Page 110 of Midnightsong
“Justice for Queen Serapha and King Aqilus! Kill the landwalkers!” Those words rang the loudest.
Kaden’s resolve hardened.
Could he turn their beliefs in his favor? He had to try.
They re-entered the palace through the grand foyer, swimming left through the stonemasons’ quarters. Darya and Hylin were still speaking to one another, but their words buzzed through Kaden’s ears, his thoughts focused on the mer’s clear dislike of him.
The three remaining councilors floated side by side, raising their collective gazes to meet Kaden’s, Darya’s, and Hylin’s.
Darya stopped in front of Allie, Oryma, and Alasdair, and quickly explained what had passed.
“Prince Kaden, do you wish the throne turned to you?” Alasdair asked, tucking the rock slate into the shelves behind them.
“Yes.” Kaden spoke quickly before he changed his mind again.
“Do you have a queen to rule at your side, or a daughter to be your heir?” Allie asked, her gaze piercing his.
“The only potential queen I could have is a human woman.” Kaden couldn’t meet their eyes. He shouldn’t have said that during a war with the humans. “I don’t know if she’ll accept the position even if I asked.”
“We cannot accept a human queen, even if she agrees,” the first merman said. “But because we granted the current king this liberty, we will grant you sole ruler for now because of wartime. If you keep the throne when the war is over, you will be expected to have a queen. Or female heirs, else you forfeit your position as king. Understood?”
A pull at his heartstrings urged him to say no and back down, but he fought the urge. “Yes.” He understood mer customs, but he felt no need to say it aloud to the council.
If only Cyrus would heal faster.
“Then you will take the throne, and we will send out a notice for your coronation immediately.” The expression on Alasdair’s face was impassive. Like all the councilors, they did not wear their emotions on their faces, or body language. “That is all. Your Majesty.”
It took Kaden a moment before he realized Alasdair was talking to him.
“The throne is yours.” With a small bow of their heads, the councilors left.
Kaden swam to the throne room and hung with the currents before them. He looked to each throne once belonging to his parents.
The room was empty, meaningless without them. Thoughts that he didn’t belong here consumed him as he made his way toward his father’s throne. He did not ascend upon it—that wasn’t to happen until the coronation ceremony had adjourned.
He moved a hand over the throne’s carvings, dropping his fingers along the smooth surface. Made of coral but smoothed so it felt of glossy stone upon his skin and scales.
Kaden should want this, shouldn’t he? This was his chance to regain the mer’s trust in him. His chance to pull their forces back and convince Cassia and Varin to do the same. Broker peace with the humans and find his mother’s killers. Be with Angie in peace again.
She had once told him to be the change he wanted to see in the world.
And yet with those thoughts in mind, hollowness expanded in his heart.
Forty-Eight
Angie
The days passed by in ablur, and Angie spent the day going through the motions. Breakfast, feed Lulu, help Bàba, lunch, and calling the divers from Ken’s list.
None of them called her back.
Rosie was at school, Mia was at work, and Jack was taking his afternoon nap.
After lunch, she walked to the porch, where Bàba stood with his crutches overlooking the banister at the townscape before him. She donned her jacket and stepped outside. “Bàba?”
“Yes, Beibei?”
“How are you feeling?”
