Page 52 of Surface Pressure

“Will that help your people?” Autumn didn’t want more humans to die. She just wanted the war to stop. How many of them had been just following orders like she had all these years? Did they really deserve to pay for the lies they’d been told? When had water collecting become a battle?

“I think so.” Soulara nodded, her eyes focusing on something Autumn couldn’t see.

“I could get you the plans as well,” Autumn said without hesitation. Sure, why wouldn’t she give up the plans of their most important technology to aliens. Especially when she’d fucked one and the other had tried to throw a spear through her heart. “If you think your people will be able to use it. Do you have people who can understand machines and technology like the water collectors?”

“I work with technology. It’s one of my many passions.” Soulara’s cheeks pinked slightly, and the modesty behind it warmed Autumn’s heart. She had never imagined this fearless woman could express such a humble perspective. Or was that a tease and a flirt Autumn hadn’t been expecting?

“One of your passions?” Autumn smiled, remembering some of the more recent passions she had discovered.

“Oh yes, I have many skills, Autumn.” Soulara’s voice filled with innuendo was accompanied by fingers running up and down Autumn’s arms.

These words and tone were more like what Autumn had come to expect. Autumn slid into it, wanting to forget that she’d offered to betray her entire race for one good fuck.

“Can you tell what I’m thinking about now?” Autumn purred in return.

“Oh, I don’t need to be in your mind to know exactly what you’re thinking.” Soulara’s mouth was against hers, hot, wanting, desperate.

16

Soulara curled her fingers around the edge of her father’s desk. It was too big for her, weighted so heavily with so many decisions that she didn’t even know where to start. Leaving Autumn had been the hardest thing she’d ever done. She wanted to stay wrapped up around her, in her, consumed by her.

“We need to talk to the deep sounding mermaids, Kaelin’s tribe, and we need to talk to the Talons.” Soulara knew she had to come up with a better plan. Intuitively there was only one option, diplomacy, treaties. But that didn’t mean it was going to be easy or that she could get it done in three days.

“The deep sounding tribe are pacifists, to the extreme.” Honour leaned against the table, staring at Soulara’s fingers. She canted her head to the side, like she could see something that wasn’t there.

“We can’t exclude them from the conversation,” Soulara replied. “They have to know what’s going on and be invited to participate if they want to. You can take Kaelin with you if you want.”

“Take Kaelin?” Honour’s eyebrows shot up, her eyes wide. “You’re sending me?”

“You already have a history with them. They’ll trust you.”

“They barely trusted me the last time.”

“This isn’t optional, General.” Soulara deepened her voice to make her point. If she was going to go through with this, then they were going to do it her way. “They trust you because of what happened before.”

Honour’s jaw tightened, the muscles bulging at the sides. “I didn’t like them.”

“Again, not optional.” Soulara made a fist and just about struck her hand down onto the table, something her father would do when he was frustrated. When had she become so like him? Her entire life she’d done nothing but try to be the complete opposite and here she was in his throne room planning a war. With a deep sigh, Soulara continued, “I’ll visit with the Talons again. They seemed amenable to working together.”

“They’re tricky.”

“We don’t have another option. Thus far, they’re the only ones to take down a kraken.” Soulara planted both her hands on the table. “I’ll send father to speak with the Kwights.”

“Do you think he’ll go?” Honour seemed genuinely curious.

Soulara lifted one shoulder and dropped it in a half shrug. She honestly had no idea if he would help her with this plan or not, but the Kwights wouldn’t speak to anyone but him and there was enough animosity between them and Reine that it could cause an all-out war right there. Infighting wouldn’t help anything.

“I need him to.” Soulara’s cheeks flushed. This was going to be a huge ask, and she’d have to prove why it was so important. Maybe now he would listen since she’d finally given into her birthright. “I can ask Makryn to speak with the Norah tribe. If I remember correctly, he’s been seeing someone from their court.”

“Your brother is in a relationship?” Honour seemed genuinely surprised by that.

“He says he is.” Soulara pursed her lips. “Those are all the tribes we can reach within two days.”

“I’ll miss the kraken attack if I’m stuck negotiating with the deep sounding tribe. They don’t make decisions quickly.” Honour caught Soulara’s eye. “I’d be far more useful traveling with Makryn to the Norah tribe or with you to the Talons.”

Soulara shook her head. As much as she would like her brother to have supervision, which was what she’d have Honour do if she wasn’t going to the deep soundings, something in her gut told her they had to go to the depths of the ocean in order to survive this war. She couldn’t explain it. But the pull was like her magic, dragging her deep under the water, and everything about that felt right.

“I’d go with you if I could.”

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