Seaborne (19 page)
Authors: Katherine Irons
Tags: #Romance, #Paranormal, #Fantasy, #Chick-Lit, #Mythology
“Queeny!” Danu declared. “Because that’s the bestest name of all!”
An hour later, after being escorted out of the temple through a private passageway, Queen Korinna and Danu were tucked into a curtained conch-style conveyance drawn by dolphins. They reached a private family entrance to the palace and left the carriage. Once inside, Korinna led the child across an atrium and through a series of passageways toward the royal apartments.
The child’s presence drew only a few curious glances. Danu’s transformation was complete. For all intents and purposes, she was an Atlantean, beautiful, strong, and full of vigor. Her color was lovely, and despite the untidiness of her hair and her common dress, she could have been one of many noble children who made their home in the palace. But Danu would never appear completely Atlantean. Since she had been born human, she would always retain traces of her ancestry. She was not less attractive than one born of the sea, but slightly different. And whether that difference would be an advantage or a challenge, only time would tell.
There were regulations to follow. Danu’s transformation must be recorded in the Akashi Records as her birth date. The fact that she was already four in earth years was hardly worth mentioning. As an Atlantean, she could expect to live for thousands of years, and four more or less didn’t matter. Parents must be noted as well as her lineage. As Morgan’s daughter, Danu would be as much a descendent of his parents and grandparents as any of his brothers and sisters.
The only snag might be whom to write down as the mother. Morgan had no mate, and some woman must agree to stand as Danu’s female parent. That law was non-negotiable. Morgan would have to choose, but in doing so, he would link himself to the woman for all eternity, not necessarily as wife or mate, but as mother to his child. Danu would have a long childhood, and Morgan and the woman in question would be responsible for her education, her nurturing, and her safety. Being a parent was not to be taken lightly among the sea dwellers. It was a sacred task, and those who failed from lack of devotion would pay a high price.
And, there was the matter of the king. How would she explain this to Poseidon? How could she tell him that the son who’d so recently been on trial for saving a human from death by drowning had disregarded the High Council’s warning and done it a second time? And this action was much worse. Morgan had interfered in the natural order; he had taken it upon himself to transform a human into an Atlantean. Zeus alone knew how her beloved stepson would get out of this.
“I’m really, really hungry,” Danu said. The small fingers held tightly to Korinna’s as they moved through the brightly tiled hallway. Clear blocks of crystal were set into the walls so that the inhabitants had a glorious view of one of the planet’s greatest reefs, all massed coral, magnificent plant life, fish, crustaceans, and Korinna’s favorite, a sheltered nursery for the palace dolphins.
Guarded by faithful nurse sharks and elderly dolphins of both sexes, tiny dolphins dove and rolled and splashed in complete safety while their parents were at work. Since Atlantis was far too deep for dolphins to reach the surface to breathe, other provisions had been made, and even the little ones could find oxygen when needed.
Danu would have her own dolphin, naturally. All Atlantean children did. But today was not the day for dolphins. Settling her in and introducing her to her new grandfather in a manner that would ensure his support and affection was what was important.
And protecting Morgan … always. For she loved her reckless stepson as much as those children she had given birth to. She’d loved him from the first moment she’d laid eyes on him as a mischievous boy. Morgan had climbed in her lap and given her a sticky kiss, washing away all her anxiety and selfish fears in an instant.
Korinna and the child had reached the top of a flight of stairs and were about to turn left down the grand corridor when Lady Halimeda suddenly appeared. Inwardly, Korinna flinched. Not Halimeda. Not now. Involuntarily, she moved in front of Danu.
“So, it’s true!” Halimeda drew herself up to her full height and fixed Korinna with a black stare. “Orion did bring a human child here. Let me see her.”
“Not now,” Korinna said. “We were about to—”
“Poseidon!” Halimeda sank into a deep curtsey. “Husband. I’ve only just learned …”
“Korinna.”
The queen turned to see the king coming toward them and forced a smile. Let the witch curtsey and pander to Poseidon. He’d get no such foolish adoration from her. Korinna genuinely loved their husband, but she was ever mindful of her own position and considered herself his equal. “Poseidon,” she began, “this is—”
“A human child illegally transformed by your son Orion,” Halimeda cried. Quick as a moray eel, she darted in and snatched up Danu. “Look at her. See with your own eyes. She is not Atlantean born.”
Danu began to whimper and struggle in Halimeda’s arms. “I feel,” Halimeda cried. “I see more. Through touching her, I see the truth. She is linked psychically to another.”
“Put her down,” Korinna ordered, reaching for Danu. “This is not the place or time to—”
“No! This is the time. You must know. This is not simply Orion’s sin!” Halimeda screamed, thrusting the child toward Poseidon. “I see everything. It is both Orion and Morgan! Orion may have helped in the crime—he brought the child here to Atlantis. But my powers tell me that the real culprit is Morgan. Your precious crown prince has spat in the faces of the High Council and defied the law once more.”
CHAPTER 19
“A
re you madwomen?” Poseidon roared. “To make a public spectacle of yourself? Halimeda, give that child to me. You’re scaring her half to death. Have you never seen a changling before?” He took a now wailing Danu from her grasp and held her aloft.
re you madwomen?” Poseidon roared. “To make a public spectacle of yourself? Halimeda, give that child to me. You’re scaring her half to death. Have you never seen a changling before?” He took a now wailing Danu from her grasp and held her aloft.
“Give her to me,” Korinna said. “You’re both frightening her.”
“Not a chance,” the king snapped. “Aphrodite!” Servants and passing officials vanished by the nearest portals, leaving the four of them alone in the corridor. “Aphrodite!”
A mermaid appeared in the doorway Poseidon had just entered through. Hastily adjusting her bodice and attempting to make some order of her tumbled locks, she swam to the king. Her hair was long and dark. Her cheeks were red and her mouth appeared bruised as if it had recently been kissed quite ardently.
“Take this child!” Poseidon bellowed, offering the little girl to the mermaid. “Take her to the nursery and find someone to look after her.”
“She’s hungry,” Korinna said. “I’ll take her. She knows me. She doesn’t need to be thrust among strangers.”
Poseidon glared at Aphrodite. “Have you lost your wits along with these two?”
“No, Your Highness.”
And before Korinna could make further protest, the mermaid whisked Danu away. The king had many diversions, but Korinna hadn’t seen this one before. She doubted the wench’s name was Aphrodite. It was a term that her husband used when he didn’t want to bother memorizing mermaid names. They were long and difficult to pronounce.
For the most part, mermaids were not particularly bright creatures, but entirely self-centered and exceedingly vain. Like fish, they rarely tended to their own young, simply laying vast amounts of eggs and leaving them to the mercy of the sea. A mermaid was hardly one that Korinna would entrust an Atlantean child to, especially her own grandchild. For that was what Danu was now; Morgan’s impulsive act had made it so.
And brought them all a storm of trouble, Korinna feared. “My lord,” she began in a soothing voice. “Is there somewhere we could talk in private so that I could explain���”
He scowled at her. “Explain? What is there to explain?”
Halimeda fluttered her long fingers helplessly. “Your Majesty, you must not allow this travesty to go unpunished. Both Orion and Morgan are involved in this disgrace, but Morgan is the one who began the transformation.”
“You have proof of those accusations?” He whirled on Halimeda.
“You know I have the sight, husband,” the witch replied. “When I touched the creature, I could feel her connection to the crown prince. He’s to blame for this. Never doubt it. And to do so after you made such a plea before the council for his release, my heart goes out to you. You will be shamed before your subjects, great king. They will say that you have one set of laws for them and another for your own children.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Korinna said.
“You knew and you tried to cover up what they did,” Poseidon accused, turning on Korinna.
“When has she ever supported you, Your Highness?” Halimeda wheedled. “She rejects your authority as much as your heir does. Neither is fit to wear the crowns of Atlantis.”
“Careful,” Korinna warned. “You go too far, lady. Doubtless you think my crown would look better on your head.” She looked at Poseidon. “She has always been jealous of Morgan. She wants to put her son in Morgan’s place. That’s what this is about.”
“Not this time,” the king said, his voice husky with anger. “Too long have I excused my sons’ actions as boys’ pranks. I won’t be made a fool of and I won’t be defied by—”
“There’s no defiance,” Korinna insisted. “Morgan saved a child’s life. How can that be evil?”
“Not a child’s life,” Halimeda put in. “A
human’s
life. He ignored the law and put us all in jeopardy.”
human’s
life. He ignored the law and put us all in jeopardy.”
“Go to my blue grotto, Korinna. We’ll discuss this further in private.” He motioned to another stairway leading up to his apartments. “Now!”
“Command this slut or others of your many bedmates, if you wish,” Korinna said, “but I’m high queen of Atlantis. I’m not a servant to be ordered about on your whim. I’m going to the nursery to see that Danu is properly cared for. Later, when you’re in a more reasonable mood, I’ll be happy to tell you anything more that I know.”
“You see,” Halimeda said. “I told you that she’s not worthy to sit the silver throne. She believes that she can obey or not—”
“Will you be still, Halimeda!
Halimeda curtsied low to the floor. “As you wish, sire. But don’t forget Orion’s part in this nasty business. He should be placed under arrest. He brought the monster here to Atlantis.”
“I believe I am capable of dealing with Orion.”
Poseidon’s voice dropped to a soft and reasonable tone. Korinna knew the signs. She’d seen him in a royal rage before and knew him capable of violence. Without another word, she attempted as dignified a retreat as possible. She’d nearly reached the bottom of the stairs when she heard the king’s shout.
“Guards! Find Prince Orion and place him in irons. Then bring me Morgan and Alexandros.”
She hurried on, not looking back.
“Korinna!”
She hesitated, wondering it would be better to give in or continue on her own course. “Yes, husband, what do you want?”
“I want you and your brood to leave the city. Go at once to the old palace off the north shore of Crete and there await my pleasure.”
Anger flared in her chest. How dare he? Was he so under the thumb of the bitch that he’d threaten her? “And if I don’t?”
Poseidon came to the head of the staircase, his features rigid, his face a mask. “You will go as I bid you, woman, and you will go now. Unless you prefer to be escorted by my guard and placed in custody as your precious stepsons will certainly be.”
“May I take the child with me?”
“What child?” He descended the stairs and came to tower over her.
Korinna held her ground. “Little Danu. May I take her with me?”
“The changling?”
“She is an Atlantean now, my lord. No matter her beginning, she deserves your mercy.”
“Take her, if you wish, but be gone within the hour. I’ve had enough of your undermining my authority.” He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “And take all you need with you, for you may remain there indefinitely.”
Korinna met his hard gaze with equal force of will. “Are you divorcing me? Placing that crazed sorceress on my throne?”
“I might. Time will tell. She at least—”
Korinna’s expression softened, and she reached out a hand toward him. “Take care, ’Eidon. And don’t trust Halimeda. You know you can’t. Remember how her first husband died.”
“Enough of your jealous accusations. Begone.”
She shook her head. “Never trust her. In my heart, I know she means you no good.”
“What is this place?” Claire asked Morgan as she lay on her back, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her. “I know the name, but I don’t know where it is … or why.”
Morgan chuckled and nestled her closer. “Is it important?”
She sat up and stretched, raising her arms over her head and sighing. “Am I mad or sane?”
“Do you care?”
“Stop that.” Playfully, she punched his chest. “I want to know. I don’t understand this. I don’t understand you.”
“Oww.” He groaned dramatically. “Have you no pity on a man near to death?”
She laughed. “If you’re near to death, I’d hate to have you make love to me when you were whole.” She ran her hand across his throat and down over his massive chest. He was not a hairy man, but what hairs grew on his chest and below his flat stomach were slightly curled and golden. She decided that she’d never seen a more beautiful man … not even Alex could match him.
She turned and leaned her elbows on his chest and stared into his eyes. His lashes were long and thick, the irises of his eyes so hauntingly unique that she felt she could drown in them. “If I dreamed you up, I’ve outdone myself,” she teased.
“You still believe that this is all a dream?”
“Isn’t it?” Lazily, she brushed her fingers over his cheek and mouth, imprinting the lines of his face in her heart’s memory. “But you make me happy, Morgan … happier than I’ve ever been.”
A look that might have been regret flickered in his eyes, and abruptly, he sat up. White, even teeth flashed, as he smiled down at her. “Would you like to see more of this world besides this bedchamber?”
She nodded.
“Come then.” Taking her hand, he led her toward the stone wall, and to her amazement, the stone parted before them—not opening so much as vanishing like mist. On the other side, she found herself standing at the edge of a fog-shrouded cliff, much like the one at Seaborne, but higher.
They were so close to the edge that Claire felt a little frisson of fear, and she clung tightly to Morgan’s hand. “Trust me,” he said. “I won’t let you fall. I’ll keep you safe.”
“Always?”
He squeezed her hand. “Sometimes, it’s best to live for the moment and see what life has in store for us.”
He waved his free hand and the haze parted. Claire gave a small sound of wonder. Far below lay a vast lake or inland sea. Instinctively, she felt this was not the ocean but something different. The surface of the water shimmered in the starlight, for when she glanced up, she saw the same strange sky that she had observed before.
Swimming on the lake were myriad and unusual creatures, some almost dinosaurlike in appearance, others beyond anything she could imagine. Schools of giant fish in rainbow colors leaped and splashed in the slowly moving tide, and fantastic schools of fish of every size mirrored the creatures of the water.
“Do you like it?” Morgan asked.
Claire opened her mouth to answer, but she could find no words to describe such serene beauty. Joy bubbled up inside her. She felt so happy that she wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d grown wings and flown off into the sky. “Yes, yes, I do,” she managed, and she circled his neck with her arms and pulled his head down to kiss him.
“Then, you may like this as well,” he teased. Tugging her hand, he led her a few yards in the opposite direction, back the way they’d come from their love nest. But when Morgan waved away the mist again, there was no rocky outcrop of stone but another valley, this one not filled with water but oceans of blue grass and marvelous trees. Waterfalls tumbled from the surrounding cliffs, and streams twisted and flowed over rocks to form a swift-flowing river.
Herds of animals grazed in the distance, and here and there, she could see what might be small encampments. Smoke rose from rounded huts. If the villages were inhabited, they were too far away to see the people, other than as tiny moving figures. Of modern civilization there was no sign: no roads, no power lines, no train tracks. This Eden spread untouched before her.
“Would you see more?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not now.” She struggled to take in the tranquil beauty, the colors and scents, the sound of the falling water and the wind. She wanted to wrap each image in memory and lock it away to take out and cherish on the days she sat alone at Seaborne’s shore and stared out at the ocean.
He nodded, understanding, and led her back to their secret chamber where he held and kissed and caressed her all that long afternoon.
It was the blond Adonis who brought their lovemaking to an end. Morgan was feeding Claire bits of a sweet treat that tasted like a cross between licorice and honey when Alex returned.
“I hate to break this up,” he said brusquely, “but I need to talk to Morgan, alone.”
Morgan covered her naked body with a seaweed blanket of the softest weave. “Your timing is off, Brother. We were—”
“I said
alone
.” Alex’s handsome face was expressionless.
alone
.” Alex’s handsome face was expressionless.
Morgan nodded. “Stay here, Claire. I’ll see what—”
“This can’t wait,” Alex said, grasping Morgan’s arm. “I’m glad to see you so greatly recovered, but we’ve no time to waste.”
“Is it the child? Did she …”
“What child?” Claire asked. Gathering the blanket around her, she rose on her knees. “What is he talking about?”
Alex turned his gaze on her. “Go to sleep, Claire.”
“You can’t … can’t,” she began. But, suddenly, a great weariness came over her. She sank down onto the moss. “I don’t want to …”
“It’s all right,” Morgan said soothingly. He returned to the bed and placed a palm on her forehead. “Shhh, sleep. It’s all right.”
She closed her eyes, so dizzy that she thought … That she thought …
Abruptly, she heard the sound of surf. Waves crashed around her. She could taste the salt on her lips, hear … hear …
Nothing. Blind and deaf, she felt the tide lift and carry her.
When she opened her eyes again, someone was shaking her arm.
“Claire. Claire.”
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