Will he come? she wondered.
The farm at Sargo’s Canyon had been abandoned decades ago. The branches of its untended water apple trees had become gnarled and entwined. They made excellent cover.
Sera swam under them now, to an overgrown stone pavilion in the center of the orchard, hoping against hope that he’d be there. A groom had helped them arrange a meeting by passing their conchs back and forth. They’d agreed that if anything seemed off, they would forsake the plan. Though Sera constantly longed to see him, his safety was her chief concern.
She sang a few notes of the mer Promising ceremony now. It was their agreed upon code. But she got no response.
Maybe he’s late, she thought, trying to keep her hopes up. Maybe it was impossible for him to get out of the palace.
She waited a few minutes, then sang again. Still no reply. Sera was crushed. It had been so long since she’d seen him, since she’d heard his voice and felt his touch. She hungered for time together, a few precious minutes. But it wasn’t to be. He wasn’t coming. She started back through the orchard.
And that’s when she heard it—a voice in the darkness, singing softly.
“Mahdi!” she cried, turning around.
She raced to the pavilion. Her breath caught. He was there, waiting for her. She gazed at the face she loved so much. It looked older to her. Weary and careworn. But his beautiful dark eyes shone with love.
“Sera? Is that you?” he asked, his handsome face breaking into a smile.
Sera nodded tearfully, then threw herself into his arms. The two of them embraced, whirling around and around in circles.
“Let me look at you,” Mahdi said as they stopped. “You’re so beautiful, Sera. Gods, how I’ve missed you.”
He took her face in his hands and kissed her so passionately, with such longing, that it made her tail fins curl. Then he held her close, his forehead touching hers.
“I can’t stay long,” he whispered. “There’s a party going on, and I was able to sneak away, but I have to get back before I’m missed.”
“How did you get out of the palace?” she asked.
“A transparensea pearl and a window. I’ve got another pearl to get me back in. Listen, Sera, before I go, there are things I need to tell you,” he said. “Something’s afin. Something big.”
“What is it?” Sera asked, breaking their embrace.
“I wish I knew,” Mahdi replied. “But Vallerio and Traho are spending a lot of time behind closed doors with a merman named Baco Goga. They’re plotting something, I’m sure of it.”
Sera’s fins prickled. “Baco’s bad news. He’s the one who sold us—Neela and me—to Traho.”
“I think he’s a spy. But I don’t know who he’s spying on.”
“Not us. We would have seen him.”
Mahdi looked unconvinced. “Keep your eyes peeled for him. Tell the others to do the same.”
“I will,” Sera said.
“There’s more. Portia Volnero’s about to leave for Ondalina. It’s Vallerio’s next target. And then there’s Lucia. I pay one of her ladies-in-waiting to keep an eye out for me. She told me Lucia’s been sneaking out of the palace at night, but she doesn’t know where she goes.”
“It can’t be good,” Sera said grimly.
“I’ll pass on any info that I learn,” Mahdi said.
“How?” Sera asked. “Your groom won’t be able to get to us anymore. We’ll be too far away from each other.”
“There’s a farmer. Her name’s Allegra. She delivers produce to the palace kitchens. She has a network of family between Miromara and the North Sea. They’re willing to pass conchs back and forth between us.”
Sera took his hand and squeezed it. “That’s good news,” she said, pleased at the thought of being able to stay in touch with him somehow. She hated that they never had time to talk about all the silly things two mer in love talked about, but the exchange of information crucial to the resistance was what mattered—not the way the moonglow glinted in his amazing eyes or how the dark waters seemed to deepen the blue of his tail. Maybe one day, when all of this was behind them, there would be time for that.
As Mahdi took her other hand, Sera thought of something else she needed to know.
“Have you heard anything from Duca Armando’s son?” she asked. “The palazzo’s empty. And no one can find him.”
“No, I don’t know where he is. The Praedatori have scattered. Vallerio has branded them traitors; he wants their heads.”
“Make sure my uncle doesn’t brand you a traitor, Mahdi. I worry about you so much. Be careful. Promise me you will.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. You’re in a lot more danger than I am.”
Sera shook her head. “I’m surrounded by friends and fellow fighters,” she said. “You’re surrounded by cold-blooded killers. If they ever find out where your loyalties really lie…”
“They won’t,” Mahdi said. “I’ve won them over.”