Page 51 of Sunken Empire

Bouncing back and forth between wearing a hole in the floor and sitting at Zephyr’s bedside watching him deteriorate has worn me out. Especially since none of us got to rest after the long travels it took to get here. It’s been hours but feels like days since my other mates left and worry is a live thing sitting in my gut. Merrick has tried to convince me to get some rest, and I know that he can see how much the stress is starting to weigh on me. He’s as concerned for me as we both are for Zephyr. I couldn’t lay down to rest even if I wanted to, knowing that one mate is slowly slipping away from me as the others are off risking their lives to save him.

A manic sob starts bubbling in the back of my throat, but I push it down as hard as I can. I refuse to lose my cool here when I’ve got the smallest job of all. I’m going to stay strong for them and prove to these mer I’ll be a good queen.

Which doesn’t mean I have to sit still while doing it either. Hopping up from Zephyr’s side, I stroll over to the window that overlooks the kingdom. I’ve done this many times over the past several hours, but it still stuns me every time.

Yhalwgon is absolutely beautiful and as close to paradise I think I’ll ever lay eyes on. When the sun was high in the sky, it reflected off the rooftops of the tightly-knit buildings. Now that it’s setting, the glow causes shadows, making the entire scene look like a painting. At dark I’m sure the streets will seem like those of a ghost town with no one occupying the houses. Maybe one day in our lifetimes we’ll be able to restore all of this to its former glory like it deserves.

My ears pop, and I jerk around to face Merrick, the question I’m not sure I want the answer to on the tip of my tongue. Glancing to the door, I see the guards eye each other, but neither move to investigate.

Please. Please. Please let them all be safe.

Just in case it’s not them, I move to place myself between the door and Zephyr, picking up my trident from where it’s been propped against the foot of the bed. Though he’s already dying, someone will have to go through me to get him while he’s at his weakest.

It takes a while, but voices finally start drifting down the corridor. Clenching my weapon tightly, I’m prepared for anything that walks through that door.

Well, apparently most anything. The sight of the palest man I’ve ever seen carrying an overly large naked dude with his ass stuck right up in the air immediately makes me wonder if the exhaustion has finally driven me mad. He barely spares me and my weapon a glance as he lays the naked guy on one of the other beds before rushing over to Zephyr. It isn’t until he’s at his side that I overcome my shock and jump into motion.

Springing around the other side of the bed, I hop up on my knees and have my trident poking him right in the throat before he can even think about laying a hand on my mate. His left eyebrow lifts, but otherwise he shows no emotion to being so close to death. Or maybe he just doesn’t realize it’s staring him right in the face.

“Who are you?” I question.

“The one who’s here to save your mate, youngling,” he replies. Then, with a smile adds, “If you’ll allow it, of course.”

“Where---”

“It’s okay, damselfish,” Zale says as he and Zanthus walk through the door. The latter looks a little worse for wear, but otherwise unharmed. Trusting Zale’s word, I let my trident drop from the stranger.

Making my way over to the party at the door, I hand my weapon off to Easton before throwing my arms around Zale and Zanthus both at the same time, taking turns kissing both their cheeks.

“I’ve been so worried,” I admit quietly.

Zanthus squeezes me tighter and seems to be having trouble focusing with his eyes as he says, “We wouldn’t be here at all were it not for Aukai.”

Oh, I haven’t forgotten him for one little second. I’ve only got so many arms and they were the closest. They part to let me through so they can go to their brother’s side. Aukai stands stiffly, shifting his eyes anywhere but to me.

Closing the distance between us, I throw my arms around his torso and bury my face into his shirt. It’s covered in something that smells worse than the dumpster behind the Chinese restaurant back in the human realm, but I don’t care. He took on the task of trying to save Zephyr then brought the other two back to me safely.

“Thank you,” I whisper, lifting my chin to get a good look at his face. His expression says he’s just as exhausted as I am, if not worse.

“No need for thanks. I’ll do anything to protect you,” he says, finally embracing me back. Looking towards the bed he adds, “You. My brothers. This kingdom.”

Palming his cheeks, I smash our lips together. Regrettably, it’s a short-lasting kiss considering Zephyr chooses this moment to make a wise crack. “I’m the one dying over here. I think I need some kisses too.”

My gasp is loud, and I don’t care. Those are the first words he’s spoken since being dragged out of the water. Rushing to his side, I’m careful not to disturb the strange man whose eyes are closed, hands hovering inches above the wounds. A bright light flows between them, slowly knitting the open flesh back together while the black veins retreat.

Leaning down to press my lips against Zephyr’s forehead I tell him, “You had me worried.”

“It’ll take something stronger than that to take me away from you,” he teases, grimacing on the last few words.

“You were almost done in by something that inks itself in defense,” Zanthus pokes.

Zephyr’s mouth clenches in a tight line defensively. “Brother, that was no ordinary sea critter. I think I deserve a pass from ridicule for now.”

Zanthus can’t help but smile like the rest of us as he concedes, “For now.”

“What happened, highnesses?” Merrick asks from where he’d stepped back to make room for the man.

The room is in a quiet hush while Zale gives us a breakdown of their harrowing rescue. My heart hurts for those that were left behind after so many years of being imprisoned and for the mer who died. If what Zale says is correct, there isn’t anything we can do for them at this point, though. Plus, the mer who gave his life to save my mate will have a service fit for a royal family. I’ll see to that personally.

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