definitely needed to seek out his elimination chamber before he shamed himself even further.
âWhat kind of greeting is this from my only child?â She languidly pushed aside a hanging and glared at him.
Caddoc felt like a small fish about to be devoured by a hammerhead shark. The cramping in the pit of his stomach intensified.
âArenât you happy to see me?â His mother slid one long shapely leg out of the bed, and he saw that the soles of her feet were dyed as red as the palms of her hands. As usual, she wore next to nothing, a gownâif it could be called a gownâin the filmy Egyptian style, woven of the thinnest white seaweed and nearly transparent.
Caddocâs mouth tightened. His mother had always been a beautiful woman, stunning, some called her, alluring in the most sexual manner. It was her lush curves, her classic features, waist-length, midnight-black hair, and comehither eyes that had caused the king to lift her to a position of minor wife, or so Caddoc had always believed. Well, that and her skill with poison .
Smirking, Halimeda descended the marble steps and kissed his lips. âFoolish boy, you know youâve been desolate without me.â Her long fingers threaded through his hair, caught and tugged hard enough to cause him pain in a mock show of affection.
Caddoc wanted to scrub away the cold taste of her, but he knew better. âOf course,â he lied. âIâve been worried sick. But why arenât you with him?â
âHim?â The corners of Halimedaâs mouth turned up in a sly smile, but her eyes remained as hard as obsidian. A scarlet octopus with yellow spots crept from her back onto one shoulder and undulated down her arm. She cooed and caressed it, pressing it to her breast, allowing the thing to attach its suckers toâ
Gagging, he looked away.
âHim, who?â his mother asked sweetly.
âMelqart.â Caddoc lowered his voice to a whisper. âYouâve pledged yourself to him, havenât you? It must have been him who saved you from Poseidonâs dungeon.â
She moistened her upper lip with the tip of pink tongue, and he squirmed inside. She was more beautiful than he remembered. No one could guess her age or that she was the mother of a grown son. Her own poisoning, arrest, and imprisonment seemed to have done her no harm. In fact, she seemed rejuvenated, as exquisite and perfect as any goddess.
âDo you doubt my powers? Do you think any cell could hold me?â
Someone tapped lightly on the door, and he glanced in that direction. It was too early for Zephyr, and he wondered who had come seeking him. âWho is it?â he called.
âPrince Caddoc,â came the thick and gargled speech of a naiad serving wench. âI bear a message for your ears alone.â
âGo away,â he ordered. âIâm busy. Come back later.â
âBut my lady Zephyr bid meââ
âI said, go away. I can see no one until the next turn of the water clock.â
âHeâs entertaining his mother,â Halimeda said.
âShh,â Caddoc snapped.
The maid at the door said no more, and he assumed sheâd left.
âAnswer me!â Halimeda said. âDo you doubt my powers?â
âI know you are a witch, Mother. Youâve proved it often enough. But sorceress or not, you are forbidden on pain of death to come to Atlantis. If Poseidon learnsââ
âHold your tongue, you whining coward. Leave your father to me. Heâs as weak and pliable as you are.â She traced his bottom lip with one curved nail, and the octopus stretched out one tentacle to imitate her. âI will deal with Poseidon. I have another task for you.â
He moved back, trying not to show his distaste, wishing she was anywhere but here ⦠wishing he had gone to the Pacific islands as Tora had urged him. Each day he, Caddoc, felt more in danger here and seemed farther from
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley