{ "Even if it ruins me, I'll keep the promise I made to you."}
MORKAI'S POV
"I will find you, sooner or later," I vowed as I stood on the highest balcony, overlooking the darkened sea, the sight of the waves stretching endlessly before me filling the space with a feeling of both finality and anticipation. The Pearl Castle waited below, nestled in the depths of the Emerald Gulf, its pearlescent spires gleaming like teeth beneath the moonlit ocean. It was a place of both power and solitude, a prison of my own making, but it was the only place left that I could call home.
"Are you ready, my lord?" Thalia's voice broke through the reverie, soft as a whisper but carrying the weight of understanding. She had been by my side for as long as I could remember—always attuned to the currents of my thoughts, always watching the storm within me.
I turned slowly, my gaze catching hers. Her seafoam hair shimmered like a halo in the dim light, and her eyes, deep and endless like the ocean, held the weight of every storm I had weathered. She wore the expression of one who understood both my burden and my need for escape.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, my voice more distant than I intended. The cold crown I wore pressed against my brow; a reminder of the Sovereign I had become. It was both a title and a curse, a symbol of my isolation. There was no warmth in it—only the suffocating chill of the abyss.
"Then let's leave," Thalia said, stepping closer, her footsteps light and fluid, like a ripple across still water. "General Lysander is waiting at the docks. He's growing impatient."
I nodded and followed her through the grand halls, my gaze briefly scanning the empty corridors. The Sanctuary was a shell now, its halls echoing with the ghosts of those who had passed through. The weight of their expectations, their hopes, had long since faded. And now, there was nothing left but the cold sea to answer my questions. As we emerged onto the open grounds, Lysander was already standing at the edge of the docks, his tall, imposing figure cut against the backdrop of the dark ocean. His cloak billowed in the wind, a storm contained within the folds of fabric, and his sharp eyes scanned the horizon like a hawk searching for prey.
"Sovereign," he said in his usual low, steady tone. "I have been waiting for you."
"Good," I muttered, stepping onto the pier with purpose. "I'm tired of waiting for the storm to reach us. Let's go."
Lysander's sharp eyes flicked to Thalia; his gaze softened for just a moment. Then, without another word, he turned and led the way to the magic ship, Thalassorath. Its massive hull loomed before us, black as the depths, with sails trimmed like jagged fins. The crew was already onboard, preparing for departure, their movements fluid and efficient.
The darkened skies above the Sanctuary were heavy with the promise of an approaching storm, yet the air was still unnervingly so. The ships were ready to sail, their hulls creaking in anticipation. The crew stood in silent readiness as I made my way toward the dock, the weight of the crown on my brow no less oppressive with each passing day.
But before I could board the ship, I felt it an interruption, a disturbance in the current. It was as if the tides themselves had shifted, their calm surface giving way to something far more turbulent. I stopped in my tracks, my eyes scanning the quiet expanse of the pier, the dim light of the moon casting long shadows on the stone. From a distance, I could see two figures moving toward me, their forms unmistakable even in the low light.
Lady Nerisca, as always, was draped in dark elegance, her gown of kelp and barnacle silk flowing like liquid shadows. Her presence was both commanding and seductive, a siren's call in the storm. By her side was Zynarion Lae, the fallen prince of the sea, his rusted silver trident gleaming faintly in the dark.
"Leaving so soon, Morkai?" Lady Nerisca's voice was smooth as oil, the words flowing with a dangerous familiarity. "I thought we might have one last conversation before you disappear into your precious Pearl Castle."
I did not immediately respond, my gaze narrowing as I watched her approach, every step a careful glide across the stone. I could feel the weight of Zynarion's presence at her side—silent, brooding, a reminder of the kingdoms lost to the depths of the sea.
"You've no right to stop me, Nerisca," I said finally, my voice low and controlled. I did not attempt to hide the tension in my posture, the flicker of impatience igniting within me. "The sanctuary has ended. I have no interest in idle conversation."
She ignored my words, as she always did. "Aren't you forgetting something, Morkai?" She stopped a few paces away from me, her eyes glinting in the moonlight, a dangerous spark of amusement in their depths. "You promised me something. A promise I intend to see fulfilled."
I raised an eyebrow, the unsettling sense that she was playing some game beginning to settle over me. "I don't remember making promises to you, Lady Nerisca."
Her lips curled into a smile that did not reach her eyes. "Oh, but you did. You see, I made a deal with the Sanctuary. A very specific promise. One that involves you and... finding a mate, of all things." She paused, enjoying the moment. "It's a rather crucial part of your little prophecy, isn't it?"
I felt a tight coil in my chest at her words, the reminder of prophecies I would long since shoved into the back of my mind. The thought of some destined mate, someone meant to share this burden with me, to tie me to the mortal realm was a joke, a mockery. "You waste your time, Nerisca," I said coldly. "I am beyond your promises and petty schemes. The Prophecy of the Sea matters little to me now. I have my path to follow."
She chuckled softly, the sound sending a ripple of unease through my chest. "You misunderstand, Morkai. I have not come to beg you to care about the prophecy. No, I have come to make sure you do not remain alone forever. For your sake, and the sake of the realms." Her eyes locked with mine, an intensity in them that made me feel something stir deep within—a reminder of just how powerful she truly was.
"Enough," I said sharply, my voice tinged with the edge of a storm. "You're wasting your breath."
"Not at all," she replied, her smile widening as if she had already won. "I've arranged for myself to accompany you to the Pearl Castle. In one week, I will be there, just as promised. To fulfill my part in the prophecy, of course."
I took a step forward, my presence overwhelming as I glared at her. "You think I want your meddling, your interference in this? I did not ask for this. And I do not need your help."
Zynarion Lae, silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was as deep as the sea, roughened by years of regret. "Perhaps you don't have a choice, Morkai. Nerisca may be as insufferable as a storm, but she is not wrong. There are forces at play here beyond your control. And whether you accept it or not, you will need help." His eyes, full of bitter wisdom, met mine. "And we will be there, whether you like it or not."
"One week, Sovereign," Nerisca said, her tone now carrying the weight of finality. "Don't make me come looking for you."
Without waiting for my response, she turned on her heel, her long cloak trailing behind her like the dark waters of the abyss. Zynarion gave me one last, knowing look before following her, disappearing into the darkness of the night. I stood there, alone again, feeling the echoes of their words stir in my mind like the tide pulling me toward an inevitable fate. One week. The thought lingered like a taste of salt on my tongue.
"What the fuck is she planning?" Thalia demanded, her voice rising with anger as she stormed toward me, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
I did not flinch, though the words themselves struck a chord deep within me. I had yet to fully process Nerisca's cryptic declaration. The Sea Witch's promise to find me a mate, to bring someone into my life by some prophecy that had been cast upon me long ago, had unsettled me, but Thalia's words hit differently. The fury in her voice made it clear that she was not just concerned; she was incensed.
"Does Lady Nerisca think she will be your mate?" Thalia's tone was sharp, her eyes scanning me as though waiting for a response, as though daring me to say something that might make sense of this madness.
I took a breath, steadying myself against the tide of emotions that surged through me, some of them unfamiliar. "She's... delusional," I muttered, though my voice lacked conviction. I was not entirely sure anymore.
Thalia crossed her arms, her posture rigid with anger. Her silver eyes narrowed. "Delusional? She is not playing a game here, Morkai. You heard the way she spoke to you like you were a pawn, a piece in some sick little chess matches she has been running." She shook her head as if trying to make sense of the situation. "And the worst part? She is planning to come to the Pearl Castle in a week. As if she can just waltz in there and what? What does she think she is doing?"
"I don't know what she thinks she's doing, Thalia," I said, my voice low, quieter than I intended. "But it is clear that she does not understand what she is dealing with. The pearl castle will never let a sea witch into its domain, and I would have fun watching her being sent back to where she came from."