Her shoulders rose. “Well, you know.”

I thought back to Matros and our marathon sessions. “Yeah, I do.”

“Well, he gave me a condom, and I used it, but it wasn’t one of his…”

My expression fell. “No...”

She nodded. “It was one of those you poked. Hell, I don’t know why I kept them. Evidence maybe? Just a reminder? Trophy of some kind? I stuffed them in a drawer. I knew to never use them. Even switched brands just to be safe. It never occurred to me that he would look in there.”

My heart thumped in my chest and I fought nausea that wasn’t morning sickness. “Becky... I’m uh, sorry?”

Her head shook fast and there was a smile. “Don’t be.” She pulled back, and I saw the littlest ‘baby bump’ on her formerly flat stomach. “Funny... we always tried to fuck each other over and now we did.” The smile stayed on her face as she described how happy George was and how she would still stay in college. After she finished, she took a deep breath. “I’d love for them to see their uncle Peter... and maybe their cousin?”

I brushed my hand down my stomach in instinct. The first seed took, and there would be more. Maybe another one by the time she and Pa came.

I smiled wide until my face almost hurt. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

We spoke in unison as brother and sister. “Guess everything worked out for the best.”

***

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Three

AFTERWARD

FUATH

I won. All the oceans belong to me. The Ryba king.

I swam up toward the shimmery flecks of light and broke through the waves with a laugh. After an hour of muted hearing beneath the blue waves, the effect was almost deafening as was the brightness. I squinted yet looked up into the sun.

My sun. All mine.

The air was a far cry from what I was used to. It shouldn’t be that different, but it was. Familiar but with changes… most importantly no Volardi.

I picked an island at random and swam, faster than I ever have in my life until the sand danced under the bottom of my feet. Waves went around my ankles, and I stood before the white sand. My hands went out, and I let the sun bake my skin while ocean water dripped off. More waves pounded the back of my legs, and I smiled.

It’s mine. I rule you all!

There was nothing special about this island. There were thousands all over the planet and maybe one day I would visit them all. The Volardi didn’t allow us to go on their islands. They created them, and it was theirs in their mind.

Now there was nobody to tell me otherwise. This Ryba could enjoy it and do whatever he wanted to it.

I am king. I can do whatever I desire.