To Kill a Kingdom

by Alexandra Christo

  They swim with no effort at all, and I almost want to be insulted that the Saad’s pace is so easily matched. Instead I take it as a compliment. That the Saad can keep step with them is proof of her glory.

  A few of the sirens break apart from the throng and head to the front of the ship, leading the way. As if I don’t already have it memorized. It’s a little funny to see them settle into these precariously carved roles so easily. Guiding sailors, rather than stalking their ships for signs of weakness. Helping, instead of hunting.

  The Sea Queen has forged a new world, as much on land as in sea.

  Once the eyes of Keto were reunited, creating a trident without limit, there were as many choices to be made as there were promises to be broken. Though one thing remained clear throughout it all: The ocean needed a queen. I spent a lifetime trying to evade becoming king, knowing that Amara would make a far better ruler – her heart staying grounded for every beat mine wandered – but even I understood that some things were more important than whim. Dreams could not always triumph over duty, and compromise was the foundation to any good peace treaty.

  Lira knew it too. And so instead of exploring the world, she created a new one.

  As Diávolos opened its waters and the sea kingdom of Keto threw wide its gates, the human kingdoms returned the gesture. At least, most of them. Peace doesn’t come easy, but over half the world has accepted the new order, and with the backing of the new Midasan queen and her roaming brother, hesitancy is becoming a thing of the past. New treaties are being struck, and after the initial dozen returned from the sea kingdom of Keto with their lives intact, others have made the journey to seek an audience with the Sea Queen. To offer trade alongside treaties and bask in the wonders of this newly unlocked dynasty.

  Kingdom one hundred and one.

  “Captain!” Torik bellows from above, signaling our arrival.

  I don’t need his call, because I know the moment we cross from human waters into the seas of Diávolos. The water becomes an endless stream of sapphires, blending into the sky and catching every ray the sun scatters down. There’s no more rain, or darkness. It’s brighter than anything has a right to be, but not warm. Never warm. The sapphires are crisp and glacial, soaking into the tips of my fingers. Arctic blue glazes over us all.

  Below, the sirens chorus.

  We continue on until we reach the arch. Blue merges into dusty orange, and the rock formation towers to the height of a hundred ships. A marker for the world, to signal the kingdom of Keto below.

  Stretching to the width of a mile, the arch is as much a gateway as any door. Ships tether to the large spikes that slice from its curve, empty, save for a few humans left to watch the decks in case of pirates. Though pirates seem to have become some of the most regular divers here and the sirens delight in their company as much as their queen does.

  There are five ships in total, and I recognize at least one as royal. The Eidýllion flag waves a windy greeting. Yukiko didn’t mention she was coming, but then, she doesn’t like to mention much to me if she can help it. If she weren’t already adept in the art of secrecy, I’d say that Galina has schooled her well. Their marriage is one of constant collaboration and trade-offs; teaching each other every trick they’ve kept hidden until now. A formidable dyad, slowly overshadowing the Kardiáns that threatened Galina’s reign.

  Not that I expect them to thank me, but since my father has already sent more gold than is befitting – as compensation for both my sly marriage evasion and Yukiko’s new scars – I thought that would make us even. Or at least, on solid enough ground to give notice of a visit to the Sea Queen. So the other party could avoid the region entirely.

  Apparently, Yukiko still likes surprises.

  We dock the farthest from them we can, and my crew readies their diving gear. They slip into wetsuits like a second skin, which I suppose they have become. I hover back, watching as they prep the heavy Efévresic apparatus. Something I’ve never needed – not with magic on my side.

  I smile when the sirens begin to croon, knowing better than anyone what that song means. The water froths and parts, turning to a glorious silver around the small whirlpool that forms. When their song reaches its peak, the Sea Queen appears.

  She ascends from the ocean in a way that is nothing short of celestial. The water follows her in a throne, elevating her to the height of my ship. Ocean-soaked hair runs down the length of her body, and she retains the otherworldly glow that always seems to illuminate her moony skin. Only now she is something more than just a siren, or a girl masquerading as a pirate.

  She is a goddess.

  Eight broad onyx strokes stream from Lira’s curved body, more like wings than tentacles. Glorious violet spheres halo underneath, and when she rises high enough that her eyes connect with mine, I grin. Her eyes are still the same, like sharp buds of night-blooming roses that only grow wider, blossoming as I step closer.

  She can’t see the world with me, so we settle for me bringing the world to her. No longer hunting, but always searching. For experiences, for adventure, and for the stories to save and bring back. For days like this, that never come soon enough.

  “Your Majesty,” I say.

  “You’re here already.”

  Her voice is like music, and even now I find it hard to adjust. Every word a refrain, spoken with regal command.

  “If you want, I can leave and come back.”

  Lira’s lips skim to a smile, and time becomes a thing of the past. “Would you?” she asks, matching my teasing tone. “It would give me more time to prepare for your arrival. I planned on erecting a statue.”

  I hold out my hand for her. “Thoughtful of you.”

  The change is as remarkable as ever.

  One moment, she’s the Sea Queen, as much a fairy tale as any I’ve read, and the next she’s something even more miraculous. Her tentacles flood into each other and take the shape of legs; their plum hues fade to give way to furiously pale skin. Her waist clinches and curves, and the burnished clovers that covered her breasts transform into a ruffle-collared shirt with heavy fringe sleeves. Her hair remains the color of wine, far from the mottled red brown I was used to, and her eyes still flicker in two distinct colors. A combination of Sea Queen and pirate, of a past lived and a future yet to be written.

  Lira descends gracefully onto the Saad and takes a firm hold of my outstretched hand. I bring it to my lips with a provoking smile and then press a hand to her cheek. It’s soft and sharp and as full of as many contradictions as she is.

  “Are you ready?” she asks.

  I kiss her by way of reply, surprising myself that I waited a full minute. It’s an unusual show of patience on my part.

  Lira grins, her teeth skimming my lips, and lets her tongue run across mine. She clutches on to the collar of my shirt and I wrap my arms around her waist. It’s like holding a story rather than a person; she feels wild and infinite in my arms.

  She loops my hand in hers and pulls me up onto the side of the ship. The intertwined eyes of Keto are draped over her collarbone in an ornamental lavaliere. On the Sea Queen that greeted me moments ago, it looked like a grandiose choker, befitting an ocean ruler. On Lira, in her deceptively delicate humanity, it looks heavy enough to sink her to the bottom of the ocean.

  Lira catches my eye and arches her brow. “Are you staring at my chest or my necklace?”

  I give her a shameless smile. “Which one won’t earn me a slap in the face?”

  “I’m just trying to gauge whether or not you’re planning on stealing it.” She runs a slender finger over the stone. “You are a pirate, after all.”

  “True,” I say. “But then, so are you.”

  Lira looks down at her outfit. The navy pants that puff out at the thighs and the knee-high brown boots with enough gold on the buckles to buy a kingdom. She laughs, and the ruby glows against her bust. Salt and magic.

  She pulls me closer to her, her fingers held tight over mine, and together we dive.

&
nbsp; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  YOU’VE MADE IT TO the end! Thank you for reading Lira and Elian’s story and then turning the page to find out a little bit more about mine (unless you’ve skipped straight here without reading. In which case, spoiler alert: everyone dies).

  This book became a real thing outside of my imagination because of a bunch of amazing people, and so I’ll try my best to make sure they all know just how great they are.

  To my parents, who never once told me to stop dreaming. For being hilarious and weird and not just great folks, but also really great friends. Mum, thanks for ringing me every day to check that I’m still alive and for being someone I can talk to about absolutely anything (but not for always picking out the exact wrong paint. Every. Time). Dad, thanks for always being the smile in the room and fixing any problem I have, no matter what it is (but not for thinking you can Artex).

  To the rest of my family (and, man, there’s a lot of you) for being a constant source of encouragement and wackiness. And to Nick, especially, because I promised I’d name a character after you that one time and then I totally didn’t.

  To my friends, who are the most uplifting bunch in the world. Jasprit and Rashika, you two are the best kind of people – the ones I couldn’t do without and can’t remember not knowing. Thank you for supporting me in everything I do, being endlessly on my wavelength, and making me laugh more than I ever have. And to Siiri, for being a burst of positivity and one of the first true friends I made in the blogging world (and for being someone I can gush to about K-dramas whenever I’m procrastinating. Which is always).

  To Charles and Alan, two of the most bizarre and talented creative writing professors. You guys made me forget everything I thought I knew about writing and learn all the fun stuff instead.

  To the folks at Feiwel & Friends for being the dream team and giving me the most amazing cover! And to Anna, for helping me to iron out the kinks and tell the story that needed to be told, and for making me feel right at home in this whole process.

  To the team at Hot Key Books, for being such an awesome, passionate crew to work with and for helping this book find its way to the UK. Now everyone at home can believe me when I tell them I really do have a book out!

  To my agent, Emmanuelle, whose love and excitement for this book kept mine from ever wavering. Thank you for championing Lira and Elian so much and for seeing potential in their story. And in me. And to Whitney, for making sure that Lira and Elian truly got to travel the world!

  Lastly, to the readers, all of you, for continuing to inspire and throw yourselves into new stories each day. For believing in magic and wonder, both in the real world and the not-so-real worlds.

  Thank you for choosing a Hot Key book.

  If you want to know more about our authors and what we publish, you can find us online.

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  First published in Great Britain in 2018 by

  HOT KEY BOOKS

  80–81 Wimpole St, London W1G 9RE

  www.hotkeybooks.com

  Text copyright © Alexandra Christo, 2018

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  The right of Alexandra Christo to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN: 978-1-4717-0740-6

  Hot Key Books is an imprint of Bonnier Zaffre Ltd,

  a Bonnier Publishing company

  www.bonnierpublishing.com