Page 17

True, Ream had made a bad decision, but he hadn’t poisoned her. She’d made her own choices. Decisions that had left herhusband isolated and prey to the enemy. Guilt surged, and it was on the tip of her tongue to defend Ream, but she swallowed the arguments down. Her grandfather wouldn’t hear them. He’d already made up his mind about her former husband.

“Sirenidae royalty have always been able to choose their mates,” she stated firmly.

“Only for the last five hundred years. Before, the king arranged all his children’s marriages.”

“You mean you changed it when you became king so you could take grandmother as your bride?”

His gills flared along his neck. “You dare to speak of her?”

“She wouldn’t want this, and you know it.”

He rose from his throne, the shafts of light from above reflecting off the large scales covering his shoulders. “You know nothing but your own silly wants. You’ve been married to the king. You will leave immediately after your branding.”

“I will not.” She lifted her chin and held her head high, despite how her heart raced. “I will not remarry. I agreed in front of the assembly only to spare you embarrassment.” There was nothing worse in her grandfather’s eyes than a public disagreement.

“Stupid selfish girl!” he spat. He darted forward and towered over her, his hair fanning out like angry snakes. “Do you really think you have any control here?” His eyes sparked with intensity. “That I don’t know about what you’ve been up to?”

She kept her expression blank. “What do you mean?”

Her grandfather scanned her placid mask and scoffed. “You forget that I know you, Granddaughter—that I helped raise you. I taught you all your tricks. Did you really think I wouldn’t discover the theft from the trenches?”

Don’t react.

He couldn’t trace it back to her.

The sea king smirked. “I can see the thoughts flitting through your eyes. I’m not unaware of the fealty you’ve gained, nor of those who wish to rise against me in your name.”

“I would never usurp you,” she breathed. And Mer meant it.

“And yet that’s exactly what you did when you rallied soldiers behind my back. You made me look weak.”

His pride was hurt.

“That was not my intention, Grandfather. I only sought to help those who needed it. Isn’t that what you taught me? You raised me to stand up for those who could not protect themselves.”

“Ourpeople,” he snarled. “Not the humans.”

“All creatures of the world have value.”

His expression hardened. “Since you love them so much, you shall spend your life with them. With the King of Methi.”

Mer began shaking. “I will not.”

“You will.” He leaned into her space. “Or I will slaughter the rest of Ream’s family as they deserve.”

She blinked slowly at him. “You wouldn’t.” But Mer wasn’t sure. Her grandfather was ruthless at times.

“Betrayal runs deep, Granddaughter. I must make sure to root it all out.”

Her pulse picked up. Ream had sisters, nieces, and nephews.Sin.“The children?” she whispered.

The sea king locked his eyes on hers. “Theentireline. Vengeance is in our blood. If I was to leave one child, they would eventually rise. The poison needs to be purged from our community.” He paused, the silence strategic. “Or you can take your punishment and save an entire family.”

“I marry or they die?” She swallowed. “That’s how it’s to be?”

Her grandfather smiled, but it wasn’t nice. “You’re already married, but your compliance protects their lives.”

He spoke true. The sea king had committed many wrongs, but he’d never lied to her.