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Soulara stayed put for one more second before she swam quickly. They were waiting for her. It took her longer than she’d anticipated to arrive, but the Talon army along with the Kwights were present. Both were more used to the deeper soundings than those from Reine, so they swam, ready to fight without repercussions. The army from Reine would arrive soon, General Lomat in charge since Honour hadn’t returned yet.

“They’re on their way,” Soulara stated, looking directly at Nepham and Blound, the general from Kwight. “Are your armies ready?”

“Yes.” Nepham eyed her.

She knew that was going to be half the battle itself, convincing these armies that weren’t hers to take orders from her, but particularly for the Talons to take orders from a female. Soulara stilled, giving Nepham the sternest look she could give him. She would take his disdain of her sex and fight him on it tooth and nail.

“Prepare them. We’ll dive as soon as Reine arrives.”

“We’re here, Your Highness,” Lomat said as he stopped next to her, his chest rising and falling. He hadn’t donned his mask yet, and she wanted to reprimand him, but she’d do it somewhere else, not in front of the other leaders.

Soulara straightened her shoulders, pulling every ounce of confidence she knew she didn’t have. She was so far out of her element. “Nepham, come straight on. You have the most experience with them. Blound, from the east, and we’ll come from the west. There are three of them. I’ve had eyes on them. The marked one is Reine’s. You can fight over whoever is left.”

“Are they together?” Blound asked, his hands folded neatly in front of him just like they should be. The Kwights were such a conservative tribe.

“They were when I saw them.”

“They don’t stay together, but in close proximity,” Nepham chimed in. “The farthest I’ve seen them apart is a few leagues.”

“Well, then. We’ll have to trust each other to do our jobs. Yes?” Soulara raised an eyebrow at them before glancing at Lomat. “We do this together. Understood?”

When she got nods from everyone, she dismissed them. Lomat snagged her arm and pulled her close, his lips to her ear. “You should stay behind.”

“It’s not happening, General.” Soulara tried to shake his grip. He was holding onto her more firmly than she’d originally thought. “Let go of me, General.”

“It’s my job to protect you,” he hissed into her ear. “I won’t have a dead heir on my hands.”

“Then it’s a good thing that I won’t be dying.” Soulara ripped her arm from his grasp. If only Honour were here, she would have his head. Soulara clenched her jaw hard. “And put your fucking mask on, General. I can hear you wheezing from a league away.”

Lomat scowled, but pulled the mask over his face as she swam off to address the troops. This was a battle she was ready for. Soulara took the extra mask they’d brought her and slid it over her body along with the armor. She wouldn’t let him push her around.

Because this was her make-it-or-break-it moment.

This was when she was either going to break her promise—

Autumn would drown.

—or Reine would cease to exist.

Swimming along the length of her army, Soulara commanded their attention. The weight of her decisions settled in her chest, the pressure almost unbearable. But this was her home, and she’d defend it to her dying day.

“Let’s fight.”

19

“What the actual fuck?” Autumn mumbled to herself.

Autumn would recognize that tail anywhere. Just the flash of navy blue and silver tips was all she needed to know that Soulara was trailing her. She tried not to strain around the edge of the front window to see Soulara because Marshall and Trent would know something was up immediately.

Biting her cheek, Autumn flipped back to the controls in front of her and glanced at the readouts. If Soulara was outside the water collector, then she should be able to see Soulara on the sonar. A few quick flicks of the dial and Autumn was able to zero in on Soulara’s presence.

Soulara moved off, hiding behind a chunk of seaweed. Autumn smiled to herself as she pressed a few more buttons.

“Walton, you ready?”

Autumn jerked around at Marshall’s voice. Had he said something she missed in her distraction? They’d gone below the surface of the water, but they hadn’t traveled too far from the launch point yet. They weren’t cleared to leave.

“Yes, sir.” She flicked her gaze to Trent, the sneer firmly on his face still. “All systems are set and ready.”