Oceanborne by Katherine Irons

definitely needed to seek out his elimination chamber before he shamed himself even further.
    â€œWhat kind of greeting is this from my only child?” 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.
    â€œAren’t you happy to see me?” 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 gown—if it could be called a gown—in the filmy Egyptian style, woven of the thinnest white seaweed and nearly transparent.
    Caddoc’s 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. “Foolish boy, you know you’ve been desolate without me.” 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. “Of course,” he lied. “I’ve been worried sick. But why aren’t you with him?”
    â€œHim?” The corners of Halimeda’s 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 to—
    Gagging, he looked away.
    â€œHim, who?” his mother asked sweetly.
    â€œMelqart.” Caddoc lowered his voice to a whisper. “You’ve pledged yourself to him, haven’t you? It must have been him who saved you from Poseidon’s dungeon.”
    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.
    â€œDo you doubt my powers? Do you think any cell could hold me?”
    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. “Who is it?” he called.
    â€œPrince Caddoc,” came the thick and gargled speech of a naiad serving wench. “I bear a message for your ears alone.”
    â€œGo away,” he ordered. “I’m busy. Come back later.”
    â€œBut my lady Zephyr bid me—”
    â€œI said, go away. I can see no one until the next turn of the water clock.”
    â€œHe’s entertaining his mother,” Halimeda said.
    â€œShh,” Caddoc snapped.
    The maid at the door said no more, and he assumed she’d left.
    â€œAnswer me!” Halimeda said. “Do you doubt my powers?”
    â€œI know you are a witch, Mother. You’ve proved it often enough. But sorceress or not, you are forbidden on pain of death to come to Atlantis. If Poseidon learns—”
    â€œHold your tongue, you whining coward. Leave your father to me. He’s as weak and pliable as you are.” She traced his bottom lip with one curved nail, and the octopus stretched out one tentacle to imitate her. “I will deal with Poseidon. I have another task for you.”
    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