Page 34

Chapter Thirteen

“Wewillrebuild, and we’ll rebuild stronger.”

Aria hugged her mother after sharing tearful embraces with her surviving sisters.

Almost a month had passed since the horrors Dima brought to them. A proper burial was given to Stacia, filled with ocean blooms and a whirlpool capsule that transported her into the Afterlife. Time was spent sifting through debris and what was left of Timarra. They grieved those who did not escape the sea demon’s wrath and sent their spirits to follow Stacia. Scattered merfolk returned and worked together to begin cleaning up the destruction.

Now, it was time for her to leave.

To start her life with Caspian and rebuild Astauria.

Her mother finally released her, blinking away a shimmer that left the rainbow swirl in eyes that were brighter than normal. Sunlight filtered through the waves to spread beams of shimmering light over Timarra, and a promise of healing and strength to come.

“You take care of my daughter, Caspian.” Queen Taelyss held out her arms for Caspian and folded him into a maternal hug. “I couldn’t be filled with more joy than to know you are the one to become her husband. I know you two will do great things together.”

“You can rest assured she will always be safe with me. Loved and cherished and adored,” Caspian said, backing away and gathering Aria under his arm. The multihued blues of his tail glittered like a lagoon within the ocean, deflecting sunlight to the ocean’s floor. “We’ll return to help in your realm’s revival, Queen Taelyss. You have my word.”

“And you have my word, King Caspian, that our hands are yours in your revival as well. It fills me with great joy knowing you and Aria will rebuild Astauria. You both will breathe new life into that magical place.”

Aria’s mother dove back through the water, putting distance between them as she called out, “No longer forgotten, you shall thrive. Today marks the beginning to the greatness you both shall achieve!”

Aria squeezed Caspian’s hand, heaviness settling on her shoulders. She was leaving the only home she’d ever known. Tipping her head up, she took in Caspian’s handsome face, the sharp edges and ridges of his merman form as alluring and enticing as his human form. He filled her heart with the purest joy, the deepest love, and the greatest gift.

A gift of happiness forever.

“It’s time to go, my darling queen.”

“Princess,” she corrected.

Caspian chuckled. “Very well. If princess suits you, then I’ll call you princess. Don’t try to convince others you’re not a queen, though.”

Gliding through the ocean depths, hand-in-hand, they left the nightmare of Alamari, the pain of Timarra, and both dear and cursed memories behind.

Before they left, Caspian confirmed that Alamari burned to the ground, taking malicious souls with the fires, including the king and his wife. Their children survived. Aria hoped they would grow into better people, rulers with hearts and morals and pure spirits.

He managed to track Brack down, using a bit of magic to reassure himself his friend had settled in safely with his daughter’s family. He’d even caught the eye of a local woman.

Love flourished all around, and Aria couldn’t be happier.

They left the coast and paused where the ocean floor plunged downward into a deep nothing. Caspian brought Aria’s hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. He wiggled the fingers of his free hand in a strange pattern, murmuring words she could not hear.

The water below began to churn and stir. The world around her pushed and pulled her body, urging her closer to the swirling whirlpool.

“Portal,” Caspian explained. “It’ll deliver us to Astauria. And our new beginning.”

“Don’t let go of my hand, you hear?” Aria grasped his hand more tightly between both of hers, holding on for dear life. Caspian grinned and led her forward, the natural draw from the hole pulling them in.

Aria closed her eyes. Her body twirled and spun like she was circling a drain. Caspian tugged her close, his strong arms wrapping tightly around her as they fell together into the unknown.

The sensation ceased almost as quickly as it started.

When she opened her eyes, she was no longer on the brink of the deep ocean, but floating in the midst of crystalline blue waters so clear she had to flap her tail to make sure she was stillinthe water. The sandy floor sparkled like a dazzling sheet of quartz and diamonds, birthing some of the most brilliant colors of coral and seaflowers she’d ever seen.

A paradise.

“Welcome, my princess, to Astauria.”

Caspian spread his arms, his smile growing. The sea stretched on forever. Occasional piles of white stone and jade were the only evidence of the once-magnificent kingdom they would rebuild. Behind her, the shimmering carpet gradually ascended, drawing her upward to breech the surface. Caspian followed and pointed to the sandy beach of a small island.