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Mated To The Sea’S Deadliest Alpha Dramax
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00:00The night I was to tell him about our baby, my merman cut my heart open.
00:03Serafina needs your blood.
00:05No!
00:06See this as your payment for tearing us apart.
00:10When I woke up again, I was at the auction with Serafina.
00:13The mate claim is our clan's law.
00:15A woman standing rises and falls entirely with the merman she's bonded to.
00:19So last life, when I was maneuvered into taking Serafina's leftover,
00:22a merman whose tail hung in broken scales, I had no choice.
00:26I bled my heart essence for 49 days before he was barely healed.
00:29I hunted abyssal cores at every turn, pouring them into him to elevate his bloodline.
00:34Yet the first thing he became the Siren King was to kill me, his mate, as well as our unborn
00:38baby.
00:39This is my second chance.
00:40I won't make the same mistake.
00:42I want this one.
00:43Serafina's voice cut me back to the present.
00:45She pointed towards the enormous tank in front of us.
00:47She chose Silas.
00:48My eyes found Silas instantly, cowering at the very back of the holding tank.
00:53A merman's greatest pride is his tail.
00:56Every other tail in that water prison shimmered, rippling like silk ribbons in a dark current.
01:01Silas's tail was stripped nearly bare, scales shed down to raw, ragged flesh.
01:06Serafina, pack heiress and eldest daughter, exactly as she had in our last life,
01:12gestured lazily toward the two mermen at the back.
01:26In my last life, I had believed every word.
01:31Mermen didn't come cheap, and I had assumed even Serafina wouldn't deliberately choose the most broken creature in the tank.
01:37But she had.
01:38She had actually purchased the barely breathing Silas.
01:42Our father had erupted in fury over it.
01:45Father, Allora picked him herself.
01:48You know how she is.
01:49I only paid.
01:50I chose the strong one.
01:52I'm taking mine now.
01:54And just like that, the half-dead wreck called Silas had been handed to me.
01:58This life, I would not fall for a single word.
02:01And called my bid before she could speak.
02:03Take what you want, Serafina.
02:05I pointed at the stone-faced merman in the corner.
02:08I want that one.
02:15It didn't matter who I chose.
02:17If I'd turned the broken, helpless Silas into a siren king, I could do it with anyone.
02:22Every creature in this tank would surpass him with the right hand guiding them.
02:25This time, I just wanted one who would be loyal.
02:28Serafina's smile thinned when she realized the hook hadn't landed.
02:31Allora, you gave us a fixed amount.
02:33If you use it all, what's left for me?
02:34I gave her a single, flat look.
02:35How had I spent an entire lifetime missing how well she could perform?
02:39She had engineered this from the start.
02:40Push the broken merman onto me.
02:42Keep me weak.
02:43Keep herself on top.
02:44Her trap had been set the moment we walked through these auction doors.
02:47I stared straight at Silas, who was pressing himself against the tank wall, performing desperately
02:51for any buyer.
02:53That one doesn't look bad.
02:54Feed him right, and he might amount to something.
02:56If you really can't afford your pick, buy him.
02:59Serafina laughed, sharp and incredulous.
03:02I wouldn't want him to warm my bed.
03:03I smiled, but there was nothing warm in it.
03:05Poor Silas.
03:06In our last life, he had actually believed I was the one who separated them.
03:09He had never known that Serafina wouldn't have had him on a bet.
03:12As in our last life, Serafina claimed her merman, Jace, without hesitation.
03:16But as I walked out with my merman, Kaelin, something slammed against the walls of the holding
03:20tank.
03:21Silas, thrashing.
03:22Is he trying to get someone's attention?
03:24Broken thing like that.
03:25I glanced at Silas's frantic movement.
03:28Then at Serafina, who had gone very still.
03:30Had Silas also been reborn?
03:32His panic made sense.
03:34The woman he had spent his whole life loving had just walked away without him.
03:38I caught the fractured blue of his eyes through the water and smiled.
03:41When a dream you've chased for a lifetime shatters in an instant, that has to hurt.
03:45This life, no one punished me for leaving Silas behind.
03:47Kaelin stood before me, his tail slapping the floor in slow, rhythmic strikes.
03:51Can you shift to human form?
03:54He pressed his lips together and pulled the tail in.
03:57Obedient but clearly reluctant.
04:01Unlike the others, there was no relief on his face.
04:04No gratitude for being purchased.
04:06Looking closer, his blue eyes held something else entirely.
04:09Cold detachment and a pride that hadn't been broken yet.
04:11You don't want to come home with me?
04:12Kaelin glanced at me once and said nothing.
04:14As far as I know, the holding tanks run on hierarchy.
04:18Without a buyer, you fight every day just to hold your rank.
04:21I can protect that rank, right now.
04:23He moved to the chair farthest from me and sat.
04:26I'm not the wreck who got his tail beaten to pieces.
04:28One sentence and I was already smiling.
04:30He was right.
04:31For a merman to have his tail destroyed like that, what was that if not useless?
04:35If you don't want to stay, the door is open.
04:40Something flickered in Kaelin's blue eyes.
04:42He was tempted, I could see it.
04:44Before he could act on it, I stood up.
04:47What are you doing?
04:48Since you don't want to be here, I'll go select a different merman.
04:52I'm building a Siren King.
04:53I have no room for someone with a divided heart.
04:56In my peripheral vision, Kaelin looked at me with something new on his face.
04:59Becoming the Siren King was every merman's deepest ambition.
05:02He had the raw power, but raw power could be cultivated in anyone.
05:06A backstabber like Silas wasn't worth the investment.
05:09The auction is over!
05:10I turned and smiled at him.
05:12A family that can afford a merman a senelmest in the first place?
05:15You think we worry about finding another one?
05:19The next several days, I left early and returned late.
05:23Kaelin hadn't left, but I needed my own contingency plans.
05:27What I didn't expect.
05:28The moment I stepped onto the street that afternoon, Silas came staggering toward me.
05:37He threw his arms around my legs.
05:39Take me with you, please.
05:42You were always supposed to choose me.
05:44My heartbeat stuttered exactly once.
05:47What did you just say?
05:49Hilara, look at me.
05:50Are you really not choosing me?
05:52Silas gripped my legs tightly with both hands.
05:56That confirmed it.
05:57Silas had been reborn too.
05:59But if he got a second life, why was he coming to me instead of running straight to Serafina?
06:03I shook him off without expression.
06:04What are you rambling about?
06:06Who is your owner?
06:07Don't come grabbing at strangers in the street.
06:10I turned to walk away, but Silas chased after me recklessly, following closely in haste.
06:15I was half a second from losing my composure.
06:18Then I caught sight of Kaelin, following at a distance behind me.
06:22My eyes shifted, calculating.
06:30Your tail is badly damaged.
06:33Did the other mare shifters in the tank do this to you?
06:36Silas blinked, then nodded quickly.
06:39In my peripheral vision, Kaelin had drawn several steps closer.
06:43I ran my fingers along Silas' damaged tail, the same way I had in our last life.
06:48Every wound on his body had been healed by my hand.
06:51I knew exactly where the pressure felt good and where it burned.
06:54So when I pressed just right, a shudder rolled through Silas' entire body.
06:58He kept leaning into me, breathless.
07:00Master, will you take me home?
07:03I curved my lips.
07:05Of course, I...
07:07Before I could finish, Kaelin launched forward and smashed Silas away with its tail.
07:12He slammed him violently onto the street, five meters away.
07:15He planted himself in front of me, jaw set.
07:17I haven't left yet.
07:19Silas hit the pavement and couldn't get back up.
07:22Several failed attempts, then stillness.
07:27I blinked at Kaelin with wide eyes.
07:30Was that really necessary?
07:34Didn't you say you were leaving?
07:37Why stop me from finding another mermen?
07:39The hands hanging at Kaelin's sides curled into slow fists.
07:43I'm not leaving.
07:44Satisfaction curved my mouth upward.
07:47Mermen had their own will.
07:48Every one of them needed to be won, not forced.
07:51He had taken the first step.
07:53I would accept the olive branch.
07:56As for Silas,
07:58he dragged himself upright and crept forward again.
08:02Master, you agreed just now.
08:06You were going to take me.
08:07I slung my arm over Kaelin's shoulder
08:09and gave Silas a bright little wave.
08:11Sorry.
08:12I changed my mind.
08:14Silas opened his mouth to protest
08:16and moved one step forward.
08:18Kaelin's tail cracked down onto the pavement
08:20directly in front of him.
08:22One more step
08:22and the next thing that breaks will be your bones.
08:25When the tail lifted,
08:26I looked at the cracked stone beneath it.
08:28Kaelin was, without question,
08:30in another league from Silas.
08:31To invent another betrayal,
08:33I forced Kaelin through the blood bond ritual.
08:35You can actually make me Siren King?
08:37I said nothing.
08:38A master speaks.
08:39She doesn't explain herself.
08:40In my last life,
08:41I had poured everything into making Silas a king
08:43and forgotten to make myself stronger first.
08:46If Kaelin performed,
08:47the title was his.
08:48If he showed one flicker of divided loyalty,
08:50he would spend this lifetime as nothing but a bed warmer.
08:53If you don't want to walk out,
08:55then don't.
08:55I turned to leave,
08:56but before I'd taken a single step,
08:58Kaelin drew a blade across his own tail
09:00and pressed the blood from it.
09:02I'll do it.
09:03After the bond sealed,
09:04Kaelin stood beside me,
09:06stiff and stilted.
09:07I'm your merman now.
09:08Up close,
09:09a faint flush had crept across his pale face.
09:13Oddly endearing,
09:14I tilted my chin toward the bed.
09:16Go lie down.
09:17Just to watch his reaction.
09:20Kaelin's face went a deeper red.
09:22He shuffled to the bed,
09:23one careful step at a time,
09:25and let his bleeding tail hang off the edge
09:27so it wouldn't stay in the sheets.
09:28What are you doing?
09:29The crimson flooding his face nearly made me laugh.
09:32All that menace,
09:33and this was what was underneath it?
09:35I ran a deliberate hand along his tail.
09:37You know the custom,
09:38when our family brings home a mermond,
09:40there's a mate claim,
09:41which means,
09:42technically,
09:43you're my husband now.
09:44Kaelin said nothing,
09:45but the moment my fingers made contact,
09:47his tail gave a small, involuntary shiver.
09:49Our eyes met,
09:50and something in his expression shifted,
09:52a quiet resignation,
09:53and he closed his eyes.
09:54A soft laugh escaped me
09:56as I turned and reached for the medical kit.
09:58With his eyes still shut,
10:00I leaned in
10:00and blew a gentle breath
10:01across his bleeding wound.
10:03Does it hurt?
10:04Kaelin's tail began to sway side to side
10:07in small, helpless arcs.
10:08In merman body language,
10:10that meant only one thing,
10:11pleasure.
10:12I packed the wound
10:13and settled back into my chair.
10:14Stay out of water for a few days.
10:16It'll heal.
10:17Less painful now?
10:18The flush hadn't left Kaelin's face.
10:19He darted one glance at me
10:21and turned to look pointedly at the wall.
10:23Hyrus doesn't belong on my tail.
10:25Hmm.
10:26Then why was it still swaying?
10:27Once his tail healed,
10:29we fell into a daily training rhythm.
10:30Unlike my last life,
10:32this time I trained too.
10:33What kind of woman builds a siren king
10:35and leaves herself defenseless?
10:37We hadn't been at it long
10:39when Serafina arrived with her merman,
10:41Jace.
10:41My little sister,
10:42so committed you've thrown yourself
10:43into the sparring too.
10:44You spent so long choosing at the auction
10:46I expected something impressive,
10:47but honestly,
10:47he's not even half of what my Jace is.
10:49I stopped and looked at Serafina
10:51and Jace without expression.
10:52Jace was built impressively, yes,
10:54but in our last life,
10:55he had been thoroughly ordinary
10:57and Serafina was no handler.
10:59After her mate claim,
11:00our father had handed house authority
11:01to me instead.
11:02I said nothing,
11:03but Kaylin stepped in front of me.
11:05Ha!
11:05A merman,
11:06challenging me?
11:07Let me make this clear.
11:09I am this family's pack heiress,
11:11and when the time comes,
11:13I run this house.
11:15Jace,
11:16teach him.
11:17Jace lunged.
11:18Kaylin moved without urgency.
11:19He even had time to guide me
11:21to a clear position
11:22before turning to face the attack.
11:24Good.
11:24I wanted to see what he could actually do.
11:26The two of them clashed hard,
11:28but within a handful of exchanges,
11:30it was obvious Jace was losing ground.
11:33Serafina,
11:33who had opened with absolute confidence.
11:36Kill him!
11:36Just kill him!
11:37Why are you holding back?
11:38Finish him,
11:39and I'll take the blame!
11:40Jace showed no visible improvement,
11:42but Kaylin had stopped pulling his strikes.
11:44He was half a second away
11:45from crushing Jace's shoulder completely.
11:47He nodded.
11:48Serafina screamed.
11:49How dare you!
11:50Allara!
11:51Look at what your pet did to my immersion!
11:53I smiled.
11:54Serafina,
11:55weren't you the one who let Jake start it?
11:57You were screaming at him to kill Kaylin.
11:59Everyone present heard you.
12:00Serafina couldn't win the argument,
12:01so she crossed the floor
12:03and put herself in my face.
12:04If Jace is injured,
12:05I will have father come down on you so hard!
12:07You cost a fortune.
12:08I held her gaze for a long moment,
12:10then told Kaylin to let Jace go.
12:13Smart girl.
12:14Eldest is eldest.
12:15No matter what,
12:16this house will never be yours to run.
12:18She snatched Jace by the arm
12:19and swept out,
12:20hurling curses the entire way.
12:22I should have finished him.
12:23What's the rush?
12:24Serafina had taken her first loss.
12:26She would come back with real hatred now.
12:28Let her rage.
12:29Let her spiral.
12:30The one who goes mad first loses everything.
12:33Serafina began watching me
12:34the way a predator watches an open wound.
12:36I had expected her to undermine me
12:38in front of our father.
12:39What I hadn't expected,
12:40she had brought Silas home
12:42and put into work as a house servant.
12:44The moment he blocked my path
12:45in the corridor and begged,
12:46my step stuttered.
12:47How are you here?
12:49Serafina stepped out from around the corner,
12:51smiling,
12:52with our father right behind her.
12:53So the rumors are true.
12:55I stared at her.
12:57What rumors?
12:59Father's expression was stoned.
13:00Elora, you already have a mate claim.
13:02Why are you still tangled up with him?
13:04Your sister was fortunate enough
13:05to run into him today.
13:07She brought him here to keep him quiet.
13:08Otherwise, your reputation would be ruined.
13:10I had no words.
13:13Serafina strolled toward me
13:14with pure delight on her face,
13:15hooking Silas' chin up
13:17with the toe of her shoe.
13:18Little sister,
13:18he's been asking around outside,
13:20trying every connection he has
13:21to get through our gates to reach you.
13:23You should have said something.
13:24If there was something between you two,
13:26you could just bought him at the auction.
13:28Why bother bringing Kaylin home?
13:30The more she talked,
13:31the darker father's face became...
13:33Elora,
13:34clean this up
13:35or get out of this house.
13:36He turned and left
13:37without another word.
13:39Serafina beamed at me.
13:40My capable little sister.
13:43Take your time sorting it out.
13:48Silas knelt half on the floor,
13:50his face tilted up toward mine,
13:52his eyes full of naked wanting.
13:55You love being near me that much?
13:58Then stay.
13:58Better to keep him where I could watch him
14:00than to throw him out blind.
14:02In this life,
14:02without my heart essence,
14:04Silas surviving it all
14:05was already uncertain.
14:06He started drifting
14:07through every room I occupied.
14:09Kaylin, on the other hand,
14:10had gone cold on me again.
14:11When I cornered him
14:12in the back garden one morning,
14:13You're coming to me right now?
14:14Shouldn't you be
14:15with that pathetic Silas?
14:16That whole scene on the street
14:18was staged.
14:19You two tricked me
14:20into the blood bond.
14:21Kaylin's tail hit the ground
14:22in sharp, irritated slaps.
14:24I watched him
14:24with genuine interest.
14:26You already bonded.
14:27There's no running from that.
14:29The real question is,
14:31do you still want
14:32to be Siren King?
14:33He gave me a flat,
14:34suspicious look,
14:35like I was setting another trap.
14:37There's a Mermin tournament
14:38in two months.
14:39Whether you become Siren King
14:40depends entirely
14:41on what you do
14:41with that time.
14:43Really?
14:44There's truly nothing
14:45between you and that Mermin?
14:46I was half a breath
14:47from swearing on it.
14:49Kaylin finally let out
14:50a grudging huff
14:50and fell into step beside me.
14:52We drilled repeatedly
14:53in the draining field
14:54while Silas kept finding
14:55reasons to wander past.
14:58Let me break his tail.
15:00See how he walks
15:01after that.
15:02Kaylin!
15:04I have plans for him.
15:05All that heart essence
15:07I'd fed him
15:07in our last life
15:08was not going
15:09to be wasted.
15:10He walked right up to us.
15:11What happened next
15:12was on him.
15:13That evening,
15:14I had Silas
15:15called to my room
15:15to serve.
15:16The Siren King
15:17of my last life
15:17was now on his knees
15:19at my feet
15:19cradling a basin of water.
15:21His injuries
15:21were severe enough
15:22that he swayed
15:23every few minutes
15:24barely holding himself upright.
15:25You're not well?
15:26I kept my voice casual
15:27almost bored.
15:29The annual Merman tournament
15:30was weeks away.
15:31Silas had to be crawling
15:32out of his skin.
15:33In our last life
15:34with my help
15:35he had claimed
15:35the Siren King's title.
15:37A man who had sat
15:38at the top of the world
15:39does not quietly accept
15:40kneeling on someone's floor.
15:41So no matter
15:42what it cost him
15:43he would endure
15:44because he still
15:45needed my heart essence.
15:46Silas sad sideways
15:47onto the floor
15:48his voice thin.
15:50My tail was damaged
15:51in the holding tank.
15:52It never healed properly.
15:55What would it take
15:56to fix it?
15:57This house
15:57doesn't keep idle staff.
15:59Silas looked at me
16:00testing the water.
16:01A human's heart essence.
16:0349 days of it.
16:04Taken in doses.
16:06Only then will I heal.
16:08I said nothing.
16:10Right now
16:10he was nothing
16:11but a servant.
16:12When I didn't react
16:13he coughed twice.
16:15I know I'm useless.
16:17All I ask in this life
16:18is to stay near you.
16:20I would never dare
16:21dream of your heart essence.
16:23Why are you so set
16:25on staying near me?
16:27Silas studied my face
16:28searching for the lie.
16:30My expression was open
16:31guileless.
16:32There was nothing
16:32for him to find.
16:33Once he was certain
16:34I wasn't performing
16:34he shook his head
16:36with a face full of grief.
16:37You truly don't remember me.
16:38You saved my life once.
16:41Mermen repay their debts
16:42and that is why I stay.
16:44Even knowing that you
16:45and Kaylin
16:47as long as I can see
16:48you live well
16:50I have no regrets.
16:51I dug my fingernail
16:52into my own palm
16:53hard enough to leave a mark
16:54and I did not slap him.
16:56Gratitude and loyalty.
16:57He had taken my trust
16:58and stabbed me
16:59with a knife.
17:00And here he was
17:01performing it
17:02with shining eyes
17:03and a breaking voice.
17:05If I didn't still carry
17:07every memory
17:07from our last life
17:08I might have believed him.
17:09I ranged my face
17:10into something soft
17:11and moved.
17:12Just 49 days
17:13of heart essence
17:14and you'd be fully healed?
17:16Silas' eyes lit up.
17:19The hunger behind his eyes
17:20was obvious
17:21but he was working hard
17:23to swallow it.
17:25Yes
17:26but Alara
17:27it hurts
17:28to draw heart essence.
17:31I let a pause stretch
17:32then spoke carefully.
17:35I can save your life
17:37but once you're healed
17:39you will not
17:40come near me again.
17:42Something flickered
17:43across Silas' face
17:44a flash of injury
17:46but he agreed
17:47almost immediately.
17:48Agreed.
17:50I won't come near you.
17:52He bowed his head
17:53and behind his back
17:54I finally allowed
17:55myself to smile.
17:56My heart essence
17:57is not so easily given.
17:59Starting the next morning
18:00I sent Kaylin out
18:02each day
18:03to buy fresh chicken blood
18:04from the market.
18:05Diluted with water
18:06the smell was manageable.
18:07To make sure
18:08he couldn't detect the switch
18:09I dissolved several herbs
18:10into the mixture.
18:11He needed to see results
18:13or he wouldn't keep believing.
18:14Silas drained bowl after bowl
18:16his brow creasing tighter
18:17every time.
18:18Alara
18:18this heart essence
18:19tastes strained.
18:21I immediately let hurt
18:22flood my expression.
18:23Blood is never going to taste good.
18:25I cut open my own chest for you.
18:27If you don't like it
18:28I'll just throw it out.
18:29Silas did not dare.
18:30He tilted the bowl back
18:31and licked it clean.
18:32Alara this kindness
18:33is something I'll carry forever.
18:34I wish I were the one
18:35you'd chosen.
18:35I could spend my life
18:36at your side repaying this.
18:37I pulled my face
18:38into something pained
18:39and troubled.
18:40It was already
18:40a significant problem for me.
18:42You heard what father
18:43and Serafina said that day.
18:44I kept talking
18:45watching him
18:46in my peripheral vision.
18:47When I mentioned Serafina
18:48not a trace of longing
18:49crossed his face.
18:50What appeared instead
18:51was something close to hatred.
18:52I had died in our last life
18:54before seeing what came after.
18:56But judging by his face now
18:57the Siren King's reign
18:58had not ended well
18:59for him either.
19:00Still none of that
19:02is your fault.
19:03Serafina has always
19:04had it out for me.
19:05She's simply using
19:06your situation
19:07to make me look bad.
19:08The hand Silas had rested
19:09on the table
19:10tightened into a fist
19:11without him noticing.
19:12Looking at the locked
19:13muscle in his jaw
19:14I knew I'd guessed right.
19:17Alara don't worry
19:18I won't be a burden to you.
19:20Good.
19:20Because in this life
19:21he didn't come close
19:22to deserving to be my problem.
19:24Silas stopped haunting
19:24my rooms as much.
19:25Lately he'd been gravitating
19:27towards Serafina's wing instead.
19:28He had taken what I said to heart.
19:30If he could be a blade
19:31I aimed at her
19:31that was at least
19:32partial penance
19:33for the last life.
19:34To keep him from noticing
19:35anything off
19:36Kalen and I had shifted
19:37our training sessions
19:37to my room at night.
19:40Faster.
19:41Every merman
19:42in that tournament
19:43fights to kill.
19:45If your speed isn't there
19:46you'll walk in
19:47and get carried out.
19:48I finished
19:49and waved him over.
19:52Come on
19:53spa with me.
19:55Kalen smiled
19:56and it was absolutely
19:57contemptuous.
19:58Get over here.
20:00Before the words
20:01finished leaving my mouth
20:02he was already
20:03in front of me
20:04fast enough
20:05that I couldn't track
20:06how he'd moved.
20:08How did you...
20:08Before I could finish
20:09he pressed the attack.
20:11I dodged twice
20:12barely
20:13and then my footing
20:13slipped
20:14and I went backwards.
20:16Kalen's
20:16sharp inhale
20:17his hand caught my waist.
20:19I was fairly certain
20:20he did it on purpose.
20:21The momentum carried us
20:22both down
20:22onto the bed together.
20:24Pinned beneath him
20:24my heartbeat stopped
20:25being something
20:26I could control.
20:27Those blue eyes flickered
20:28and without a word
20:29he locked both my wrists
20:31above my head.
20:31Silas gets to come
20:32to your room at night.
20:33Why don't I?
20:34He had found out
20:35about Silas coming
20:36every night to drink.
20:41Silas has business!
20:43Kalen didn't move
20:44the heat of his breath
20:45spreading across my neck.
20:46His tail reached out
20:47and drew the bed curtain closed.
20:49He said
20:50low and certain
20:51Master
20:52you're the one
20:53who said
20:54I'd be your husband.
20:55By the time
20:55my legs had gone
20:56completely weak
20:57Kalen was still
20:59murmuring in my ear
21:00asking whether
21:01I wanted him
21:02or Silas.
21:03I gave some
21:04incoherent answer
21:05while internally
21:06screaming about
21:07how unfair it was
21:08that this infuriating
21:09merman
21:10had a body like that.
21:11A month later
21:12Jace's tail collapsed.
21:15Serafina tore
21:16through the house
21:16like something feral.
21:18Jace lay on the bed
21:19the color of ash.
21:22How does something
21:23like this just happen?
21:25Jace
21:26did you eat something?
21:28Where is your tail?
21:29How are you supposed
21:29to compete with no tail?
21:30Are you even a merman
21:31anymore?
21:32Father please
21:34find someone
21:35to look at him.
21:36The tournament troll
21:36is almost here
21:37and I've put everything
21:38into him.
21:40Father's brow furrowed
21:41but he nodded.
21:43The merman physician
21:44examined Jace
21:44set down his wrist
21:45and left shaking his head.
21:47The tail looks intact
21:48from the outside
21:49but they've already
21:50begun to dissolve.
21:51Within three days
21:52his skeleton
21:53will be nothing but fluid.
21:54Jace threw himself
21:55at the physician
21:55in a frenzy
21:56so violent
21:57he rolled off the bed.
21:59Serafina stared
21:59at the wall
22:00repeating impossible
22:01to no one.
22:02After she sent
22:03the physician out
22:06she lunged
22:07straight at me
22:08and Kaylin stepped
22:09between us
22:09before she got close.
22:12Alotta
22:13this was you
22:14wasn't it?
22:15You've always been
22:16jealous of Jace's talent
22:17terrified he'd become
22:18Siren King
22:19and you'd never
22:19get above me
22:20so you did this
22:21to him.
22:21You destroyed
22:22my merman.
22:23I will ruin you.
22:25You can die.
22:25Father walked in
22:26on those exact words.
22:27Enough!
22:28Enough!
22:28Father's voice
22:29cracked like a whip
22:30and Serafina went silent.
22:31Serafina,
22:32I genuinely have
22:33no reason
22:33to hurt your merman.
22:34Whoever ends up
22:35as Siren King
22:36Kaylin outwells Jace
22:38so completely
22:38that Jake was
22:39never a competitor
22:40we even considered
22:41so why would I bother?
22:43Serafina tried
22:44to erupt again
22:44and Father
22:46shut her down.
22:47What's done is done
22:48stay in your rooms
22:49and rest.
22:50You're not competing
22:51in the tournament.
22:52As for that useless
22:53mermaid
22:54that's your problem
22:55to solve.
22:56Both Jace and Serafina
22:58went white.
22:59A merman without a tail
23:00turned out of this house.
23:02What were the odds
23:03of survival?
23:04And Serafina
23:05without a merman
23:06had just lost
23:07every card she held.
23:09When Silas came
23:10to drink that evening
23:11the good mood
23:12was written all over him.
23:13He looked at me
23:14like he was offering something.
23:15Serafina won't be able
23:16to take anything
23:17from you anymore.
23:18I handed him the bowl.
23:19He was nearly
23:19through the full course now.
23:21I had increased
23:21the herbal dose recently
23:23and Silas did look
23:24genuinely better
23:24visibly stronger
23:25but it was all surface.
23:27The herbs were keeping
23:28a thread of life taught.
23:29The moment he exerted himself
23:30past a certain point
23:31the crisis would hit
23:32without warning.
23:33When it did
23:34a hundred days
23:35of true heart essence
23:36wouldn't save him.
23:37That business with Jace
23:38that wasn't you
23:39was it?
23:40I let my eyes go wide
23:41with something
23:42that looked like awe.
23:43How did you manage
23:43it so cleanly?
23:44He just fell apart.
23:46I asked.
23:47He turned coy.
23:48For your sake
23:49there's nothing
23:49I wouldn't do.
23:50I turned away
23:51and let out
23:52a quiet cold laugh.
23:53The only reason
23:54he knew how to do
23:54any of this
23:55was because he had
23:56been Siren King
23:56once before.
23:57His body was a wreck
23:58but the dirty knowledge
23:59that had stayed.
24:00He drained the bowl
24:01and licked his lips
24:02with slow satisfaction.
24:04Behind him
24:04his tail flicked out
24:05in a slow arc
24:06showing off.
24:07After he left
24:08Kaelin stepped out
24:09of the shadows.
24:10His expression
24:10was set
24:11and watchful.
24:12Alara
24:12he's dangerous.
24:15Why are you helping him?
24:16I stared at the red
24:17stained bowl
24:18and let the question
24:19hang before I turned
24:20it back on him.
24:21What makes you think
24:22I'm helping him?
24:24Kaelin paused
24:24and I pressed immediately.
24:26The tournament
24:26is in three days
24:27do you believe
24:28you can take the crown?
24:29He reached back
24:30and closed his hand
24:30over mine.
24:31If my master
24:32wants it this badly
24:33I'll throw my life
24:33on the line to win it.
24:34That genuinely
24:36inconveniently
24:36made my face go red.
24:38I had assessed
24:38every merman
24:39in that tournament.
24:40As long as Kaelin
24:40fought at his actual level
24:42this was already decided.
24:43On the day of the tournament
24:44father came with us
24:45along with Serafina.
24:47I hadn't seen Silas
24:48at the house
24:48since the day before.
24:49He had entered
24:50then
24:50he had to have
24:51Kaelin.
24:52This match carries
24:53the family's name
24:54and standing.
24:54Give everything you have.
24:56Understood?
24:57Father's voice
24:57was low and firm.
24:59Serafina twisted
24:59her mouth to the side
25:01but unusually
25:01she said nothing.
25:02I glanced at her sideways
25:04with the particular
25:05unease of someone
25:05who knows a quiet snake
25:07is worse than a loud one.
25:08Right before Kaelin
25:09was called to the arena floor
25:11Serafina pulled a handkerchief
25:12from her bodice
25:13and moved to wipe his face.
25:15Kaelin never allowed
25:16strangers close to him.
25:17He stepped back immediately.
25:19Serafina's hand
25:19hung in empty air
25:20the moment crystallizing
25:22into something awkward
25:23and ugly.
25:24Little sister
25:25look at this merman
25:26of yours.
25:27I'm just
25:29wiping some sweat.
25:30If he becomes
25:32Siren King
25:32it reflects
25:34on all of us.
25:35Doesn't it?
25:36How petty.
25:38Huh?
25:39Helpful?
25:40I laughed
25:40hollow and bright
25:41and took the handkerchief
25:42out of her hand
25:43and dragged it
25:44across father's face.
25:45What?
25:46Stop!
25:47The way Serafina's words
25:48failed completely confirmed
25:49what I already suspected
25:50about that cloth
25:51so I scrubbed harder.
25:53What's wrong?
25:54The tournament matters
25:55but father has been
25:55standing in the heat
25:56for us.
25:57It's only right
25:57that I take care of him.
25:58While I was still talking
25:59I pushed Kaelin
26:00toward the arena entrance.
26:02Two months of work
26:02no one was going
26:03to dismantle it
26:04in the final seconds.
26:05Serafina began
26:06shifting her weight
26:07watching.
26:08Her eyes kept
26:08cutting to father.
26:09When he started to sway
26:10I understood.
26:12A sedative.
26:12She'd laced it
26:13with a sedative.
26:14Father
26:14are you alright?
26:15Father pressed a hand
26:16to his temple.
26:17Fine beads of sweat
26:18were already breaking out
26:19across his forehead.
26:20You were
26:21fine a moment ago.
26:23One wipe of a handkerchief
26:24and now this?
26:25I was still asking
26:26when Serafina's
26:26composure cracked.
26:30What are you insinuating?
26:33Father is just unwell.
26:35What does my handkerchief
26:36have to do with anything?
26:38Father was already
26:39too disoriented to speak.
26:40I turned to Serafina
26:41with a pleasant smile.
26:42Whether there's a problem
26:43or not
26:44we'll find out
26:45when we test it.
26:46This time the drug
26:47had landed on father.
26:48I couldn't see
26:49how he could look
26:49away from that.
26:50Serafina's goal
26:51was simple enough.
26:52Her own merman
26:53was finished.
26:53She simply refused
26:54to let Kaelin compete.
26:56But she had forgotten.
26:56As long as someone
26:57brought glory to the family
26:59father never cared
27:00who that person was.
27:01Once the tournament started
27:02Kaelin tore through
27:03the brackets
27:03and into the final rounds
27:05without breaking a sweat.
27:06Father was barely conscious.
27:08Neither Serafina
27:09nor I had time
27:10to tend to him.
27:11When Silas appeared
27:12on the arena floor
27:13Serafina's jaw dropped.
27:14His tail was ruined.
27:16He was a house servant.
27:18Why is he here?
27:19Then she seemed
27:19to grab hold of something.
27:21His tail can heal.
27:22Does that mean
27:22Jake still has a chance?
27:24That was you
27:25wasn't it?
27:26How did you heal him?
27:28I tilted my head.
27:29Want to know?
27:30Feed him your own
27:31heart essence.
27:32Every day
27:33for 49 days.
27:34I told her the method
27:35with complete sincerity.
27:36But the moment
27:37Serafina heard the words
27:38your own
27:39her entire face changed.
27:41For a merman?
27:42I'll just buy another one.
27:44But Alara
27:46you healed Simus
27:47just to watch him
27:48fight Kaelin in the ring?
27:49Serafina looked at me
27:50like she was watching
27:51something too stupid
27:52to pity.
27:52I fixed my eyes
27:53on the arena
27:54and said nothing.
27:55Before we'd arrived
27:56I had given Kaelin
27:57one instruction.
27:58If you face Silas
27:59in that ring
27:59don't stop
28:01until he can't get up.
28:08All that chicken blood
28:10and herbs
28:10had been worth
28:11every drop.
28:12Silas and Kaelin
28:13finally stood
28:14face to face.
28:15Kaelin rolled
28:15his shoulders once
28:16and charged
28:17without a word.
28:18Silas had looked
28:19formidable
28:19against everyone else.
28:20But against Kaelin
28:22he shattered instantly.
28:23Kaelin lifted Silas
28:24over his head
28:25and brought him down
28:26hard onto the arena floor.
28:28The scream that tore
28:28out of Silas
28:29split the air
28:30of the entire stadium.
28:32I was smiling.
28:33In my peripheral vision
28:34Serafina had stopped
28:35being able to.
28:36How is Kaelin
28:37this strong?
28:38Less than a quarter
28:38of an hour
28:39into the match
28:40Silas could barely crawl.
28:43Was still waiting.
28:45Waiting for the moment
28:46he pushed too hard
28:47and the blood came.
28:48He spent everything
28:49he had just dragging
28:50himself back upright.
28:52First thing he did
28:53when he was standing
28:54again was look
28:55for me in the crowd.
28:56I turned my gaze away
28:58cold.
28:59That manufactured
29:00devotion in his eyes
29:01was nauseating.
29:02Silas threw his head
29:03back and gathered
29:04himself for one
29:05total all or nothing
29:06strike at Kaelin
29:07and then his hand
29:08flew to his own chest.
29:10A rush of blood
29:11spilled from his mouth.
29:12Kaelin didn't need
29:13to finish him.
29:14Silas put himself
29:15on the ground.
29:16Serafina.
29:18Kaelin won again.
29:20By the end
29:21of the final matches
29:22his title
29:23as Siren King
29:24was absolute.
29:26Across the crowd
29:27Kaelin found me
29:28and held my gaze.
29:29Serafina's back molars
29:31were going to crack
29:31under the pressure
29:32of her clenched jaw.
29:34Back at the house
29:35it took until
29:36the following morning
29:37for father's head
29:38to clear.
29:38When he heard
29:39that Kaelin
29:40had won the tournament
29:40and claimed
29:41the Siren King title
29:42father was overcome.
29:45He said good
29:46three times in a row.
29:48It seems I can rest easy
29:49leaving the family
29:50in your hands.
29:52Before I could respond
29:54Serafina erupted.
29:55Father
29:56I am the pack high res.
29:58This house
29:58should pass to me.
29:59My merman was sabotaged
30:01otherwise the Siren King
30:02would have been ours.
30:04Father delivered
30:05a few mild words
30:06of rebuke
30:07and seemed prepared
30:08to let the matter go.
30:09I reached into my bodice
30:10and drew out
30:11the handkerchief.
30:13Father
30:13yesterday
30:15before Kaelin's match
30:16Serafina tried
30:17to wipe his face
30:18with this cloth.
30:18It contains
30:19a heavy sedative.
30:20You only came
30:21to yourself this morning
30:22because of it.
30:23This concerns
30:26the family's future.
30:29Serafina's intentions
30:30are unforgivable.
30:33Father's expression
30:34went still
30:34and then ignited.
30:36Thank God
30:36Kaelin stepped back.
30:37If that cloth
30:38had touched him
30:38the Siren King's crown
30:39would have gone
30:40somewhere else entirely.
30:40You have spent
30:41your entire life
30:42competing with your sister
30:43and I have spent
30:43your entire life
30:44looking the other way.
30:45But it is clear to me
30:46now that this family
30:47cannot be given to you.
30:48Are you really
30:49fanning over Alara
30:50just because her merman
30:51won a tournament?
30:53How dare you!
30:57Get back to your room.
30:59Serafina
31:00you are forbidden
31:01from keeping a merman
31:02from this day forward.
31:04Serafina was dragged out.
31:05That last sentence
31:06had sealed
31:06every exit she had left.
31:08Without a merman
31:09what did she have left
31:10to use against me?
31:11Kaelin and I rose
31:12to a new position
31:13in the household
31:13one that would hold.
31:15That night
31:15Kaelin's tail moved
31:16in restless arcs
31:17across the bed.
31:18Are you going to sleep?
31:21Sleeping.
31:27What did you say
31:28to Simus
31:28after he went down?
31:31I told him
31:31he'd been drinking
31:32chicken blood
31:33the whole time.
31:33uh
31:35Don't
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