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Belle swims on her own, but she looks at Nico. Aren’t we going in?
Go clear the apartment, I say to Nico.
Copy.
Nico will make sure there’s no one in there waiting for us.
You think that what happened was about me? How could anyone know I was there?
Stranger things have happened in this city, but I don’t say that to Belle. She could have a tracking device on her that’s a tech even Eros wasn’t given. I glance at Belle. She’s naked, and it hits me—we had tech on her. Tech that recorded the whole thing. But it’s now lost somewhere in the debris of the dome. I reach out and bring her to me as the airlocks open and close, letting Nico into our apartment.
Why? Belle touches my shoulder. It’s a simple question, one I don’t have the answer to. Why do people ever think violence is the answer?
I don’t know, but we’re going to figure this out. I move us a few feet away from the airlock to the window near the hallway. Nico stomps past once, then twice, and then he tells me with sign language the place is clear. Let’s get inside.
We’re coming out of the shower in our robes when the airlock activates again. Nico has a trident at his side, and I’ve got a knife.
“Eros and Castor.” Nico puts his block away. But he’s still holding the trident.
“Nico? Put the trident down now.” Belle’s eyebrows go up. “You too.”
Nico lowers it but doesn’t put it back in the rack next to the airlock. We’ve added a few more weapons to the place over the last weeks. I’ve seen the scowls Belle gives when she passes. But she has her own collapsible trident too.
“Fuck.” Castor drops a leather waterproof satchel when he steps through the last airlock.
Eros is right behind him.
Belle races from my side. “You’re okay. You’re okay.” She talks so fast that Castor looks at her with his head cocked.
“Yes, yes. I’m okay. But more importantly, you’re okay. What the hell were you doing there?” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Annabelle. As Eros’s mate, you had every right to be there.” Castor pulls her to his chest.
“Eros.” Belle tries to go to him, but Castor doesn’t let go.
“You’re getting her wet again,” Nico growls.
“It’s okay, Nico. I don’t mind.”
I step away. I want her warm, fed, and in bed. I find the largest tunic she owns in her closet and bring it back.
Eros now has his hands wrapped around her waist. “What were you doing there?”
“Porcia invited me.” She’s shaking. “Did you know the dome was going to collapse?”
“No, of course not.” Eros shakes his head.
Castor does too. “No, I had no idea. I’d like to think it was an accident, but that’s unlikely. There’s an evil force about us in the Veiled City. One that’s more dangerous than the Vikings.”
“I agree. There’s a large eel in the city, and it’s not a Viking.” I run my hand down her arm. I have to touch her; I need to feel that she’s okay.
“More dangerous?” Belle’s blue eyes glisten up at me.
“We know what the Vikings want. They want us to stop mining in territory they consider theirs. They want us to trade mermaids. And they want sole access to several sea routes we’ve barred them from. Our smaller vessels constantly patrol them to protect us and the humans. This enemy? This enemy, we don’t know what they want, only that they will resort to terrorism to get it.”
“To get what?” Her lip quivers.
“To bring chaos.” I hold out the shirt to Belle.
“It’s not tight, is it?” Nico takes the shirt from me and inspects it.
