Forstaken (9 page)

Byron nodded and followed the guard through the murky water and into
his mother’s chambers. Two Peridito sculptures lined the doorway, and a golden
arch rose between them.

 
As he entered the gold-hewn
room, he noticed his mother’s bare back turned toward him. Long, wavy blue hair
and the sheer beauty of her pearlescent skin never failed to impress him.

“That will be all, Tephis.”

Vellamo’s voice made his stomach roll. He hadn’t seen or spoken to
his mother in nearly three years, not since his father’s funeral. Since he’d
found out he would be next in line for the throne. Since he’d taken off and
spent almost three years on land and trying not to think about an eternity at
sea. An eternity at battle.

He knew his mother would have had someone watching him above the sea
and feared her assessment of Byron’s time spent on land would be far less than
praise-filled.

“You’ve come home.”

“Yes, mother.” His voice felt smaller and weaker than he remembered
it on land. Perhaps his voice was just as broken as his heart.

“I feared you might sacrifice yourself for her.”

Byron’s eyes flew up to his mother’s face as she looked at his
reflection in the mirror. The question startled him.

“I thought about it.”

She stood and walked toward him. Touching his shoulder with her tiny
hand, she said, “You loved the girl more than your own kingdom? Your own
destiny. Your own family.”

Byron had never considered it in those terms exactly, but he knew
without a doubt he’d do anything to get back to Nadia.

“Anything?”

Of course his mother’s powers were far greater than his, and she’d
read Byron’s mind just now.

“Yes,
anything
, mother.” A
simultaneous sense of pride and guilt spread through him at the words.

Vellamo nodded.

“If I send you back you’d give away your chance as rightful heir to
my throne.”

Byron lifted his head, and his eyes widened.

“What do you mean, send me back? I can’t go back. The thousand days
curse…”

Vellamo shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest. “You forget it
is the way of our people to release curses. I want you to be happy. Even if it
means never seeing you again.”

Stunned, Byron’s heart raced.

“But what about the kingdom? What about the battle with Tursas?”

His mother nodded.

“You’ve been away. You don’t realize how powerful your sister has
become under my tutelage. She’ll make a fine Queen.”

“But Mother…”
Love. Pain.
Longing.
Emotions overwhelmed Byron’s mind.

Vellamo shook her head.

“Hush, my child. You’ve made your choice.”

****

Nadia had stood there in the water for what seemed like hours. At
first she’d kept her eyes closed, waiting, not knowing what to expect. But
then, she’d opened her eyes to find Byron gone and herself alone in the quiet
of the early morning hour.

 
Finally, reluctantly, she’d
left the water. Naked, alone. Wearily she’d wandered the beach until she found
an abandoned beach towel filled with sand and seaweed. She’d wrapped it around
her body and walked the miles home in shocked silence. There, she entered the
apartment, shed the filthy towel and crawled into bed falling into a fitful
sleep.

She dreamed of Byron on a Ferris wheel, the sun glowing around them.
He was smiling and whispering words of love. Feeling Byron’s warm arms around
her, she knew she never wanted him to let go.

She turned and buried her nose in the nook of Byron’s neck. She
inhaled the woodsy scent of him.

“I’ll never leave you,” he said, and she believed him.

****

Vellamo watched them through the moon goddess’ coat of arms. It was
the only way she could see her son above sea, and it was closing now that the
full moon had passed. Byron stroked Nadia’s hair, and they both drifted off to
sleep. Blissful and unknowing.

Allowing him to give up her throne would cause repercussions for the
entire kingdom, but it was a sacrifice she was willing to make for her only
son’s true happiness. After all, she’d been in love with a human once upon a
time.

Together they’d created two children, and her lover had made the
ultimate sacrifice for their love. So, she’d made it possible for Byron to
return to Nadia and to forget his true self.

When they awoke, Byron would only know he was free, and the sea
would never call to him again.

But there was nothing she could do about Nadia’s legacy as the
Forstaken. That was a challenge they’d have to face together. But she knew her
son, and she knew Nadia would be safe and well loved.

For despite the majestic allure of the sea, it cannot compete with
the one true love of a lifetime.

The End

www.kerrinelson.com

Other Books by Kerri
Nelson:

‘Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas

Double Take

Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com