For seven thousand years, the Aquarians hid beneath the surface of the Split Sea, passing away from all fae memory. There was no human realm or fae realm in the sea. It was a single shimmering, ever shifting entity all its own. Those ever changing, opening and closing layers made them more vulnerable to the succubus. They were nearly decimated by the Great War. With the succubus banished, they’d wiped away allrecord of their existence and disappeared into the watery depths to recover.
Until the succubus returned and Mya was elected Queen of the Aquarian Fae.
“I have sealed the sea.” Mya folded her arms across her chest, drawing herself up to her full height. Not tall, but solid. Strength. A regal bearing that had existed within her long before she was elected queen. “The Aquarians are trapped here in Annwyn until the succubus are defeated.”
She’d agonized over the decision. Sealing the sea meant that for the first time in history, the Aquarians could not travel at will between Annwyn and the human realm. She’d altered the magic of the sea itself, because every shimmer of light in the water was a sort of rift, an entry point for the succubus.
“And under my command, we will defeat—”
“I do not think you understand, Lord Agravayn, what I mean when I say I have sealed the sea,” she cut in sharply, needing no weapon but her iron will. “The equivalent might be cutting off both your arms. Or banishing the very clouds from the sky so you cannot wield them. I have separated my people from a vital source of their power. I have nearly crippled them—so that the succubus cannot use our kingdom to enter yours.”
She extended her hand into the space between them. “We will fight as equals or we will not fight at all.”
Gaheris rumbled something between a cough and a sigh.
Agravayn stared at Mya’s proffered hand like the threat it was.
Her meaning was clear. Submit to her conditions, offer his touch so she could validate the sincerity of his agreement, or the Aquarians would disappear into the Split Sea for another seven thousand years.
Evander saw it for what it truly was—a bluff. When Mya had made the agonizing decision to seal the sea, she’d also decided tofight. But how and when and with who remained to be seen. The terrestrial kingdom waited on the other side of the Split Sea. She could offer her aid there instead, leave the elementals without her valuable reinforcements—and Agravayn without the glory and status he’d achieve by securing their alliance.
If it were Evander’s decision, they’d walk away.
But in the aftermath of Gareth’s death, Mya had clasped hands with both Gaheris and Agravayn. Whatever she’d seen and felt then was enough to bring her back to the shore today.
Agravayn took her hand.
Mya smiled. Soft, like her. Kind, down to her watery essence.
Whatever Agravayn felt, he stepped back the instant she released him, putting several feet of distance between them.
The curves of Mya’s smile flattened out into a line of grim determination. “Well, then. It is time for us to find Veyka Pendragon.”
32
VEYKA
“Your son?”
The door clicked shut behind us. I could still hear Morgause bristling—how dare she banish the Dyad from our own chamber—as Lyrena and Barkke dragged her none-too-gently down the stairs.
Hopefully, she’d fall and break her neck. It would probably not be enough to kill her, but I could see to that later.
“You have a son?” I asked again, staring at my silent mate.
Arran blinked at me, his onyx eyes more dazed than I’d ever seen them.
Fucking great.
They locked on me.I didn’t know.
I knew that. I could feel his shock, even more visceral than my own. A male who’d scorned love, connection, and emotion. Earned the title of Brutal Prince. Now saddled with a mate and offspring. And that offspring’s terrible mother.
It was a good thing I had not eaten, because even the few sips of wine I’d drank threatened to reappear.
Fuck that.I grabbed the flagon that Mordred—Arran’s son! —had left behind and drained it. I already felt ill; I couldn’t make it much worse.
Arran did not move from the center of the room. Tall, slanting glass windows surrounded us on all sides. I could see the latches where they would open to accommodate Orcadion’s winged beast form. Outside, clouds obscured any view of the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, I had no doubt that the Dyad could see all the way to the army camp on the other side of Wolf Bay.
