think it’s lovely to see those reformed young men swimming alongside the sloops, returning lost hats and toys.”
“Or beer bottles,” one of the other guests said.
The others laughed.
Yes, the warriors had returned quite a few things to the sailing boats.
“And,” Frederik sobered, “we have all lost a good friend to the tragedy of drowning. Perhaps these warriors will prevent such a sad loss from darkening our lives ever again.”
Ciran watched Dannika’s reaction, but the mention of her first soul mate did not cause her pain as it once had. She thanked the host sincerely for his kind words. Her soul glowed steadily.
And even though some of the guests had earlier looked at Ciran with concern, focusing on the tattoos crossing his cheeks and hands, they all smiled warmly at him now. Even the humans with no affinity to the water kindled a little glow in their dim chests.
Dannika had been right to attend this party.
She glowed and sparkled and connected with the other guests. Except for the senator, they glowed in response. Someday, she would turn the tide of public opinion and the United States would offer new visas to the mer. It would be from these small interactions. The connections Dannika made every day just being herself.
She was a wonder.
Sometimes, even now, he ached for her.
He woke in the night thinking she hadn’t become his. Or he had a dream that he was still in Atlantis having given up on wooing her. Or worse, that he had never escaped Undine, and remained silent as their king spouted hatred and lies.
But she always woke with him, turned, and linked their hands. And the glow in her chest was real, natural, and full of love.
His heart ached with love too.
After the dinner ended, the guests gathered in the den. Dannika made her farewells.
“You really must stay.” Frederik walked them to the door. “We haven’t seen you in so long, and with your dual marine-human lifestyle, who knows when we’ll see you again?”
“Oh, thank you. I feel so welcome.” She hugged Frederik, then linked her hands with Ciran’s. “But we have a date.”
Date? He didn’t remember that.
She smiled at him, her chest glowing, and he moved easily to her side. With a sparkling, secretive look like that, she captivated him. He looked forward to this date.
The senator followed them and harrumphed. “Your little PR story? About the violent murderers returning toy ducks to toddlers? That was cute. But let’s not forget that these warriors crave our women, and any day now, they’re going to flip a switch. Instead of returning a toy duck, they’re going to drag Mommy and Little Sister into the deep. That’s why they are never setting one flipper in my country.” He glared at Ciran. “Don’t get comfortable.”
Ciran tugged his too-tight collar. “I will not.”
“Senator.” Dannika unbuttoned Ciran’s top button and the strangling sensation eased. “You misunderstand.”
“No, you’re the one who misunderstands. I’ll stake my career on never letting them touch my vulnerable, impressionable daughter.”
“I meant about us needing to enter the United States.” She smoothed Ciran’s collar. “The only mer who want to enter the country already partnered with US citizens. They of course want to meet their wife’s family and introduce their children. But the rest?”
She shook her head and ticked off their alternate options on one hand.
“We have almost built our mid-Atlantic platform. The mer have multiple abandoned sacred islands. And other countries are very interested in the mer’s Sea Opals and untapped ocean resources. If the US doesn’t want to partner with the mer, that is your choice. But countries who do will reap the benefits.”
He ignored Dannika and raised a warning finger at Ciran. “You’ll never control my country like you control the water. Your light tricks don’t work in the air. You might stop our depth charges with one of your shields, but on land, your game is over.”
Ciran? Controlling light and shields? He laughed out loud.
The senator’s brows rose in surprise.
Dannika patted his shoulder, suppressing her smile.
“I do not know how you rule the land,” Ciran gasped between chuckles. “But warriors do not have these powers.”
“That’s what I’m saying. On land, you’re helpless. Don’t forget it.”
“And under the ocean, warriors do not channel the Life Tree. We support and amplify the ones who do: our queens.”
“Who come from the surface.” Dannika shook her head at the senator. “And if you don’t want US citizens to partner with warriors and control these amazing powers, so be it.”
He frowned darkly. “This is another