Page 46

“On that one? No. Just the basics, from the viewpoint of the House of Sael. Begging me to find a way to intercede and help them rout the terrorists. But…” He waited for her to swing her head his way again, so that he could see the spark enter her eyes for the next bit.

“There was something on what Kiyana gave us.”

She didn’t disappoint him. Her eyes went wide, lit, and she even bounced a bit on her toes. “Jade?”

For her, he could smile over it. For her, he could be happy. “I think so. Although it’s what we feared. She’s with Finn.”

“In the Far City.” Arden blew out a breath, but her eyes didn’t lose their gleam. “Still. It means she’s alive. Even if she is with the leader of the Black Tails.”

“Good news.” If only he could convince his voice of it. His tone not only earned him a frown, it dimmed the sparkle in her eyes.

Unforgivable.

He tried to put it back with a nod toward his board. “Mount up, Wave Rider.”

The frown eased to a grin, at least. She let go of his hand and jogged toward the board, lifting it with all the ease of any island girl and carrying it toward the surf.

Once at the water’s edge, she set it down and stood just front of center.

Then cast a challenging look over her shoulder.

“It is good, isn’t it? Finn isn’t going to hurt her, not as long as she can help him. ”

Seidon stepped onto the board behind her, leaving a few inches of space between them.

For now. Though when he called the water to lift them and send them out into the sound, she nearly lost her balance, her squeal turning into laughter as he caught her around the waist and pulled her back a step, so that she was braced against him.

It hadn’t exactly been his plan. She could have maintained her balance fine, and he wouldn’t have done something so obvious as call up a wave designed to ruin it.

But he wasn’t going to argue either. He anchored an arm around her waist like a belt and tried not to get distracted by the herbal scent of her hair.

“Of course it’s good that she’s alive. I just…

don’t trust Finn. He doesn’t just want to save the Awakened—which I absolutely understand.

He wants to rule. And it doesn’t sound like he wants that rule to stop at the surface. ”

“Wait—what?”

His eyes slid shut for a moment. “The Underwater Underground found an informant who has overheard why they took Jade. It isn’t the usual magic they think she has. They think…they think there’s something new in her blood. Something they’re calling ‘sky magic.’ Something that the hawk is a sign of.”

Arden craned her head around, a million thoughts swirling through her eyes as she no doubt tried to digest that and all its implications. “Assuming that’s true, that there is something new in her he means to use…do you think he intends to challenge you?”

He wanted to say no. But the knot in his stomach—the one all dark dread and fear, not the kind Arden tied in him—said otherwise. “If he does, I don’t know if I’m strong enough to withstand him.”

“Of course you are!” She turned in his arm, her feet moving carefully in place. “Come on, Si—you pushed the whole elite force of Black Tails back on your birthday.”

He had, yes. But they’d been trying to preserve their stealth.

What would have happened if they’d been bent on all-out war?

What then? He shook his head. “That was a controlled situation, really. They weren’t trying to do anything but remain unseen.

But that wall—that wall says I’m leagues behind them. ”

He raised his free hand and held it palm up, so that the moonlight danced over his mark. Strong and white, nearly glowing. But not strong enough.

It vanished beneath Arden’s palm, which she pressed to his.

“You are not. You are stronger than they are—if it weren’t true, they wouldn’t have shut you out.

Finn had to know he could have appealed to you for help, like Coral did.

That you would have helped them stop the genocide.

The fact that he didn’t lends credence to your theory about him wanting to rule more than the Sunken Cities, yes…

but the fact that they built that wall proves he’s afraid of you. ”

He touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes, praying some of her confidence would seep into him.

Skies knew he could use it, the way that wall had been chipping away at his own.

“I don’t know why they bothered. Perhaps I could overpower Finn.

Mariana. But all of them? All the Black Tails?

You said it yourself, Ar. I’m just one man. ”

“Seidon.” She lifted her palm from his and traced one gentle fingertip over his mark. “You’re only one man, yes. But you are the Triada’s anointed. The strongest Sea King the world has ever known. You’re exactly the one man we need right now.”

He wasn’t so sure. But he clung to the words Enoch had been saying every time they met for prayer. Your weakness is just a chance for the Triada to show his strength.

Arden eased back around to face forward.

Not surprising—she never stayed long in a position that didn’t let her see where she was going—but regrettable.

“Here’s what I don’t understand though. If Finn is strong enough to challenge his sister, especially with the Black Tails, then why is this dragging out so long?

Why wasn’t it one, overnight coup? Or if Mariana is too strong for that, then why could she not even sense them that night of the first attack?

Why is she trying to find a way for you to help? ”

Good questions. “Best I can figure is that they’re fairly evenly matched—Finn and Mariana.

But he would have been training in secret, and he might not want to fully tip his hand.

Not to mention that I don’t think he just wants a coup.

He wants a complete revolution. A new order.

He wants to rally all the Awakened to his cause, so that no one challenges him.

If he first unites them, makes them believe in something, makes them think they’re all one force, in it together, then he’ll have their loyalty for life. ”

Arden tilted her head to the side, giving him a perfect view of her neck. “That makes sense. But Mariana?”

A sigh leaked out. “She’s strong—but she won’t come into her full strength until her mother fully steps aside.

There is power in the very act of ruling, power that grows and multiplies and creates new strength.

The moment she’s crowned, she’ll get a burst of strength beyond anything she’s known before, and which will ebb again within an hour—a foretaste, we always call it. Of what we’ll become.”

Arden stiffened. “And what could she do with that?”

“I have no idea.” He shook his head. “And that’s what terrifies me. She could use it to destroy her opponents, like Ralia did.”

She half-craned her neck toward him again. “What did you do? With that burst at your coronation?”

He grinned. “Put on a water show up and down the coast.”

She twisted around enough to shoot him a teasing smile. “You know, I’ve never actually seen you in a crown. Very disappointing, really. Not even at your birthday ball!”

Leave it to Arden to make him laugh in the middle of a conversation like this. “You’d understand if you’d ever tried it on. That thing weighs a ton. I didn’t really want the headache it always gives me at my birthday celebration.”

“How about at this stupid Awakening Ceremony you’re forcing me to attend? Will you wear it there?”

He gave her a hard look. “No. Weddings and state funerals only. Thank you very much.”

“But it’s only fair. Wearing whatever silly dress you’ve told the tailor to make me is sure to give me a headache, so—”

Shaking his head, he laughed again and then nodded to the cliffside dock they were nearing already. “A nice dress will not give you a headache.”

“But the hairstyle it demands certainly will.” She eased forward, pressing against his arm, silently telling him it was time to let her go. The moment they were near enough, she leapt to the dock.

He followed a second later, had the water lift his board to him, and grabbed her hand before she could do something like dart away from him with a flippant good night tossed over her shoulder.

She didn’t seem bent on escape though. Her fingers curled around his, not trying for freedom as he stowed the board or led her up the stairs.

Nor did she as he tugged her toward the exterior marble steps that would lead them, eventually, to the balcony that wrapped around the entire floor holding both their suites and a few others besides.

His lips tugged up as they stepped onto it. Music came from someone’s quarters below—something soothing, but with a beat. Slow. Mesmerizing.

Rather than walk her to her doors like he usually did, he tugged her to a halt. Stepped in front of her. Let go of her hand only to raise his between them. And grinned. “Well, what do you know. There’s music, and you still owe me a dance.”

She might have rolled her eyes, but she smiled too. “Seidon.”

“Here or after the Ceremony next week. Your choice, my lady.” He wiggled the fingers he held out.

She sent her eyes heavenward as if asking the stars what was wrong with him—then she put her fingers in his. “I suppose when you put it that way…”

“Good choice.” He pulled her close—as close as they’d been on the board. Closer. Held her to him with one arm to her back, keeping their hands woven together.

“This…” She had to pause to clear her throat, which made him grin into her hair. “This isn’t your ballroom style.”

He agreed with a hum, swaying more than dancing, so that he could focus only on her. The way her stiffness melted in about two seconds. The way she rested her head against his shoulder. The way her blood thundered through her veins and her hand trembled slightly in his.

Tracing her ear with the tip of his nose, he whispered, “Why are you nervous, Arden?”

“I’m not nervous.”