Page 68 of A Sea So Cruel
There was still not a word spoken between anyone in their group as they watched the servants go back and forth carrying a vast array of expensive items from the manor.
Finally, Duke Tiernan emerged from the main entryway and approached Linnea, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. Halsten stepped forward to be next to her because he trusted no one associated with this property anymore.
“It’s all yours.” The duke grinned, then hopped into the nearest carriage and disappeared.
In a flash, Linnea bolted for the front door. Halsten ran in after her, unsure what she was going to do. She ran through the manor with determination and ended in the sitting room where her mother was sobbing on the sofa.
Halsten saw it then, the hook where her mother must have restrained Linnea’s chains to the grand fireplace all those years ago. It was covered up by hanging an ash shovel, but Halsten knew what it was immediately.
Linnea marched over to the fireplace and placed the end of the ash broom into the flames.
“What are you doing?” Greer asked, barely audible.
The expression on Linnea’s face was less of a full-toothed smile and more of a snarl. “What’s wrong, dear? I thought you were cold.”
She picked up the flaming ash broom and calmly walked to the curtain nearest to her, resting the flames on the fabric.
“No!” her mother shouted.
But Linnea didn’t stop there. She dragged the flaming broom over the armchairs and rug. The smoke inhalation started to sting Halsten’s lungs, but he knew Linnea needed a few more minutes. Her mother sat on the sofa in disbelief.
Linnea slowly approached her mother, gently laying the flaming broom on the bottom of her dress skirts. Greer shrieked, but her dress was already going up in flames with her in it.
The smoke was getting too thick now, and the wallpaper was starting to catch and curl. The entire sitting room would be engulfed in flames soon, and the rest of the manor quickly after.
Halsten grabbed Linnea by the bicep and pulled her. She yanked out of his grip, but then grabbed his hand, and they ran out of the burning manor together, fingers interlocked.
When they got outside, Gyrial, Liva, and Niklas were on their horses, the other two horses packed and saddled, awaiting their riders. Halsten hoisted Linnea up onto her horse then jumped onto his as they took off down the path back to the main road.
Linnea looked over her shoulder at the smoke billowing from the open front door and laughed, cheering and whooping as her horse ran at top speed.
“Linnea, I was wrong!” Halsten shouted over the sounds of the wind and galloping hooves. “You’re not a little flame. You’re a gods-damned wildfire!”
Chapter 38
Kaid didn’t know what he expected his mother to claim was the war-ending weapon, but he never expected it to be a hair comb.
The siren empress had signed fervently back and forth with Asta regarding the missing siren antique. Their pace was so fast that Kaid hardly had time to interpret a sentence before they were already three ahead of him.
Asta summed up their conversation—the sirens have always believed that the fae stole the trident in an attempt to restore peace between the seafolk species. To a degree, the fae had always felt responsible for the ongoing feud betweenmerfolk species since they directly contributed to creating the sirens. However, on a more selfish perspective, they also likely concealed the trident to prevent the sea war from progressing onto land.
Since the comb and mirror had not been recovered in thousands of years, Queen Arielle speculated that the fae had also hidden them in their peace efforts. However, from the selkie reports, there were not even whispered discussions regarding the comb and mirror in fae culture. The items were truly a mystery.
Naturally—and to no surprise to Kaid—Asta saw this as a challenge. She wanted to be the one to return those items to their rightful owners, and he was sure she would succeed in that. Asta was not the type to let anything get in the way of what she wanted.
The next morning, Asta and Kaid prepared to return to Orntali and begin their search. Kaid had his first nights sleep in his true home and he had never slept better. Between the soft glow of the pearlescent walls and gentle sway of the sea sponge bed, mixed with the exhaustion of being abducted for the last few days and also the emotional toll of finally meeting his mother, it was no surprise that Kaid had drifted off easily. Amazingly enough, he started to grow accustomed to the cuff and chain on his arm. They felt like an extension of himself and he no longer felt their presence when he rested.
Asta had slept in the guest suite across the hall and as much as Kaid wanted to protest it, he hadn’t had the energy at the time. Now, though, he wished he had. Their only night spent together thus far was spent in pain within a cold, damp cave andKaid desperately wanted to rectify that. He supposed he would have the rest of his life to do so, but he did not want to waste any more time spent without Asta.
His blonde princess knew how to command a room when she was human, but now that Kaid had seen her siren form, nothing could top that. She wore her fin as if she’d been born with it and moved underwater with such grace. Seeing her as a mythical creature felt so natural that it was odd to think she was originally human.
However, it was time to return to land and complete their mission. Asta packed up her bag and prepared Thurs for the venture. Luckily, the other kelpies were healed from their assistance in Kaid’s escape so their herd was full once more.
Kaid hugged his mother farewell and he knew exactly what she had meant when she signed, “See you soon,” meaning she would accept no other outcome than Kaid returning to Naltania.
Asta pulled herself up onto Thurs while Kaid accepted the seat offered to him by another kelpie. He knew how important it was that the kelpie had offered him a ride, as the elusive sea horses did not like to be touched or tamed. The reality that Asta had managed to tame Thurs—in the loosest definition of the word—was a testament to her tenacity.
“Your Highness!” Kaid heard a male’s voice behind him. “Wait!”
