The next morning, Reef sent word requesting a private audience with Alex.
"Probably wants to discuss Zale's departure officially," Naga said, helping Alex untangle Siddy from the breakfast netting (the adventurous snakeling had somehow gotten himself completely wrapped up).
"Or he wants to talk me out of taking his brother away from the ocean," Alex said, more worried than he wanted to admit.
"Then he'll fail," Zale said firmly from the pool. "I've made my choice."
Alex left the babies in the capable hands of his other two mates—a sentence that still felt surreal even after three months—and followed Kai through the settlement's winding channels to the royal chambers.
Reef's private receiving room was carved into the oldest part of the reef, the coral walls smoothed by centuries of water and decorated with pearls, shells, and what looked like ceremonial weapons made from narwhal horn and shark teeth.
