Chapter 22: Summoned by Aurelius
The pain…
It started in his chest, making Caspian's hand immediately fly next to his heart, like invisible claws were dragging him downward.
He gasped, clutching at his ribs. Water swirled around him, though he hadn't called it. It rose from the floor itself, curling around his arms, his legs, his throat.
"Shit…" Caspian struggled, but the current was too strong.
The bond burned across his skin, golden lines flashed like fire under water. He was being summoned.
However, not by Nadeira or by the bond. By something older. By someone older…
The sea itself was calling for Caspian's presence.
The pull ripped him under.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the mansion. His body shifted back to its tail form automatically, floating in the throne hall of the undersea kingdom.
The water was darker here, pressing down on every word.
And in front of him were chains.
Orrisian and Nyxmaris were kneeling, their wrists bound with heavy coral shackles, blue blood was coming from the cuts on their faces.
Guards hovered around them, aimed like they were dangerous beasts.
Caspian's eyes widened immediately, and he furrowed his eyebrows. "What…what are you doing? Release them!"
His tone was strong, but the silence that followed was stronger…
Finally, someone moved forward like a shadow stepping into the throne's light.
King Aurelius..
Caspian's father. His long silver hair flowed like waves, his trident gleamed, and his eyes looked harder than stones.
"They disobeyed me," Aurelius started calmly, yet somehow his voice rumbled through the hall. "They acted without respect, without order. They let themselves be ruled by impulse instead of command."
Orrisian's lip was split, but he smirked anyway. "Impulse saves lives. Orders kill them."
The guards struck him across the face with a trident shaft, and more blood floated like smoke.
"Stop!" Caspian yelled forward, only to be blocked by another guard. His chest rose and fell immediately. "Father, please. They're my brothers. Give them more time. They were only trying to fix what went wrong."
Aurelius's eyes narrowed. "Fix? Or ruin further?"
Caspian swallowed hard. His hands clenched. "They will fix everything. I promise. Just let them go."
The water shifted in more waves. Aurelius lifted his head, and the trident was lowered just a little bit.
"If there is to be fixing," the king said slowly, "then the girl must be brought before me."
Caspian's eyes widened even harder as he opened his mouth. "…The girl?"
"Do not play dumb," Aurelius's voice thundered. "The land-born who walks with you. She must atone for her sins before the throne."
Caspian's insides were raging... He thought of Nadeira's fire, her eyes, her stubborn mouth.
Bringing her here meant handing her over. And Aurelius…he was not merciful.
"She-" Caspian started, but then bowed his head quickly. "Yes. I will bring her. I swear it."
Aurelius stared at him long and hard. The silence was suffocating Caspian's breathing…
Then, suddenly, his eyes fell down. To Caspian's chest. To the faint glow sparking across his skin.
"Golden lines?"
They wrapped over his collarbone, down his arms, light but an undeniable mark of a bond.
Aurelius's voice dropped, and he immediately raised one of his brows. "What is this?"
Panic like winter's wind flashes in Caspian's veins.
The king's eyes darkened. "Answer me."
Orrisian and Nyxmaris both turned their heads, confusion was covering their expressions. Their gazes traced the golden marks…and then they stopped moving, not being able to believe what they saw…
Orrisian's voice cracked. "Caspian… tell me you didn't."
Nyxmaris shook his head slowly. "You bound yourself to her by a…?"
Caspian clenched his teeth. He didn't speak, he couldn't face his brothers now and answer them…how could he be the first one to have his mating ritual without them…
Aurelius rose from his throne, water circled with his every step. "You strengthened the bond," he stated, but the disgust was spilling from each word. "You tied yourself to her completely. Now she is yours…and you are hers."
He slammed his trident down. The throne hall shuddered.
"You dare chain your soul to a land-born girl…to that bitch's daughter?"
Caspian's throat tightened. He tried to breathe, but the water felt too heavy.
His brothers looked at him, bound and bloodied, but it wasn't the wounds that stung him. It was their eyes.
Betrayed…
Orrisian's lip curled in anger. Nyxmaris looked as if Caspian had plunged a blade through his chest.
And Caspian could not even explain.
The silence between them was worse than any chain…
"Release them, father. And I promise…I will bring Nadeira to you…"