“I understand plenty, which is why I know the bigger risk is from above. We need to take the humans seriously.”
Dione scowled. “I trust Her Majesty will do what she must to restore peace. This is her decision, not yours. Excuse me.”
Before I could say more, she left, continuing to search the cavern.
I turned to Galene. What did this mean? Maybe Dione hadn’t agreed, but she hadn’t disagreed, either. A decision this big was up to the queen.
Galene grimaced. “I’m here if you need me, sugarkelp.”
She took off, dragging her victim with her. A corral was forming in the centre of the room. Dione’s army surrounded a group of disarmed Nereid guards. Though this hadn’t gone according to plan, I was grateful to have Utopia as my ally. Our bigger numbers were proving favourable.
I cast my senses around the cavern, wondering where all the cells were. Maybe there were tunnels or secret passages leading to the inmates.
A faint presence overhead caught my attention. Something in the way the current broke as it swirled around the dome was suspicious. It would make sense to put the cells near the surface, wouldn’t it?
I was about to rise when someone slammed into me, knocking me so hard that spots erupted in my vision.
I righted myself, teeth bared. For a moment, I saw no one. Then fingers closed around my upper arm. Too close, I felt the rush of a swinging mace. I caught a glimpse of brunette hair—and a merman jetted out of nowhere and tackled her. They rolled away. Their struggle stopped with the merman locking an arm around the mermaid’s neck and snatching her weapon.
“Thanks,” I said, the word escaping as a bubble.
“Let go of me,” shouted Guenevere, voice strained as the merman squeezed her throat.
I did a double-take of my saviour. I’d seen him before—fought him, let him escape. He’d been on the South Pacific battlefront and a reluctant part of Adaro’s guard.
“Anthias?”
“Hi!”
“You made it back!”
Guenevere thrashed beneath his arm, roaring. He squeezed tighter.
“Sort of. I was in the Aleutian Trench. I got to Utopia as everyone was leaving after the coup.”
“The Aleutian Trench? I thought a soldier like you would get sent back to the battlefront.”
Anthias’ forehead wrinkled. “Battlef—Lysi, I abandoned my post protecting the king.”
I grimaced.Right.Treason.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I was hiding with a former human and his wife and kids. They were supposed to be sent down to the labour camp. Anyway, you here for the queen?”
At the wordqueen, Guenevere struggled harder in Anthias’ grip.
“Which cell is she in?” I asked her, pointing to the dome’s perimeter.
In answer, she blew in my face.
“All right,” I said, “Anthias, help me search …”
My chest tightened. A feeling like homesickness overcame me. Deeper than homesickness, this was an overwhelming ache.
I whirled, heart pounding. They were here, both of them. The cavern was too dark to distinguish faces. Everyone’s auras blended together.
They must have come with the coup at Utopia. Unless—
