"You mean that your father was on the Titanic?" Ren said, awe evident in her voice.

Destan blinked, his mind still reeling from their conversation. Out of everything he'd told her, the Titanic was what she latched onto.

After leaving his mother's quarters, he'd bumped into Ren, who had been exploring the grand corridors of the Emerald Palace. Their chance meeting had led to this unexpected revelation.

"I don't understand," Destan muttered, running a hand through his snowy white hair. "I just told you my father was human."

Ren waved her hands animatedly. "I know, I know, but—the Titanic, Destan! The Titanic!" Her silver eyes glowed with sudden excitement.

Destan groaned, his tail flicking with irritation. "What's so fascinating about it?"

Ren's gasp was sharp, her hands clasped together as passion lit her features. "It's one of the greatest disasters in human history! The ship hit an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the ocean, taking thousands of passengers with it. It's legendary! Books, documentaries, movies—all dedicated to it."

"So it was just an accident," Destan murmured, his gaze turning distant as he processed the information.

"Master!" a high-pitched voice cried, breaking their conversation.

A small, darting ball of bright light zipped toward them, its glow frantic. It was Cassio, Destan's light faery companion, and the worry on his tiny fae face was unmistakable.

"What is it, Cassio?" Destan's voice shifted to a tone of command, his eyes narrowing.

Cassio's chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his glow flickering. "I saw something dark, Master! It—it was so evil my light nearly dimmed. I've never felt anything like it."

Destan's entire body tensed. Nothing could dim a light faery's glow—except for death.

"What did you see?" Destan's voice was sharp with urgency.

Cassio's tiny body trembled. "I heard it talking to a merman. It spoke of how the plans for the Emerald Kingdom failed, and—and—it mentioned 'Phase Two.' The merman was supposed to return to his kingdom and begin it."

Ren's eyes glazed over as if her thoughts had slipped into a distant place. "Phase Two?" she echoed, her voice hollow.

Destan's gaze locked on her. "Cassio, did you recognize the merman?"

Cassio's face twisted in thought. "His tail—it looked like Morgan's. But I... I couldn't see his face. There was black ink everywhere, swirling around him."

Ren's heart leapt in her chest, her pulse thundering in her ears. Impossible, she thought. They'd left Morgan with Ace on the island.

If my memory serves me, child, Morgan is not the only merman of his kind, came the soft, otherworldly voice in her mind.

Her heart nearly stopped. Her breath grew shallow. Not again. Not now.

Her thoughts reached out toward the voice. What do you mean, "his kind"?

Morgan hails from the Rekuvoyaiac, an ancient race known for their fierce appearances and mastery of the darker magics.

Ren's eyes darted around the corridor as if the voice had a physical presence. What happened to them?

Most were slain during the Great War.

Her pulse quickened. The Great War? she asked.

But there was no response. The voice was gone.

Ren's breathing slowed as she turned to face Destan. His piercing gaze locked onto hers. "Did something happen?" he asked, his voice steady but probing.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I might be going crazy, but I think... the Emerald Goddess spoke to me."

Destan's eyes widened slightly, but he kept his voice calm. "What did she say?"

"She mentioned the Rekuvoyaiac and the Great War. Do you know what that's about?" she asked, her brow furrowed in thought.

Destan cupped Cassio in his hands, whispering something too quiet for Ren to hear. The tiny faery nodded and darted away, his glow returning to its usual brightness as he flew to rejoin the other fae.

"The Great War," Destan began, his voice grim, "is the reason why the Seven Kingdoms were divided in the first place."

Ren's eyes narrowed. "What are the names of these kingdoms?"

"Emerald, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Amber, Amethyst, and Onyx," he recited, his voice as steady as if he were reading from a scroll.

"Are we allies?" Ren's tone was cautious.

He shook his head. "Not all of them. The Ruby and Amethyst kingdoms have been at war for decades. Amber and Sapphire maintain peaceful relations with us, but the Onyx Kingdom is..." He paused, thinking. "They're neutral. No allies. No enemies. They're isolationists."

Ren's lips pursed as a thought formed in her mind. "I should invite them to the wedding. All of them."

Destan's eyes widened in disbelief. "You'd have to postpone it by at least two days."

Ren sighed. "I know. But if they're all here, maybe... maybe it's a chance for peace."

Destan's expression softened as he tapped his chin. "If not the wedding, maybe the Coronation ceremony. It's after your honeymoon. They'd be more inclined to attend a coronation than a wedding."

Ren's cheeks flushed, the mention of the honeymoon causing her heart to stutter. "Yes... that might be best."

Kai sat at a grand table adorned with silken cloth, his fingers drumming impatiently on the surface. His mind was restless, preoccupied with thoughts of Ren and the upcoming wedding.

"Usually, taking a deep breath helps," Atlantis said, dipping his finger into a sample of the dessert and popping it into his mouth.

Kai chuckled, leaning back with a tired sigh. "Easy for you to say. I'm the one planning a wedding, not you. I'm seconds away from pulling my hair out."

Atlantis's grin was sly. "It's a shame mer-women don't plan the weddings."

Kai's eyes lit up with mock desperation. "Then help me, brother. Please. You'll have my eternal gratitude."

Atlantis groaned, stuffing another bite of dessert into his mouth. "Fine. I'll ask Morgan to help. He'll be so busy I'll actually get some peace for once."

Kai's grin turned wolfish. "Speaking of marriage, when are you two getting married?"

Atlantis's face flushed a deep red as he stuffed more dessert into his mouth, avoiding Kai's gaze.

Kai's fingers drummed louder. "I'm waiting."

Atlantis swallowed hard, rubbing the back of his head. "I... I was going to propose before Ren showed up. But now, there's never a right time."

Kai's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Do it during the banquet. Beneath the Sacred Tree."

Atlantis's eyes widened. "I can? I thought only Emerald Kings could go there."

Kai's grin softened. "Only Royal Families can. And, Atlantis, you're my brother."

Atlantis's grin was slow and full of gratitude. "By gods, brother. Thank you. You're not as insufferable as I thought."

Kai gasped with mock offense. "How dare you!"