And Calypso? She's caught in the middle of the maelstrom—no mermaid tail—can't swim—her body tossed and turned like a ragdoll in the grip of her sister's fury.
"Damnit," I mutter under my breath, my heart pounding.
This is bad, like, really bad.
Rhyland
72
"I'm gonna deal with this bitch once and for all," I growl to Dani, my eyes never leaving Cordelia's furious face. "You stay put, Angel. I got this."
Dani scoffs, her hands on her hips as she glares at me. "Excuse me? What do you mean, 'deal with her'? Rhyland, I swear to god, if you kill her, I will personally kick your ass from here to the surface."
I sigh at her stubborn defiance. My woman can never just let me handle shit. "Relax, baby. I'm not gonna kill her. Yet."
And with that, I move, blurring across the cavern to where Cordelia stands, her staff raised in a defensive posture. I lunge for the weapon, my hands closing around the slick metal, and with a sharp twist, I wrench it from her grasp.
"Heads up, baby!" hurling the staff towards my mate. She snatches it out of the air with ease, her reflexes honed to perfection.
The instant the staff leaves Cordelia's hands, the churning waters die down, the roaring torrent fading to a gentle trickle. Calypso lies on the cold, wet stone, her chest heaving as she gulps in the stale air.
Cordelia whirls on me, her eyes flashing with rage and disgust. "How dare you interfere!"
I bare my fangs, my eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "Enough of this bullshit, lady," I snarl. "Your little reign of terror is over. You either kiss and makeup with your sister, or I'll find a permanent solution to this family feud. We clear?"
I hand the Lyre to Calypso, gently helping her to her feet. She clutches the instrument to her chest, her eyes wide and grateful as she stares at me.
Cordelia sneers, her hand outstretched as she summons her staff back to her grasp. It flies into her palm, and she grins at me, a twisted, ugly thing. "You've justmade a grave mistake," she cackles. I wait for the waters to engulf us, holding on to Calypso as I prepare to blur. But nothing happens.
Cordelia looks around, confused.
"Performance issues?" Dani quips from across the cavern. "Don't worry, I hear it happens to everyone. Well, everyone except Rhyland, of course. That man is a fucking machine."
I shoot her a heated look, my cock twitching at the blatant praise. And then I see it—the Aquanite stone in her crown glowing and pulsing an aqua blue.
I watch with pride and amusement as Dani hops down from her perch, sauntering over to Cordelia with a swagger.
Cordelia glares at Dani, her face twisted with rage and disbelief. "How?" she demands, her voice shaking with impotent fury. "How did you get the stone?"
Dani smirks. "Oh, that's simple," she drawls. "So, funny story. Apparently, there's this whole 'Dark Prophecy' thing that's been floating around the Seven Realms like a bad rumor. You know, the one about a savior who's supposed to swoop in and save the day when everything goes to hell in a handbasket? Well, guess what? Turns out, that savior? Is yours truly."
She stops in front of Cordelia, her hands on her hips, and I can't help but admire the way her leather pants hug her curves, the way her breasts strain against the tight fabric of her soaked top. Fuck, my woman is a goddamn work of art.
Dani continues, her voice sharp and unyielding. "And I need these stones to fulfill it. So, I will be taking what isdivinelymine, and I'll be damned if I let anyone, especially a bitter mermaid with a serious case of sibling rivalry, stand in my way."
Calypso walks over to her throne and sits, "Sister, please. I told you the stories were true…"
"Make amends and end this tyrant bullshit," Dani continues. "Or, as my man said, we will find a permanent solution to end this fuckery—which involves a not-so-nice ending for you."
I chuckle darkly, my fangs glinting in the dim light of the cavern.
Cordelia's eyes dart between us, her face a mask of fear and desperation. I can practically smell the stench of her terror, the bitter tang of her defeat. She knows she's lost, knows that she's no match for us.
"You can't do this," she whispers, trembling with impotent rage. "I am the queen of this realm. I am the rightful ruler!"
"No, Cordelia. Calypso was crowned the rightful ruler, chosen by the people, and blessed by the gods. Your mother couldn't accept that, couldn't bear the thought of her daughter being second best. So she poisoned you, twisted your mind with her bitterness and jealousy until you could no longer see the truth."
Dani steps closer, her golden eyes blazing. "And then, in the ultimate act of selfishness and cruelty, she murdered your father and Calypso's mother. She took two innocent lives and destroyed a family, all because she couldn't let go of her pride and ego. The Soul Stone was an acting catalyst to your mother's already lost mind, Cordelia."
