Page 48 of Midnightsong
Not one mer had spoken against the noble mermaid or the mer screaming for his exile, and he couldn’t have Adrielle speak up for him each time there was conflict.
His people hated him. They wanted him cast out. Yes, he knew the mer present today did not speak for all the mer in the Bering Sea, but if even one prominent noble family spoke against him, they could easily convince the citizens.
It did not sit well with Kaden.
Before he reached the inside of the palace, a hand landed on his tailfins, startling him, and he jerked his tail back. “Kaden.” Saeryn, flanked by a bevy of sentinels. “I’m sorry about that. I’ll get them under control.”
“Meet me and Cyrus in our bedchambers,” Adrielle whispered to him before swimming away, narrowing her eyes at Saeryn.
About to spit out what he heard Saeryn say in the throne room, Kaden thought the better of it. “I hope you can,” he said, betraying his thoughts.
“Yes. I will take care of things here and restore your tarnished reputation. I think you should return to Haiping for now. Get some respite and clear your head, away from our citizens whose growing unrest against landwalkers is clearly upsetting you.” His gills opened for breath. “And for your own safety. I can’t promise I can protect you against everyone who wishes you harm.”
“Who wishes me harm?” Warmth drained from Kaden’s face.
“No one that I know of. But mer who are angry can snap. And I cannot ask you to bar yourself in your chambers for an undetermined length of time.” Blinking rapidly, Saeryn swept a hand in Kaden’s direction, but dropped it before his uncle’s palm met his skin. “So, it’s safest that you take respite away from here.”
Kaden shuddered and he wanted nothing more than to leave. “When do you need me back?”
“When you’re ready to return. I need you at your best, and if your mind is focused on protecting the landwalkers and you are so provoked by our citizens, you won’t be much use to me I’m afraid.” Saeryn put two gentle hands on Kaden’s shoulders. “I’ll see you when you return.” Before Kaden could ask what happened with the mediation session and why it was over so fast, Saeryn had left, leaving Kaden alone. Adrielle was far gone.
He found her in her and Cyrus’ bedchambers. His brother was lying down with a thick seagrass blanket over him, and his gills were opening and closing faster than Kaden had ever seen them. He must be exhausted, his body crying for oxygen as his gills worked overtime to pump water in and out.
After Adrielle let him in Kaden swam to the angled rock stool at Cyrus’ bedside and curled his tail around the base to secure himself.
The citizens truly believed him a traitor. They hated him. Any sporadic thought he had about taking the throne fled with the currents.
As soon as Kaden sat, Cyrus spoke, his eyes closed. “Would you like to speak your thoughts aloud?”
Kaden glanced at Cyrus, whose rose tail swished back and forth, back and forth. The movement of his gills slowed, as well, telling Kaden his brother relaxed at last. He chewed on his lower lip, and in a hushed tone, spoke his worries aloud to Cyrus.
“So, you are afraid of trying to take the throne because our people show contempt for you?” Cyrus’ lips moved, but his eyes remained shut. “You must understand why they feel the way they do. And Saeryn’s instigation is not helping matters.”
Kaden drew his tail closer to him on instinct, a move to appear smaller and protect himself. Protect himself from what he didn’t know. “I never set out to love a human.”
“Love can be blind, all-consuming. I felt similar with Adrielle. I intended to seek other mermaids during the courtship process, but she was the only one I had my eye on since we were youngsters.” A tiny smile flitted across Cyrus’ lips, disappearing as quickly as it appeared. “When someone is the one for you, your heart and soul know.”
Kaden nudged Cyrus’ shoulder with his elbow and he couldn’t help but grin. “When did you become such a sap?”
“Since you brought up love and my thoughts went to my beautiful lifemate.” Cyrus rubbed his face and rolled to his side, his eyes flickering open. “But should you wish to gain the people’s favor back and take the throne, you must show them you’re a compassionate leader, like Mother and Father were. And show them Angie never was andisnot a threat to them.”
Dragging his fins on the rock floor, Kaden stayed quiet, absorbing Cyrus’ words. He hated his own indecisiveness at that moment, a cruel reminder of how he froze under pressure.
“If you don’t, things may not turn out well. I fear Uncle is on the verge of causing tyranny.”
“Me too. And I feel like my brain has been saddled with parasites around him,” Kaden replied. “He makes my head spin, saying one thing and doing another. But my entire life, I was told I’m not fit to rule. That I’ll make things worse and the pressure will get to me, and I’ll crumble.”
“I cannot and will not sway you one way or another. But I will support you.” Cyrus used his fins to flick a wayward rock at Kaden, and it bounced off his tail—the way they did when they were children and would play games—see who could kick a rock the furthest. “You’ll have to fight your own sea-demons.”
Kaden straightened. “Saeryn suggested I return to Haiping to give me some space and protection from the angry citizens. Said he would deal with them. And I think that’s a good idea. I don’t feel safe here after what happened earlier.” Kaden rubbed his face, his throat growing tight with worry. “You’ll keep me apprised of what’s happening here?”
“I will try. If not, Adrielle will get the message to you. We will keep an eye on him.” Cyrus rolled onto his back pushing his hair out of his eyes. “Safe travels. And please give Varin, Cassia, and Angie my regards when you see them.”
Kaden stopped on his way out to inform the healers that Cyrus was awake and packed his small satchel before he set out. He stuffed it with his seaflute and a handful of salted sea moss and candied seaweed—snacks for when he needed to eat while traveling across barren areas in between queendoms.
He left immediately, anticipating a prolonged journey, because he needed to conserve his magic and create a funnel to propel him whenever he needed to.
Once he traveled the familiar path, he pulled out his seaflute to speak with Angie and informed her he was on his way. Soon, he would be with Angie, and the notion elated him. And after more than a fortnight of her absence, he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms again.
