Shattered by the Sea Lord - Starla Night Page 0,98
king’s jaw dropped. And then rage crunched his face.
How satisfying.
Ciran did what he should have done in the shallow reef long ago. He turned away from his enemies and raced toward Dannika with all his might.
“Warriors of Lusca,” the king snarled. “Annihilate the invaders.”
The Luscans who were still loyal to the king oriented on Ciran and charged.
Chapter Thirty-Four
A few moments earlier…
The journey across the sea had been amazing, and now they’d arrived.
“I can’t believe it.” Meg shook her head. “Can you guys? I mean, we never even asked directions.”
Dannika and the other women had swum intuitively toward where they sensed their soul mates. They might not have taken the most efficient currents, but when the barren seafloor finally gave away to coral spires and then a whole forest, they’d celebrated.
The city was also amazing.
The Life Tree floated like a white flower shooting up from the ocean floor. It had a long green stalk, a circular platform for the petals, and the tree itself was like a white stamen.
Much larger mer castles bobbed around it on their own stalks. The greenish bulbs glimmered with inner lights, but the Life Tree glowed the brightest of all.
“But that is definitely it. Huh. It’s a chandelier,” Meg said. “Floating upside down. Well, half a chandelier.”
Because the castles only radiated from one side. The city was situated on a huge canyon. From inside, a red mass rose, and tentacle twitched and squiggled. The unnatural motions set her stomach on edge.
“Is that the kraken?” Meg asked. “Ugh. It’s freakier than I imagined.”
“Don’t be unkind,” Angie said. “She can’t help what she is. Even if that display is a little, ah, unsettling.”
Most of the warriors clustered around the Life Tree. The closer they got, the larger the tree itself loomed. It was like a mighty, barren oak. Its white branches stretched for the sky, and masses of Sea Opals piled around its trunk.
And next to the kraken, it looked like a weed.
Hopefully, it would be as hardy.
“Well, we’re here.” Angie looked at Bex. “What next?”
Bex looked at Dannika.
Everyone looked at Dannika.
“We find Ciran. He always knows what to do.” Something drew her eye to a figure floating a little apart from the others. “Ciran!”
He beamed at her.
And then the elderly warrior floating by the Life Tree pointed his trident at Ciran. Oh, Dannika recognized the scar. It was the king.
Ciran bolted for them as if he’d heard the starting shot of a sprint.
A flock of warriors darted after him.
He had a good lead. Dannika probed herself for doubts, fears, worries—but they were gone. He looked healthy, strong, and pumped the water.
Meg eyed the warriors bearing down on them. “How many armies did Prince Ankena say attacked Lusca and failed?”
“Every army,” Bex said.
“Oh. Good.”
“But we’re going to succeed,” Dannika assured her.
“How do you know?” Meg asked.
“I can just feel it.” She opened her arms to accept Ciran into her shield.
He flew at her full-force.
One guard pulled his trident back and launched it at Ciran’s unguarded back.
She dropped the shield at the last moment.
Ciran tackled her and they rotated in the water.
The trident flew harmlessly over his shoulder.
She lifted the shield. Hers united with Angie’s and their potent bubble expanded outward. Ciran’s pursuers slammed into the white puffy shelter and flew backward, tumbling out of control. Their tridents bounced off it harmlessly.
Dannika hugged Ciran.
Her heart, her mind, her body filled with him. He was alive.
“You have done it.” He pressed urgent kisses to her jaw, her cheek, her lips all while vibrating tender thanks and appreciation. “You have found your full power.”
She had.
Energy flowed through her arms, lighting Dannika from within, wrapping around her with certainty. The certainty she’d craved from Ciran she now made all on her own.
“Okay, love birds, I hate to interrupt, but I’m on a timeline.” Meg rested her shoulder on Dannika’s and eyed Ciran. “Dannika said you always had a plan.”
“I do. And you have already executed your part flawlessly.”
Bong…ong…ng…g…
“The last mirror stones have broken. I…” He frowned. “If you are here, who rings the bell on Sanctuary?”
“Val.”
“Ah. Of course.” He blinked rapidly as though mentally recalculating and then focused on Angie. “Your power is shielding? Konomelu, Itime, and Nuno need it now. They were cut off, along with two other warriors, beneath the city. As soon as we reach the young fry, you will break off, descend to find them, and extend your shield.”
Angie pressed her fingertips together as though she’d heard a note she agreed with.