Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 128087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“I am Aquor Marinus, King of the Merfolk, and beside me is my lovely queen, Seira. We are rulers of the Waters of Helios. Our domain stretches farther than even your eyes can see, your grace.”
“We are humbled to stand in the presence of the tribrid and our titan’s prophesized love.” The woman smiled, showing sparkling white teeth. “The ripple effects of his full heart and nourished core have radiated for hundreds of miles.”
Lazaar was still speechless.
“Our young ones can be pests sometimes, but I supposed they could not resist.” The man’s scales gleamed like thousands of tiny diamonds. “And neither could any of us, your grace.”
Lazaar glanced around and noticed he’d drawn quite a crowd of different breeds and ages of merfolk.
Their graceful elegance was almost hypnotic.
Some were deep sea-green, some a sun-gold color with long flowing hair moving along the gentle current.
There were beautiful mermaids with iridescent pearls across their shoulders and older males with glowing scales not only on their tails but on their chests and backs.
“My gods.” Lazaar returned the respectful gesture to the king.
“Zepharali never told me that you were in here.”
“We don’t bother our lord when he’s swimming. It’s his reflection time, and he likes to be alone.”
Lazaar nodded.
“And he probably wanted you to discover us on your own.”
I knew you’d be pleasantly surprised to see them, my love. Enjoy. I will return to you soon.
Lazaar was all smiles now. “I want to jump in there with you and enjoy the water as my beloved did.”
“You are more than welcome, your grace. We’d be honored.”
Lazaar sighed. “Maybe one day. My beloved promises to teach me how to swim soon, and the moment he does, I will search for you.”
The king and his wife exchanged knowing expressions before Aquor asked, “If you’d like, lord. We’d be delighted to teach you ourselves.”
“We are kind of experts at it if you trust us.” His queen had a serene smile, her aura turning a beautiful lavender.
“We’re also really good at playing games,” a young one piped up from behind the queen.
Lazaar didn’t have to think about it long.
Aquor held out his arms, his huge biceps flexing within their gold cuffs, and Lazaar leapt off his island into the warm water to the sounds of elated amusement from the merfolk.
Zepharali
Zepharali was upset about the meeting he’d had with his council in the war room. Every time he went, it was more bad news. More warnings of the threat to Lazaar.
He wanted to see his heart, needed him in his arms where he’d always be safe.
“Father, I know you’re worried, and I know the powers of the vampire-mage make you uneasy.”
Dorema kept pace beside him as he returned to the ocean, where he could feel Lazaar having the time of his life.
“If she’s powerful enough to command an army of the dead, I fear not only for Lazaar but for my daughters and people as well.”
“We will continue to convene. I know time is of the essence, lord. We will not stop until we have a solution and a solid defense.”
“Lord,” Aoide said from his left, “I think it best to alert your brothers of our impending danger so they’re prepared as well if the plan is to include them in battle.”
“Gods’ help, I don’t want it to come to that, Aoide.” Zepharali calmed himself, not wanting Lazaar to feel his distress.
“Father, go to your prince. Calm your mind. We will see you both in the grand hall this eve.” His titaness daughter, who headed up Scáthanna’s Situational Evaluation Unit, veered in the other direction, leaving him with only his personal detail.
“What in unholy Hades!”
Zepharali frowned as he watched his mermen friend, Reif, throw his lover high into the air, dodging the small fireballs Lazaar hurled his way before he dove back into the water.
The waters churned as if a hurricane was brewing.
A second later, Lazaar was thrown out of the water again by one of the mermaid guards—even they were acting insane—and took his turn at evading the rapid fireballs striking the water like bolts of lightning.
Lazaar’s rambunctious laughter every time he broke the surface made it impossible for Zepharali to be mad.
Goodness, even Myst was getting in on the fun, plucking the merchildren from the water and soaring them into the sky while they laughed like crazed zeedyflies.
Zepharali ignored his detail chuckling behind him.
“Well, he’s a fast learner. Now you don’t have to teach him how to swim anymore,” one of his daughters snickered.
“Yeah, but I kind of wanted to,” he huffed.
“I’m sure there’s plenty more firsts you can teach him, Father. Damn, he’s badass with those fireballs.”
Zepharali didn’t answer.
He clocked the next time Lazaar was thrown into the air and shot across the distance and caught him in his arms before he could hit the water again.
“Beloved!” He laughed, holding him tight around his neck. “I knew you were close.”