Page 48

Kaspar

B lood bloomed in the water, a deep indigo cloud drifting from my sister Mira’s wound. Sightless eyes stared at nothing as it spread, blocking the light. I reached for her–

I woke with a gasp, eyes flying wide as I took in my surroundings.

My rooms, nestled safely within the walls of my underwater castle, were lined in smooth stone, and each was more expansive than the next, but the dream never changed.

In it, I was trapped in a horrific version of my castle, sharp coral closing in around me, demanding more of my time, attention, and magic, until there was nothing left of me to give.

I ran a hand over my face, clearing the thought, and swam to the door. If I couldn’t sleep, I would at least get some work done.

Stepping through the air shield, my tail split, forming legs and my feet touched smooth stone as I dried before magicking a robe on and moved to my desk.

I didn’t expect visitors in my private wing of the castle at this hour, but any number of social climbing sea creatures had made a bid to place me in compromising positions over the years in an effort to entrap me.

Even here, snares lurked. More than one scheming mother had tried to cage me with a midnight liaison. But tonight, I wanted no one’s company.

There were only a handful of rooms in the palace with air bubbles in them, my office, to ensure the myriad of documents remained safe, the rooms I’d carved for my future bride, and the training room, used by the folk of my court to prepare for their time on land.

In my court, spying was the expected occupation.

Any ancillary duties came second, and most fae here could, with some practice, move about on the surface.

“Sire.”

I looked up from my desk. “Yes, Memphe. Come in.”

My second in command, and most trusted advisor, hopped through the air shield, drying as he moved. “I have it.”

Eyes widening, my gaze dipped to his satchel. “Truly? Bring it here.”

Memphe reached me, withdrawing a slender silver tube—magicked to protect the contents from becoming waterlogged—from his bag, and handed it to me.

A slow grin tugged at my lips. Tapping my fingers on the tube, I glanced up.

It was not yet midnight on the surface; most land dwellers would still be awake.

I longed to go to her at once, but she would be at a ball, dancing with the members of her court.

“Thank you, Memphe. Go. Ensure her rooms are prepared.”

Memphe backed away, bowing as he went, but he stopped before stepping through the door.

I held it a moment, inhaling her lingering scent. Finally, after two centuries, she would be mine and I would keep my promise to save her from her wretched family.

I popped the silver lid on the tube, peering inside.

“Prince Kaspar.”

I looked up, finding Memphe still waiting inside the door. “What?”

“What answer shall I give Prince Alder?”

“Answer to what question?”

He dipped his head low. “The date, for the wedding and the army you promised to send.”

I waved him off, and he bowed again, disappearing from my rooms.

I lifted the parchment to my nose, inhaling the pungent scent.

There were so few creatures in this world who deserved my loyalty or my favor.

Sav had earned it ten times over, but if I knew one thing about her, it was that she wouldn’t give in so easily.

Something had pushed her to agree. If I was a gambler, my money would have been on the human.

They reeked of each other. I could overlook a crush, a human's passing infatuation, but something in me chilled, a sense of foreboding I couldn’t shake.

I had waited for her. Protected her. She was mine.

I tugged the delicate paper from the tube, unrolling it just enough to read the terms of the agreement.

Sav’s name was written on this scroll. It took an act of faith to entrust such power to another and though I knew she would give it eventually, I hadn’t expected it to come so easily.

Something uncomfortable twisted in my gut.

Could the human mean so much to her that she’d give in without a fight to save him from some foolish act?

Rolling the paper up, I slid it back inside the silver tube and snapped the lid shut.

This parchment was now the most valuable thing I owned.

Though the magic sealing our bargain would obscure our true names from any other who looked upon it, I had only to read it, to know her full name, and Sav would be entirely at my mercy.

I wanted to count it as a win, but after centuries of court politics and maneuvering, I had to be sure the one good thing in my life was genuine.

Alone, my mind drifted to the day Sav had grabbed my hand. I’d yanked it back, but she held fast, wrapping curling vines around my finger. “When we’re old and alone and have had our fill of adventure, we’ll marry each other so no one can use us ever again.”

I touched my naked finger where her vine had once curled like a promise. It had dissolved in days. But the vow had rooted in me.

I had waited two hundred years to call in that promise.

My days of adventuring were long over and it was time hers were too.