Page 1 of Sworn to Revenge
Bay
“I want them banished—or dead, for all I care!” I slam my hand hard on Uncle Clarion’s desk. Aunt Lora doesn’t even flinch. The rage boiling in my chest makes my gills flare open as I try to calm my nerves.
“I’ll take care of it.” Aunt Lora’s calm words cut through my anger. She gestures toward my uncle, who shrugs and leaves without a word, his expression a mix of indifference and disdain. I can almost hear him muttering women’s ego as the door clicks shut. A string of curses escapes me before I can stop them.
“Bay,” Aunt Lora scolds, “he’s your king. Pull yourself together.”
I turn to face her, her brows arched in disapproval, but I can’t hold back. “He’syourking! You didn’t even restore my affiliation mark after Alin saved me.”
She sighs heavily, and it takes everything in me not to punch her right then and there. That would only complicate things. I want to go back toland, back to Alin. Back to…him. But I need my parents punished first.
“Bay, I know what you went through was hard, and unjust, but—”
“No! There’s no ‘but.’ They lied in the Royal Court about why I ran! You have to punish them for it as the queen!” I yell, my eyes burning and my gills flare. If we were on land, my face would be drenched in tears by now.
Aunt Lora swims toward me, still unfazed by my anger. “Bay, Iamon your side.”
“Are you really?” My eyebrows pull together as I glare at her, every muscle in my body tense.
“I am. You and Alin both know I’ve never had good relations with your parents. They did everything in their power to keep me and Clarion apart before our Royal Union,” she says calmly, settling behind me on the white coral chair at the corner of the office.
I nod, joining her, a bit less sure of myself now. “I know…”
She leans in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I’ve been collecting evidence to have them banished.”
“What?!” I gasp, my head reeling. She nods, confirming it.
“What evidence do you need?” I ask, suddenly more determined than ever. I’ll do anything necessary.
“Leave that to me,” she says with a warm smile. “Better for the case if everything’s solid and all loose ends tied when it goes to the Royal Court.”
“So until then, they just swim around the city, free to do as they please?” I ask, unable to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Can I really trust Aunt Lora on this? I do know she has issues with them too.
“The King made sure they won’t come anywhere near you while you’re in the city. He wants to make sure you’re safe,” she says, her smile widening.
“How can you be so sure they won’t?” I challenge. I know that they’ll try to do anything to get rid of me if they know I’m after revenge. There is no other way around it.
A cunning smile spreads across her face. “Because if they do, it’ll only make things easier for me.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“It’s the King’s order, Bay. Breaking it would mean banishment—or death. Which, I know, you’re fine with either,” she adds, eyes twinkling.
I smirk despite myself. “Maybe I shou—”
“No. Don’t play games with them; you’d only make things harder. Let me handle this.” Her firm tone leaves no room for debate.
“Do you haveanythingyet?” I ask, raising up and swimming closer to her.
She raises too. “I wouldn’t make promises if I didn’t. Your parents have been dealing illegally in our pod’s potions for years.”
My jaw drops.
Aunt Lora continues, “Clarion and I couldn’t prove it then, so we were powerless. But I have a new lead, and this time, I’m not letting go.”
“I can’t believe I share their blood… it feels like a curse.” My gills open wide with a heavy sigh.
“They’recursed, not you. Believe me,” she says, resting a hand on my shoulder. “And speaking of blood—open your mouth.” She bites her finger hard, releasing blood into the water around us.
