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Chapter 22

Imove the food around on my plate. Dad has changed his mind and decided I should face off with his brother. He and Middlebrooks are eating like nothing’s wrong. How can they be so relaxed? Because they think they’re putting my life on the line? There’s no way I’m fighting Tiberias. Not because he’s my uncle, or even because he’s so well loved by the people. It’s because he’s the clear choice as king. If this were a democracy and I was casting a vote, I’d give it to my uncle. No contest.

My dad is out of control and out of his mind. Not only for sending my mom away and choosing Middlebrooks over his wife of twenty years, but for wanting to pit me against my uncle in his fight to the death, knowing how much more experienced Tiberias is with the trident than I am.

Who does that? What’s wrong with him? Even if he really does believe his brother would never kill me, why would he even entertain the idea, much less suggest it?

“Watch the Ayers power.” Dad lifts a brow at me, then continues speaking with Middlebrooks.

I bite my tongue.

“And eat something.” Middlebrooks glances at my plate. “You’re going to need your strength.”

“I’m not fighting Uncle Tiberias.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not.” I squeeze my fork.

“The power,” Dad warns me.

I leap from the table and throw the utensil down. “I’m not putting up with this!”

“What exactly do you expect to do?” Dad looks at me expectantly.

“Let you fight your own battle!”

“You’d do that even though you believe you have Queen Sirena’s power?”

I stare at him, tempted to shout the rest of the story at him. Instead, I spin around and storm out of the room. If he keeps this up, I’ll fulfill the legacy before he has a chance to face the rightful king.

Neither of them chases after me. I shouldn’t be surprised, but it does sting. He’s my dad, after all. Despite everything, he should be on my side.

But he’s not, and that’s the reality I have to deal with. I look around and try to figure out where I am in the massive castle. It’s obviously an obscure wing, given the fact that I haven’t run into anyone yet. However, that doesn’t help me know which way to go to find Tiberias. I need to speak with him. Maybe talk him out of this fight. Find out what’s really going on—perhaps he’s trying to get a reaction from my dad and doesn’t really want to kill him. Or he might be trying to win public sympathy. It’s too hard to guess.

I take a hallway to the right, then one to the left, and another left. Nothing looks familiar. I pick up speed and listen for voices or any indication that people are nearby. If nothing else, I’ll be lost and won’t have to worry about my dad forcing me to battle in his place.

“There you are!” comes a feminine voice from behind.

I spin around, expecting to see Middlebrooks. It’s not her, but a regally dressed merwoman who seems vaguely familiar. “Who are you?”

“One of the king’s personal servants.”

I want to ask which king, but don’t. “What do you want me for?”

“King Tiberias has declared the royal battle to begin within the hour. Follow me.”

“And it’s really to the death? He’s not going to have mercy if he wins?”

“There is no winner until one has died. Come.”

My heart sinks—any worse, and it’ll be going straight to the depths of the earth. In an hour, I’m going to either lose my dad or uncle. Unless of course I can think of a way around it. A way to convince Tiberias to change it to loser goes to the dungeon or something like that. I might have to tell him what I learned about the legend. Then he might feel like it’s his duty to Sirena to let his brother live. But then that would mean I’d still have to kill my dad.

There is no good outcome. But if he lets the loser live, then I can try to find a way around the Queen Sirena curse. Then they could both be alive.

The servant brings me to my uncle’s office, but then we pass it and enter through a different door. Inside this room, Tiberias is sparring. He’s so quick with the trident, I can barely see it move. I watch for a moment, impressed. Then he pins the other guy and turns to me. “There you are.”

“Here I am.”