Page 71 of Surface Pressure

Confused, Soulara shook her head. “If they’re yours, I can’t ask for that.”

“Nylah is their own, and they go where they please.”

“But I know from Kaelin that you’ve raised them. They’re like your child.”

Kyree took in a sharp breath, deep hurt crossing her features before she slowly nodded. “Yes.”

“I won’t rip them from their family, from you. I won’t make you do that.” Soulara glanced down at Nylah, that warm and appreciative feeling increasing. It was the first time that she’d felt truly connected to the ray.

Kyree swam closer. Honour moved in swiftly as if protecting Soulara, but Soulara waved her off. Kyree held out her hand, the ray settling on her palm. “You need them. I do not.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Soulara whispered.

Kyree continued to hold out her hand. “Say you’ll accept Nylah.”

Soulara hesitated one second longer before holding out her hand in the same way Kyree did. Nylah swam from Kyree to Soulara, settling on her palm. Comfort. That was the exact feeling that Soulara received. This was exactly where Nylah wanted to be.

Kyree bowed their head and backed away. “If you’ll forgive me, Princess, I need to rest.”

Kaelin slid in next to Kyree and held her arm to give her extra support. They swam away slowly. Soulara looked to Honour and waited until she was sure they were out of earshot. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

“I don’t.” Honour leaned around the corner, following Kyree and Kaelin’s path.

Soulara eyed Honour closely, recognizing that look. Well, two could play at this game. “Because you’re shacking up with the deep sounding mermaid?”

“What?” Honour’s eyes went wide.

“It’ll skew your opinion on what’s happening.”

“That’s not… No way is that happening.” Honour stared at Soulara. “And don’t talk to me about skewing my point of view.”

“I’ll have to kill her, you know. I’ll be the one making the decision to end her life if she gets in another one of those machines. And I can’t always guarantee I’ll be there to save her. Autumn understands that. Duty over love. Isn’t that how it always is for those in power?” Soulara sneered, her heart racing. That burst of anger had come out of nowhere, but she’d known it had been pent up inside her for a while now. “At least Kyree is on our side.”

Honour frowned but said nothing.

Soulara scoffed and moved closer to the desk. “Without Autumn feeding us information, we need to form a plan to keep track of when and where the attacks will happen.”

“We can utilize Kwight for that. They have a communication system that’s well-honed.” Honour leaned over the map. “We can place people here, here, and here to help strengthen that within our own borders. Talon can do the same for theirs.”

“And the deep sounding mer?”

“Don’t ask,” Honour hissed. “I tried my best, Soulara. But they don’t like outsiders. I’m surprised they even let Kyree come with.”

“Are she and Kaelin related? They have the same colorings.” Soulara thought back in her mind, remembering the way the two of them looked so similar.

“I don’t know. She refused to talk about Kaelin. All of them did. And I won’t allow Kaelin to face them again if I have any say in it. It’s pure torture for her.”

Soulara paused. “I understand.” She should do the same, keeping Kaelin out of their grasp for as long as possible. “Keep training the new recruits. We’re going to need them. I’ll work on the tech we retrieved and see if there’s an easier way to take down a kraken.”

“Yes, Princess.” Honour bowed and swam out of the room.

Alone, Soulara sighed.

Duty and love?

Since when had this become about love?

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