Page 24 of Calling of the Crown

I giggled at Rune’s poor attempt to get out of this misery before turning to Jesiah, who had returned to my side.

“Bria, you’ll have a lot to read up on from policies to history to technical books explaining our abilities. We’ll also put those abilities into practice as you read about them, building your skills and improving your arsenal of power.”

I flicked the cover of the book in front of me then met Jesiah’s dark eyes. “May I ask a question first?”

“Of course. Always.”

“When we first arrived here, Imani mentioned that our island used to be submerged and that Water Fae lived under the water. Why don’t we anymore?”

Jesiah perched on the edge of the table, taking on a somber look. “Water Fae have changed a great deal in the past few centuries, Bria. You’ll notice that as you learn our history. We’re only a fraction of what we once were in terms of numbers, powers, and knowledge.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Love happened.”

I cocked a brow. “Love?”

Jesiah nodded slowly. “Long ago, when Water Fae still resided within the ocean, things were different. All Water Fae could breathe in the water. We had unimaginable powers, and most had blue hair. Water Fae became curious about the world outside of the sea, though, and some brave, curious souls crept onto land to see what was out there. That was when Water Fae learned they could live and breathe outside of the water. We could go back and forth. So we did.

“Water Fae began making trips to land, discovering new Fae, new ways of life, new love. Some Water Fae chose to stay on land, and they slowly forgot their abilities. Water Fae and Land Fae fell in love, which, as you now know, didn’t help with reproducing. Our numbers began to dwindle, and after so much time on land where abilities were no longer being used, our powers started to change. One of the abilities that was lost for almost everyone was the ability to literally become water. You see, before, we could do so much more than just control water. We were water. Can you take a guess as to who the last Water Fae was to have that ability? I’ll give you a hint. Those who could do that—literally become one with water—had blue hair.”

I sucked in a sharp gasp. “My mom?”

He nodded with a warm smile.

As amazed as I was to hear that my mom was able to harness the full potential of what we were as Water Fae, it also confused me. “Why am I getting blue hair then? I haven’t become water. Not that I recall anyway.”

Jesiah scratched his stubbly chin and studied me thoughtfully. “Maybe you did and just didn’t realize. It’s hard to say since it’s a power that none of us understand, being that we don’t have it. Think on it this evening. Maybe you’ll remember a time you did.”

No amount of thinking on it would change anything. I was pretty sure I’d know if I was suddenly a blob of water. That would be pretty hard to miss.

If only my mom were here to ask.

Shaking off the melancholy thought, I asked with a smile, “So my mom was a badass?”

“She was,” Jesiah said with a chuckle. “Your mother was born to a long line of powerful Water Fae who retained the majority of our powers, but even with that lineage, Alesta was on a whole other level. She was what Water Fae once were. It was hoped that she and Khal would marry and conceive an offspring that would harness those same lost powers, and hopefully, help to restore the Water Kingdom to what it once was.”

I swallowed hard and picked at the pages of the book in front of me. “Ahh, right. They had an arranged marriage. All to breed me.”

I remembered how sick that had made me when Dallas first told me, but after seeing that photo album from the nursery, it didn’t unnerve me like it once did. It was clear from those pictures and my mother’s letter that they truly loved not only me, but also each other.

“Arranged marriages are common, as you now know,” Jesiah reminded me, giving me a pointed look. “You yourself had one pre-arranged, because we needed to rebuild our Kingdom with powerful leadership and heirs. As much as it pains me to say it, Dax is a powerful Water Fae. Not as powerful as Alesta or Khal—or you—but not many of us are anymore.”

“Please don’t even bring up heirs right now,” I groaned, shifting uncomfortably in my seat and avoiding Rune’s eyes. I was not having the marriage and baby talk with him right now, especially with Jesiah around.

Finding Jesiah’s brown eyes again, I said, “So Water Fae changed. Powers were lost and our numbers of those with powers dwindled. Why did our whole Kingdom move above water?”

“That,” Jesiah began slowly, “was actually a fairly recent change in the grand scheme of things. It was done a little more than a century ago when Alesta and Khal ruled. They began to notice that some Water Fae were having difficulty breathing under water. Shortness of breath. Labored breathing. Some even found that they couldn’t breathe at all, and therefore, couldn’t come home. Then one day, something … disturbing and traumatizing happened.”

“What?” I asked, leaning forward. “What happened?”

He watched me cautiously like he was weighing whether or not to tell me. Finally, he explained, “The Kingdom was still deep in the ocean at this point, and Alesta had a hand maiden who was also a dear friend to her. Nessa. Nessa was pregnant, and even though it wasn’t protocol, she wanted Alesta there for the birth as a friend. When the baby was born, it was quickly realized that he couldn’t breathe under water, and he … he didn’t make it. He drowned.”

My stomach coiled with nausea, and my hand flew to my mouth in an effort to keep the shock from leaving my lips. I fought against the image trying to surface in my head, but it came despite my efforts. The image of a newborn trying to take his first breath, let out his first cry …

Rune’s hand suddenly covered my free one on the tabletop. My tear-filled eyes found his, and he squeezed my hand tightly. There were no words that could wipe away the ache building in my chest or chase away the foul images flooding my mind, but he was here with me all the same, offering a warm hand to hold onto until the pain went away.

Clearing my throat, and taking a few breaths, I asked, “That’s when the Kingdom moved above water?”

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