Page 70 of Surface Pressure

Soulara nodded firmly. “They send machines, krakens, into the water. They don’t care what’s in their way.”

Kaelin returned, handing over the goggles and helping Kyree to put them on. “That’s what killed the mer I was with prior to my exile.”

Kyree flicked her gaze to Kaelin, but she said nothing. The tension between them was palpable. This must be so hard for Kaelin. First being excommunicated, and then when she returned with proof she hadn’t murdered another mer, being sent away because they still didn’t believe her. She’d flourished in Reine and with Zendalia’s special touch.

But now she was back to the cowering, scolded mer she had been. Soulara hated it. Kaelin had one of the most beautiful, caring, and forgiving souls a mer could have. Swimming closer to Kaelin, Soulara stayed next to her in solidarity.

“They’ve killed many mer. We’ve allied ourselves with Kwight and Talon to fight this war. And it is a war. Norah is still considering joining us. The humans don’t care if we live or die. They’ll continue taking the water until we force them to abandon their posts.” Soulara swallowed the lump. Autumn at least cared if they lived or died. But one human versus many wouldn’t hold up in a battle.

Kaelin sent Soulara a glance, as if she could tell exactly what Soulara was thinking. Shaking her head in the slightest movement, Soulara told Kaelin not to mention it.

“Earlier today we battled with three of the krakens. We defeated all three of them.” It was mostly the truth. Autumn’s had returned, but it had stopped its water collecting to leave. Talon would see it as a failure. But Soulara didn’t. “Two were destroyed completely, and we took what we could to study them.”

“And the third?”

“Escaped to the surface. Inside each kraken were three humans. They’re machines.”

Kyree’s eyes widened. Technology wasn’t the deep sounding mermaids’ specialty. In fact, they were nomads who abhorred technology. Based on that, they should want to join the war to keep it from the waters.

“Will you join us?”

Kyree pressed her lips together hard, but she already seemed more focused than she was before. Was she acclimating that quickly to the thinness of the water? “We don’t believe in harming others.”

“I understand,” Soulara said. They had some very interesting beliefs and practices, including excommunication. Which was something that Soulara deeply disagreed with. Kaelin had been torn from her home, and she wouldn’t ever be allowed to return, even when her time of exile was complete. “But this isn’t just a change in the water stream. These humans will do everything in their power to destroy our home.”

Kyree nodded sharply. “Which is why I’m here.”

Kyree moved her hands to the sides, palms up and open. She had the same webbing in her fingers that Kaelin did, and the same colored scales ran along her sides. Were they related?

“We will support you in what ways we can, but we will not fight.”

Kaelin flicked her gaze sharply to Soulara’s, shock evident. “You’ll join us?”

Kyree cut Kaelin a sharp look and again said nothing in response.

Soulara wanted to address that, but it was more important right now that she figure out how the deep sounding mermaids would support their war effort. “What do you mean by that?”

“Food, supplies, healing. We will assist.” Kyree blinked her eyes slowly. “I will remain with you to ensure that happens.”

“Will more of your people join us?”

Kyree looked Soulara directly in the eye. “No. For now, it’ll be me.”

Soulara’s heart sank. What kind of compromise was this? One mermaid, and it seemed Kyree was there more as a supervisor or a spy. Soulara kept her composure. Now wasn’t the time to flip out or push too many buttons. “And for later?”

“That has yet to be decided.” Kyree bowed her head slightly to Soulara. “I do have an offering from my people.”

A gift? The deep sounding mers worked differently. They gave instead of took? Soulara held her breath, waiting to see what exactly Kyree would bring. Kyree took in a deep breath and relaxed as a small gray-colored ray slipped from behind her hair and swam, stopping right in front of Kyree but facing Soulara.

It couldn’t be much bigger than Soulara’s palm, light lines of blue ran along from its nose to its tail, and Soulara imagined in the deep soundings those would light up to show the way. Soulara’s stomach twisted hard, as a sense of warm knowing and shyness came over her.

“This is Nylah,” Kyree said, her voice firm. “They’ve indicated to me that you have their soul.”

Soulara instinctively reached up, her fingers clasping the necklace her mother had given her. One glance to Honour told her that Honour was shocked. Soulara had only ever indicated that she had one soul stone, which was true. At least until she’d visited Milan again.

Did her mother know where the rest were?

“They would like to reside with you.” Kyree seemed pained, as if this was the hardest thing for her to say.

---