Page 103 of Midnightsong
“I took them to a series of caverns outside the balance because they wanted to play there. But look at this! They could have gotten seriously hurt.” Marina held out the items to Adrielle and Kaden, and Kaden tensed.
It wasn’t trash.
A human diving outfit floated to them, along with a coral tube. The oxygen tank stayed afloat, and Kaden reached out to clutch it. It was empty.
“This is a diving suit,” Adrielle stated, befuddlement marring her features. “And a piece of coral?”
“Yes. They were in the cavern the merlings played hide and seek in. Which means landwalkers were in the area.” Marina waved at the suit. “I had to bring them back, because what if the landwalkers arestilllurking about?”
“Is nowhere safe now? We can’t let the children out of our sight.” Adrielle sounded resolute. “I’ll take them from here.”
Marina bowed. “I’ll return at the turn of the tide.” She left.
“Odd that there were humans down there. What were they doing, keeping their diving equipment in the caverns?” Cyrus remarked, studying the suit.
When he turned it to look at the suit’s back, Kaden’s hand flew to his mouth. His brother stretched the suit out, revealing a gaping cut across the abdomen. Where he had sliced one of the divers that attacked him.
“Brother, may I see that? I believe this belonged to the diver I incapacitated, one of the two who attempted to assassinate me.”
Shock crossed Cyrus’ features and he handed the suit to Kaden.
Whathadhappened? “This is strange. Did this human escape into the caverns and abandon their diving suit? With their oxygen tank empty?” Kaden murmured to himself.
“It doesn’t make sense. How did they make it back to the surface? Unless they got magic from one of us?” Adrielle arched an eyebrow.
“I was thinking the same.” Cyrus wrapped one arm around Hadrien and the other around Libbi when they snuggled up to him.
Kaden inspected the rest of the diving suit. “The legs area. One is unnaturally stretched out, like–”
It can’t be.
Wordless, Adrielle took the suit from his hands and slid the stretched pants leg over her tail.
It was still large on her, and Kaden exchanged a stunned glance with Cyrus and Adrielle. “Try it,” she said, hoarse, handing it to Kaden.
Kaden took it from her and slid the pants leg over his own tail. It fit snug. It wasn’t a human who attacked him, but a merman.
“How could I not have noticed? I thought they moved too smoothly for humans and used mer magic.” He slipped the suit off his tail, holding it like it was a decomposing animal. “Why would mer try to assassinate me disguised as humans?” He looked at the coral log floating out of the bedchamber’s open window. That must have filled the other leg, else he would have seen one pants leg flapping around as the attackers struck him.
“Because you were fighting for your life?” Cyrus shifted at the hammock edge. “I doubt you were studying these divers when you were struggling to survive.”
“Fair point,” Kaden grumbled. “I still don’t understand why mer dressed as humans would–” He cut himself off. There was only one mer who would benefit from having him dead.
“But how are we going to prove it?” Adrielle asked.
Cyrus’ features reflected a deadly riptide. “We have a long trench to navigate ahead.”
Kaden’s fists clenched at his sides.
Saeryn, that bottom-feeding yu-shit eater.
Forty-Five
Angie
A uniformed man and woman awaitedAngie in the driveway when she pulled in, and Angie hesitated before stepping out of the car. The man held up a badge. “Angela Song? Good evening. I’m Special Agent Balcerzak and this is Special Agent Lopez. We’re from the Merfolk Defense and Response Team. Do you have a moment to speak with us?”
Bàba told her Beau messaged him early that morning that MDRT agents would be stopping by. Unfortunately, driving Mia to work and killing time in town wasn’t long enough to avoid meeting them. She trembled at what they might ask her. “Yeah, I do. Just let me drop off the grocery bags.”
