Page 88 of Prince of Tides
“Now, you can join them,” I said. “With that.”
Rip eyed the Trident. “Maybe. Only a prince can wield it.”
“I’m fairly certain the God-King wouldn’t have sent us here, alive and together, if we hadn’t passed the Test. You said that was the last thing needed. Your people are under attack. What are you waiting for?”
“I don’t want to leave you,” he said.
I grimaced. His hesitation was my doing. He knew I was scared for his life and wanted him to stay with me instead of risking it.
“Come down here,” I said, crooking a finger at him.
He lowered his head. I grabbed his face in both hands and kissed him as hard, fierce, and intense as I could.
“You pull the thing from the chair and you go out there and you stick your enemies with it,” I snarled. “All of them. Drive them back. Protect your people. You got it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said wryly.
“And when you’re done, you march your ass back here and do your other duty.”
His eyebrows rose. “Which is what?”
“Me,” I said wickedly, making sure he knewexactlywhat I meant by that.
“Yes,ma’am,” he said with more enthusiasm, his eyes flicking past me to the throne.
I moved out of the way and watched as Rip walked up the stairs and reached for his destiny.
Chapter Forty-Two
Rip
Iclenched my hand, warding off the tremors running through it. All my life, except for the past few months, my father had been the one to wield the Trident. It was still very muchhisweapon in my mind, despite knowing I must now take it up. My people were under attack. They needed me.
The Trident beckoned, all but sparkling in the light. It called to me.
This is your destiny.
Reaching the top step, I stared at it, the head taller than I was, even buried into the seat. A powerful weapon indeed.
The trumpets blew more prominently. The attack was intensifying, and all available dragons would be organizing for the defense of the Bastion. That was it, their main thrust.
And it was my duty to be at their forefront.
With a snarl, I reached out, wrapping my hand around the Trident’s shaft. Two things happened. First, it slid free of the stone with ease, as if it were free-floating. Second, power flowed through my body and infused my mind. I couldfeelthe water around me in a way I never had before. The billions of microscopic droplets in the air coursing through my body and Laurie’s. It was all there, cataloged and ready to respond if needed.
Out in the Bay of Summoning, I knew fourteen shifters guarded the opening, and another six walked in shallow water, hauling the birthing barges to shore. Innumerable creatures infested the water as well, most too small to see. Elsewhere I felt the dragons in the War Room and the town behind the walls as they rushed to their appointed places.
“My prince,” Laurie whispered from behind me in awe.
I turned, looking down at her. That felt wrong. Hurriedly, I descended the stairs, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. “My princess. I must go. I wish I could stay, but …” I hefted the Trident.
She nodded. “I understand. Come back to me, my love.”
“I will,” I said, kissing her fiercely and letting her lips linger against mine before tearing from the room.
“Sir!” someone shouted as I nearly bowled them over in my haste. “You’re back. You’re … my prince.”
I stiffened at the pride in their tone, unsure if I should be worthy of it.
