We’re soul mates.”
“I can never go back to Atlantis,” he vibrated, a catch in his chest.
“Then neither will I.”
“You were happy there.”
“Being stuck there isn’t happiness! I’m happy with you.” Bella pulled back and looked him in the eye. “Yes, I’m sad about this. I’m sad about what you went through and what you’re going through now. I’m sad about Jonah. But I’m better and stronger because I’m with you. And I’ll never be happy in Atlantis without you both.”
“I murdered a king.”
“Did you?” She cocked her head. “Because that’s not what it sounded like to me.”
“Any mer would know.”
“Ciran knows, and he doesn’t blame you. You’re the reason he left. Because what happened to you was wrong, and all he wants is for you to be happy with me.”
His determination fell apart like a pulled stitch. “He does?”
“He does. They all do. Even King Kadir and Soren understand. They wanted to help us. Help you.”
“But…I have a dark soul…”
No one was safe around him. Bella was compelled by resonance—destiny, fate—but no one else could accept what he had done. Not Ciran. Not anyone…
Beyond her, Nora held back stroking and cooing to Octopus Kong, who, like all warriors of the sea, basked in her bright soul light.
“I have a dark soul…” he tried again, repeating the words that had tortured him. “I’m a useless warrior. I should have died.”
“First, you need this.” Bella curled her arms around him and kissed him long and steady.
His pulse leaped into his jaw and his veins opened up, flooding his cock with stiff heat. She was his female and he was her male. She was his soul mate.
She deserved an honorable warrior, not a murderer.
He kissed her despite this because he selfishly needed her more than life. And she nee
ded him too. Joined without tricks, without barriers, without plastics. Skin to skin, emotion to emotion, soul to soul.
But not in the middle of the open ocean in front of another bride and a giant cave guardian, no matter how they tried to pretend they weren’t paying attention.
Bella pulled back with heated cheeks, glanced over her shoulder at Octopus Kong and Nora with a sigh, and tapped her forehead against his. “Later. Definitely later. At least twice.”
His cock pulsed in acknowledgment.
“Second, I only said I couldn’t murder a bunch of people who’d been nothing but nice to me, you included. I make no promises about what I’ll do to the Sons of Hercules organizer when I find him.”
“I did not follow your Hippocratic ideal.”
“Mermen don’t. You said so yourself.”
“But I also did not follow the law of the mer.”
“Ciran was there, and he thinks you were justified.”
“But—”
“Okay. You’re overly harsh on yourself.” She stroked his cheek. “The king threatened you. Self-defense isn’t a crime.”
“I removed a cursed shard from a battlefield and tricked my king into infecting himself with it.”
“You didn’t stab him with it in the night. There are degrees of guilt here.”
“I left Undine without a healer.”
“Technically, the king left them without a healer. And there were years between your father’s death and your leaving to groom another.”
“In Undine, healers remain in one family line.”
“So when the king evicted you from your castle, demoting and preventing you from being chosen by a bride to sire a son, this was, again, not your fault.”
His stomach dropped. “Second Lieutenant Ciran told you?”
“More importantly, he told me he was happy you now have a soul mate. Me. And it’s over, Balim. The cruelty you endured and the choices you made to survive will haunt you, but they’re over. You’re free.”
She seemed serious, but how could he believe her? The accusing silence when he’d left Undine, the agony of the betrayed Atlantis warriors, and his own heart told the truth. Her words were his wish.
