Page 130 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

Minha picked up the pearl crown, turned it over once in her hands examining it, and placed it on Jina’s head.

It fit perfectly.

Yong and the newfound Seaborn soldiers dropped to one knee and lowered their heads. The winged soldiers did the same. And so did, Fraya, Ranis, and Calroy.

I bowed last.

Jina climbed the steps and sat down, her gaze moving across every face in the room. Her voice cracked when she finally spoke. “Thank you for bringing me home to my people.”

Then she lowered her head and sobbed.

Minha and I went to her and held her from both sides.

“I don’t know how to do this,” Jina whispered.

“You have me, My Queen.” Minha kissed her cheek.

“And me,” I said. “And everyone in this room.” I pulled back just enough to look at her face. “We are at your service. All of us. Always.”

“Forever sisters,” Jina laughed through her tears and held on tighter. “I love you both.”

“And you have my loyalty, to always protect your kingdom, Queen Jina, should you ever need Varen’s service.” Ranis stood by the first step of the dais.

The battle had taken many, and it was good to see him well and alive. Gone were the ragged clothes he’d once worn under Russo’s command. In their place, a fitted doublet in Varen’s deep blue, silver clasps at the collar, and polished boots.

Jina’s eyes beamed as she descended toward him. “Thank you, Crown Prince of Varen.”

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “We need to discuss a different kind of reunion when you have time.”

Minha and I exchanged glances, and we tried not to smile too big.

Chapter Forty-One

Calroy, Rowhan, Palto, and I met in the grand library Jina had designated for us. Calroy sat with his forearms on the table, the five pure stones laid out between us, each one catching the candlelight from the sun beaming through from the open ceiling.

He looked at Rowhan first. “Yeri and I have decided we’re not sending you back.” He let that sit a moment before continuing. “Under one condition. You do not expose yourselves as gods. You walk among the Seaborn as ordinary men. You stay within Jeju.” He glanced at me, then back. “Jina will give you each a room in the castle, a horse to move about the city, and a monthly allowance.”

Rowhan said nothing for a moment, then released a long breath. “That is more than we deserve. I knew there was a chance you would send me back, but I must admit I’m relieved.” He glanced at the stones on the table. “And the allowance is generous.”

Calroy turned to Palto. “The same goes for you.”

Palto nodded, a grateful smile crossing his face. “And the others?” he asked.

“They stay as they are,” I said. “Too many gods is its own kind of problem. The world has been trying to find its footing without us. Putting us all back at once—”

“Would tip the balance and cause a different kind of chaos,” Rowhan finished.

“Junio, Eules, Saura,” Palto’s voice softened. “They regret what was done. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know,” Calroy said. “And they’ll continue to regret it in your realm. That’s not cruelty. That’s consequence. We’ll revisit this topic when the world is steadier.”

Palto offered a curt nod. He didn’t push.

“The stones stay with me.” I looked at each of them in turn. “All of them. Not as a threat, but as a safeguard. If either of you move against the balance we’re trying to build, we have the means to act.”

Rowhan held my gaze. “Of course.”

“As we agreed.” Palto dipped his head once.