Destan paced in his room, his eyes flicking between the unconscious form of Ace and the shimmering diamond walls around them. Her stillness gnawed at him, each second of silence stretching longer than the last.

He had left the Emerald Kingdom in a hurry at the request of the Diamond Goddess. Before departing, he'd ensured a message was sent to Kai.

The need of my presence in the Diamond Kingdom is important. Please tell my mother I shall soon return for her.

The Goddess's words echoed in his mind, a relentless pulse that refused to fade. Why did she demand his presence now? And why hadn't Aceso awakened yet? Each unanswered question was a stone added to the growing weight on his shoulders.

"Your Majesty?" a tentative voice called from the door.

"Come in," Destan said, his voice firm but laced with exhaustion.

A slender merman entered, a thin strip of gold wrapped around his neck, signifying his role as a messenger. "The council requests your presence, Your Majesty. They're concerned about the sudden change in leadership."

Destan's gaze flicked to Aceso. Her usually expressive features were calm, and it struck him how young she truly looked in sleep—fragile but unyielding.

He nodded at the messenger. "I'll be there. Station four guards at her door. No one enters unless I command it."

The messenger's eyes darted briefly to Aceso before he nodded and darted away, his blue tail swishing behind him like a banner.

Destan glanced at himself in the mirror. His reflection stared back, weary but unyielding. His gaze shifted to the diamond crown resting beside it. He picked it up slowly, the cold metal biting into his fingers before settling atop his head with a finality that made his chest feel heavier.

Time to face the kingdom.

********************************

Aceso... awaken.

The voice was distant but insistent, a soft vibration cutting through the haze in her mind. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and she winced as pain throbbed at her temple. She sat up, blinking rapidly to clear the fog. A soft white light illuminated the room, reflecting off every surface with a gentle glow.

"Sweet baby Jesus," she muttered, her eyes wide as she took in the grandeur around her.

The walls were made of diamonds, glittering with every movement of the water. Elaborate chests lined the walls, each looking like it belonged to a pirate's hidden trove. A large mirror framed with gold cherubs caught her eye, and the sight of her reflection—her hair disheveled and eyes wild—made her laugh despite herself.

Giggling caught her attention, soft and musical. She turned her head slowly, and her breath hitched as she spotted tiny, glowing lights flitting above her like a swarm of fireflies.

"You must be Master's lady love," a high-pitched voice chimed from beside her.

Ace's head snapped to the side. Her eyes landed on a tiny being with slender legs attached to a pair of glimmering fins. Its entire body shimmered like a jewel, and its wings were delicate as gossamer.

"What... what are you?" she asked, her voice thin with disbelief.

The little creature's giggle was as light as the bubbles rising to the surface. "I'm a light faery! Master calls me Cassio."

Ace blinked slowly. "A... light faery? Sure. Why not? I'm living in a fantasy novel, after all."

"This is the Diamond Kingdom," Cassio announced proudly, his glow intensifying. "And you're in Master Destan's room."

Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the room again, lingering on the ornate double doors. "Where's Destan? Why am I here?"

"Master's with the council," Cassio said, spinning in the air, his tiny wings whirring softly. "He told me to stay with you. He'll explain everything later."

"Fabulous," Ace muttered, falling back onto the bed, letting her head sink into the cushion. "I'd kill for some pizza right now."

**********************

Destan's back straightened as he took his place on the Diamond Throne, its cold, unyielding surface a reminder of the weight it bore. The council sat around him, their gazes sharp as daggers, their tattoos bearing the Council's crest visible on their shoulder blades.

"Your Royal Majesty," a slightly chubby merman said, his curly hair floating like tangled kelp. "The council wishes to address concerns regarding the current state of governance."

"I am next in line as rightful heir," Destan said, his voice as sharp as broken glass.

The council's murmuring grew like a rising current, their voices indistinguishable as they debated. The beast within him stirred, and before he could think, his body shifted. His form grew larger, scales shimmering with a brilliant, blinding light. His eyes gleamed like raw diamonds, fierce and untouchable.

Gasps echoed through the chamber as the murmuring ceased.

"Do you still have doubts?" Destan's voice snarled, low and primal.

Silence. Not one dared to speak.

Then a braver voice rose. "The king must take a wife," an elder merman said. "The kingdom will falter without a queen."

"I will choose my queen," Destan said with finality. His gaze swept the room, his eyes blazing like molten light. "And she is already within these palace walls."

Whispers broke out again, growing louder until a sharp slap of a hand against the table silenced them.

"How do we know she is worthy?" the elder demanded.

"Because the Diamond Goddess resides within her," Destan's voice was ironclad, his eyes locked with the elder's. "Her presence alone is proof."

********************************

"Tomorrow will be your Coronation Ceremony," Kai said, his eyes scanning Ren with an intensity that set her on edge.

Ren's smile softened as she reached for his hand, fingers intertwining with his. "Then what's wrong, Kai?" she asked, tilting her head to search his face.

He pulled her in suddenly, burying his face into the crook of her neck. His breath was warm against her skin, his hold firm but desperate.

"You'll have to do the Blood Ritual," Kai murmured, his words brushing against her like a distant storm.

Her heart skipped. "The Blood Ritual?" Images of crimson-stained hands flashed in her mind, memories of horror films she'd watched in her old life.

"I can't tell you more," he said, his voice strained. "The goddess... she forbids it."

"Will I die?" she asked bluntly.

"No." He pulled away, his eyes hard with frustration. "But I can't protect you from it."

Ren's fingers curled through his hair, drawing him closer, their foreheads touching. "Then I'll endure it. I've endured worse."

Kai's hands trembled as he cupped her face, his eyes searching hers. But whatever he was looking for, he didn't find it. With a frustrated growl, he turned, his back rigid as he left the room without another word.

What's the Blood Ritual? Ren questioned, hoping the goddess would answer the question in her mind.

A soft tinkle of laughter sounded inside her mind, Nothing you should truly be worried about. Your husband is simply annoyed over the fact that you will need to spend the next seven days without him.

"Seven days?!" she cried out loud, her fingers suddenly reaching for a wall to support herself against.

It will take place after the Coronation Ceremony. The Ritual consists of meditating, the essence passing to each kingdom. You remember the pillar that was present during your wedding?

Ren nodded, images of the green stone with glowing symbols dashing through her mind.

It holds the source of my power that protects the kingdom. I will not tell you until the exact moment of the ritual. Now go, train.

Ren hesitated for a moment before grumbling under her breath, "I don't know why I bother to listen."