Cinder scrunches up her face in concentration. The energy courses through her fingertips and bam!
The statue of her face crumbles right before her eyes.
She winds up again, pulling her arm back as if she is ready to throw something. She breathes deeply, the undulations of the sea calming her before she releases her rage. The bright, white sparks shoot from her fingertips and she smashes her mirror without even touching it.
It's been far too long since she's used her powers. If she had practiced them, perhaps she would have been able to do something before her brother was maimed and taken right in front of her.
There's a knock at her door.
She shoves her hand behind her back, as though someone will know it's magic just from seeing it.
"Come in!" she calls.
Prince Kai swims in, his bangs falling in his face as he comes to a stop just past her doorway. "I'm sorry to disturb you in here again," he says. He looks around her private chambers like he knows he's not supposed to be there but is a bit too curious to stay away. "I wanted to check on you. How are you?"
She turns away. "How do you think I am?"
She hears him swim into her room. "From the status of these artifacts, I take it not well. Though, I must admit, my question was only a formality. I can't even begin to imagine how devastated you must be."
She sighs heavily and goes to perch at the edge of her bed. Kai is floating in front of her mirror, holding a broken piece of statue in one hand.
"Is there anything I can do?" he asks.
"Do you want to come to the Sea Witch's kingdom with me and reclaim my brother?"
His eyes widen. "You're going?"
She stares at her hand, which is her only secret weapon. It's not strong enough yet. "I meant it more sarcastically," she admits, "but it has crossed my mind."
Kai rubs the back of his neck. "I can't believe I was thinking of going there and bargaining with her for my father. After everything I've heard about her, it seems so crazy now. The way she just stabbed your brother in—" He clears his throat, his ears turning red. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that."
"It's okay. I'd rather we acknowledge it than ignore that it ever happened, like my father does."
"He does seem like he's not that upset about it," he says slowly. "I'm sure he's just acting for the sake of the court and his visitors."
"I don't think he is. My father has always been rather…uncaring…towards my brother, but I never imagined to this extent. I think he thinks Thorne was wrong, and therefore this is justified. He's just going on as if nothing happened, when he should be preparing for a war against Queen Levana."
"A war? But what of the treaties?"
"What's the point of them if my family isn't safe?"
"Did he really help a human?"
She listens for judgement in Kai's voice, searches his face for it too. But Kai is unreadable. He is just as intense as he always is, looking like he is trying to figure out Cinder just as much.
She has to look away.
"Yes, I saw him do it. It was a female with long, wild hair. She was drowning and he swam to the sea floor to help her. I'm not sure what came over him."
"But you were in Levana's territory too?"
She decides there's no point in hiding it from him any longer. "No, we were in the unclaimed waters."
"All the way out there?"
"We need to get away sometimes. It's a lot having all this scrutiny from the merpeople."
"I understand the need to escape, but it's so close to Levana's territory."
"We always leave before the vortex comes. She's really not supposed to be there anyway, since it's outside her borders too, but who is there to stop her?"
"So if you weren't in her territory, then why did Levana say he trespassed?"
She shrugs. "I don't know what happened. I left him when he tried to help the human. I thought he would follow me if I left. We always leave when the vortex comes. Always. But then—he was gone." She snaps her fingers. "Just like that, vanished like a wisp in the water. I searched for him after the vortex. I worried he might be dead."
"The only good thing, perhaps," Kai says, swimming closer, "is that we know he survived." He reaches out a hesitant hand and tilts her chin up. "Thorne made it back once. Maybe he can do it again."
She swats him away and swims to her doorway. "He was captured. This is different. We have to do something. We can't just sit and wait for him to somehow escape the Sea Witch. That has never happened. Did you see what she turns mermen into? Did you see her beasts? What if Thorne is one of those?"
She flexes her hand. Could she have the same power to deform—not just destroy—if she worked on her magic? She has never told anyone of them. Her father keeps his magic in his trident, but it is a magic he has earned as a king, not inherited in his blood. The trident was passed down from his father, and one day, Cinder is supposed to receive it when she takes the throne.
No one knows she has this power inside her.
Not even Thorne.
She has always wondered if that makes her bad. Not just her secret, but the fact that she keeps it secret.
She just wants to be like everyone else. No one else has powers, and she doesn't know why she does.
"Does Common still have magic?"
Kai startles at the change in topic. "I'm sorry?"
"Does Common still have magic? All the rulers were bestowed gifts by the ancient sea goddesses."
His eyes soften. "You know that's not something I can tell you."
"Unless we are married."
"Right…"
"Would you tell me then? If we were united? You would share your mergkingdom's secrets with mine?"
He swims closer. "I would share my secrets with you. My Queen. Not with anyone else."
She nods. If Common does have magic, perhaps there is a chance of getting her brother back. Her father's trident and his army is nothing against what Levana can do. Common's army is much stronger, although if it is due to magic or military strength, Cinder does not know. The merkingdoms have lived in peace for more than a hundred years now. It is her father who tells her that Angeles is weak — that they need the alliance with Common. Maybe her father knows what the magic is.
She has always known that an alliance with Common could help them defeat Levana.
Maybe now is the time to do it.
"Marry me."
Kai splutters. "I'm sorry?"
"You came here to decide if you wanted to marry me. If you've decided in my favor, then marry me. I'll say yes."
"I can't help but think your declarations have everything to do with your brother and nothing to do with me."
Kai is handsome, funny, smart, and kind. She knows that from being around him for the last week. But he is right. Her feelings aren't relevant — they've never been relevant.
"Our fathers have everything to do with this marriage," she says. "It is a political alliance, we both know that."
"Perhaps. I had hoped to court you for some time first, should we both be in agreement."
"Why court when we both know this is inevitable? Unless, of course, you will pay the same visit to Princess Winter and find her more favorable."
Kai looks offended. "I'm not paying her a visit."
"Then what do you say? Will you marry me?"
"Cinder, I beg of you. Do not make this decision so hastily. My father and I will be here for two weeks yet."
His hesitation is making her guess his answer. She's disappointed, but she should have thought as much.
"Is it my deformed fin?"
He blanches.
Where she normally tries to hide it, she puts it out in the open, right before his eyes so that he can see it in all of its ugliness. "I can still swim faster than anyone."
"Cinder—"
"I'd like an answer."
"If you wish to marry me—"
"I do."
His eyes narrow. "If you wish to marry me, you will not force me into this because of your brother! I should like my bride to also be concerned about me."
"If you were concerned about me at all, you would understand that my brother is a part of me. You get him when you get me."
"Princess, you are acting irrationally. Whether your brother is here or not, an alliance between Angeles and Common is a big deal. I wish you would treat it as such."
"If you will not answer me about our alliance, then answer at least this: If we were to join in matrimony, would you help me get my brother back?"
Kai sighs. "I knew this was about that. You're hoping we'll go to war, won't you?"
"What kind of future king would I be marrying if he didn't defend his bride's family?"
"This is much bigger than saving your brother. Even if our merkingdoms join, keeping the peace would be of utmost importance. Going to war with Levana risks more then we can both imagine right now."
"So, you would do nothing."
"Please—"
"Thank you for that clarification," she says curtly. She swims past him, their fins brushing against each other. An electric current shoots up her side but she pushes it away. Whether she likes him or not doesn't matter. What matters is finding her brother and bringing him home. "I shall find my brother myself."
She swims away, leaving Kai in her bedroom.
She searches frantically for Iko until she finds her in her chambers with Tressa. They are playing with Iko's hair.
"Cinder!" Iko squeaks. "Prince Kai was looking for you!"
"He found me," she grumbles.
"Didn't he look dashing today?"
"I sure thought so," Tressa agrees.
"I need your help," Cinder says. "Can you find Scarlet?"
"Scarlet?"
"She's in the guard. She has fiery red hair. She's friends with Thorne."
Her heart pinches. Was friends with Thorne.
"What do you need her for?"
Normally, Cinder is happy to share all of her thoughts with her merlady-in-waiting. She considers Iko one of her best friends. But she needs to be careful what she says around whom now.
"I want to ask her about something now that Thorne is no longer the captain. We'll need a replacement for his position."
"Your Highness," says Tressa, "I believe your father has already named his successor. There are all these ranks and orders of things already established."
"I know. But as the future Queen of Angeles, perhaps I'd like a say in some of these ranks myself."
"I'll go look for her now," Iko says.
"I'll go with you," Cinder says.
"It's not necessary."
"I insist."
"Very well," Iko says. "You can fill me in on Prince Kai gossip while we're looking for her."
They swim out of the palace together, Cinder making up a story about the prince to placate Iko. When Iko isn't looking, she pulverizes a piece of rock on the seabed below her.
She needs all the practice she can get.