Merlin gave a cold order to the man standing behind him. "Go. Pay whatever it takes to find a few strong fighters. I want that man beaten within an inch of his life. Don't kill him—just make sure he's stuck at home for two or three months." He couldn't let those worthless beasts ruin his plan. Before Malrik returned, he had to form a bond with Emma. Once that was done, no one could undo it. A faint cracking sound broke the silence behind him. Merlin spun around instantly, his sharp eyes sweeping across the flowerbeds. A flash of pink slipped between the blooms. From the shadows, his subordinate spoke quietly. "Mr. Merlin, that was Kieran—the new Merfolk king. Word is, he's been sick. He came to Queen Amara's birthday celebration not only to send a gift but also to ask for medicine." "So, it's just a sick fish." Merlin sneered with disgust. "If he's already ill, then let's do him a favor and send him to meet the Beast God early." … The banquet began, soft music floating through the air. Kieran pressed a trembling hand to his chest as he hurried toward the hall. Just as he reached the garden's edge, a shadow shot out of nowhere. A brutal kick slammed into his left shoulder, sending him flying backward. Without his ability to defend himself—his powers suppressed by illness—Kieran crashed into the flowerbeds. He spat out blood. Pink hair spilled over his shoulders, tangling in the blossoms. The petals scattered beneath him, their fragrance heavy in the air. The Enchanter Clan male stalked toward him, every step deliberate. Kieran forced himself to speak, his voice weak but steady. "I know who you are. If you let me go, I swear I'll keep your secret." Everyone knew about the Enchanter Clan's famous seducer, Malrik. What they didn't know was that he had a twin brother. If Kieran had known he'd run into this madman tonight, he would've brought more guards. Merlin stopped in front of him, planting a boot on Kieran's chest. His grin turned cruel. "I only trust the dead to keep my secrets." … Inside the grand hall, Amara had just finished cutting the cake. A Merfolk therian hurried in and quietly approached Lucien, careful not to disturb the celebration. "Prince Lucien, our king has gone missing." Lucien frowned. "Missing? You mean he disappeared here, in Aurelia?" The therian nodded quickly. "Yes, Prince Lucien. Before the banquet began, our king wasn't feeling well and went to soak in the garden pool. But he never came back. We went looking for him and couldn't find a trace—only one of his scales." He took out a pink, star-speckled scale and handed it to Lucien. The eldest princess was absent, Aria was uninterested in politics, and Amara was too busy to be bothered. That left only Lucien to turn to. Lucien examined the scale and said calmly, "I'll send people to search for your king. If the Merfolk king truly vanished in Aurelia, we will find him." The therian nearly knelt in gratitude. "Thank you, Prince Lucien. Please, you must hurry. Our king is sick—he has sudden attacks. If he's gone too long, his life could be in danger." "I understand." Lucien immediately called for the captain of the guards and ordered a search. … Meanwhile, Emma had stayed by Amara's side for the cake-cutting. When she noticed Lucien was gone, she took a small slice of cake and went to find him. "Lucien, what are you doing here?" she asked, holding out the plate. "You haven't eaten a thing all night. I got this just for you."Lucien smiled and accepted it. "Thank you, Emma." He had been tied up talking to guests all evening, leaving Edric and the others to keep Emma company. He hadn't expected her to be thinking of him the whole time. The sweetness of the cake melted on his tongue—but it couldn't compare to the warmth in his chest. "What's that in your hand?" Emma asked, noticing the faint shimmer of pink between his fingers. "A Merfolk king's scale." Lucien handed it to her. Under the lights, the pink shimmered with a pearly glow—beautiful and delicate. The Merfolk king? Wasn't that the same Kieran Aria had mentioned earlier? Emma looked at the scale, curiosity lighting her eyes. "How did you get this?" Lucien explained, "One of his men came looking for me. Said their king disappeared and asked for my help." "Disappeared? You mean he's missing?" Emma frowned. No wonder Aria had said she hadn't seen him yet. Just then, the captain of the guards hurried over. "Your Highness, we found traces of a fight near the flowerbeds. There were more of the king's scales scattered there, and the surveillance feed in that area was completely corrupted. We still don't know who attacked him, but there's no doubt—the Merfolk king was ambushed."