Ace felt her heart freeze inside her chest. I am pregnant, she thought, her hand suddenly darting to her flat stomach.

"I'm going to be a mom," she whispered, panic suddenly rising within her, "Holy shit," she cursed.

"I know this is sudden," Destan blurted out, his hands squeezing hers, his eyes filled with a mix of anxiety and hope. "But I want to legitimize our child. I want us to marry, raise the child here."

Ace pulled away, her eyes growing wider by the second. "What about me? I'm human for Christ's sake! The only reason I'm a mer is because I drank Morgan's potion!"

Confusion clouded Destan's features. "Do you not know?"

"Know what?" she growled, her heart pounding in her chest.

A low chuckle rose from Destan's throat, his eyes filled with a strange sort of reverence. "You're a full mermaid."

"H-how?" she stammered, her brows furrowed in confusion.

He shifted closer, his bright blue eyes falling on hers, an unknown emotion radiating from them—awe, respect, and something deeper. "The Diamond Goddess, my goddess, has taken your body as her anchor between our world and the celestial world."

Ace pondered over the thought. Everything she knew, everything she believed in, was slowly starting to fall apart before her. Religion had never played a big part in her life. She believed the universe began with the Big Bang and that life evolved naturally as the earth's climate changed. Magic wasn't something she'd ever considered until Morgan gave her that potion. The wedding ceremony had cleared away any doubt about magic's existence, but this—this was something far beyond that.

I do exist, a clear voice said in her mind, echoing like a bell, sending her reeling backwards and away from Destan's touch.

"Who are you?" she whispered, her eyes wide as she pressed herself against the wall. The cold kiss of diamonds dug into her skin. Fear crawled over her, and the sudden thought that she'd succumbed to lunacy flittered across her mind.

I am the Diamond Goddess. Patron of the Diamond Kingdom, the voice said firmly. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Destan step back, giving her space, as if he knew what was happening in her mind.

Great, she thought, I've become schizophrenic.

You have not become a lunatic, the goddess's voice returned, soft yet commanding. King Destan knows about my presence in your body. You may have a hard time adjusting to the idea, but things have started to happen that we must put a stop to before it spirals out of control.

"What do you mean? Is something going to happen?" she questioned, her hands instinctively going to her abdomen, suddenly worried for the life she now carried.

All in due time, Aceso. For now, take advantage of the peace you have. Get to know Destan. He is lost within himself, and you need to find him.

Aceso glanced at her fingers—fingers that were normally used to hold pencils and paper. It must be difficult for him, she thought, her eyes darting to the open doorway of the room, her body moving on its own accord.

"Lady Aceso," Cassio said, his bright eyes blinking with curiosity. "Where are you going?"

"I need to find Destan," she answered breathlessly.

The light faery's grin widened, and he motioned for the other light faeries to follow. "We'll take you to him."

*************************

Destan rubbed his temple as he glanced over the information his father had left behind. He would need to replace a few members of the council whose greed outweighed their duty to the people. His own father had never sought to prosper the Diamond Kingdom. The coffers were full, but the people's voices were barely heard. Tomorrow, he would announce to his people that a new king had risen to the throne.

Quite possibly a queen, he thought, a small flicker of hope rising in his chest. A soft knock brought him out of his reflection, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword.

"Come in," he replied, his eyes narrowing on the door.

The door creaked open, his breath suddenly catching in his throat. "Aceso."

Dark hair framed her petite form, blue scales covering the sides of her body, a blue binding covering her chest. Her gaze was steady, resolute. "Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.

Destan nodded, setting the scrolls aside and motioning for her to take a seat before him. He had so many questions for her, but simply having her here rendered him speechless.

Aceso approached him, taking a seat, her brown eyes landing on his.

"I'm not going to take up your offer," she said bluntly.

Pain sliced through his chest. How? Just a few moments ago, he'd been so sure of her feelings. Had he read her wrong? He opened his lips to speak, but Aceso raised her hand, silencing him.

"You only want to marry me for the child. It's very noble of you, but I would hate to tie you down in such a manner," she snapped, her eyes locked on him with fierce intensity.

Suddenly, everything made sense. He'd offended her, undermined her strength, her independence. He wanted to laugh at his own callous proposal. Instead, he rose, taking her small fingers into his.

"Aceso, you will not tie me down. I love you, Aceso, and I need you by my side. I need you as my lover, my wife, my queen, and the mother to our child," he whispered, his voice cracking with sincerity. His hand cupped her cheek, his gaze soft but unwavering. "Will you marry me, Aceso?"

He watched tears slip from her eyes and float away. Her gaze never left his as she whispered, "Yes." Their lips collided, and he felt it—the promise of forever.

*********************************

The Coronation Ceremony was a grand affair, its gravity weighing heavily on every soul present. The King's Council, a collection of grizzled, stern-faced mermen and a single mermaid, sat in solemn observation from their high seats carved from pure emerald stone.

"Ren!" Morgan's voice broke through the quiet murmur of the gathered crowd. He darted toward her, his face bright with excitement. "Are you ready?"

The Queen nodded, careful with the weight of the emerald crown that circled her brow. Her body had been painted with the blood of each member of the royal family, including her husband and her brother-in-law. Her skin shimmered with the sacred red, the blood's glow faintly pulsing with life. She'd protested at first, worried for her family's health, but relented after learning of their accelerated healing abilities.

"Yeah, I'm ready," she murmured, clenching her blood-stained fingers as she rose to the top of the emerald column used during her wedding. Carefully, she settled into a comfortable sitting position, her tail tucked beneath her.

Rest your hands on your lap, close your eyes, and focus on Morgan's voice, the goddess's voice echoed in her mind, and her body obeyed.

Morgan's voice echoed around her, growing stronger with each ancient word. The glow of the pillar brightened, illuminating the entire chamber in vibrant green light. Symbols along the column began to pulse in rhythm with her heartbeat.

Just one week, was her last thought before her consciousness faded into darkness.

************************

The army moved with lethal precision, swords glinting in the fractured sunlight that filtered through the water's surface. The dark waves above cast shifting shadows on the seafloor, while the soldiers' black armor gleamed with an eerie sheen. The clash of metal echoed like distant thunder, and the pale skin of their opponents stood out starkly against the abyssal backdrop.

"Your Majesty," a deep voice called. It belonged to his most faithful subject, his silhouette jagged with unnatural sharpness. His appearance was abnormal—spikes jutted from his back, running down the length of his powerful black tail, and his webbed fingers bore talons sharp enough to tear through steel. A Rekuvoyaiac, Caspian thought with a flicker of satisfaction. A weapon born of war itself.

"What is it?" Caspian's voice was a low rumble, his eyes narrowed with impatience. His other servant busied himself, fastening the final piece of sleek obsidian armor around his broad chest, his movements precise and practiced.

"We are at a crossroads between the Diamond King and the Emerald Kingdom," Elric spoke, his voice measured but heavy with implication.

Caspian's lips curled into a slow, predatory grin, his sharp teeth flashing like blades. "Good," he drawled, leaning forward slightly as his fingers tapped a steady rhythm on the hilt of his trident. "Split the army in two. I'll take the vanguard and attack the Diamond Kingdom directly. You, Elric," his eyes shifted to his advisor, "will lead the second force to the Emerald Kingdom."

Elric's eyes flickered with understanding, but there was a flash of something else—hesitation, perhaps? His head dipped in acknowledgment of the order. "Yes, Your Majesty," he replied, his tone cold and steady. His gaze lingered on Caspian's face for a moment longer, searching for unspoken meaning. There was none—the Onyx King's resolve was clear as crystal. Yet, for a brief moment, Elric's gaze shifted toward the shadows in the distance, where a faint flicker of movement stirred like a phantom beyond view. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

"Something on your mind, Elric?" Caspian's voice was deceptively casual, but his eyes sharpened with predatory interest.

Elric's gaze returned to his king, his face a mask of neutrality. "No, my king. Only ensuring I understand the full scope of our strategy."

"Good," Caspian replied, his tone lined with a subtle threat. "I'd hate to think you were distracted." He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing like a hunter sighting prey. "There's no room for doubt where we're going, Elric."

Elric's throat bobbed as he swallowed. "None, Your Majesty."

Silence stretched between them like a taut string. The only sound was the faint, distant hum of shifting tides. Caspian's gaze lingered on Elric for a moment longer, his eyes cold as the deepest trench. Then, with a slow exhale, he turned his attention back to the open sea, his eyes filled with the weight of inevitability.

"No mercy," Caspian growled. "Burn their legacies to the ground, drown their future in shadow. Let them know the power of the Onyx King."