Llyr's POV

I stood in front of the entire pod of merfolk in the throne alcove. Everyone was staring at me as my father's voice rang throughout.

"Llyr, do you pledge to look after the people of Oceania and reign fairly?"

"I do," I said.

"And do you promise to protect and serve them with your life?" He asked.

"I do," I said as I looked at all the faces of my people. I couldn't help but think about Elaina, but I reminded myself, sometimes duty comes before love.

"Then I pronounce you king of Oceania," he said as I felt the weight of the crown on my head. The crowd started to applaud and I saw Myx giving me an encouraging smile. I tried to smile back, but I could only manage a small smile. Even though I've just been crowned the king of the ocean, I felt empty inside. Like there was something missing.

"Now Llyr, it is time to announce your queen," my father said and my eyes landed on all the noble mermaids, Olga was among them, she was the siren princess and she gave me a smile. My eyes scanned through them all and I couldn't help but notice that none of them looked like my Elaina.

"My future queen is....is...," I struggled to form a name. The only name flashing through my head was Elaina. Elaina was the one I wanted and all of them paled in comparison with her.

"Your queen is?" I heard an all to familiar voice coming from the back and the crowd turned around to face the owner of the voice.

"Rogan!" I couldn't help but snarl. He was the man Elaina dreamt about, the one who might be responsible for my mother's death.

The crowd parted for him and he made his way closer to the front.

"Now now, Llyr, is that how we greet old friends?" He asked teasingly.

"You are no friend of mine, and if my memory serves me correct you were banished," I growled at him.

"You are correct, but I won't be throwing me out so soon. Especially since I have some leverage," he said with an evil glint in his eyes.

"What leverage?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"How about we do a show and tell?" He said before he snapped his fingers and a big bubble floated into the room. My eyes widened and my heart started to race when I saw what was inside the bubble. An unconscious Elaina. I was ready to rush towards her but Rogan held up his finger.

"Ah ah ah, not so fast prince, or should I say king? You don't want me to accidentely hurt her?" He asked and I saw a knife was held to her throat inside the bubble. I couldn't do anything to him without risking Elaina's life.

"What do you want?" I asked as I scanned the room for guards, but all of them were held back by sirens. Even Myx.

"In due time my king, but first put these on," he said as he called a young siren who brought us golden bracelets. They prohibit us from using our powers. My father wanted to refuse but I gave him a look and we both put it on.

"There, now let her go, she has nothing to do with this!" I said.

"She has everything to do with this. Won't you say Primbroock?" He asked as his eyes travelled to the other side of the room where Primbroock was held by two sirens.

"Who is she son?" My father asked as his eyes traveled between me, Primbroock and Rogan.

"He didn't tell you? Shame on you, Llyr," he said.

"Primbroock, won't you tell?" He said and the sirens pressed knives against his neck.

"She's...she's...his mate," Primbroock croaked out and I reeled. Elaina was my mate all along? That would explain all the strange feelings and thing I've been experiencing.

"Is this true?" My father asked and I nodded.

"Aww don't you just love it when the truth comes out," Rogan taunted.

"What do you want Rogan?" I spat.

"I want the throne, I want the sirens to rule again. Merfolk have ruled long enough," he said as anger flashed in his eyes.

"I'll give up my crown if you let her go," I said.

"Renounce your thrown," he said. I looked at Elaina's body and even though she was safe in an airbubble I knew all of that could change within seconds.  Luckily the knife that was against her throat has disappeared.

"I king Llyr, renounce my thrown, to Rogan the siren prince," I said. I felt my power leaving me and he breathed it in.

"Doesn't that feel good," he said.

"I did my part, now do yours," I said.

"I'm sorry Llyr, but I'm a bad liar," he said and the bubble popped.

"Noooo!" I screamed as I tried to get to her but I was held back by two sirens. I watched her unconscious figure convulsing and I knew her lungs were trying to get air. I watched helplessly as her body thrashed around. And then it was still.

My world tumbled when I saw her still form being pushed around by the small waves. I heard a loud scream and it took me a few seconds before I realised it was mine. I sank to the ground while the sirens kept their hold on me. I only found out she was my mate and now I lost her forever.

I loved her and I didn't even get the chance to tell her. My heart shattered into a million pieces.

"Don't worry Llyr, she didn't feel a thing," he said with a look on his face that I just wanted to scratch off.

"I am your new king, bow to me," he shouted. Everyone shared confused glances before they bowed. I lost everything in one day...

Suddenly a bright light filled the entire alcove and when my eyes landed on the source of the light I found none other than Elaina. Alive and well. With a golden tail.

How was this possible? I watched her die.

"No, this can't be," I heard Rogan said, disbelief lacing his words.

The bracelets broke from my arms and I felt my powers return to me and I immediately used my powers to throw off the sirens from me. I also threw off the sirens from the rest of the guards with a small wave.

"Seize that man!" I shouted and Rogan was seized.

I rushed to Elaina who was staring around, when her eyes landed on me a look of relief crossed her face. I grabbed her in a bone crushing hug.

"You're alive," I breathed. 

"Why wouldn't I be?" She asked.

"Because you can't breathe under water," I said.

"Now, if I remember correctly, you said that if merman or mermaid kissed someone they would have the ability to breathe underwater. And I definitely remember you kissing me," she said and I remembered. A grin broke out on my face before I kissed her again. I could get used to this.

"Excuse me," I heard Myx say with a cough and I pulled away from Elaina. I turned around to see everyone staring at us wide eyed. And Rogan had an angry look on his face.

"I should've killed you at your ball when I had the chance," he spat at her.

I was about to say something but Elaina stopped me before she swam closer to him.

"How did you know about me?" She asked.

"I would never tell you," he said.

"Don't worry, the ocean showed me everything. I think it's time we all knew the truth," Elaina said as she faced the crowd.

"I'm Elaina, princess of Etheria. And I am a landbeing. I've met your prince a few months ago and I fell in love with him," she stopped here to give me a small smile.

"He came to me tonight before the ball to tell me that he had a duty towards you, and I respected his decision, but then Rogan came and he kidnapped me after Llyr left. While I was unconscious I had a dream. I dreamt about your previous queen, she was caught in a net one day while she was pregnant with prince Llyr. My father, who was only a boy back then, freed her and she promised him that she would repay him someday. I was born weak and fragile, and if it wasn't for your queen I would've died. She made me her successor, the next sea enchantress and saved my life. I know you all hate humans, and that hatred only grew with the death of your queen. But she wasn't killed by a human, she was killed by Rogan," Elaina said and a loud gasp was heard as everyone shared looks...