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Zosime snored softly from where she lay curled against my side. I watched her sleep, enjoying how soft and delicate she appeared while at rest. When she was awake, her face had a battle-hardened edge to it. Combined with her toned body and her quick wit, she was, without a doubt, the most dangerous predator in the sea. I was terrified of her, but I also loved her in a way I had believed impossible.
For the first time in my life, I had almost neglected my responsibilities to Atlantis. The pull to get to Zosime when I knew she was hurt and in trouble had far outweighed the pull I felt for my sister or my responsibilities to my people. It scared the crap out of me, knowing the power that my mate had over me.
The reality that I could have lost her felt like someone had ripped out my soul and allowed a hungry group of piranhas to feast on it. I’d never been so conflicted. I’d grown up being groomed for the throne, always knowing the exact thing to do in any situation. They’d taught me to never second guess my decisions, and until that moment, I had never doubted myself.
Logically, I knew I made the right choice to let Zosime’s other mates care for her while I attended to my sister and, by extension, my people. Zosime had four mates and a fickle Ancient watching out for her. Zosi was, and always had been, a born and trained fighter. My mate could handle herself.
Unfortunately, Kosta lacked any survival skills. Atlanteans were no longer taught to fight as in the days of old, instead, they were taught to hide. If humans had discovered Kosta, who could not swim without help, our beloved Atlantis would have fallen. Treasure hunters would have descended on the city, and my people would have been hunted for both their knowledge and for sport. I would never have been able to forgive myself. Worse, I didn’t think Zosime would have forgiven me for doubting her ability to survive and allowing her city to be put at risk.
Yet, even though logically I knew I made the decision that was required of me as a king… My emotions didn’t agree. I still felt physically ill at the thought of how my mate must have felt betrayed by me.
I was such a coward that I couldn’t even ask for her forgiveness, because every time I tried, the words got caught in my throat. Somehow, I believe she knew what I was asking, even without me speaking actual words. The kiss she gave me at the yacht was the most soul-cleansing experience of my life.
I watched her sleep, amazed at her trust in me. Wrapping my arm around her, I pulled her closer. She flopped her long tail over mine, wrapping our flukes together. I smiled, filled with contentment. Tucking her head beneath my chin, I closed my eyes and let the steady beat of her heart lull me to sleep.
* * *
I awoketo the sound of giggling. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I studied the room. Zosi was still curled into my side, fast asleep; the events of the last several days had left her exhausted.
A shadow floated toward where we lay on the bed, and it took me just a moment longer to recognize my sister. “What are you—” I began, only to be cut off by a blur of movement.
One second my sister had been next to the bed peering down at us, and in the next, Kosta was pressed against the elegantly carved wall, with Zosime’s nails at her throat. Frozen in shock, I could do nothing to stop the scene in front of me.
Zosime hissed, her long fangs glinting in the dim light of my room. She had gone from sweet angel to avenging reaper in the blink of an eye.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice deepened into the husky tone I associated with her Siren. Except instead of exuding sexiness, she was radiating pure power.
“I-I came to see my brother. Don’t you remember me?” Kosta stammered.
Zosi’s sharp gaze focused on the terrified mermaid. Not finding a weapon, she eased her hold, but only slightly.
“I know who you are, but that is irrelevant. Why are you here? You must have had a reason to enter the royal bedchamber.” Zosime wasn’t messing around, and it reminded me of our lovers’ quarrel when we first met. Why was it turning me on so much?
Kosta turned her pleading gaze toward me, begging me to calm the angry Siren. I put my hands out in front of me in a defensive posture, signaling to her that I wanted to be left out of this.
“I have warned you about entering rooms without an invitation.” Fine, yes. I was goading her. Kosta had always been the spoiled princess who did exactly as she pleased. Thankfully, she didn’t have a mean bone in her body and had grown into a wonderful young woman, but she often acted before thinking. Like today.
“What if we had been having passionate sex? Is that an image you would have been able to purge from your mind?” Some of the tension had left Zosi’s body, and I could’ve sworn I caught the spark of a twinkle in her eye.
She must’ve sensed that Kosta had meant no harm by her careless action. Zosi’s blunt question shocked Kosta, which was no doubt what she had intended.
“Sweet baby Hades!” Kosta cried in horror at Zosi’s words. All the color drained from my sister’s face. Apparently, that thought scared her more than the angry Siren who had very nearly killed her.
As Kosta gagged, Zosi stepped back and turned to rejoin me on the bed. With her back to Kosta, she caught my eye… and winked. This shocked me far more than her attempt to murder my sister. My jaw dropped.
Twisting and flipping elegantly in the water, Zosi settled against my side again. Reaching up a finger, she gently closed my mouth before stretching up to give me a quick peck on the lips.
Had she known it was my sister all along, and she was just messing with both of us? Or had my sister truly surprised her, and Zosi’s instincts had kicked in?
Looking at the small smirk that played around Zosi’s mouth. I had my suspicions, but I doubted I would ever get the truth from her.
With a long-suffering sigh, I spoke to the intruder—my sister. “Were you just coming to see me? Or did you have a purpose?”
“I was coming to invite you both to the dining hall. Breakfast is being served, and after the long day you had yesterday, I thought you might enjoy a large meal.” Tilting her chin up, she sniffed as though she were the one who had been wronged.
This bit of information piqued my attention. We hadn’t used the dining hall in at least a year. Was there a special occasion I forgot? I couldn’t think of any other reason they would prepare a banquet in the dining hall, especially without informing me.
Kosta rolled her eyes. “You aren’t normally this dense, brother.” Using her hand, she motioned toward Zosi and then toward me. “Hello?! You, the most eligible bachelor of the century, took a mate and gave her the keys to your kingdom.”
