Kadir inspected the hunting fields. He was supposed to be at the old city now, excavating, but a few hours ago, one of his patrols had chased away a raider scout.

Excavations were canceled immediately. The patrols drew tight around the city. His investigation focused on the scout’s hiding place.

“There are forty raiders,” Soren reported grimly, pointing out the patterns of weapon markings on the sharpening stones. “Perhaps twice as many as we are. And they will attack when we are weakest. Missing warriors.”

“What do you advise?”

“Delay Elyssa’s surface visit.”

“For how long?”

“Until the threat subsides.”

Kadir twisted his lips to the side. “I cannot delay forever.”

Soren growled. “Losing her will destroy your city.”

“It is your city, too.”

“She is your bride.”

How interesting that Soren should say that. Kadir also felt more fiercely possessive of Elyssa than he liked. When she told him that she could give him pleasure without any risk of creating a young fry, he had actually cracked inside. A crazy thought entered his head. It would not let him go from its iron fist.

The old covenant demanded a bride stay until she gave birth to a young fry. Some of his warriors, or elders like the adviser, held that traditional view. For them, Kadir could keep Elyssa forever so long as she had no young fry.

He could keep her forever… Like his mother, on the shore, always perfect. Always his.

“My king.” Pelan made a strange gesture. Both hands made a flattened circle and he touched the tips together in front of his chest. “Zoan sights no enemies here.”

“Zoan?” Soren growled. “When did Zoan arrive? He is supposed to be at the Life Tree. Who is guarding the Life Tree?”

Pelan shook his head. “I thought he was on patrols. He is returning to the city now. Should I chase after him?”

“No. We will return soon. Continue your report.”

“Lotar leads the patrol you removed from the old ruin. Will you send them back to excavate?”

“No.” Kadir would leave the ruin undefended. Enemies might already be there, waiting for their usual excavations. Aya would go another month without the final Sea Opals payment. “We fall back to defend the new city. No enemy will penetrate our lines.”

Pelan made the looped-fingers-touching-over-his-chest gesture. Iyen, swimming beside Soren, made the salute back at him. Pelan swam away.

“What is that?” Kadir demanded.

“The salute?” Iyen made it again. “Nilun showed me. The queen wanted a salute that was unique to Atlantis. She created several and the younger warriors chose this.”

Pride lifted his chest. The city was finally coming together. At the center of it, giving hope and encouragement, glowed his queen.

He was wrong to deny her young fry. She would be a wonderful mother. His selfish possessiveness shamed him.

Kadir spoke the words aloud to break the spell over his heart. “Did you know, Iyen, that my queen desires to give Atlantis five young fry sons?”

Iyen blinked.

Soren canted his brow at Kadir skeptically. “Is five even possible?”

“I do not know. Elyssa seemed to think so.”

Soren grunted. “That is a question for Balim, perhaps.”

“What would a city be like with five young fry? From the same parents? That has not happened in a thousand years, I promise you.”

“Not in a recognized city,” Soren agreed.

Iyen simply stared out over the chert fields, the evidence of their enemies before him. He was a soldier. He did not have time for fantasies.

Well, now Kadir had the urge to return to Elyssa quickly and make the most of his new resolution before taking her to the surface for her second monthly check.

“King Kadir!” Gailen flew to him, panicked and trembling. His chest vibrated so hard he could barely speak. “The twin seed has been stolen.”

His gut clenched. While he was outside the city, their enemies attacked.

Soren shouted for the other warriors. They formed into deadly units and flew behind Kadir.

“Where is Elyssa?” he demanded tightly, chasing Gailen back to the city. “Who is her guard?”

“Tial. She is in the Life Tree sanctuary with Zoan.”

That was impossible. “Pelan reported Zoan was patrolling here with us until moments ago.”

“My king, I left him at the Life Tree to come to you.”

Someone made a mistake.

They reached Tial, flying at the outer edge of the city, and it appeared likely that the warrior who had erred was Gailen.

Tial saluted using the new gesture. “My king!”

The dark feeling in his belly grew. He nearly slammed into Tial, grabbing the mer’s biceps so hard he went rigid. “Where is Elyssa?”

“You did not see her?” He looked over Kadir’s shoulder and kicked, trying to squirm free. “She was going to meet you at the old city.”

His belly dropped for his feet.

“Where is Zoan?” Soren growled.

“He is not with her, either? Then, she is all alone!”

Kadir threw Tial from him and wheeled. Cutting through his own warriors, he sped for the ruins.

Soren shouted. “Wait! Guards—”

“Secure the city!” Kadir flew hard and fast, burning with shaking fury.

Why had he left Elyssa alone? Why now, of all times, did he leave the old ruin unguarded? He could not have predicted she would go there. Her actions made no sense. But still. He should have left his guard!

A steady light glowed near the center of the tower. Tension in his chest eased. She was alive. He redoubled his efforts.

The gargle of the giant cave guardian soon drowned out the near ocean. It was out, acting as a second guard.

Elyssa and Zoan flew slowly over the city. She carried a woven bag, which was glowing, and she was making a single note of sound. Zoan flew below her, searching for something.

“No Sea Opals.” Zoan’s voice competed with the cave guardian’s gargle. “We have reviewed the whole tower. Now can we return to the new city and find King Kadir?”

Her single note cut off. “Yes.” She sounded resigned. “I was just thinking that as long as we’re here, we might as well—” She saw him and lit up. “Kadir.”

He crushed her in his arms.

She was soft and sweet and alive and unhurt. They tumbled through the water. He pressed kisses to her hair, her forehead, her nose, her lips. She kissed him back wholeheartedly. Her chest glowed.

His tension eased. The worst fears drained away, leaving only anger.

The cave guardian watched their tangle and slowly sank back to his cave below the tower.

Elyssa squeezed Kadir hard. He pulled back.

She reached for him. “You—”

He forced her to arm’s length. “How dare you break your restriction and come here? Now? When the twin seed is missing and the city is under attack?”

She blazed. “That’s why I am here. The city is under attack and we found a traitor. Where were you?”

“A scout was chased from the south fields. The enemy will attack.”

“They already have.” She fought with the tie of the bag she and Gailen had been carrying to fill with samples. He took over, opening it with one firm tug. “Somehow, when I was in the Life Tree sanctuary, a traitor hid the twin seed in my bag.”

She hummed and pulled out the glowing bundle. The seaweed was loosened and white bark shone through the cracks. It was mature and undamaged, ready for placing on a pedestal to honor as a foundational requirement of being a new city.

“I did not ask about the seed,” he snapped, grabbing it and stuffing it back into the bag. “You disobeyed my order and remained at this abandoned ruin after you knew I was not here. On the eve of battle.”

Her mouth opened and closed. “Because I thought, as long as I was here, I could tell you where to focus your Sea Opal search. The answer is not this tower. There are no Sea Opals anywhere near the center of the ruin. That’s what Zoan and I discovered. So you can stop excavating right now.”

“Is that all you care about? This seed? Your Sea Opals? The contract?”

“No!” She glowed hot and threw her hand at him. “I care about you. I love you. I care about this contract and seed and everyone else. I care so much I can’t stand it. You will never love me. Why would you? I’ve destroyed practically everything I’ve touched. You got injured because of me in this very ruin. I’ll be your surrogate if I have to. But—”

“Surrogate?”

“That’s what we call women who arrange to have someone else’s baby. They give up all interest in the child.” Her face contracted with pain. The blazing gold of her soul darkened. “I don’t want that. Every single moment of every single day I’m focused on what I can do to help you. To be useful. I want to be your queen. I’m trying so hard.” Her voice rose to begging. “You have to believe me.”

He watched his Elyssa crumple in front of him. Angry tears reddened her eyes. She made fists of determination. Agony wracked her soul.

This was what his selection had done to her.

He darkened her soul. He caused her agony. She was willing to be a surrogate, which meant a modern version of the old bride covenant. His wish for her to be his queen was killing her inside.

Adviser Creo had warned him. Kadir had ignored his advice.

Now she fluctuated terribly. Her soul brightened and fell dark. Like at the dock. Then, he hadn’t cared about her struggle. Only how soon she would transform so they could return to the city. Now, he saw her true, deep, bitter pain.

He had tried to force her across the shore. Every stroke felt like swimming through broken glass. He was the human prince who ignored her little mermaid tears, just like the story she had told him so recently. She was turning to sea foam in front of him.

He made her life infinitely worse by being in it.

“Elyssa.” He spoke low and rough. “This stops now.”

“Don’t give up on me,” she begged. The pain radiated off her in waves.

“You cannot adjust. It is an acceptable reason to dissolve the contract.”