A derisive sound escaped her mouth. “They were a waste of power. Their bloodlines needed a stronger sovereign. You and I were always made to rule the sea together. We are the rightful leaders, and I am the only queen.” She leaned back onto her watery throne, and the molded sides hugged her.

“No. Poseidon rules the sea. And you are a mistake,” Rylander deadpanned.

Calliope, who had been awful quiet, stepped forward with an exasperated, “Enough.” She waved her hand. “I will not allow you to speak to your sister this way.”

The stoic mask Rylander had worn into the throne pool cracked. His hand released mine as he balled them into fists. “I guess the last fourteen years have been kind to you in the ivory castle. It would seem you’ve forgotten your place in this world or at least your responsibility to it.” His teeth ground.

Calliope crossed her arms. “Do not mistake my position as one of compliance.”

Rylander tilted his head, but he never had the chance to counter. The bone doors behind us flung open, and the twenty guards we’d left behind in the glen came barreling in, out of breath.

“Queen, the Emperor has escaped with his pet, and they are—” Succo noticed her quarry standing before her. She growled and slammed her palms against Rylander’s back, sending him flying forward into the pool. His quiver bobbed at his back. The sea monster ran and dove in after him with an enormous splash. Bubbles rose and popped as they sank deeper, shouting and growling as they tussled under the surface.

A string of curses and snarls slipped through the queen’s lips. She held up her hand, halting the other siren guards’ advance. “Do not engage.” She balanced on her tail in the water. “I’m interested to see who wins. Let’s watch, shall we?”

Aghast, I scoffed at her in disgust. This was all a game to her. The sea, the glen, the castle, now the pool.

Taking a deep breath, I plunged into the water, following the tangled bodies below. Rylander had the siren by the neck. She clawed at his face. Thankfully, her poison did nothing in the cuts on his cheek. Her legs wrapped around his mid-section, and although I knew intimacy had no part in it, my possessive heart roared all the same.