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Chapter Eleven

Returning to the sea with no option of returning to this particular area of land may have been bittersweet if it weren’t for the goddess swimming beside him, holding onto one of Stacia’s arms. Together, they pulled her along, hoping to return her to Timarra for the proper burial rites.

They had barely escaped to the tunnel when the guards broke down the door. The king’s men stormed Caspian’s house, yelling out for him to surrender, but he and Aria had already made it through the spelled trap door and to freedom.

As soon as they dove into the water, the bracelet burned bright gold. The transformation happened immediately after.

He hated the pain that twisted Aria’s face as her body contorted and reshaped, new bones and muscle growing, others absorbing until they disappeared. It was over before he could cast any spell to ease her pain, and left her dazed and swimming in a few tight circles.

Now, nothing remained of the terrible transformation. Her extraordinary, iridescent tail with flowing fins twinkled despite the lack of light at this depth. Her hair, still stunningly red, floated around her face whenever they slowed to contemplate their plan. The pale ridges along her cheeks and forehead, enhanced by matching iridescent scales, the short gills along her neck, everything captured his heart as much as Aria’s human form.

The farther out to sea they swam, the calmer the undercurrents became. Caspian made out a break in the clouds above the water’s surface, an indication that the storm did not affect these parts. Or an indication the storm had already passed.

Night drove them on as they approached Timarra. Caspian stopped, drawing Aria around to face him. Her wide irises and slitted pupils questioned him. He lifted a hand, holding up a single finger in a signal for her to wait, and scanned the immediate area.

“She’ll have a barrier up around Timarra, like I placed around Alamari. She’ll know we’re coming.”

Aria glanced in the direction of her home. “Is there anything we can do? Any magic we can cast to counter it?”

“I need to get a feel for the magic, the spell, to counter it. If I cast carelessly, it’ll alert her. She will know I came of my own accord because the bracelet allowed you to transform.”

“I didn’t transform last night at the docks.”

“Because we weren’t returning to Timarra. We returned to my home.” He paused, his attention dropping to the bracelet. He caught the essence of the spell wound through the gold, but thought little of the mechanisms beyond how they prevented Aria from changing until she’d convinced him to return to Timarra. “Wait.”

Adjusting his hold on Stacia’s wrist, he lifted Aria’s hand and scrutinized the bracelet, sending tiny threads of magic into the object in hopes of understanding it better. Complex, yes, but nothing deceptive.

Nothing obvious, at least.

Then how would the cursed bracelet know the difference between when Aria was returning to Timarra and when she was just in the water? If the spell detected his compliance, his willingness to return, she should have transformed last night. He’d already made up his mind to face Dima.

Unless…

“She already knows we’re here,” he groused, glancing around again. “She must have placed a barrier around Alamari, but I kept close to the shore when I brought you to my house, and used an unknown pathway in the cliffside a little ways down from the tunnel to get you out of the water.”

“You used a burst of air to carry us further away from the cliff when we dove from the tunnel.”

“Which must have placed us within the warded area, hence your change.” Caspian flapped his tail in frustration. “Damn it. Okay, let’s get Stacia somewhere safe. We’ll retrieve her once we’re done with Dima.”

Aria nodded. Caspian led them deeper, searching for a secure cavern or structure. He found a small cave occupied by an octopus, drew the eight-legged creature out, and carefully placed Stacia’s body inside, using a large rock at the entrance to keep predators away. He captured Aria’s hand in his, folding their fingers together.

“She’ll be okay,” he assured her.

“I know.” She frowned and swam into his chest, hugging him. He embraced her in return. “I don’t like any of this, Caspian. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“We’ll make it through this. Together, princess.” He kissed the top of her head. “What do you say? Should we keep our hostess waiting?”

Aria moved away, keeping their hands entangled. “That would be utterly rude.”

He smiled. “I agree.”

With a quick glance around, noting the solemn sea and the lack of life besides the bottom dwellers, they rolled their tails and propelled forward.

No reason for a stealthy entrance.

Not when Dima would be waiting for them at the kingdom’s edge.

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