Captain Markus Traho, commander of the death riders and a merman who served both Vallerio and the terragogg Rafe Mfeme, had killed Mahdi’s parents—on her father’s orders—and had imprisoned Mahdi. Her father hadn’t trusted him. Mahdi’s parents had been staunchly loyal to Isabella, and Mahdi himself was rumored to be a serious partyboy and loyal to no one. Vallerio wanted someone better for his daughter. But Lucia, besotted, had begged for his life and her father had relented.
“I can’t say no to you, Lucia,” Vallerio had said. “I’ll spare his life, but before any Promising ceremony occurs, Mahdi must prove his loyalty.”
And he had. By raiding rebel safe houses. By rounding up those unloyal to her. By finding an invaluable object for Traho—a necklace with a blue, tear-shaped diamond in it that Traho had immediately delivered to Mfeme. Why Mfeme wanted it, Lucia didn’t know. Nor did she care. All that mattered to her was that Mahdi convinced her father. And eventually, he had.
“I was wrong, Lucia. And, for once, I’m glad about it,” Vallerio had said a few weeks ago. “My opinion of the boy has changed considerably.”
Lucia had been pleased to hear that—she’d needed her father’s consent for the Promising—but even with it, and even with the Promising behind her, there was still an obstacle to her happiness. There was one whose opinion was far more important to her than her father’s, her mother’s, or any friend’s. This one had helped her snare Mahdi—with songspells, potions, and enchantments. And this one was still skeptical.
“Be careful, child,” she’d warned. “The boy professed to be in love with the last principessa, and now he says he’s in love with you. It seems he sells his heart to the highest bidder. You may have to pay a very high price for it.”
Those words had tortured Lucia. She told herself they weren’t true. They couldn’t be. Mahdi had Promised himself to her, hadn’t he? He gave her expensive gifts. He threw parties celebrating their betrothal. His whispered words made her catch her breath—and his kisses took it away completely.
And yet, she was never entirely sure.
Is he only pretending? she wondered now, her eyes darkening as quickly as her mood had. Or does he really love me?
“Mahdi…” she said as he returned to their table and sat down next to her.
“What is it, Luce? You look upset. Didn’t you like the lightworks?”
“I loved them. I really did.”
“Then what’s wrong?” he asked, taking her hand.
“Let’s move our wedding day up. I don’t want to wait anymore,” Lucia said in a rush.
Mahdi looked surprised. “There’s nothing I’d like more, but we can’t.”
Lucia’s eyes flashed. “Why not?” she demanded.
Mahdi cupped her face with his hands. “I don’t want to begin our life together until our realms are secure. It’s too dangerous. You remember the invasion of Cerulea, and how its people suffered. We all do.”
Lucia nodded. She remembered it well. Her father had ordered his assassins to kill Regina Isabella, Principe Bastiaan, and many more. But that was a secret, and it had to stay that way.
“Isabella was killed because she was Miromara’s regina. Now you’re the regina, and it would kill me if anything ever happened to you. You know that, don’t you?” Mahdi asked, his beautiful brown eyes searching hers.
Lucia’s angry expression softened. He’s always so protective of me, she thought. Like a true love would be.
“Our day will come. Soon,” he said, his hands still cradling her face. “Your father, Traho, me…we’re getting closer to the Black Fins all the time. We’ll find them soon and put them down like the dogfish they are. Then we’ll be married, Luce, and no one will be happier or prouder on that day than me.”
He kissed her then, and the words that the other one had spoken, the words that tormented Lucia, faded from her mind. Mahdi was hers and hers alone. She saw that in his eyes, heard it in his words, and felt it in his touch.
“Excuse me, Your Graces,” a voice said, low and harsh.
Lucia knew who it belonged to—Traho. She turned away from Mahdi and saw that he was at her father’s side. He’d swum into the Grand Hall quietly. A compactly built merman with closely cropped brown hair and a cruel face, he was not known for attending parties. Lucia sensed that his sudden appearance at this one did not bode well.
“What is it?” Vallerio asked tersely.
“There’s been a break-in. The treasury vaults were breached,” Traho replied, bending low so that only Vallerio, Portia, Lucia, and Mahdi could hear him.
“What?” Vallerio said, crashing his fist down on the table. “How did this happen?”
“An old valve was opened. Lava was released. It destroyed one of the vault’s walls. We’re trying to contain the intruders right now, but they’re fighting hard.”
“How much treasure was taken?” Portia demanded.
“A substantial amount.”
Vallerio cursed. “Black Fins?” he asked.
“We think so, sir.”
“It’s her, damn her. Serafina,” Vallerio growled.
Lucia’s eyes widened. “Serafina? But how?”