Rogue Wave (Waterfire Saga #2)(67)

But even as she was blinking back tears, Serafina noticed something odd—Mahdi was wearing a yellow anemone on his black jacket. As she stared at it, straining to see it clearly over the distance between them, she realized it was the one he’d worn at their betrothal. It was vivid; its tiny tentacles were moving. He’d obviously tended it and kept it alive. She saw something else, too. He kept tugging at his ear. At a gold hoop that dangled from his lobe.

That’s strange, she thought. He wasn’t wearing an earring at Carlo and Elena’s. He gave his earring to that mother in the Lagoon so she could sell it to buy food for her children. Back when he was Blu.

As the ceremony finished, and Mahdi kissed Lucia’s cheek, another cheer went up, started—yet again—by the soldiers.

Do you recognize it? Mahdi suddenly said. Inside Sera’s head. It’s the ring you gave me at our Promising. It was Carlo’s. I’ve had to take it off my hand, but I found a way to keep wearing it.

Oh, Mahdi…

Don’t be upset, Sera. Please. Not over this. It means nothing to me.

Then why are you doing it?

To stay close to them. To stop them. Traho, the Volneros…

My uncle, too?

I don’t know. I don’t know if he really thinks you’re dead or not. Be careful of him, Sera.

You belong to her now, to Lucia.

No, I don’t. You know that.

A memory came to her of their betrothal. They had signed the parchment. She’d started toward Elena’s kitchen and Mahdi had lagged behind to talk to the justice of the seas.

That’s why you questioned Rafael about the ceremony, isn’t it? Why you asked him if the betrothal was binding even if one of us was to marry another.

Yes. I was worried Portia and Lucia were plotting something like this. That’s why you’re in such danger, Sera. Portia knows the laws too. If she finds out about us—about you and me—she’ll do anything she can to break our vow. Anything. Do you understand?

Sera did.

You mean she’ll kill me.

Yes. That’s why you have to get out of here. Leave Cerulea. Get as far away from the Volneros as you can and don’t come back.

I can’t do that, Mahdi. This is my home. These are my people.

The convoca began to fade.

…have to go…please be care—…love you….

Will I ever see you again?

She listened for his answer.

But it never came.





“WE GOTTA MAKE WAKE,” Yazeed said quietly, as he swam up behind Serafina. “If Portia Volnero hears you’re in the city, you’re chum.”

Serafina turned around. She threw her arms around Neela, and then Yazeed, and then introduced them to Coco. They were all outside the Kolisseo in the middle of a surging crowd of soldiers and civilians. The royal party had already left for the palace.

“Yazeed, I’m so glad you’re all right. Neels, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be safe and sound at home,” Sera said.

“Home’s not safe anymore. Or sound. It’s not even home.”

“What do you mean?”

Neela told her that Portia had taken Matali City. Yaz explained that she’d also plundered the Matalin vaults and murdered the grand vizier, and that they’d hightailed it to Miromara to warn Sera about her.

“Plus, that thing we need? I got it,” Neela said, glancing around at the soldiers.

Sera understood. There were too many enemies around to speak freely. “That’s awesome, Neela. Likewise.”

“Excellent,” Neela whispered. “Have you seen any prison camps, Sera? Has Traho set any up here?”

“Camps?” Sera echoed.

“Save it for later,” Yazeed said. “We got here in the nick of time to find you,” he said. “And now we’ve got to get out again. Let’s go.”

“I can’t, Yaz. Not yet. I have to get Coco to safety first,” Serafina said.

“Principessa,” a voice whispered.

Serafina turned around.

“Niccolo!” she said, recognizing her friend and fellow resistance fighter.

“Smile at me as if I’m an old friend,” Niccolo said, smiling like an idiot himself. “And keep swimming, as if we’re going back to our old neighborhood. Don’t stop. Two Kobold soldiers are watching us.”

They all did as he instructed.

“Busted,” Yaz said grimly.

“I don’t think so,” Niccolo said. “The principessa looks so different now. I only recognized her because I’ve seen her in her swashbuckler clothes. And because she has Coco with her. Are you heading to headquarters?”

“Yes,” Serafina said.

“I thought so. That’s why I came over. Forget about it. It was just raided by the Kobold. We set off a bomb under the death riders’ barracks last week.”

“That was you guys?” Yaz said admiringly. “Nice work!”

Niccolo continued. “Yeah, it was, but now Traho wants revenge. The goblins are going house to house, looking for members of the…er, our friends. Most of us made it out, but Fossegrim, Alessandra, and Domenico didn’t.”

Coco bit her lip. She squeezed Serafina’s hand painfully. Abelard, sensing her upset, swam around her in quick, worried circles.