Page 98 of Midnightsong
Kaden followed, making small talk with them on the way. Ten tail kicks later, Kaden floated upright with them, all three clinging to stone pillars with their tails, keeping them in place against the stronger currents in the area.
The garden was not made of grass, but of vibrant corals and the colorful yu and crustaceans living within them. Grass was scarce in this region, and the mer who lived there consumed yu and haizhe and traveled seamiles to find vegetation.
The merman lowered his voice. “You know about that controversy he created when he left his lifemate, right?”
“What?” Kaden’s tail jerked. “I thought she passed away.”Was this what Aiereka was about to tell him?
The mermaid shook her head. “No, he abandoned her when Princess Aiereka was still a child. She fled and none of us have heard from her since.”
“How? How was he not imprisoned?” Kaden struggled to wrap his head around what he heard. Abandonment of a lifemate resulted in life imprisonment for the offender.
“He claimed an abusive union.” The merman’s voice grew harsh, angry. “He was never punished, though we waited for it. Queen Serapha never knew and rumors were King Aqilus made sure of it.”
The words hit Kaden’s gut like a hard punch. What else didn’t he know about the secrets his father, or even his mother kept?
The mermaid nodded. “A terrible thing, indeed. And now he is King.” She blew out a stream of bubbles and motioned to the merman. “Sorry, we should be going. We have other matters that require our immediate attention.”
With a heavy heart, Kaden’s shoulders dropped and he bid them farewell.
“There’s no evidence he abandoned his lifemate,” Oryma told Kaden in the council’s chambers. “Hearsay from his neighbors doesn’t count.”
“Can you investigate it?” Kaden spoke through clenched teeth.
“I’m sorry, but this is low on our priorities right now. Also, his ex-lifemate is long gone. If she’s not dead, she’s likely living somewhere far away, and we cannot afford the merpower it would take to find her,” Alasdair added.
“Fine.” Kaden pressed his lips into a tight slash and left the chambers.
All that work had now sunk into the deepest trench.
Forty-Three
Angie
Angie quickened her pace as thewinds grew harsher and tightened her hood so it hugged her face. She went for a walk downtown after an early dinner, and she hadn’t timed her walk properly.
Governor Vester and Governor Taylor still hadn’t gotten back to her.
Now she was scurrying home as night descended. It was an icy, dark, zero-degree night, the Northern Lights swaying in purple and green sheets across the sky. Her nose felt so frozen it could fall off and she wouldn’t know.
She stopped short when she entered Mia’s house and found Bàba standing ramrod straight, even with two crutches jammed under his armpits, with Luke’s parents, Beau and Emily, in the foyer, all three donning house slippers.
Creston’s councilors. The three appeared deep in conversation and didn’t notice when Angie crept closer.
“Bàba.” She treaded softly into their space.
Their conversation stopped when she spoke.
“There she is,” Bàba said soft but firm, and Emily stepped aside to let Angie into their triangle.
“Bàba, you don’t want to sit down?” Angie motioned to the unoccupied ottoman behind him. He shook his head.
“We offered, but he said no,” Beau replied.
“I sit or lie down most of the day.” Bàba protested. “I’ll rest in the living room, if any of you need me.” Angie and Emily assisted him to a sitting position on the couch with his leg propped up, and they returned to meet Beau.
“You were looking for me?” Angie asked the mayor and his wife.
“Yes, is there somewhere private we can talk for a few minutes?” Emily asked.
