Page 5 of In Violent Waves

The taste of a human heart was second to none. Something about the life force in their blood that sates the cruel loneliness that dwells within each mermaid. And the gratification of supplying more magic to their realm, specifically to the fertility magic that had dwindled.

Magic in general had diminished. There were tales of mighty mermen that could sink ships with a wave of their hand centuries ago. Now, only mermaids retained any semblance of magic, but it was dull in comparison to what it had been. Ranging from foretelling better fishing grounds, bewitching small items, or the gift of song.

Marina slowed, sidling up beside Lyra. “The tide will run crimson this night.”

“I suppose it will.” Lyra flashed a semblance of a smile to Marina.

She was unusual for a mermaid. Probably because her father was doting. Marina couldn’t do anything wrong, even if she tried, which is probably why she enjoyed Lyra’s antics so much. Marina had nothing to fear.

“Do you think the humans who butchered your mother are still alive?”

Her question brought Lyra up short.

A flash of a kind smile sprang to her mind, and nausea took hold. She never knew her mother.

The foolish woman had begged and pleaded with King Auris to spare their daughter from his plans. He had her bound and dragged to shore. Mermaids weren’t allowed to disobey their husbands.

Her mother’s fate was unknown. But if Lyra knew anything about the humans from the books she had read, then it was not hard to imagine her tail as a trophy on a wall somewhere.

Lyra choked on a snarl at the thought. “Doubt it.”

Marina glanced sidelong at her. “At least no one speaks of her. That would be distressing.”

Seraphina interrupted, “Coral’s older sister said that we should go to Briton instead of Danes. They’re a bit larger, and their diet makes the heart less appetizing.”

“Fine. That’s fine,” Lyra replied, placing Seraphina between her and Marina.

Seraphina’s family had fallen out of favor, and thus her father had more to concern himself with than his daughter's whereabouts. It was obvious he rarely thought of her at all, which was apparent in Seraphina’s desire for attention at all times. But Lyra didn’t mind, especially when it took the attention off her.

And Lyra didn’t know if she could stomach any more questions about her parentage from Marina.

She always seemed to ask pointed questions, the questions that got her thinking. Itching with curiosity and the desire to change things that were out of her control.

Desire strangles you slowly in a world designed to play you.

Lyra raged against the idea that all she had to offer the world was her womb. She was smart, exceedingly so, and once had dreams. Dreams of making her own way, her own decisions. And those decisions had nothing to do with how many children sheshould bear. But the practicality of achieving those dreams had snuffed them out.

It simply wasn’t possible without using her magic—magic that would only make the suffering worse—and so she killed the very idea of them.

Even now, the ceremony for mermaids and how they increased the magic of the kingdom was guided and controlled by a male.

A lone guard led the procession from Atlantis to the fork between the two landings the maidens could choose from: Briton or Dane. From there, they were on their own.

The guard’s orange tail was a beacon guiding them through the depths. The light from the surface was gone. Only the bioluminescence and their keen eyes allowed them to see.

At the fork, Lyra hesitated.

Her father’s voice echoed through her mind: stick to the two paths. But that just wouldn’t do.

How could she follow directions from a male who only wanted to control her for his gain?

The guard continued, leading the larger group of mermaids down the Briton path. There were two discernible paths. One to the left, to Briton, and the other to the right, to Dane.

But straight ahead, through the darkened kelp forest, were the faint lines of another path. Something about that choice seemed like the first in a long line of decisions that would lead Lyra to her destiny.

Whether she was ready for it or not, it was coming.

“Which path are we taking?” Marina asked, though she knew the answer already.