Page 26 of Marked By the Sea

“Is that a threat, nephew?” Lucien’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s an oath,” Riftan swore.

“You’re challenging me? For pussy?” Lucien asked incredulously.

“For my mate. And there is no challenge. You die tonight.”

“You would kill one of your own? For a human?! My life is worth a million of hers!” More tentacles darted forward, wrapping around his arms and holding him back by his shoulders.

“She’s mine. And you dared to sneak in here like a conniving eel and touch what’s mine. You’ve coveted your king’s mate. But you’ve always been like that, haven’t you, uncle?” Riftan taunted. Lucien fought against the tentacles, and my kraken hands held the trident to its rightful owner. From my angle, I could see the King open his hand, and I knew he was trying to call it like he’d done earlier.

“Hold tight! He’s trying to make it return to him,” I yelled.

“Shh… watch,” Rowan cooed in my ear. Sure enough, Riftan was still holding it.

“It’s mine,” the King growled threateningly.

“It has a new owner now, and the Sea a new king.” As if in response, the trident glowed brightly.

“What are you planning to do now? Take her home?” Lucien scoffed.

“There is a way. We all know it,” Rowan interjected.

“The myth? You’re risking the safety of our people and that of the creatures in our sea for a myth?” Lucien’s eyes looked like they’d pop out of his head.

“Does it work?” Riftan asked. Hexon stilled by his side. He was silent, but his eyes flashed with annoyance. I knew he disagreed with whatever they were discussing.

“And what will I get? Why should I tell you? I’m going to die anyway.”

“I’ll make your death quick in exchange.”

Silence stretched between them. Lucien stared into Riftan’s eyes. Did he not think he would keep his word?

“Take her beneath the waves. When the warm waters turn cold, a kiss of fate will make her like us.”

He lost me at ‘beneath the waves.’ There was nothing they could do to make me get in the water. If the possibility of land being just around the corner hadn’t gotten me to swim, ‘being like them’ wasn’t going to cut it.

“He’s lying,” Hexon insisted, but when Lucien said nothing, he continued. “You’ll drag her down and drown her to death.”

I whimpered. My fear had come to life.

“Where did he touch her?” Riftan’s voice was low and threatening.

“There was a gash on the back of her head, bruises on her cheeks, her face and back scraped, and bruises along her neck. Our girl put up one hell of a fight,” Hexon praised.

The trident went flying, and Lucien caught it—with his shoulder. I covered my mouth, muffling a gasp. He screamed as Hexon called it back; blood spurted out as he launched it again. This time, it hit his tail. The would-be king hunched forward, his grunts of pain satisfyingly sick. It was on repeat: the squelch of the three-pronged spear as it was pulled from his body, the oozing of blood, and the wet thud of it hitting its target. When the noises stopped, Riftan stood before him.

“Any last words?” Riftan asked.

Lucien turned to me and spat. Riftan’s fist connected with the side of his face, and his head jerked in the opposite direction.

“Do it!” he yelled.

Riftan opened his fingers, his claws pointed, and then he slashed Lucien’s neck. The flesh split, and blood gushed. The four of us witnessed him clawing at his neck as tentacles receded. It was horrifying watching his eyes widen as moreblood than I had ever seen in my life spurted from his throat. More spewed from his mouth when he opened it. It was as if time stood still again, this time to his disadvantage—not mine. He struggled until his eyes rolled back into his head, and he fell forward, his body twitching until finally, he went still.

There was nothing but the crashing waves as all eyes fell on Riftan.

“What are we going to do with his remains?” Hexon inched forward.

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