“I can do many things underwater.” He grinned lasciviously at me.
“I have no doubt. A man who can make it rain beneath an ocean is a man who should never be underestimated.”
Verin made a satisfied grunt.
As we neared the exit, a man entered the garden.
The man bowed to us and said, “Your Majesty, the Royal Physician awaits you in your study.”
“He's completed the autopsy?” Verin lifted a brow.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you.” Verin nodded to the servant, then gave me a heavy look.
Behind us, it started to rain.
We hurried out of the garden and down a corridor to Verin's study. The room was part library and part office, done in shades of green. I suppose that's what a study is—an upscale office with lots of bookshelves where you can study stuff. Stuff like an autopsy report. An ebony desk inlaid with mother of pearl dragons stood before a wall of books and a round rug defined the space before it, with a chair angled in on either side. On our way to the desk, we strode past tables that were actually display cabinets with treasures laid beneath their glass tops. Eggshell enamel boxes and trinkets covered in bright blue butterfly wings sat on black velvet pads beside jade figurines and demon masks.
A man stood in the center of the circle rug before the massive desk. He wore the fine robes of a courtier and had his long, black hair pulled back from his severe face in a single braid. He looked like the sort of man Verin would appreciate—no-nonsense.
The stern man turned toward us and bowed in a precise manner. “King Verin, I have made a startling discovery.”
“Lord Akio, this is my consort, Queen Elaria,” Verin introduced us first.
“My apologies, Your Majesty.” Lord Akio bowed again, this time to me. “I'm dismayed by my findings and it has taken precedence over my manners.”
“No offense taken. Please, tell us what you've discovered, Lord Akio,” I prompted.
Lord Akio looked at Verin first for permission.
Verin nodded and waved toward one of the seats before the desk. Lord Akio sat down and clasped his hands together, cracking his knuckles in the process, though I think that was accidental. Verin waved me into the remaining chair as he leaned his hip against his desk, his stare never leaving the nervous physician.
“Your Majesty, I started my autopsy without issue. I was fascinated by the corpse and intended to take my time dissecting her. I don't often get a Greek monster on my table.”
Verin grunted encouragingly.
“I removed the canine heads, placing them in dishes for later examination, then made my first incision into the torso. That is where things got strange.”
“Strange how?” I asked.
“Well, for one thing, she didn't have a womb.”
“Excuse me?” Verin growled.
“Scylla was obviously female but when I cut her open, she didn't have female parts, Your Majesty.”
“Lord Akio, I'm getting the feeling that you're leading us very slowly to an explanation that I'd prefer you arrive at with all haste.”
Akio flushed and inclined his head respectfully. “I'm sorry, King Verin, I'm just so amazed.”
“What did you find?!” Verin demanded.
“The corpse arrived looking like Scylla but halfway through my autopsy, it very abruptly became a male Lóng. In particular, a member of House Yá Zì.”
“What?!” Verin roared as he straightened.
“I believe we were hoodwinked, Your Majesty.” Lord Akio shot to his feet and bowed his head. “The body has been confirmed to be one of your soldiers, a man named Jae-ho.”
