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Most of them are fine. About seven hundred or so escaped and are with me on an island in the South Pacific. The rest are living under his rule. I don’t know how many casualties there were, but early reports say not too many. It seems he wanted to keep them alive.
Kona spoke matter-of-factly, but I could hear the pain beneath the words. Another layer of guilt piled on top of all the rest I’d been feeling. Kona was one of the best fighters I knew. If he hadn’t been off fetching me from my little human fantasy world, he would have been there to fend off the Leviathan’s challenge.
I’m so sorry. It wasn’t adequate, but it was all I had to offer right now. When I was healed I would fight beside him, do anything I could to help him regain his throne. But for now, I could only voice those three pathetic words.
He laughed, and it was a bitter, weary sound. It brought tears to my eyes, but I blinked them back. I’d cried enough in the last few weeks to last me a lifetime; I wasn’t going to cry anymore. Not over things I couldn’t change, and not over the mess I’d made of everything. It was time to fix things instead of whining about how I wanted them to be.
You’re sorry? I was so blind that I led you back to Coral Straits like a lamb to slaughter and you’re sorry? Jesus, Tempest, look at you. If I’d just left you in La Jolla—His voice broke and he looked down, like he couldn’t bring himself to meet my eyes. That psychopath nearly killed you and I didn’t even know.
But he didn’t. I’ll be fine once I get to a doctor and have my hand set. The bruises will fade and—
Oh, I think we can do better than that.
I froze at the familiar voice, whirled behind me to see Zarek standing there. He was the most powerful healer in Kona’s clan and I’d met him twice before. Once when he helped heal my tail after a couple of Tiamat’s shark-men had attacked me, and once when Kona brought him to the hospital to heal Moku. He had saved my brother’s life, he and Kona, and that was something I would never forget or be able to repay.
Zarek! Heedless of my bruises, I launched myself at him. He caught me before I could do any damage to myself, folded me gently into his burly, tattooed arms.
I’ve missed you, Tempest. But I have to admit I was hoping to see you under better circumstances than this.
Me too, Zarek. The last time I had seen him, he’d been cleaning up Tiamat’s disastrous attack on Kona’s lands—the attack that had killed Kona’s parents and so many of his siblings. This wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t good either.
He sighed. Well, let’s get you to land somewhere so that I can see to all those injuries.
No need, chimed in Mahina. You can ride with us, heal her in here. She nodded toward the subbloon.
Of course, Kona said. But then what are you planning on doing?
I didn’t think much past finding you. I didn’t know about the Leviathan. Kona didn’t say anything, just nodded, which kind of threw me off course. I stumbled a little trying to get the rest out, even though I suddenly felt like I was crashing a party that I had no business even thinking of attending. So I guess if you don’t mind, maybe we could go where … I mean, we could come with you to the South Pacific. If there’s room on the island. And you want us.
I’ve always wanted you, Tempest. You know that.
I didn’t know how to answer without sounding like an idiot, so I didn’t say anything. When the silence got too awkward to bear, I turned to Zarek and said, I don’t feel very well. Do you think maybe we could try the whole healing thing now?
Of course. But I’d prefer to be above water when I do. I think some of your injuries would benefit from being treated in air instead.
I can do that! Mahina said. The subbloon is designed to be either air or water filled. Once I pressurize the cabin, it will be just like being on land.
I didn’t know that, I told her.
She smiled impishly at me, winked at Kona. There’re a lot of things you don’t know, Tempest. I don’t hold it against you.
She swam toward the subbloon and I started to follow her. But it had been a long day and I’d done a lot. I was exhausted, and the pain of swimming only made the exhaustion worse.
I got only about three strokes in before Kona scooped me into his arms and gently carried me across the ocean floor to where the subbloon waited.
Thank you, I told him.
Don’t be stupid. He nodded toward the subbloon. What is that anyway?
A subbloon.
A subwhat?
I giggled. Something Mahina and her father invented. The way it runs is a cross between a submarine and a hot air balloon, hence the name. Whatever it is, it’s pretty kick-ass. It goes from zero to a hundred in ten seconds.
Really? Kona’s eyes lit with interest. He had a thing for fast vehicles—cars, boats, it didn’t matter.
If you’re nice, I bet she’ll let you take it for a spin.
He smiled. I’m always nice.
And so modest too.
It’s hard for a king to be humble.
But important, I whispered.
Yes. Which is one of the many reasons I think you’ll be an amazing merQueen for Coral Straits.
Yeah, well, seeing as how my people pretty much threw their lot in with Sabyn, I doubt that’s something I’m going to have to worry about.
They made a mistake. Sabyn can be a persuasive bastard, and if you weren’t around to contradict him … Once we take care of him and the others, they’ll welcome you with open arms.
I thought we’d taken care of them months ago.
Kona handed me through the open hatch into Mahina’s waiting arms, then climbed up behind me. He barely glanced around the subbloon before grabbing the nearest chair and then reaching for me again. He settled me on his lap, searching for the position that would cause me the least amount of pain. I started to struggle—his hold was too familiar. Too possessive.
Relax, he told me on our private communication path. I’m not trying to score. I’m just taking care of you, like any friend would.
As long as you understand that’s all this is. Friendship … without benefits.
I got it. But his teeth were clenched, his jaw working back and forth. I felt bad for being so blunt, but just because I’d broken up with Mark didn’t mean I was planning to get back with him. It wouldn’t be right, or fair. To any of us.
I’m fine, I told him as he shifted so that he was touching as few of my bruises as he possibly could.
Yeah, you look great. He started to say more but was interrupted when Zarek climbed aboard carrying his medical bag.
This thing is pretty cool, the healer said.
You have no idea, Mahina told him as she closed and locked the hatch. Then, under our fascinated gazes, she flipped two switches—one that forced the water out of the ship and another that subsequently filled it with breathable air from the oxygen tanks.
“I’m impressed,” Kona told her.
She glanced at him from beneath her lashes. “You should be. ” They talked a little more, but I was too busy concentrating on switching to lungs and vocal cords after more than three weeks of gills and mental communication to pay much attention to what was said.
“Okay,” said Zarek. “Let’s get Tempest on a chair of her own and see what we’re dealing with. ”
“You can’t help her like this?” Kona asked with a frown.