Atlantis Dark Tides by Allie Burton

Author:Allie Burton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alice Fairbanks-Burton
Published: 2014-04-16T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Bogus Blame

I killed Reef’s brother.

Nausea churned. The knowledge mixing like extra strength acid, shredding my stomach walls.

I’d stabbed Dylan with a knife—a knife that Reef had given me. A knife that had distracted Dylan because of the glittering stones that only came from this part of the ocean. A family heirloom knife.

Guilt that I’d killed Dylan with his family’s knife, that by stabbing him I’d weakened him and he’d died, pierced my skin. And with Dylan’s death, Reef had become crown prince.

A crown prince that had to marry a princess.

I’d caused all of it, including my own predicament of being unable to be with him.

Granted, I hadn’t interrogated Dylan, but the dagger wound had weakened him. Guards had captured and delivered him to Mollusk.

The nausea crawled into my throat making my larynx burn. It was my fault Dylan was dead and my fault Reef would now be king. Covering my mouth, I swam for the infirmary. I couldn’t stay here a moment longer knowing I was involved in Dylan’s death.

And Reef knew.

I choked on water like an air-breather. Remembering how I’d said sorry when I heard the news and Reef had said, “It’s not your fault” as if it was my fault.

Because it was.

Amazed confusion swirled in my head. He still seemed to like me, care for me. How could he? I blamed myself, surely, he must, too. For Dylan’s death and for Reef’s new situation.

It was time to escape from the palace and the wonderful Kingdom of Merta. Escape from my feelings for Reef. I was now healthy enough to travel. The queen didn’t want me here interfering with whatever princess she had in mind for him.

The nausea went back down my throat and into my chest. My lungs burned. My heart bled. I couldn’t stay here and watch him get into another relationship and marry. The emotional torture would be worse than anything Ceto could do to me…

Because I now refused to kill the princesses.

My spine straightened and my shoulders flexed out. In my mind, I threw down the gauntlet. Made my stand in the sand.

I’d never liked the idea of murder. Had wallowed in the planning and the plotting. And as time and distance had separated me from Atlantis, from Ceto, I realized I hated the thought of killing anyone. Especially now that I knew I’d contributed to Dylan’s death. I wanted to live in peace.

An image undulated into my brain. No pain accompanied the vision—a nonviolent vision.

A couple stood at an altar. The bride with flowing blonde hair wore a crown on her head. Her brown-haired prince stood next to her. The way he held his body was familiar.

The princess turned around, a brilliant smile on her face. Princess Pearl.

The prince whispered something to her. His profile seemed familiar. Could it be Reef?

I gasped. I didn’t want to see Reef marrying someone else. Not in a vision or in reality.

He started twisting around. His brown hair waved in the current.

I shook my head, dispelling the vision, not wanting to witness the happiness and love on his face.

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