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I n a different world, Arden could imagine that this was really their honeymoon.

That she was walking hand-in-hand with her new husband—who was without question the most gorgeous man on the planet, with the wind blowing through his shoulder-length hair and plastering his white button-down to his chest—along these white sand beaches for recreation.

In a different world, she wouldn’t be scanning the horizon to make sure the Daryatlean fleet was well out of range before Kiyana was due to approach, so that she wouldn’t be frightened off.

In a different world, though, her hawk-mother wouldn’t be circling either, ready to warn them with a cry if she spotted more mer than the single contact. Of course, in that world she wouldn’t need the lookout, because she wouldn’t be worrying about Black Tails or Sael armies.

Would it be worth it, though? To have all that easiness, but to forfeit her mother? Could it possibly have been better to meet Seidon and fall in love like normal people, taking their time, enjoying a long courtship, a betrothal of enough length to plan a proper royal wedding?

The very thought of that made her wince.

Si angled a look over at her. “All right?”

“Fine. Thinking how glad I am that you rushed me into marriage and didn’t make me plan a fancy wedding.”

When he laughed like that, low in his throat, her blood hummed in response.

And when he dropped her hand so that he could slip his arm around her waist and draw her flush to his side, her every nerve buzzed.

Skies, but she loved this man, even if it defied all logic.

Even if all her years of care and caution and a refusal to plan past the Awakening Ceremony had been blown to bits by his touch, his kiss, his love for her.

Some things were meant to be blasted to pieces. Just as others were meant to be pieced together, into a mosaic of breathtaking beauty.

They drifted to a stop, and he rested his forehead against hers.

Overhead, palm branches waved in the wind—nature’s or hers?

At their feet, gentle waves lapped—nature’s or his?

Late summer sunshine warmed their skin. And though she was aware of all of it, none of it mattered.

All she could really see was the color of the eyes so close to hers, so piercing a blue.

All she could feel was the need to be closer still, to wrap herself up in him.

She didn’t want another world. In another world, this wouldn’t be real.

He’d never have chosen her. In another world, it would be Jade with this new magic pulsing in her veins, making the wind laugh and dance in response even when she didn’t tell it to.

She didn’t know why it had happened in this world, why the Triada had chosen her soul to pair with this body in which he’d placed such a gift.

Why she was her. How she was Seidon’s. What she could ever do to prove herself worthy of such gifts.

Seidon’s lips brushed over hers. “It always would have been you. There is no world in which I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you.”

Arden huffed. “How in the skies did you read my mind this time?”

He chuckled, his arms anchored around her waist. “Not so big a leap, given that comment about rushing to marriage. And given that I can’t quite wrap my mind around it sometimes either—that the Triada gave me you.

That I could possibly be the one to capture your heart, when you’re still so young, when you have so many centuries before you.

When you are so…amazing.” He buried his face in her neck, kissing there too.

“I’m a selfish man at heart, I guess. Unwilling to let you go once I found you, even if it would be fair to you. ”

Her arms tightened around him. “Drown fairness, if that’s what it would have involved. I don’t want you to let me go.”

She could tell by the way his arms went tense, by the way his heart pounded, that he was thinking, like she was, about what would come tomorrow.

He’d let her go then. He’d have to. There was no way she could follow him beneath the waves to show up uninvited to Mariana’s coronation, not without slowing him down—and what good could she do down there, with only the air within the dome to manipulate?

No. He—they, all of them, Jade included—needed her up here, flying with Ora to intercept the storm that was strengthening to the southeast.

“I still don’t like it.” His mutter was more breath than voice, but she had no trouble hearing it.

“I don’t either.” But they’d both known, as they looked at the time they had left before Mariana’s power increased and would undoubtedly force the hand of the Black Tails, that in order to be most effective, they would have to split up.

Just for a day. In theory. If all went according to plan. They would meet up again the following morning, on the island they’d circled as their target.

Seidon eased away with a sigh, his face turning toward the sea. “She’s coming.” He retreated to the cluster of palms—to avoid alarming Kiyana as she came out of the water.

Arden glanced upward as Ora called out her own announcement of the approaching mermaid.

She closed her eyes as she waited and opened that new sense, tracking Ora through the air by feel rather than sight.

Noting the other birds flying too, the gulls near the shore, the albatross miles out, the sandpipers startling to wing around the bend.

It grew stronger every day, that strange ability to sense and identify the disturbances in the air.

But she didn’t know if it was strong enough. Not for what was coming tomorrow.

“Wind Rider.” The greeting was urgent. Tension filled Kiyana’s voice, bringing Arden’s eyes open to find her contact pushing out of the water far more quickly than usual.

Kiyana froze, clearly sensing something off.

Best not to leave her guessing. “I’m not alone today—but you needn’t fear. Seidon wanted to meet you.”

The mermaid’s eyes went wide, flew about, and landed beyond Arden’s shoulder, where Seidon was no doubt striding forward from the line of palms. She dropped into a genuflection made awkward by her troublesome leg.

“No need for that. Please.” Seidon’s steps came quickly now.

Did Kiyana feel the force of his presence as clearly as Arden did?

She would, yes. As Arden had done that first morning when she’d come to the palace with the message about Jade.

When she’d seen that young-looking man with a face so striking it made her mouth go dry, the man with those piercing eyes, who commanded the whole world with a word, a glance.

That man knelt beside this mermaid and clasped her shoulder, whispered a word of gratitude for all the help she’d given, and all but lifted her back to her feet.

“Forgive me for startling you with my presence,” he said at a normal volume once they were both standing.

Arden moved to join them, there where the waves lapped at their ankles.

“I trust everyone knows the wall is down?”

Kiyana’s eyes were still wide, her gaze not seeming to know if it was permitted to settle on his face or if she should look to the safety of Arden’s instead.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Its fall was felt all through the kingdom, but most of us sensed it only as a momentary jolt. The Black Tails, however, were considerably more shaken. They did not think it possible for you and your Awakened to bring it down.”

“It was not possible for me and my Awakened alone.” Perhaps the amusement in his voice would put her at ease where his presence kept her tense. Though Arden doubted it. At least, not so quickly. And when he spoke so cryptically. “But the Triada provided a way.”

Kiyana dipped her head. “Praise be to the One from whom all blessings flow like water.”

“Amen. Now. You were saying about the Black Tails?”

Kiyana glanced at Arden again, and she smiled and moved closer, elbowing Seidon so he’d take a step back. “Don’t mind him. He’s completely oblivious to his impact on people.”

“I am not oblivious. I choose the path of humility, thank you very much, to put everyone at ease. Would you prefer I order everyone to relax?”

That amusement in his tone began to work its magic. Kiyana’s shoulders loosened a degree.

Might as well help it along with a roll of her eyes. “I wouldn’t put it past you.”

He smiled and then motioned toward Kiyana. “You could have introduced me properly, you know. You’re going to have to get used to it.”

She pasted ignorance on her face before she turned it to his—so close, hovering there over her shoulder. “King Seidon needs no introduction. Your name alone suffices.”

He dug his fingers into her side, making her squeal and then laugh. “I meant as your husband.”

“Your…you…?” Kiyana gaped for a moment and looked ready to drop to a knee again.

Arden lurched forward, away from Seidon’s arm, to stop her with a hand on her arm. “Don’t even think about it. I’m just me.”

Seidon snorted.

Arden shot a glare over her shoulder at him—he was smiling like a complete idiot—but then put her attention back on Kiyana. “Sorry. The Black Tails?”

It took Kiyana a moment to gather her composure about her, but she managed it, nodded, and drew in a long breath.

“No one knew what would happen when we realized it had fallen. But there was an almost immediate cease-fire. Mariana’s forces all sped back to her capital, and the Black Tails have demanded to send an emissary to the coronation for a parlay.

No one knows which side you will come in on, Your Majesty,” she said, face turned toward Seidon.

“But both fear your arrival will spell the end of their plans.”

Seidon’s brows rose. “I don’t much intend to take a side. I simply want to stop them all from killing each other. Preferably before their war reaches into my lands more than it has already.”