Page 52 of In Rising Tides

Wilder drew a breath and shook his head, returning his attention to the High King.

“Your plans have failed. Lyra has been seized by the sea before we could find a way to fulfill the bargain she made with you. Drystan intends to force her into marriage. I don’t care what you have done to me. I am only here to marshal our forces and bring her back.”

Queen Aine covered her mouth with her hands to keep from crying out.

The murmurings grew louder as discord took hold. Wilder’s revelations were bringing instability to the court.

The King’s actions and Wilder’s request could tear even the strongest alliances apart.

King Oberon chuckled. “Request denied.” He waved his hand in dismissal. “Return to the feast!” He ordered the room in an attempt to assuage the conflict.

No one obeyed.

Wilder took a small step forward. He felt, rather than saw, movement around the throne room.

Were people fleeing?

Readying for battle?

Or drawing closer to see the drama unfolding?

“I was not asking,” he said, brushing a hand against the pommel of his sword. “She will die there, and the bargain you forced her into will die with her.”

Gasps swelled through the crowd.

Lyra’s bargain had been unknown to all except a handful of elves.

King Oberon glared at him, his lip pulling back over his teeth. “I will not bleed our people for your infatuation.” The air grew warm near the dais as King Oberon’s frustration seeped into the air. “Atlantis and the Wilds are bound by balance. War shatters it.”

“That balance is built on sacrifice.Hersacrifice,” Wilder snarled. “Thatyoubargained!”

King Oberon blinked. “She isexactlywhere she needs to be.” He gestured to all the nobility in the room. “But this obsession ends tonight. Is it companionship you desire?” Oberon raised a brow. “Pick anyone of the nobility to marry and be done with it.”

Fury speared through Wilder once more like a bolt of lightning from the crown of his head to the bottom of his feet.

“I loveher.”

A murmur rippled through the room.

Queen Aine retreated another step down the stairs until she was standing beside Wilder.

“A mermaid?” Oberon sneered. “Choose an elf. Choose your own kingdom!”

“There is no one,” Wilder replied. “But her.”

Oberon stood. “Then you are no son of mine.”

A dark shadow fell upon the room, but not one of silence. People shouted their objections.

The king couldn’t formally renounce a title without council approval. Such a thing was just not done.

It had come down to this.

Wilder would challenge his father for the throne. He would take what he needed—not what he wanted—for her.

“High King—” Wilder reached for his sword at the same time another voice split the air.

“Your Majesty!” Warick called from the other side of the throne room. The king’s attention swiveled to his brother. “A council must be convened to discuss your offense against our kingdom!”