9
Hollyn’s whole body ached, but she didn’t care. She’d just swam…without equipment…for a vast distance. It was unimaginable. How had she never known she could do that before? It would have made her treasure-hunting days so much easier.
But she knew how she’d been ignorant of such a skill. She hadn’t been raised among sirens. There was so much she didn’t know still. So much her mother and her aunt Coral could teach her. She really hoped she got the chance to experience that. She just needed to find the third piece of the amulet and face her father. Then, she could get on with her life.
And now that she did know she didn’t need equipment, she wanted to explore more and deeper. Were there other cities like this magnificent one they were in even now? And would Kai want to explore this newfound ability together?
They were out of the water and inside now, breathing air once more and walking through a long corridor. Ahead of them, a bright light shone through a wide opening. They were on their way to meet the current ruler of Hanupali City, and the nerves were beginning to get to her.
Resisting the urge to grab Kai’s hand, she looked up at him as he walked beside her. Once more, she was struck by how gorgeous he was with his chiseled jaw and long, straight nose. He had high cheekbones and a set of lips that just begged to be kissed. She could see him as a king. The question was could he see himself as such? If given the choice, would he stay here and rule a people he knew nothing about? Would he choose to go with her? Did she want him to?
Deep inside, she knew the answer. Of course, she wanted him by her side as she faced her father, but again, she felt a strong drive to face the man who had imprisoned her most of her life alone.
The realization that came to her was that she didn’t know Kai enough to say one way or another what he would do anyway. They’d only known each other for weeks now, but after all they’d been through together, it felt like a lot longer. She liked having him by her side, and he was the first person she thought of when she needed someone she could trust. He also made her feel good, not just with the orgasms he’d given her, though those were definitely a plus, but he didn’t make her feel like she had no control over her life. He made her feel like anything was possible, that she could defeat her father and finally live the life she wanted, not on the run and not as a tear-factory for a father who only sought to use her. He made her feel powerful.
They stepped into an elaborate throne room filled with people. As Hollyn’s gaze scanned the crowd, she noted the curious looks from the men and women standing along the sides of the cavernous room that reminded her of one of the medieval great halls she’d read about. She got the feeling the people were in shock, that they didn’t get many visitors to their underwater kingdom.
As Akamu led them toward the expansive, golden throne ahead, Hollyn stared at the ornate designs on the walls. Pillarsjutted from the wall in regular intervals, with painted murals covering the walls in between. She couldn’t really see what the scenes depicted because though most of the room was bathed in a bright shimmery glow, the sides of the room were in shadows. The only light that hovered on the edges were fiery sconces set high above the crowd. Her gaze traveled beyond the sconces to the ceiling where Hollyn could see out through what seemed to be glass. The entire roof above them was perfectly clear. It was mesmerizing as schools of fish swam right over them, and an octopus propelled itself in the opposite direction. It was like something in a fantasy novel, and once more, Hollyn couldn’t believe she was actually here.
“Come forward and state your business!”
Hollyn jumped at the booming voice that filled the hall, the one that had come from the figure that now demanded all of her attention. Once again, she resisted the urge to reach out and squeeze Kai’s hand. She could really use some reassurance right now, but she reminded herself that she didn’t need to depend on him. There was a chance they would not leave here together, and she’d need to stand on her own against her father.
Akamu paused in front of the large man sitting on the throne and knelt on one knee, bowing his head before what Hollyn assumed was the current ruler. She only got a quick look at the intimidating man before Akamu signaled Kai and she should follow his example, and they dropped to the ground, lowering their own heads.
From what she’d seen, he was younger than Kai, paler, too. But he also had ruggedly handsome features, with a clean shaven face and strikingly blue eyes.
His voice was still loud but directed only at them as he said, “Stand and face me. Tell me why you are here.”
He was definitely used to giving orders. There was no doubt in his tone that he was the one in charge.
They all three stood, and for the first time, she met his gaze, noting the slight interest in their impossibly blue depths as he gave her a perusal from head to toe. It made her slightly uncomfortable, and she took a step closer to Kai.
Just as the man sitting on the throne moved his scrutiny to Kai, Akamu said, “King Makoa, please forgive the sudden intrusion, but this is Kai and Hollyn, and we would like a private audience if it pleases your majesty.”
Hollyn noticed Kai’s body stiffen at the name of the king. She understood immediately why he’d reacted. The captain and crew had been doing the bidding of King Makoa when they’d kidnapped Willow and tried to dump Kai and Hollyn into the Vortex. Akamu was wise to ask for them to speak to the king alone.
King Makoa shifted his focus to the gathered crowd, and for a moment, Hollyn thought he might simply arrest them and be done with the whole thing. He obviously knew who they were.
But he surprised her when he said, “Clear the room! Everyone out! Guards, too!”
Without question, the entire room emptied, and no one lingered even for a minute. It was as if they’d been waiting for an opportunity to leave.
Once the hall was clear of all but the four of them, the king stood and walked down three steps to stand in front of them. He was as tall as Kai, but not as muscular. His gaze roamed the small group, and one side of his mouth lifted in something resembling a smile.
“I thought my message would have been clear. You are not wanted here, brother.” His lightning blue gaze zeroed in on Kai, and Hollyn felt the tension in the air immediately.
Kai straightened as he said, “I’m only here for one thing. I don’t want this kingdom. It’s yours, and I have no intentionof taking it because I’m supposed to be some sort of long, lost king.”
“By right of birth, it is yours…to take.”
Hollyn didn’t like the way he’d paused between words. It sounded more like a challenge than an acknowledgment of the situation.
“I don’t intend to take it.” Kai sighed dramatically. “All I ever wanted was to know where I came from. And now I do. I don’t want to make this my home. I like my life the way it is, and you are obviously good at keeping this place running. There’s no reason to change the status quo. All I want is the last piece to complete the medallion. Once we have that, we’ll be on our way.”
King Makoa put his hands on his hips and stood as tall as he could as he said, “The law is clear. The throne is yours. The only way I can keep it is if I take it from you by force. And the only way you get the holy relic that you say completes your medallion is by holding the kingdom.”
Dread settled in the pit of Hollyn’s stomach. They couldn’t get the final piece of the medallion unless Kai became king, but once he became king, she would lose him forever. Her chest ached at the thought of giving up the hope of defeating her father, but it also ached at the thought of saying goodbye to Kai.
