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15

Abyssal

I could barely contain my delight, knowing there might yet be a way for my dear captive to harness her magic. Perhaps she wouldn’t have to rely on her lovers, who were proving to be so sluggish in coming to her rescue that it was almost comical.

With access to her magic, she wouldn’t need them. No, she could break free of the confines of her title and crown all on her own.

Queen Sagari would undoubtedly task me with retrieving her, but by teaching her the right magic, she could easily evade me—at least, for a time. And my little captive seemed eager to learn such magic.

How peculiar it had seemed that someone with such immense power struggled to access it. If her bones were indeed the problem, then a familiar would be perfect for unlocking her potential.

Finding a familiar, however. Now, that could prove to be a challenge.

“She seems nice.” The sudden softness of my dear captive’s voice sent the ends of my tentacles into a twist, curling them around the bag my lady had bid me to carry. “Not quite what I envisioned for your mentor. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but that crab-eye thing… Wow. Not going to lie, that was a bit hard to stomach at first.” Her voice trailed, and I wondered if she was thinking of her own eyes and what she might have done had she been in Lady Desmona’s place.

I held her close, one of my arms drawn around the swell of her hips. A tentacle propped up her tail, carefully making sure it wouldn’t catch on passing rocks.

“My lady has shown me great kindness,” I replied, although the truth was that my lady had taken pity on me. “I was still a spawnling when we first met, suffering under the queen’s cruelty when she?—”

My tentacles immediately spread, halting our progress through Lady Desmona’s domain.

How careless of me. The princess didn’t need to hear more of her grandmother’s cruelty. She had ample reason to fear for her life in the Undersea already, and I certainly didn’t want her pity on top of it.

She craned her chin up to look at me. “My grandmother has always been cruel to you?” Her eyes were wide, searching my expression for more.

Suppressing a sigh, I gathered my thoughts and continued pulling us through the narrow pathway. “The truth is, without my lady’s guidance, I wouldn’t be nearly as valuable to the crown as I am today. Lady Desmona was relentless in her teachings, constantly pushing me beyond what I thought were my limits. In hindsight, I can see now that it was never for the crown’s benefit.”

I offered her a grin. “My lady wanted me to be strong enough to protect myself and clever enough to not let anyone control me. Just as she wants for you.”

Doubt flickered in her eyes, a shadow passing over her face. “You sure about that? It seemed to me like she was more worried about getting me knocked up than keeping me safe.”

“‘Knocked up?’” I maintained a wide grin, all innocence, as I gazed down at her. “I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with the expression. Care to enlighten me?”

She narrowed her eyes, not buying my act for a second. “You know what it means,” she said sharply. “Lady Desmona’s intentions were clear, and they had nothing to do with empowering me . Just my—my uterus .”

“Ah, that.” It had been pure torment when my lady mistakenly believed that the princess had chosen me to be one of her mates. “Perhaps she wanted to ensure she would one day have another spawnling to teach. Something to look forward to in her old age.” My voice died off as I realized the implications of what I was saying.

Fortunately, there was something about that comment my dear captive found amusing. “Well, you should have probably mentioned to her that you’re not exactly the paternal type, like you shared with me. It’s not fair to get a lady’s hopes up, you know.”

I shifted slightly, adjusting her in my arms to hide how her words had stung. I couldn’t deny that I’d mentioned something of the sort, could I?

Instead, I dipped my chin, a tight smile on my face. “Yes, well, I certainly don’t want to give her any more false expectations from either of us. My lady has a tendency to only see what she wants to see, I’m afraid.”

“Because of the crab eye?” she quipped, and I snorted a laugh despite myself.

“Precisely because of that.”

A sudden change came over her, her mouth quivering as she drew in her bottom lip. “Hey, wizard?”

My lungs contracted, anticipating what she might say next. “Yes, princess?”

“You’re not, um… you’re not Poseidon, are you?” It was far from the question I’d been expecting. Each word felt like a fatal strike of lightning piercing directly into my hearts.

“I—” My tongue curled, my lips contorting, some choked-off semblance of a word slipping out.

You’re not Poseidon, are you?

Poseidon.

Poseidon.

She spoke of him so easily, as if that wretched name hadn’t taken everything from me. As if his legacy hadn’t obliterated everything I’d ever held dear.

For a moment, I lost all composure. Madness flirted with the edges of my vision, tinting my sight a fiery red. “I am not, ” I hissed, the words flowing like poison from a deep, festering wound.

My dear captive recoiled, pushing away from my chest as if the venom in my voice had singed her, too.

Fingertips dug into my chest as she threw back, “It was a fair question.” She glared at me with a mix of hurt and anger, adding salt to my already wounded hearts. “You keep so many secrets from me—about your trident and my grandmother’s crown. You never told me anything about them. In fact, your mentor, someone I just met, has told me more than you ever have,” she said with a huff. “So, forgive me for wanting to know if there’s something else you’ve been keeping from me.”

She was right. It had been a fair question. I couldn’t blame her for asking or for wondering about all the things I kept tucked away from her. And there were many. Far too many to count. A lifetime’s worth and then some.

But part of me hoped, deep down, that maybe she?—

“My apologies,” I said, tempering the fire in my tone. I tentatively reined her in with my arms, urging her back to me. “I should have been more forthcoming, but leaving out details was never about deceiving you. It was only to protect you.”

Despite my efforts to pull her close, she stubbornly remained stiff in my embrace.

“That’s a load of crap, and you know it,” she spat, a defiant glint in her eyes. “If you really want to protect me, then be honest with me and let me decide whether or not I even want your protection, let alone need it.”

“Very well,” I murmured. “Let’s be honest. Your interest in my trident stems from a concern for the mers’ Atlantic prince, does it not?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Leander?” After a moment’s hesitation, she swallowed hard, evidently opting for honesty as well. “Yes, I’m concerned about him.”

“I suspected as much. You want to know how I separate from my trident because he, himself, has a trident within him.”

Her lips pressed together in a tense line, and there was a quizzical look on her face. “You know about Leander’s trident?”

“Naturally,” I responded, letting a hint of arrogance creep into my tone. Did she honestly believe I hadn’t pieced it together? “You wish to save him, which is why you agreed to a deal with me. However, I regret to inform you that this is a matter in which I cannot assist.” The words left a bitter taste in my mouth, even more so when they drew a frown from my dear captive’s lips.

“But, wizard?—”

“Do not misunderstand me,” I said gently. “I’m not saying this to upset you. My ability to manipulate the trident inside me stems from my body’s familiarity with the sea witch magic that was used to craft it. I doubt a merman’s body could do the same, nor could it endure such power for long.”

There was a quiver in her voice. “Is that… is that why the trident’s hurting him?” Delicate fingers glided over my skin, her gaze suddenly focusing on my chest. “Is your trident hurting you?”

She desired honesty, so it was honesty that I would give her. “It does not.”

Her eyes darted up to mine, a hint of something sharp in her gaze. “It’s not killing you?”

The look on her face when I shook my head—that blank, pale expression, almost as if she wished it had been killing me.

She certainly cared for her lovers, and it was clearer than ever that I didn’t fit into that category.

Bitterness filled me, though I knew I had no right to feel it. My hearts felt cold and numb even as she held onto me tighter.

She drew back up against my body, her desperation evident in her grip. “Is there no way to save him?”

“Learn to call on your magic,” I said, meeting her disbelieving gaze. “If you truly love him, perhaps you’ll find a way.”

“I do love him,” she retorted sharply. “I love all three of them.”

“So it would seem.” I couldn’t hide the chill in my voice. “But do you love him enough to embrace your true nature? To grow powerful enough to bend the will of his trident for him when he cannot?”

She flinched as if I’d struck a nerve.

I leaned in, pressing closer. “Do you see now why I was hesitant to tell you? Why I didn’t want to crush what precious little hope you had?”

“I—” She grasped at the base of her own throat, appearing too overwhelmed to formulate an answer.

With a weary sigh, I straightened. “Now that you know the truth of it, I suppose you can choose to dwell in despair or pursue your greatness. Choose wisely, princess.”

With those words, we crossed the edge of Lady Desmona’s domain. I teleported then, bringing us to the portal that would take us back to the mouth of the Undersea.

“Wait. We can’t go back,” she choked out as soon as she shook off the daze. “Not yet.”

My eyebrows raised in surprise. “Oh?”

“I choose greatness,” she blurted, determination coloring her face. “I’m going to help him. If there’s a way to save him, I’m going to find it. And that means I need a familiar, right?”

A grin crept across my lips. “Yes, indeed,” I said, glancing around. “I imagine you’re quite aware of what creatures dwell here in the Atlantic. Is there a particular type of creature you have in mind? One that you think might serve you well in your pursuit of greatness?”

She took in a deep gulp of water, her eyes scanning our surroundings before she declared, “I have absolutely no idea.”

“No idea at all?” I teased gently. “A rare admission from someone as decisive as yourself, princess.”

Her eyes rolled as I continued, “Shall we embark on a little exploration then to seek out your ideal familiar?”

“Whatever, fine.” The way my dear captive’s long hair fanned behind her with the little huff of irritation she gave only made me want to tease her more. “But I don’t know what I’m looking for. You’re the one who’s supposed to be the expert on familiars,” she said, nudging my ribs with an elbow. The second she teased me back, my body couldn’t help but react to the contact, igniting the primal urge to further lock her against my body.

Lady Desmona had been right. My veins were still teeming with my dear captive’s magic, aching to reinforce a bond between us that hadn’t even formed.

Before I could act on it, her eyes widened. “Wait a second. How did you decide on Aracos?” she asked, blissfully unaware of my wicked inner impulses.

I fought against the raw desire that tightened my throat. “A familiar also chooses who they wish to form a bond with,” I explained. “Aracos found me at a time when I had no one else. You’ll find that, often, a familiar is precisely what the magic wielder needs to help their survival.”

“Like Lady Desmona and the hermit crabs,” she said, and I nodded in agreement.

“So, what if I find a familiar I want, but it doesn’t want me back? No offense, wizard, but this sounds kind of impossible.” She gnawed on her lip, visibly worried. “Aracos seems so perfect, except for the skull thing. How did you manage to convince him to be your familiar?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Aracos is ambitious. He made it quite clear that he wanted me—with his teeth.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” She moved in closer, her palms spreading over my chest as she pulled herself up until there was barely a sip of water between her mouth and mine. “With his teeth? He bit you?”

I fixed my gaze on her lips, feeling my own mouth tense. Our lips were so close, almost touching. “Indee?—”

She cut me off with an abrupt gasp.

“Oh my goodness,” she said, pulling back to take in our surroundings with a sudden sense of realization. “We’re in the Atlantic, wizard. The Atlantic .”

My eyes dropped to where her hands clung to my chest. So trusting. She had no idea how I wanted her. How easy it would be to close the distance between us and let her know of all that I desired.

“Yes, we are indeed in the Atlantic,” I rasped, desperate to steer my mind away from the dangerous path it was treading. The pull toward her was undeniable, but I had to keep myself focused.

She turned back to me, her eyes alight with excitement. “Is there a way you could poof us to where the Atlantic kingdom is staying? You know, the warehouse?”

“Trying to run from me already?” I let out a bitter laugh, though I couldn’t blame her for wanting to escape from me.

These impulses were becoming dangerous, and my thoughts were unpredictable. The more I fixated on her, even her most inconsequential movements, the stronger my impulses became.

Her response came out frantic. “No, no. Trust me, I never want to go back to that warehouse. But there’s a harbor right next to it where ships dock. Do you think you could take us there?”

A raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “And is there something of interest in this harbor?”

Her answering grin told me there was something interesting there, indeed.

“I might have an idea for my familiar,” she said, barely able to contain her excitement.

My eyebrow stayed raised. “Well, in that case… poof .” With the mocking word and a quick snap of magic, I transported us to the edge of the Atlantic’s recently claimed territory.

I could see her excitement fading as she took in our less-than-glamorous surroundings. “Should I be alarmed that you knew exactly where I meant?” she muttered, peering around the murky waters.

“Not at all,” I said with a sly grin. The harbor was as filthy as I remembered, with the stench of decay and questionable debris bobbing near the surface. “I only live to serve, dear princess.”

Ah—it seemed that little endearment hadn’t amused her.

Her eyes narrowed as she shot me a warning glare. “Wizard.”

“My sincerest apologies,” I replied with exaggerated formality, bowing my head low before her. “Now that we’re here, what exactly are we searching for? A discarded tin, perhaps? Some other exquisite piece of refuse?”

She rolled her eyes at my dramatics, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lush lips.

“Not quite,” she replied, her gaze now scanning the harbor with even more purpose. “There was this shark last time I was here. I wonder if it’s still around.”

“A shark?” How unexpected. Sharks were highly unfavorable creatures, especially to the merfolk she’d spent much of her life around. “A subtle choice. And what makes you think a shark would make a suitable familiar?”

She didn’t seem bothered by my doubts. She counted down on her fingers. “Well, for starters, it bit me, just like you said Aracos bit you. Then, it tossed me a knife. And finally, it saved my boots.”

I gave her a skeptical look. “Those are certainly… reasons.”

She sighed. “Look, you don’t have to understand it.”

“Oh, I do understand. If you desire this shark to be your familiar, then I must tell you that there is a certain art to bonding.” I counted down my list. “You must first introduce yourself and then learn of its name. If it doesn’t have a name, you must help them find it. After that, it will require a piece of you, and it will offer something of itself in return.”

“A piece of me?” she repeated, looking disturbed.

I laughed lightly. “It may sound unusual, but Aracos offered me one of his teeth, and he received some of my hair in return.”

That had done little to alleviate her unease.

“I guess I could give up some hair,” she finally muttered. “Do you think you could take us around a bit? See if we can find it?”

She looked so determined that I couldn’t help but oblige. “All right, but if you truly think you and this shark share a connection, then close your eyes.”

“My eyes?” She hesitated for a moment, then did as instructed.

I hummed, taking in the sight of her, eyes closed in concentration.

“Very good,” I murmured, slowly easing an arm from around her waist. “Tell me, do you sense its energy?”

As soon as she shook her head, I traced over a free-floating section of her hair. My fingers threaded through it, bringing the silky strands close to my lips. “Do you feel it here in the water?” I whispered, making sure her eyes were still closed.

I leaned in, softly kissing her hair.

Her face scrunched. “No, because I don’t know what I’m supposed to be feeling for.”

I chuckled at her frustration, enjoying the way her nose had wrinkled. “Patience, princess. Let your mind drift.” I brushed my lips against her hair, letting my mouth linger there. “Do you feel it now?”

Her face flushed, her eyes remaining shut. “I… I’m not sure what I’m feeling.”

Ah—there it is.

With little warning, a sudden burst of movement interrupted the moment. Her hair slipped from my fingers as I pulled her close, narrowly avoiding the unexpected ambush of snapping jaws.

“Is this perhaps the creature you were referring to?” I breathed out, my hearts pounding with a sudden surge of adrenaline.

The massive bull shark made a tight turn, the glint of its sharp teeth cutting through the murk of the water as it circled to charge again.

My dear captive’s eyes snapped open, accompanied by a gasp as her gaze darted between me and the creature. “That’s it!” she said, although her expression quickly turned to concern. “Wait, why does it seem so angry?”

“Who could say?” I murmured, still holding her close, bending her body against mine. The shark was hardly a threat, but if she wanted to make it her familiar, I couldn’t risk harming it by using magic.

The bull shark came at us teeth first, continuing its aggressive advances as I swiftly maneuvered us, keeping her well out of danger.

“I don’t think it likes you,” she said the next time one of my tentacles narrowly avoided its jaws.

A laugh escaped me at her observation, although my eyes never left the circling shark. “Yes, it seems it’s taken quite the disliking to me, hasn’t it?”

She pressed a hand to the side of her temple like she was hearing confirmation of that statement directly from the shark’s thoughts.

Perhaps she was.

The shark’s movements were frantic and relentless, almost as though it were being influenced by something beyond its natural instincts. “Determined, isn’t it?” I said, contemplating whether to teleport us somewhere safer.

It was then I caught a glimmer of magic slithering beneath the surface of its skin. Her magic.

My nostrils flared with exertion as I dodged its next charge. “You’ve already formed a bond with it?” To think I might have attempted to pair her with another familiar.

“I, uh, don’t think so?” Her voice wavered as the bull shark turned again to make another aggressive pass at us— at me .

“I’m going to let go of you,” I said carefully, and her eyes went wide with alarm.

“ What? No!”

“Don’t forget the list. Start by introducing yourself.” With a wink, I pushed her away and stood in front of the bull shark, facing it head-on. Just as I thought, instead of going for me, the shark stopped its aggressive posturing and suddenly veered, diving toward where the princess was falling.

It caught her with the top of its head, propping her up as gently as a shark could. She clutched to its back, her eyes blown with shock and a touch of awe as it carried her away from me.

“How interesting,” I muttered, drifting at a leisurely pace behind them.

The bull shark dove into the murk, no doubt hoping to lose me. Tracking them, however, was child’s play, but I would give them the time they needed to bond.

When they finally cut over the murk again, she was wearing a look of pure exhilaration, her arms wrapped around the bull shark’s powerful form.

Her chosen companion was certainly not a young creature. Scars marred its skin, evidence of past struggles for survival, no doubt. But as soon as I noticed the deep net-patterned markings, I knew this creature was precisely what she needed.

It seemed my dear princess had found a companion who could help her find the strength to escape that which held her captive.

When they finally swam toward me, she could hardly contain her excitement. “It was all a misunderstanding,” she called out to me. “He thought you were trying to bite me.”

“Bite you?” I laughed. No, I had far more enticing ways to show my interest than biting. “That certainly sounds like a misunderstanding.”

Her smile widened as she reached out to stroke the bull shark’s rough skin. Letting the shark carry her didn’t seem to bother her as it had when she’d relied on me to do the same. “He didn’t have a name, but we settled on Cyre.”

“Sire?” I mused, intrigued by her choice. “Like he’s a father figure? Or perhaps royalty?”

“No, with a C ,” she corrected with a huff. “Cyre.” She grinned down at him like he already held a place in at least half of her hearts.

“Ah, my mistake.” It was the first time since taking her away from her lovers that I’d seen her so open and carefree. “And I suppose Cyre has given you a piece of himself?” I asked, the current brushing against my tentacles as they swam another tight circle around me.

She nodded, holding up a sharp, dagger-like tooth. “I’m not sure what to do with it,” she said rather sheepishly. “Please don’t tell me I’m supposed to swallow it.”

Chuckling at her innocence, I shook my head. “No, you needn’t swallow it. You should place it where you took the token that you gave to him.”

“I, uh…” Her face pinked. “I haven’t given him anything yet.”

My brow furrowed. “He appears to already possess some of your magic. Are you certain you haven’t given him anything?”

She took a moment, looking down at the tooth in her hand as Cyre continued to carry her along. “Well, he did sink his teeth into my tail,” she muttered. “And I’m pretty sure I lost a scale when he let go. Do you think he could have gone back and swallowed it?”

“It’s entirely possible.” I couldn’t blame him for wanting a piece of her or her magic. “If this bull shark is your choice, I think you are well within your rights to accept his tooth and take him as your familiar.”

“I’d love that if you’ll have me,” she murmured, stroking the side of Cyre’s nose. “You already proved your loyalty when you saved my boots.”

“It really doesn’t take much to please you, does it?” I remarked as she carefully slid the tooth down to her tail.

She winced as its sharp edge sank through the scales and immediately brought a hand to the side of her head.

Just as she teetered on the brink of falling, I swam closer, snagging her by the waist to keep her on his back. “Careful,” I warned, swimming alongside them. “Your minds are melding. He’s already accepted you, and now it’s your turn to accept him.”

I held her steady as her eyes fluttered back, her mind clearly overwhelmed by the coming change. I could remember how it was for me and Aracos. Unfortunately, it would take time for her to learn how to isolate and limit their connection. “You’re bound now, so be mindful of your emotions,” I cautioned gently, using whatever knowledge I could to help ground her mind. “They will affect him as they affect you. You wouldn’t want him to attack me the next time my charm slightly irks you, would you?”

She nodded, taking a deep breath of water and adjusting her position on Cyre’s back. “Thank you,” she said, gasping between words. “And of course I would. I’d love for him to take a great big sizable chunk out of you.” She waved a hand, too exhausted to do much else. “So you should think twice before irking me.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” It was good to see some of her feisty spirit returning. As soon as I released her, she leaned forward, hugging her arms around Cyre once more.

“We can take him back to the Undersea, can’t we?” she asked, a far-off look still in her eyes. “It’s so strange, feeling him right here. Living in my head.”

“Yes, we can bring him back with us.” I realized with a twinge of regret that aside from teleporting, there would be no need for contact between us now that her familiar could carry her. “Unfortunately, he must stay on the outskirts. It wouldn’t be wise for the queen to learn of your new companion.”

She turned back to look at me with a frown, still breathless. “That’s hardly fair. He’s a part of me now, isn’t he? Can’t you use magic to conceal him? Make him invisible or something?”

It was just the opportunity I’d been waiting for, and I pounced right on it.

“Make him invisible? Certainly. As soon as you teach him the art of concealing himself, feel free to let him roam anywhere in the Undersea he pleases—provided that he fits through the corridor.”

Her mouth gaped, but I merely smirked, enjoying the frustrated expression that crossed over her face. Perhaps it wouldn’t take long for her familiar to take a great big chunk out of me, after all.

“Fine,” she said, grinding her teeth. “I’ll teach him, but that just means you’ll have to teach me how to do it first.”

“Of course,” I replied with a wide grin. “The magic of hiding oneself and eluding those who might seek to capture you. If that’s your desire, princess, I would gladly offer my assistance in helping you learn such a skill.”