Or at least partially right. I wasn’t entirely confident what would happen if I died, but I was positive Triton could wipe out the selkies if he wanted to. And if they killed me, he would most definitely want to.

“Almost half of us used to be human. We don’t have the same grudge as the rest of them. We would rather work with you instead of risking our families’ lives,” I said. “Even the pureblooded merrae are tired of war, Eila. They’re just trying to recover.”

I saw it in her eyes, the moment she decided I was right.

Something flickered there—before a massive tentacle of water ripped her off of me, throwing her back.

Triton’s arms were on my waist a heartbeat later, hauling me to my feet.

seventeen

ARIA

Water ran over my skin, and I knew Triton was using it to check me for any sign of injury. I was only a little bruised, so he wasn’t going to find anything. My nosebleed was from overexertion, not an actual wound.

“Don’t hurt her,” I said quickly.

He adjusted my crown to center it on my head, fury burning in his eyes. “She could’ve killed you.”

“I know. But you can’t kill her.”

“Like hell I can’t.”

I grabbed his face and looked him square in the eyes. “You said I’m the queen, Triton. Do you trust me?”

His jaw clenched.

After a long moment, he finally jerked his head in a nod.

When I turned around, his hands went to my waist like they had that first day I was with him. He was trying to protect me again, and trying not to stifle me even though stifling was what came naturally.

I found the selkies’ leader trapped off the sand, in that tube of water Triton had wrapped around her. She was held entirely immobile, with only her head sticking out.

She didn’t look pissed anymore.

She looked scared.

“You have two options right now, Eila,” Triton said, his voice low but controlled. “You can tell me what pushed you to do this, or I can throw you and the rest of your people in my castle’s prison, leaving your islands entirely unprotected. I already have all of you bound with magic, so it would hardly take any effort at all.”

Genuine fear flashed in her eyes.

Something had to have been seriously wrong with the selkies.

Eila let out a harsh breath. “Without so many merrae in the sea, the monsters in the depths have grown braver. They hunt our children for sport. Last year alone, we lost over two dozen to them.”

Shit.

Holy shit.

My stomach turned.

“Why the fuck didn’t you ask for help sooner?” he snarled.

“Your people hate us. We would be better off with half of the throne’s magic so we can protect ourselves,” Eila growled.