"A secret?" Nimue repeated, her violet eyes narrowing slightly as she touched the intricate braids of her new crown.
"That depends on the secret, Little Landwalker. I do not plot against my own blood."
"It’s not a plot," Roxy said quickly, keeping her voice low.
She glanced nervously at the water wall, terrified that Caspian might materialize at any mont. "It’s very important. I need you to send a ssage to the surface."
Nimue froze. Her hand dropped from her hair. "The Surface? To the Beast Kings?"
"Yes," Roxy pleaded, leaning closer. "Caspian won’t let go. He thinks he’s saving , but my family thinks I’m dead. My babies think their mother abandoned them."
Nimue hesitated. She shifted on the coral chair, her tail twitching uneasily. "My brother is... possessive. If he finds out I aided in your escape, he will not just bite my tail. He will exile from the Garden. The Trench is cold when you have no nest."
"He won’t know," Roxy insisted. "And I am not going anywhere. It’s just a letter. A proof of life."
Nimue looked unconvinced. Loyalty to blood ran deep in the abyss, almost as deep as the fear of a stronger predator. And Caspian, for all his quirks, was an SS-Tier monster.
Roxy played her ace.
"If you do this," Roxy whispered, grabbing Nimue’s cold hand, "my mates will owe you. And they are Kings, Nimue. They have access to the Surface markets. Imagine... crates of this."
She tapped the bottle of conditioner.
"Imagine oils that sll like roses. Silks that shimr like the moon but feel soft as water. Jewelry made of tals you’ve never seen."
Roxy looked at the rmaid’s widening eyes.
"If you deliver this ssage," Roxy promised, "I will tell them to give you a reward fit for a Goddess. You’ll be the envy of every female in the ocean."
Vanity, as it turned out, was a stronger force than fear.
Nimue bit her dark blue lip. She looked at her reflection, at the regal, glossy hair that made her feel powerful. Then she imagined slling like wild orchids forever.
"The Surface Kings possess great wealth..." Nimue mused. A slow, greedy smile spread across her face. "Very well. Write your words. But be quick. I hear the echo of my brother’s sonar. He is close."
Roxy pulled a sheet of waterproof paper, along with a black charcoal stick, from her inventory.
Roxy placed the paper on the flat stone table. Her hand shook. She had so much to say and so little space.
She pressed the charcoal to the page. She wrote in the beast language.
To my hubbies!
I am alive. I am deep underwater but safe in an air pocket.
ZAREK! Do not go into rage and destroy the princess; she is my only chance of getting back to you! And don’t hurt others just because you are too angry.
KAELEN, Hold the pack together. Feed Tanith the formula in the blue crates. Kiss the triplets and Drax for .
SYRIS, Watch Tanith’s scales. Check her temperature. Use the logic I taught you.
TORIAN, Watch Ren. Do not let the Fox drown himself in guilt. Keep him eating.
To all of you: The bearer of this note is Nimue. She is an ally. DO NOT ATTACK HER. Give her the finest gifts from the store, perfus, combs, silks, at and spices, and so of my clothes and essentials. Treat her like a Queen, or I will never forgive you.
I am finding a way ho. Do not be reckless. Be good boys.
Love, Roxy.
Roxy rolled the paper up tightly and tied it with a strip of leather.
"Here," she said, shoving the scroll into Nimue’s hands. "You will et any of them by the river looking for , just hand it to them."
Nimue took the scroll. She tucked it deep into the sash of kelp wrapped around her waist, hiding it against her pale skin.
Roxy jumped. "He’s here."
"Calm yourself," Nimue ordered, standing up and smoothing her scales. "If you sll of fear, he will hunt for the cause."
The water wall rippled violently.
Caspian shot into the cave, his chest heaving, his bone spear gripped tightly in his hand. On the other hand, there were a lot of fish. When he laid his sights on Roxy, it crinkled with warmth.
Roxy felt goosebumps snake her whole body as she quickly looked away.
He paused. His gills flared.
He sniffed the air.
The cave didn’t sll like garlic anymore. It slled overwhelmingly of vanilla, orchids, and sweet, synthetic flowers.
Caspian frowned, slithering forward. He looked at Roxy, then at Nimue.
"What is this scent?" Caspian demanded, his voice low and suspicious.
He moved toward Nimue, leaning in to inspect her.
"It is Surface Magic, brother," Nimue said smoothly, not backing down an inch.
She turned her head, flipping her long, glossy, braided hair over her shoulder. The movent released a fresh wave of the conditioner’s scent.
"Look," Nimue commanded, pointing to her hair. "The Little Witch fixed my mane. It no longer tangles."
Caspian stopped. He blinked, staring at his sister.
He had never seen Nimue look like this. Usually, she was a terrifying, disheveled force of nature. Now, she looked composed. Sleek. The intricate crown of braids gave her a nobility that matched his own.
"Your hair..." Caspian murmured, reaching out to touch a glossy strand. His finger slid off it effortlessly. "It is... smooth."
"It is perfection," Nimue corrected, swatting his hand away. "She calls it ’Hygiene.’ You should try it. You sll like dead squid."
Caspian looked offended, sniffing his own arm. "I sll of power!"
"You sll like bait," Nimue deadpanned.
She turned to Roxy, offering a small, conspiratorial wink that Caspian couldn’t see.
"I leave you now, brother," Nimue announced, gliding toward the exit. "I must show the other females my new crown. They will die of envy."
"Wait," Caspian called out to her, "You leave? Are you done playing with the little land walker?"
"The pet is boring," Nimue lied effortlessly. "All it does is cook and braid. I have better things to do than watch you stare at it."
She paused at the water wall. She looked back at Roxy, her hand resting over the sash where the letter was hidden. A silent promise passed between them.
Then, she looked at Caspian, who was already moving to coil his tail around Roxy, reclaiming his prize.
Nimue smirked. A wicked, playful glint lit up her violet eyes.
"Good luck with your little landwalker, brother," Nimue called out, her voice dripping with amusent. "Have fun mating with her!"
With a flick of her powerful tail, she vanished into the black water, leaving Roxy dumbfounded and Caspian looking very, very interested in the suggestion.
Mate with who?!
Caspian turned to look at her.
Oh no, you don’t!
User Comments
0 comments from readers