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He’s my mate, I think at them.

Her father sinks low and bows to me. Her brothers drop beside him. Even Sirena dips with them without letting go of my arm. Mother Fate, what is happening? Grown Mer are bowing to me at the bottom of a lake, and I’m the pup who got sent to a therapist for dumping mayonnaise on Charity.

When another bolt cracks above us, the Mer jerk back from me in a rush. The big male barks at Sirena without a sound. We have taken the mate of a Stormscale. Release her.

Sirena doesn’t let go yet. She kisses me again and pushes fresh air into my lungs. When she breaks away, she shoves me upward. Go to your mate. Tell him we meant no harm.

I twist around to reach for her. Wait! I scream it after them without a sound. The pod is already gone, and I’m alone down here.

Every flash turns the water white as I kick hard for the top. My lungs never burn, not even a little. I break the surface and breathe in easy. Wind slaps waves against my cheeks while black clouds churn overhead.

The sight of Ezra on the shore with blue light crackling across his skin makes my eyes burn. My wolf whines for her dragon. I’m so glad he’s here I could cry, but I also want to strangle him. The Mer were about to come up and meet my dad. Now they’re gone because my mate called down a storm on the nicest people I’ve ever met.

15

EZRA

Idrop out of the sky at the edge of the lake as Aya goes under. She reaches up for me until the dark water closes over her hand. I yell her name and hit my knees. I plunge my arm in up to my shoulder, but she’s already gone deeper than I can see. Her scent thins out to nothing.

King Amir grabs my elbow and hauls me up. I yank free and nearly knock him over. It hits me that I’m being aggressive with royalty. I make myself back off and plant my feet while my dragon fights to drag me into the water after her.

“You aren’t aware of your true nature,” Amir says. “You don’t know the bond you have with these creatures.”

“I don’t give a fuck who they are,” I growl. “I want my mate back. Now.”

When Amir smiles at me, I’m ready to punch him in his ancient face. He can smell my aggression, but it doesn’t faze him.

He clasps his hands behind his back and turns to the water. He acts like my mate isn’t drowning in it. “The Mer have a long history with Stormscale. Your ancestors commanded the storms that guided their migrations across the great seas. They followed the lightning, used it to navigate the deep waters where even sunlight couldn’t reach. Stormscale protected them from human ships, from hunters. In return, the Mer served as scouts, warning your clan of approaching threats from the water.”

I’ve been counting since she disappeared. “She’s been under two minutes,” I snap.

“Your bloodline could call them forth, command them to surface, guide them safely to new waters when the old ones became too dangerous.” Amir studies me. “That power still lives in you, Ezra. Whether you know how to use it or not.”

My dragon pushes my talons out. “I will burn these waters.”

Amir chuckles. “Can you?”

Josiah steps out of a swirl of black smoke beside us. He takes in Amir and me, then the lake. The water has gone smooth again. It’s too damn calm out there with my mate somewhere under it.

“Go get your woman,” he tells me.

Amir rounds on him. “Mind your business, Josiah.”

“This is my business.” Josiah ignores the king barking at him and adjusts his collar. “I’m deputy of Wintermoon.”

When Amir tries to argue, I cut him off. “Three minutes. I’ve had enough.”

Josiah shuts us up with a raised hand. “I’ve studied Stormscale. Spent time in the Wintermoon library with my Layla.” He winks at me. “Fascinating bloodline, yours.”

He flips his notepad open and leans in close. “If you jump into the waters, they’ll just pull you down like they did her. That’s why Amir keeps stalling.”

I’m damn near begging, and I don’t care. “Then how can I help her?”

“It’s easy.” Josiah quits clowning. “Show them who you are. You are a Stormscale. They’ve forgotten who they’re dealing with.”

“You’ll run them off,” Amir warns.

Josiah shrugs. “So? They haven’t respected his bloodline by taking his mate.”