Xander linked arms with Emma and Lexen. Dawn took Maya and Chase. Burton ended up with Callie and Daniel. I noticed that bubbles were surrounding Xander’s legs as they morphed into his tail, and I prepared myself for some speed. Finally.
When they took off, I released my inner water child, following close behind. My blood bubbled, my soul soared, my heart felt lighter as we dashed through the water. Sea creatures joined us in the same way they always did back home, and I marveled at how many were similar. There were gorgeous animals that moved like dolphins, long and sleek. They had very short rostrums and were a bright turquoise in color, blending into the water around them.
A few others were of the scary variety, but I noticed Xander keeping an eye on things, sending out little blasts of red-tinged water if any got too close. We passed by a few more smaller towns as we went, filled with pods and coral gardens. It even looked like there were playgrounds for the young, built from a multitude of materials. It was literally like we’d stumbled into the set of a fantasy movie.
But it was very real.
When the next giant pod came into view, I noticed a definite increase in guards. They lined the entrance, which was again barred with huge gates.
“Home,” Xander said simply as half a dozen weapon-wielding Royales rushed to open the gates for us.
Once we were inside that perimeter, our pace slowed down. I was almost disappointed to slow, exhilarated from the race across the waters of Royale. The density should have made it harder to move forward at speed, but I’d adjusted easily. I would even go so far as to say I moved even faster here than back in Hawaii.Home.The whisper of that word just wouldn’t leave me alone. I would always be torn between two worlds.
On the bright side though, two homes wasn’t the worst thing to have in one’s life. No home would always win that prize for me.
15
Burton left us when we reached the front chamber of the biggest pod I’d seen since we’d dived into the waters of Royale. Dawn and Xander led us through an arched doorway and into the front sectioned-off area. With a whir, the door closed behind us, and there were gurgles as the water slowly drained away. Within a minute we were all standing, dry as we had been before we entered the water.
It felt weird to be back on “land,” and my legs shook for a beat before my equilibrium returned. There was no movement in the pod, despite being under the water. If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn we were on land.
“Come on,” Dawn said, her voice more melodic when it wasn’t being filtered through the water. “Our parents are waiting for you.”
Doors whooshed open, and we stepped into a long hallway. Art hung along the wood-paneled walls. Carpet covered the floor. “We never go underwater here,” she explained, leading the way. “This front section is always dry, but it’s best not to open any doors unless you’re sure of what is on the other side.”
That was good information for the others, but personally I was already missing the water.
The hallway opened up into a huge, gorgeously attired room. Definitely fit for royalty. The carpet was a very pale shade of green, and most of the furniture was white. Huge pieces of art adorned the walls between glass panels that showcased a view of the water around us. “It’s perfect,” I breathed.
I’d thought I’d said it low enough that no one would hear, but across the room Xander’s head snapped up. His eyes were burning, and it was nearly impossible for me to tell what emotion that was. Arousal, anger, fear, worry … they were all tangled together.
Before I could combust right there on the spot, a couple appeared, striding in together from the side of the pod we had not explored.
“Xander!” the woman exclaimed, hurrying forward to hug her son. “We have been worried about you.”
He returned her hug with force, and then moved on to shake hands with his father. “We found the last keeper, and now we need to find the map,” Xander explained after he’d greeted his parents. “Come and meet the girls.”
He led them toward us and I tried really hard not to fidget. His mom was stunning, taller than me by a few inches, and looking not much older than us. Her hair was white, and unlike a lot of the Royales I’d seen, it was short, hanging only to her shoulders. Her skin was a creamy brown color, and I could see where Xander got his bronze skin tones. Actually, both of his parents were bronze-skinned.
Xander crossed to me first. “This is Avalon,” he said when he reached my side, both of us facing his parents, who had stepped forward. “She’s the Royale secret keeper.”
I stood still, waiting for one of them to indicate what sort of protocol was expected of me. Xander waved a hand at his father. “Tristall,” he said, before turning to his mother. “And Lettie, overlord major of House of Royale.”
Lettie held a hand out to me and I placed mine in her cool grasp. She shook firmly, and I relaxed somewhat. “We’re so pleased to finally meet you,” she said, sounding as melodic as her daughter.
She dismissed me pretty quickly after that, moving on to the other girls in the room. I really wasn’t sure how to take her, because she held herself very formally … almost coldly. But I had to remember who she was. No doubt it wasn’t the easiest task being a ruler. The level of responsibility resting on her would be titanic.
Tristall captured my attention when he captured my hand. “Absolute pleasure to meet you,” he said, much more warmly than his mate. “We will assign you a pod so you can come and go from Royale as much as you’d like. Would you prefer it be here, in the overlord village?”
His request was so random and unexpected, I froze up. My eyes darted to Xander’s, even though I told myself not to look his way. This decision had nothing to do with him, except for the fact that it would be easier when our “thing” was over if I wasn’t living in close proximity to him.
I tore my gaze away before he could influence my decision. “That’s a very generous offer,” I told Tristall, letting my gratitude seep into my words. “I’ve dreamed about being able to live under the water … to sleep under the water, for my entire life. But … I need to breathe oxygen from above, and I’m not sure I’d be able to make it this deep without some assistance. So a pod is probably not worth wasting on me.”
It hurt me to say that, because my own pod would be akin to my own home, and as a double bonus, it was under the water. All of my dreams could come true.
It was probably for the best, though.
“Get her one,” Xander’s deep voice cut through. “In this village. I will make sure she’s able to come and go as needed.” He wasn’t looking at me, facing his father directly.
