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My face and shoulders breached the air’s surface. Lorcan tugged at my arm, but I gently released myself and waved him away.
Waves of power pulsed toward me. I reached out with both hands, welcoming the sensation. L’even pearls. They had to be. I smiled as the power filled me with strength.
Wanting more, I waded until the water became shallow. I frowned. Above the water, my exposed skin was already drying out. The heat of the sun only made it worse.
With a groan, I dipped back below the surface and rubbed my arms and neck.
“Prince Kai.” Lorcan’s eyes bulged at me. “Please explain your odd behavior. What have you found?”
“I felt the power of L’even pearls on the surface. They are nearby. I’m sure of it.”
“How do you plan to find them without showing yourself?” He whipped his tail fins. “You are capable of many things, your majesty, but you can’t walk on land.”
“I know,” I said softly. “But I must try.”
He crossed his arms but did not offer a verbal challenge. He knew as well as I did that this discovery could save us.
“Then I shall stay right here until you return.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” I said, pressing my hand to his shoulder.
Steeling myself, I returned to the shallow area, above the water. The power felt stronger, as if it were closer. I pulled myself up to the land and extended forward until my elbows rested on the earth and grass.
I lifted my head and squinted.
A glint of shimmer caught my eye. Silver. Hope filled my chest. All the pieces in our royal collection were crafted of a special type of silver and clusters of L’even pearls.
I barreled toward the shining object with my elbows and tail fins. Grass and leaves crunched beneath me until the presence of something else froze my body to a halt.
My mouth dropped open as I came face to face with a young woman.
A human. I should have known.
Her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes were closed. She slept soundly, her breathing a quiet whisper. One of her hands was extended as if she’d been pointing to the lake.
Right next to her was an object of braided silver that clasped in front with a cluster of L’even pearls.
My shoulders trembled as I took in something I thought I’d never see again.
Father’s diadem.
I glared at the human. Locks of red chestnut hair fanned out beneath her head. She appeared soft and innocent. Anger, nevertheless, roiled through me as I memorized her every detail.
“How dare you,” I seethed.
Closing my eyes for a moment, I focused on recomposing myself.
She wouldn’t hear my words, but I couldn’t risk waking the human before recovering what was rightfully mine.
I reached for the diadem and gently trailed my fingertip along its silver band.
When she didn’t stir, I closed my hand around it. My eyes widened at how much stronger I felt.
I turned and bolted, not looking back until I reached the water.
Slowly, I glided the diadem along my forehead and temples. Its power burned through my chest, followed by a pang of guilt. How dare I feel this well while members of my kingdom suffered and disappeared?
Kicking my tail fins, I receded back into the water. I tore a matching silver and pearl piece from my wrist.
“Your majesty?”
I twisted to where Lorcan floated. His eyes darted back and forth between the diadem on my head and my uncovered wrist.
I pressed the wrist cuff into his hands. “Find our weakest member, and give this to them.”
His mouth dropped open for a moment before he appeared to pull himself together. A light of hope filled his eyes. Without saying a word, he swirled around and swam away.
When he was out of sight, I removed the diadem from my head and distanced myself from the edge of the lake. But not too far. I wanted the human to notice it—to see if she would risk taking it back.
I dropped the diadem and watched it fall, resisting the urge to move until it sank to the bottom of the lake. Relief washed over me when it landed in a place where it captured a beam of light that shone through the water.
A structure of rocks protruded from the lake’s bed, far enough away from the diadem that I would be distanced from its power. But not to the point where I’d be significantly weakened.
I swam and twisted my body until I was hidden behind the rocks, and then waited.