Page 1 of The Kraken's Queen

Prologue

EXCERPT FROMTHE GREAT WARBY THE SPIRITUAL SCHOLARS

According to historians of times before, Mescos was once a thriving country full of supernatural creatures and their human companions. In Mescos, humans held their own power, given to them by their god to ensure peace amongst the supernaturals and humans. Humans strengthened their lands and provided immense strength to the supernaturals they mated. Together, their lands, kingdoms, and people thrived.

The time for peace was short-lived, though, as a new danger emerged.

Nephilim, giant winged creatures born from greed and hatred, appeared seemingly overnight. Historians differ in opinion on how these creatures came to be. Some historians argue Nephilim were sent by angrygods, while others say Nephilim traveled from lands far from Mescos. Their origins are still unknown.

The Nephilim brought darkness to the kingdoms. Their leader, Gadreel, led the slaughter of humans to gain their magic. Thousands of humans and supernaturals died in what historians call The Great War. Each human death brought power to the hellish winged creatures.

Knowing they had very little time before the Nephilim became too powerful, the six rulers of Mescos—dragon, pixie, fae, wolf, demon, and kraken—agreed to work together in order to take down the common enemy.

The war between the rulers of Mescos and the Nephilim happened at Dragon’s Keep. The rulers of Mescos, their armies, and their human mates fought countless hours against Gadreel’s people. Many fell in an attempt to rid Mescos of the vile creatures.

Knowing they were unprepared to slaughter the Nephilim, the Pixie King and his human queen came together, combining their magic as one. Upon seeing this, the other rulers followed suit and, within the mountains east of Dragon’s Keep, a magical prison took form.

One by one, Nephilim were captured by the magic and imprisoned within the mountains. Gadreel, knowing his army would not win this war, cursed the rulers of Mescos before he was imprisoned. He damned the kingdoms: in one hundred years, if the rulers did not find their human mates, disaster would fall upon their people, and the Nephilim would rise again.

In his final act of rebellion, Gadreel used the last bit of stolen magic he absorbed from the deaths of humans and destroyed the portal between Mescos and the human world, effectively cutting off access to their human mates.

The leaders of Mescos won that day, but it cost them everything.

Over the next hundred years, the last humans of Mescos died off. With no connection to the human world, the Nephilim rose again, escaping their prison in the mountains. Now the only hope the six new Kings of Mescos have comes from an unexpected ally known as Ender The Guardian. He alone possesses the power to travel between worlds and bring humans to their supernatural mates.

Little is known about The Guardian.

Today, the safety and future of Mescos hang in the balance. History is being written in real time. These accounts will be updated as necessary.

Chapter 1

Allarick

Ihear the accused’s pleas before I see him. The doors to the throne room fling open with a burst of bubbles. Two of my guards lead the merman inside. His teal tail swishes awkwardly, stunting his movement. The two guards wrap their tentacles tighter around the male, bruising his pale flesh as they pull him along and drop him unceremoniously in front of my throne.

My guards swim forward, presumably to draw their weapons on him, but I put my hand up, and they cease movement. They take their places behind me, golden swords drawn and at the ready. The prisoner trembles, and I sense his unease with so many powerful krakens around him.

Good. He deserves this for what he’s done.

“State your name,” my thunderous voice booms around us, demanding subservience.

The merman trembles and pushes himself up from the hard stone floor to gaze upon my throne made fromaquamarine and pearls. It’s a symbol of power. My power. And the man blubbers like a guppy.

“Kaleo, my king,” he shrieks. “I’m sorry! The rumors, they are not true. I’ve been framed?—”

“Which is it?” I interrupt him, arching a brow. The merman sputters nonsense, not understanding my question, so I repeat myself. Something I’m not fond of doing. “Which is it? Are you sorry, or have you been framed?”

“F-framed, of course, my king!”

Lie.

He smells of rotten seaweed and rum. I know these types of mermen. Men who think the law doesn’t apply to them. Weak men who take advantage of women simply because they can.

“Bring her in,” I say to no one in particular.

A moment later, the doors open again. Much different than before. Two females, both merwomen, swim in. One wears the steel uniform of my guards, while the other wears orange shells that match her sunset-colored tail. A band of pearls is clasped tightly around her, accentuating her waist. Her small form shakes, but an encouraging nod from Danika—the guard—has the merwoman standing taller.

The bastard on the ground tenses, face contorting into a violent rage. “Youbitch!”

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