Page 126 of Cruel Tides

“Oh, but it is.” Queen Sagari’s crown knocked around as she threw her head back to laugh. “Anything is possible with magic, child. Up until now, the merfolk have treated us as a threat. Pushed us down deeper into the sea’s forgotten hollows. For centuries, we’ve remained hidden in the cramped darkness while the merfolk frolic in the open waters. Now, once we have a cure, that will change.”

Her resolve was unwavering, as if she had complete faith in her prediction. But would the merfolk truly be grateful?

Yeah—not likely.

The queen tutted. “You could not imagine how degrading it is, being treated as if you are not meant to live in the very ocean you were born into.”

A wave of emotion caused my throat to constrict, but I stayed silent.

“Consider yourself lucky for not having to endure the anguish that we cecaelia face every day,” she continued, a gleam in the depths of her emerald eyes. “You, my dear, shall bring an end to this blight. And once it’s cured, there will be no more hatred, no more fear. Only equality between merfolk and cecaelia.”

My head was spinning—no, she couldn’t be right. “You make it sound so simple, but I—I don’t have magic. I can’t be the cure,” I said, but her face lit up like I’d already agreed to the entire scheme.

“You will barely have to do anything. Allow us to examine you, your innate abilities. Let us discover that special something that makes you so resistant to the blight. Then, we will simply replicate it and hand the spell over to the kingdoms. We won’t take all the credit, of course,” she said with a wry grin. “I’m certain the merfolk will be quite pleased with your valuable contribution. Maybe even revere you as a hero. A real savior. How exciting.”

Revere me as ahero?

Queen Sagari knew little about the nature of merfolk, it seemed. King Eamon was more likely to imprison me than he was to praise me, even if I broke the curse for his entire kingdom. “So, the reason you abducted me, brought me all the way here, was to use me to break the curse?”

Now why did this situation seem familiar?

“Necessary, I assure you. As I said, the merfolk are unaware of the business we conduct here on this charming little island.” She snapped her fingers. “Now that you’ve heard my proposal, I shall give you time to think it over. My puppet will return you to your dear companions. Don’t forget to watch what you say, dear, or the magic will do it for you.” She dismissed me with a wave of her long fingernails.

“Oh. And puppet,” she called. “Ensure our guest has the means to contact us if she decides to take advantage of this fabulous opportunity.”

While I struggled to comprehend all that was happening, the sea wizard appeared next to me, leading me toward the exit with a gentle but firm hold.

“Wait—you’re giving me a choice?” I called back, noting the dark cloud of magic emanating from deep within her hair.

The queen shrugged, her regal posture relaxing as she ambled back to her corner hot tub. “I’m a busy woman. I have no interest in coercion; my time is too precious.” Her voice melted into a purr as she met up with the closest of her men.

I couldn’t believe it—she was really letting me go. Giving me a choice. The merfolk hadn’t granted me that luxury.

The sea wizard opened the doors and escorted me out, leaving the queen and her unusual office behind us.

The moment we were through the doors, he slipped something hard into my hand. Looking down, I found a small shell—a delicate abalone with a smooth, pearly cream finish—resting in my palm.

“Use it to contact us,” he said, clearing his throat to cover the lingering rasp in his voice. If cecaelia were anything like merfolk, it would take a day or two for his wound to fully heal.

The hot tub noises ceased once the doors closed, and already, the air felt easier to breathe in.

Doubt lingered as I turned the shell around in my hand. “To use? How?” It looked ordinary enough. Pretty, even. Curious, I held it up to my ear, wondering if maybe it worked as some sort of shell phone, when an impatient hand plucked it straight from my grip.

When I looked up, the sea wizard’s eyes were narrowed. “You crush it. When you’re ready to contact us,” he instructed, though I didn’t appreciate his condescending tone.

It was a freakingshell. How was I supposed to know how to use it?

He let out a frustrated sigh and loosened his tie. “And make sure you’re alone when you use it,” he added, undoing the top of his suit with angry jerks, as if it had been suffocating him.

“Crush the shell when I’m alone. Got it. You’ll take me back to the casino now, right?” I asked, holding a hand out for the shell. Not that it mattered—I had no intention of ever using it.

My eyes were drawn to the gash on his neck as he placed the pearly shell back into my hand. Now that the top of his suit was undone, I could see the full extent of his wound.

Damn. How was he still standing?

“It needs pressure,” I said, opening my bag to slip the dainty shell inside it.

I hadn’t thought it possible for him to look any more irritated with me, but he managed. “Pressure is normally what one uses to crush things, yes,” he said with a scowl. “I polished it thin. Trust me, it won’t take much.”

---