CH58
Wake shifts beneath me, his muscles rippling under my cheek as his body changes, his tail shortening into legs, the smoothness of his scales giving way to warm, human skin. He pulls me up onto the stone outcropping with him, his arm wrapping around my waist as I settle against his chest. His warmth seeps into me, chasing away the cold from the water, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the comfort of it, trying to shut out everything else.
I close my eyes and breathe deeply, focusing only on the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath me. The sound of the ocean echoes softly around us, the water gently lapping at the rocks. It feels like the first moment of peace I’ve had in forever, and I try to hold onto it, to stay here in this quiet place with him and nothing else. Just him. Just us.
Wake’s voice breaks through the stillness, low and thoughtful. “Have you found what you were looking for?”
I open my eyes, blinking up at the stars above, the cool night air brushing against my damp skin. “No,” I admit. “Not yet. I’ve only found more questions… but I’m getting closer. I can feel it.”
He’s silent after that, and I’m grateful. He doesn’t push, doesn’t probe for more. Instead, he lets the quiet stretch between us, giving me room to breathe, to think. It feels like the first time in forever I’ve had space to gather my thoughts, to just be.
After what feels like a lifetime, I break the silence. “Wake…” I hesitate, not sure how to phrase this. “Have you ever heard the name Anthozoa?”
His entire body stills beneath me. I feel his heartbeat quicken under my hand, his breath catching for just a second. He turns his head to look at me, genuine surprise flashing across his face. “How do you know that name?”
I sit up slightly, shifting to meet his gaze. “I spoke to Marina. She told me that Anthozoa is her sister.”
Wake’s reaction is instant. He sits up so fast I nearly tumble off the ledge, but he catches me, pulling me back against him. “That female… is Lady Delphinium?”
His voice is incredulous, but there’s something more there—reverence, maybe? Awe? It makes my pulse quicken.
“What do you mean, ‘Lady’?” I ask.
Wake’s eyes meet mine, his expression deadly serious. “Anthozoa and Delphinium were known as the Twin Stars of the Eastern Twilight. They’ve been missing for decades. The entire Enki An believed them dead.”
I frown, my mind spinning with all the new information. “Enki An?”
His gaze holds mine, steady and unwavering. “The Enki An are what we call ourselves. Keepers of the seas. Of us, there are ten great clans, each ruled by a patron deity.”
He pauses, as if waiting for me to catch up. I nod slowly. “You told me something similar before.”
“Each clan’s ruling line channels the power of their patron deity. The heir of the clan holds all that power, and with each generation, the struggle to unite the clans continues. Our species has suffered for centuries because the heirs have failed.”
I’m quiet for a moment, absorbing what he’s saying. “And… since my grandmother and Marina went missing?”
“The heirs are incomplete,” he says simply. “Without all ten, our power remains fractured. The clans fight, and we are weaker because of it.”
A chill runs down my spine. “And you think my grandmother is… one of these heirs?”
He watches me closely, his brow furrowed. “Anthozoa is the rightful heir of the Eastern Twilight, which means she would inherit the power of the goddess Electra.”
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. All this time, my grandmother was… someone important, someone powerful, and I had no idea. None of us did. I lean back slightly, my mind spinning with the weight of it all.
“If that’s true,” I say slowly, “then… what does that mean for me?”
Wake hesitates, his gaze dropping to the ground for a moment before he looks back up at me. “I don’t know. If Anthozoa is your grandmother, it could mean that the power of Electra flows in your blood. But you’re… human, Phoebe. At least, you’ve lived your life as one. I’ve never heard of an heir being born to someone outside the Enki An.”
I swallow hard, the weight of his words settling in my chest. “So, what you’re saying is… I could be some kind of heir to a sea goddess?”
“It’s possible,” he admits. “But it’s also possible that the power skipped you entirely.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “And if it didn't?”
Wake looks away, his jaw tightening slightly. “Then perhaps the gods know more than I do. The only way to know for certain would be to take you to Electra’s homesea.”
“When in doubt, seek out your homesea?”
Wake gives me a laden look, “ That was quite the talk you had with Lady Delphinium.”
I let out a tart sigh, “She's a lot chattier than you. She also hates you. Called you a trench dweller.”
He barks a derisive laugh. “Sounds like someone from the Twilight. Elitist twats.”
“Hey! Those may very well be my people now,” I say, swatting his bicep. “In fact, If you're up for it, I do have an idea for where to go next.”
“And what will that require?” He asks pointedly.
I shoot him an equally heavy look, “For one…you'll need to play nice.”
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