“Die?” Lucy repeated.

Torun’s solemn gaze pierced her and all her petty fears fled in the face of that terrible truth.

“If something happens to the Life Tree, you’re all going to die?”

He nodded.

“Me too?”

“Perhaps not you.”

He stroked her cheek. The tightness of his mouth promised that there was no perhaps. He meant, in fact, never her, and that he would raise the entire ocean and drop the entire sky before he would allow anything to happen to her.

“Not at first, anyway,” he said. “The Life Tree is fading, and so are we. That is why I hope your presence will cause it to rally and grow strong with new life. And us, as well.”

Well, the tree was old. All those drops of Sea Opal resin meant it had survived many years. Could she breathe more life into it? She, and her and Torun’s unborn child.

Please, please let her breathe more life into it.

“That is why the others have tried so hard to stop me,” Torun explained. “I believe they are wrong, and only you can prove which is true.”

Only her. And whether she could have his child.

No pressure or anything.

The rusty, old tridents added a metallic tang to the water.

He twined his hand in hers. “See me to the gate.”

“I still can’t transform.” She flexed helplessly. One toe accordioned outward, part flying squirrel.

“Practice while I am away.”

Powerful kicks propelled them effortlessly through the corridors to the open courtyard and to the entry passage.

She lagged behind, gripping his hand and kicking on her human feet. They reached the inner entrance and paused.

This was it. Blossom time.

Even though she had promised herself on the cruise to Cancun that she would never allow herself to feel that anxious, helpless desire for a baby again, agonized hope squeezed her chest once more. It made her nauseous and cold and hot and dizzy. She almost threw up her breakfast. Lucy wanted a baby so, so badly. The life she’d had with Blake was nothing. She wanted this life, here, now, under the sea, with Torun.

“I feel the same way.” He stroked her cheek.

She heated under his touch. But the distance in his eyes reminded her that he was going out, and she needed to prepare.

“If someone comes while you’re gone, what should I do?” she asked.

He tightened. “No one will come.”

“But?”

“But if someone should come, go to the heart chamber, where we united our souls. It is the safest room of the house.” He growled, fierce. “The house guardian will protect all who belong to this castle. Not even the Council can escape his wrath.”

“Are you saying I could be in danger from your Council?”

“They would return you to the surface unharmed.”

“Even though I know your secret?”

“Yes. Who would believe your story and how could you return? That is what they would think.”

“I would return by cave guardian song,” she said immediately. “As reliable as GPS.”

He smiled, crinkling the skin in the corners of his eyes, and he cupped her head. “I would work very hard to convince them you were not capable of such a thing.”

“Okay. Hurry back.” She lifted her lips for his kiss.

He softened and gave in to her demand, filling her with delicious desire and swiping her mouth with his hot tongue. Music swelled and her heart lifted and her soul melted into his. Their kiss finished and he drew back, wonderfully dazed.

“You truly are amazing.” His aquamarine eyes glimmered. He released her reluctantly. “Stay within the house barriers. Lassie will protect you.”

She nodded, not trusting her speech.

He swam down the long corridor, paused at the entrance to scan the water, and disappeared.

She furiously paddled back to the outside chamber window on her skinny human feet. Torun had gone.

The Life Tree tinkled with melancholy promise.

It was not far, so, he should be back quickly. She leaned on the long sill, resting her elbows on the narrow green aperture.

The wait was not long.

A flash of movement below the castles caught her eye. There was Torun, darting and dashing. He was being chased! Mer warriors scattered around him, some in direct pursuit, and others teaming up and attacking him on the sides.

She jerked back. What should she do?

In the center of the fight, Torun moved fastest. But he had no weapon and the others were armed with long, sharp tridents. One stabbed at him. He wrestled the trident away and slashed the attacker, streaking the water red. The attacker screamed and kicked away, holding his wounded shoulder. The others backed off and formed a circle around him.

Torun twirled slowly around the circle, facing his attackers. None dared to approach. He slashed the water, and they all heeded his deadly warning.

A group broke off and swam for her castle entrance.

Oh, no.

He turned and swam after them. Closer warriors dove in front with tridents raised. He fought them. Their tridents clashed and clattered. He shoved one warrior back only to face three more. They queued up to attack.

The small group of warriors flew easily to the castle entrance. They were going to enter while he was distracted with the large group.

Torun smashed down his attackers and kicked free of the mass. He saw her in the window. Snarling, he hefted his trident and launched it at the castle. His trident buried deep into the living wall.

The warriors threw a net over him from behind.

The castle shuddered. A loud shriek filled the room.

She moved back from the window.

The view outside grew smaller. The windows were closing! And so was the entrance passageway, squeezing closed on the intruders.

Her last view of Torun was struggling as the net tightened.

The warrior attacked the castle with a giant, hollow straw. They pushed it into the entrance. The entrance stopped closing. They shimmied into the straw.

Oh no.

Lucy swam for the courtyard. She was supposed to go to the heart chamber. Wait, what about the seed? It was Torun’s mark of citizenship. More than that, it powered the living castle. She wouldn’t let his rivals steal it and destroy him.

Lassie streaked across the courtyard ahead of her. Thank goodness. Scars on his missing limbs showed just how hard the loyal octopus would fight.

She reached for the seed as the warriors burst in. They had tangled with something in the entrance and were hacking off angry vines. Three warriors stormed to her with a net.

Lassie attacked.

The warriors clashed. The house guardian lashed out, striking all and tangling one. Lassie bit down. The warrior screamed.

A fourth warrior stabbed Lassie with a trident.

The wily octopus shot out of its way and inked. A dense, black cloud covered the courtyard, obscuring Lucy and the fight.

More warriors threw nets. The octopus whirled and darted. Nets cut off its escape and tightened, felling the small but mighty house guardian.

Lucy clutched the seed to her chest. In the confusion, she tried to crawl away from the fight.

“There!” someone shouted. “Another traitor is hiding. He must face judgment. Grab him!”

A net descended on her, and she, too, was dragged out.