The Undersea Queen lived in the middle of a city in the Undersea, in a palace that towered over everything else. If I'd been impressed with the cottages of the sea-witches, they were nothing compared to the city buildings, and even those paled in comparison to the palace. With pillars that towered over me, statues of mermaids in every alcove in between on the many-stepped entrance, it was a reminder that I was very far from home. I was completely out of my element as I followed Madame Dominique and Madame Miranda through the large, arching entrance and into a corridor lined with painted tiles in blue and white, with soldiers in golden armor lining the walls. 

I felt sick to my stomach—the last thing on my mind was the path into the Queen's throne room. I glimpsed the marvels of the mermaids on the walls, out the windows, but I couldn't really enjoy any of it. Not with what awaited me. 

The way everyone was so deadly serious about it, that's what told me that I'd gone in over my head. I'd gotten my first glimpse of it in Madame Dominique's cottage, with Evie's warning. As I waited for the large gate of intricate gold to open in place of doors to that grand final throne room, I found myself wishing I'd heeded her warning. For all that Evie disliked me, that warning did seem to come from a genuine place.

But it was too late—with a tap of their golden tridents against a spot on the floor painted with a blue room, a bell chimed and the gates opened, and suddenly Madame Miranda gestured for me to go first. 

I tried to gulp down my fear as I took the front of the party and entered that grand throne room, where the Undersea Queen waited for me. 

The throne room was filled with stained glass windows that all cast this pale blue light, like moonlight thousands of leagues beneath the sea upon the figure in the central golden throne lifted high above the floor. The way her pearl-laden headdress caught the light, she had a shining halo over her black curls and tan features, was a moon in her own right. She wore white silk trimmed with gold that flowed over her silvery blue-green tail, speckled with scales of pale lavender that matched the fin at the end of her tail. 

Perched on an arm of the throne was a boy mermaid, a mer-prince, I guess. He wore a sleeveless teal tunic that showed his arm and flowing white silk detached sleeves, all trimmed with gold to match his own headdress with jade horns that glowed fixed into his green-streaked dark hair. He had a similar tail to the Undersea Queen's, with the silvery blue-green and lilac fin. Unlike his mother, he had turquoise blue markings on his skin.

He had to be her son, from what I could tell. He was beautiful, in a way that felt intimately familiar to me. 

As I swam forward, I locked eyes with him, and I could see the realization hit him at the same time. We'd met before—he was Talu. 

The way he turned his head subtly to the left, then to the right, I could see it was another case where I needed to pretend I'd never met him. Which was weird that it had happened three times, but whatever. I wasn't going to get him in trouble. 

Along the sides of the throne room were flocks of courtiers, in eccentric brightly-colored hats and clothes that reminded me of tropical fish like where Mom grew up. Their voices dropped to beautiful whispers, their eyes locked onto me almost unblinkingly as I swam forward to a sigil on the floor at the center of the throne room.

When I reached there, Madame Miranda and Madame Dominique alike bowed their heads. I hastily did the same, but it didn't stop my face from feeling like it was on fire and like I'd messed up royally. 

"Your Majesty, we present Madame Miranda Moondeep and Madame Dominique Tidedancer of the Silversurf Village." A herald's voice carried in almost sing-song, melodious as it bounced off the windows and high arches. "They have brought the Princess of the Twilight Tides."

The what?

I guess I liked the title, if I was to have one, even though I had no idea what that was about. 

Madame Miranda and Madame Dominique straightened, and I quickly did the same, craning my neck to look up at the Undersea Queen. Her expression was unfathomable, and I had no idea if I left a good impression or not, or if she even liked me. Talu was practicing a similar expression, although it didn't quite meet his beautiful turquoise blue eyes. There was some kind of emotion there, but I wasn't sure which yet. 

"To the Princess of the Twilight Tides, we announce Her Royal Majesty, Empress of the Seven Seas, the Mistress of the Tides, the Voice of the Ocean, Queen Amphrite VII of the Undersea, and her son, the Crown Prince and Heir to the Siren Legacy, Prince Tiberius."

Queen Amphrite sat up straighter in her throne, preening, almost with her imperious gaze. Talu—or Tiberius, I guess it was now—had schooled his features to match his mother's so much more closely, so I couldn't read him at all now either.

Silence persisted for a moment, and I wasn't sure if I was the one who was supposed to start talking, but I also couldn't find voice to speak at all, surrounded by all of those people watching me with what felt like hostility mixed with the kind of curiosity you gave a gross but cool-looking bug. 

Queen Amphrite tilted her head and was the one to finally shatter the silence. "You are certain, then, that this is the Princess of the Twilight Tides?"

"The very one, Your Majesty." Madame Miranda smiled. "My colleague, Madame Dominique, saw her power for herself. And indeed, she is a human without a drop of mermaid blood, or that of any other seafolk."

I silently noted the question about other seafolk for another time, another place.

"I suppose it does align with reports of increased sightings of Fathoms," Queen Amphrite sighed. "I had hoped that particular prophecy would not resurface in the time of my reign, or my son's."

"We can only do what we can in the times we are given, Your Majesty." 

Queen Amphrite nodded, and looked to Prince Tiberius. He raised a hand to cover his mouth and whispered something in her ear. She looked back to me, and I saw the first spark of emotion in her dark eyes. Curiosity—but not the dehumanizing kind that the courtiers were regarding me with. I guess something like hope was there, too.

"Most interesting," she murmured. She straightened her posture again and Prince Tiberius withdrew. "The Crown Prince has vowed to be the one to teach you our ways and take you under his wing, so that you may fulfill your destiny."

"Th-thank you," I managed to stammer out, so quietly I feared she might not have heard me at all.

A small smile reminiscent of the Mona Lisa's curled up her full lips. "I hope you are all that our prophecies promise, Princess of the Twilight Tides."

"Me too," I said, before realizing that probably wasn't the best thing to say here.

Not that Queen Amphrite seemed upset by it—although it did cause the whispers of the courtiers to rise in volume, but not enough for me to make up fully what they were saying. They were more like the dull roar of the ocean tide on the beach at sun's high than anything else. 

"Thank you for your efforts, Madames Moondeep and Tidedancer." Queen Amphrite nodded at both of them. "My stewards will ensure you are rewarded handsomely for your find."

She then looked to Prince Tiberius. "You may escort the Princess out."

She turned back to the witches, that mysterious gleam returned. "I will be concluding my court for today. I have matters that must be discussed in my chambers."

With that, Prince Tiberius swam forward and tapped my upper arm, a clear question. I nodded, the invitation for him to slip his arm into my elbow and guide me away.