Page 83

“They’re truly gone.” Honour’s words punctuated a truth she didn’t know but believe because of Kyree’s words alone.

“They’re gone. And our home is defended.”

Honour nodded and ran a finger down her neck. Sparks of magic flared into existence.

“Troops,” Honour whispered the word, but it echoed on vibrations away from them, like a force to be reckoned.

“Magic?” Kyree and Hudson both asked, wide eyed and mouthed.

“Turns out to be quite helpful in certain moments.” Honour slipped her free hand, the one not still pressed against Hudson’s hip, into Kyree’s. “It’s time for you to tell of your great victory.”

“What?” Kyree’s eyebrows knitted together, as Honour lifted their combined hands over their heads.

The gathering troops buzzed with energy as they continued to grip onto the last of their reserves, determined to go down fighting until the last swish and strike of their flukes.

“Kyree has something to say.”

“No.” Kyree mouthed and shook her head back and forth.

“Yes.” Hudson and Honour both smiled and nodded.

“This is your victory,” Honour continued while Hudson smiled and nodded her agreement. “The lives of all of those in front of you now are granted because of your actions. You’ve taught each of us how to fight another way. How to find the power our people had thrown away so carelessly in the past. This is yours.”

Kyree turned to the sea of faces all looking at her.

Exhaustion and determination filled the eyes and set lips of each face. Shoulders pushed back despite the muscles flexing as they tried to drag them forward and let them rest.

“The humans…” Kyree began. Her words were the soft lull on the waves of water that moved eternally in her home. “They’re no longer a threat. We’ve won our home and our freedom, and they’ll know that our planet is defended.”

The cheer filled the space and swelled Kyree’s heart. She had no idea she could feel so full.

“They’ve left the water.”

Another cheer and with each word she spoke, her voice lifted louder.

“And they’re leaving our world entirely.”

Looking over at Hudson and Honour, she met their smiles with one of her own.

“The war is WON!”

Kyree couldn’t imagine she would ever hear again, but this moment, this day, would be worth any damage to her hearing.

Swimming back into Honour and Hudson’s open arms, Kyree buried herself into their chests. Her body relaxed in waysit never had before. A complete sense of safety wrapped around her soul as surely as the strong arms of her lovers wrapped around her body.

She was home.

30

“She’s so exhausted,” Hudson whispered into the top of Kyree’s head. Her hair waved lazily in the water tickling Hudson’s chin.

“We all are.” Honour’s voice was soft and gentle, and Hudson looked up from the mer wrapped in their arms to meet Honour’s eyes.

“Yes.” Hudson nodded, a lump in her throat taking form. “Do you need to attend to the troops?”

“No.” Honour shook her head as she answered instantly. Hudson could see the moment when she had a second thought. Honour shook her head in correction. “Well, yes, but that can wait.”

“She needs to get some rest.” Hudson was going to take Honour’s answer for what it was. Because she had her own men to find and to prepare for the next battle. But it was going to be a while before she could do that.