What?

Kadir and the other warriors swung to face Aya. Did she dare imply that the All-Council was behind this unlawful, treaty-ending attack? One adviser might be corrupted. But the whole council?

No. Impossible.

Elan snorted. “I wouldn’t know.”

They all relaxed. No, of course the All-Council would not raise the monsters they had been created to defeat.

But Aya wouldn’t let it go. “When did their representatives reach Dragao Azul and issue an ultimatum?”

Elan stared at her hard.

She looked straight back with a bored expression, like he was wasting her time.

“You assume much, bride monster.”

Soren snarled.

Aya raised one palm. “Seriously? You have an army composed of warriors from every city plus three megalodons. Please.” She snorted at Elan. “I’m not an idiot.”

He looked away and shifted his fins back to human feet. They were stubby, useless underwater, but it was something he could do even while bound. He scratched his big toe. “Half a year ago.”

Part of Soren’s soul leaked out.

The other warriors turned deathly still.

It was like finding out the assassins you had been fighting off were sent by your own beloved, respected father. In a way, they had. That was this death sentence.

“I assume they made a compelling case,” Aya said.

Elan’s shoulder shrugged. “It is the fault of Kadir. And Soren.”

“How?” Kadir’s chest vibrated weakly. “I was not even there.”

Half a year ago, Kadir had been recovering from his imprisonment, dangerously close to death.

“They threatened Dragao Azul with annihilation. It was our fault you arose from our city, Kadir, and Soren also. Another city already controlled one megalodon.” Elan stared at his feet bleakly. “If we did not take care of our problem, perhaps Dragao Azul would be next.”

Kadir had pursued All-Council approval out of respect. Respect for the union that safeguarded their treaties and respect for the other cities. But now it seemed that the All-Council males feared the freedom and democratizing values of Atlantis so deeply they traded their founding principles for evil.

Aya tapped her lips. Her brows wrinkled. Her light shone steadily, calm despite the impending catastrophe of betrayal layered upon betrayal. “The army that’s coming. Those warriors. Are they all like you?”

“Like me?”

“Happy to be here?”

His brows lifted. Shock and then hysteria filled his tone with laughter. “Yes, they’re all like me! Happy to be here. Just like me.”

She tsked. “Do you really hate Soren that much for accidentally insulting your wife?”

All mirth dropped from his face. He growled. “You insulted my wife?”

Soren tensed. Elan hadn’t been in any position to speak with Soren after the mission. Dosan and Uvim would have pretended it never happened. Of course Elan did not know about Soren’s disrespect.

Aya held up her hand to forestall the inevitable bloodshed. “Let’s focus. Reasonably speaking, there’s under forty people inside the city. How many warriors would you say are outside the city?”

“Ten times that number.”

She tapped her lip. “Would you consider helping us?”

His eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Because your culture values children. And there are pregnant women here. Including one who is about to give birth.”

“What?”

“We have young fry,” Kadir said, taking back over the conversation, sympathetic but also firm. “You are a father. Can you not assist us?”

Then, as though becoming aware of another thing he had thought he had already lost, his shoulders dropped. His chin landed on his chest. “No.”

Kadir gritted his teeth. “Lead your army away.”

“In a short time, this will not matter,” he said dully. “None of this will matter. You will be dead. I will be dead. This city will be leveled. The All-Council will rule with an iron fist. Modern brides will be squeezed from the ocean. The idea of Atlantis will end for another thousand years.”

“The mer race will be gone in a hundred.” Kadir gestured behind them, in the direction of the Life Tree and Aya. “These queens are our only hope to survive.”

“Then there is no hope.”

Eerie hissing slithered into the city, tonguing the castles and shuddering in Soren’s bones. The others heard it too. They shuddered.

“See?” Elan straightened. Horrified laughter twisted his face. “It begins! You thought the noise of the ruin was keeping them back? No! We awaited the army. And now they gather to cut off your escape. You are all going to—”

Lotar slammed the base of his trident into Elan’s gut.

Elan crumpled over it.

The other warriors stared at Lotar in shock. He was normally so quiet.

He removed his trident. Elan fell over, hugging his knees and groaning.

Lotar addressed Kadir and Soren. “Will you evacuate the queens?”

Kadir’s jaw tightened. “I will try.”

Lotar nodded. The warriors would stay with Kadir until the end. It was understood. And they respected Queen Elyssa’s desire to remain also. But their preference, like Soren’s, would be for the queens to get to safety beyond the city.

Soren turned to Aya, entwining her and kicking for the tunnel.

She whitened with fear. “Where are we going?”

“You are going to raise the final stage of the city.”

“Elan said the noise didn’t frighten the megalodons.”

“He could be lying.” And it was an excuse to get Aya out of the city. Soren would take it.

They burst from the tunnel into the city. The hissing grew loud like an itch under his skin and a new current pushed them even though the megalodons could not yet be seen. The castles and the Life Tree leaned in the direction of the distant trench.

But worse was the discovery that Elan had spoken the truth. On the horizon, an army of warriors formed a ring around the city. In a short time, they would tighten and separate the new city from the ruin.

Aya kicked free. Her scarlet fins unfurled. “I’ll swim as fast as I can.”

“Wait.” He couldn’t risk her encountering the army alone. In the past, he’d never imagined warriors daring to injure a bride, but now he feared the worst. Soren shouted for Gailen. “Where are Aya’s guards?”

“Ciran went to the ruin. Faier led a patrol.” Gailen grimaced at the army. “They thought since you were with Queen Aya she would remain safe.”

“Recall them.”

Gailen nodded and cried for other warriors standing in a defensive formation over the Life Tree sanctuary. Queen Lucy, Torun, and Queen Elyssa clustered together. Soren aimed for them.

Kadir reached them first. “Elyssa.”

“I’m not going.” Queen Elyssa read his mind, guessed the content, and kissed him firmly. Her soul light was bright and fierce. Nothing like the awkward female at the bride pageant months ago, and everything like a powerful queen. “Don’t ask me. I’m waiting for Aya’s brilliant plan. Go ahead, Aya.”

Everyone stared at his bride.

She studied the army. Her soul light dipped. “I’m working on it.”

Queen Elyssa remained bright and unafraid. “I’ll be ready.”

“Elyssa.” Kadir stroked her cheek. Tenderness folded his silver brow. “Consider our young fry.”

“I am.” She twined her arms around his neck. “It’s too late now anyway. An army surrounded us, you know.”

“Okay.” Aya squeezed her eyes closed, thinking hard. “I’m getting an idea. There’s a huge army out there, and only a tiny number of us in here. If we can convince the megalodons that the city is empty already— if we can lure the megalodons past the Life Tree—then maybe we’ll solve two problems at once.”

Queen Elyssa scrunched her nose. “You mean the megalodons will take out the army.”

“It’s a danger when you unleash a prehistoric shark on a battlefield.”

“Okay.” Queen Elyssa nodded. “I’m willing to try evacuating.”

Kadir’s shoulder’s dropped with relief. “Leave now.”

“But then how can I be the lure?”

“You will not.”

“But—”

Queen Lucy suddenly gasped and grabbed her belly. Her eyes flew wide.

Everyone froze.

She grimaced and then panted. “That was not a Braxton-Hicks.”

“And there’s no way I’m leaving now!” Queen Elyssa released her husband. She and Torun ushered back inside to the Life Tree.

Kadir clenched his trident. His silver-tattooed brow firmed with command. “Soren. Gather the warriors. I will see if I can get Elan to reveal the plans of the army. Perhaps Queen Aya’s strategy can work if we move smartly.”

He was making a last stand.

Soren nodded. Kadir turned and flew to his castle. Soren kicked for the Life Tree sanctuary to deposit Aya.

Light erupted from the broken top of the sanctuary. The Life Tree responded to Queen Lucy’s new life by crackling with cheerful, defiant energy.

Like the flash of the Life Tree fragment that had attracted the megalodon in the trench.

Soren switched course. “Wait for your guards in your castle.”

“Stop, Soren.” Aya clasped his cheeks. Fear and desperation shone in her eyes. “We have to get married.”

He slowed. “Now?”

“It’s the only way.” She looked over his shoulder at the hissing darkness emerging from the trench, bearing down on their city. “I still can’t wield my power. But if we’re married, maybe that will give me the push I need.”

She wanted to marry him to gain her power.

As she told him this desperate plan, her soul light fluctuated wildly. She was not the confident female he had seen at the bride pageant so long ago. She was broken, terrified, and no longer able to summon even a little bit of her former faith.

Being around him had crippled her. Every time he sought to increase her light by seducing her he only made her more dependent on him. Instead of empowering her, he enslaved her. And now she was so bound up she thought she needed him to find her center of power.

“Aya.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. Cupping her hands, he tried to convince her of the truth. “The power is in you.”

“But what if it isn’t?”

He drew her to his chest and stroked her hair. “Believe.”

“I believe I need your help. Lucy and Elyssa are married. That’s the secret! You have to marry me right now.”

He shook his head and drew back. “I cannot give you the power you already possess.”

“You could try.”

Her desperation broke his heart.

“Anyway, we’d be married. Isn’t that what you want?” She begged him. “Us, to be married? Me? As your wife?”

All he wanted to do was protect her. Save her. Believe in her. And his protection had hobbled her. This dishonor was far worse than anything he had committed against Elan’s bride.

Aya waited his response with terror.

He wanted her more than life itself. But he could not hurt her any more.

Soren hardened his heart. “No. I do not.”