Page 39 of Taken By the Storm King

“It symbolizes our connection to this world,” I confirmed. “ According to tradition, it will bless or reject our union.”

Lucy’s fingers traced the carving. “When we were there, I felt something... something alive. Like it was aware of us.”

I covered her hand with mine. “The tree has accepted you already. I could feel it.”

LUCY

Isat on the rim of the garden terrace, dangling my feet in a shallow pool filled with tiny, glittering fish that darted between my toes. The memory pearl hung warm against my neck, its weight both physical and symbolic.

Queen. The word echoed in my mind, both thrilling and terrifying.

Just days ago, I’d had one mission---find a habitable place for humanity’s survivors. Now Thalassar wanted me to stay as his queen.

The fish scattered as I stirred the water with my fingers. What would my team say if they knew? What would the mission commanders back on the Legacy think? I’d essentially gone native within days of landing.

But then... was that so wrong? I’d come looking for a new home, and I’d found one. Just not in the way anyone had expected.

“Troubled thoughts swim loud as school of chora fish,” a voice said from behind me.

I turned to find Elder Veda approaching, her silver scales like liquid moonlight. Her black eyes studied me with gentle humor.

“I’m sorry,” I said, my hand instinctively going to the translation pearl. “My understanding is still... incomplete.”

“You learn quick. Faster than any outsider I’ve seen.” She settled beside me with a grace that belied her age. “Pearl likes you.”

I smiled, focusing on forming the words in her language. “Pearl... helps much.”

“Your pronunciation improves,” she praised, switching to my language with noticeable effort. “Now tell me what troubles your heart.”

I sighed. “Thalassar asked me to be his queen.”

Veda’s eyes widened slightly. “And this brings sadness?”

“Not sadness. Confusion.” I struggled to express the complexity of my feelings. “I came here with a purpose. My people need a new home. I have responsibilities.”

“Ah. Duty versus heart.” She nodded sagely. “Old battle, fought in many souls.”

We sat in silence for a moment, watching the fish return cautiously to investigate my toes. Below the terrace, the city stretched out in glowing spirals and domes, alive with movement and light.

“His mother would approve,” Veda said suddenly. “She believed in connections between worlds.”

“What was she like?” I asked, genuinely curious about the woman who had shaped Thalassar.

“Visionary. Brave.” Veda’s expression softened with memory. “She saw beyond borders. Beyond differences. She dreamed of alliance with land-dwellers again.” She patted my hand. “You remind me of her. Same fire in your eyes.”

Before I could respond, the sound of children’s laughter echoed from a lower terrace. I leaned forward to see a group of young ones playing in a shallow pool. Their small scalesshimmered in iridescent patterns as they chased each other through jets of bubbles.

One child, smaller than the others with scales in shades of purple and blue, sat apart, watching wistfully as the others played.

“Why doesn’t that one join in?” I asked.

Veda’s expression turned sad. “Mira lost her parents to a Mersai raid. She’s still learning to play again.”

Without thinking, I stood. “Can we go down there?”

Veda looked surprised but nodded. We descended a spiraling staircase carved from coral and mother-of-pearl. As we approached, the children noticed us and stopped playing, their black eyes wide as they took in my human appearance.

“It’s alright,” I murmured, the pearl warming against my skin as I formed the words. “Please... continue playing.”

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