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Henrick’s eyebrows shoot up. “So the dog can bite?”
"Elva," Helena pleads, "do something."
"Yes, Elva. Do something,” Henrick echoes mockingly. He turns towards Helena. "You've always been weak. That's why Father can barely stand to be in your presence."
He leers at me, his gaze dropping to my chest. "Mhmm,” he says, licking his lips. I want to throw up as his eyes strip me bare. The sensation is so unwelcome that I can’t stop the shiver that runs through my body. “Once we're wed, we'll have to talk about your choice of friends, Elva."
"That's enough. You will disrespect her no longer." Nathan seethes, his eyes wild. "I challenge you to a duel."
"Nathan," I breathe, swimming over to clutch his arm. "What are you doing?"
He shakes me off, standing his ground. "I won't let some big-tailed man insult you, Elva, or force you into a marriage. It's not right."
"But Nathan—" I try again. I desperately need to tell him something right now.
No. No. No.
I'm screaming inside, trying to find a way out of this mess. Before I can even move, Henrick speaks again. "I look forward to our fight to the death."
I watch as Nathan shifts towards me, his face paling before he pulls me in, and my hands fly to his face. "Elva, I—"
Suddenly, a wave of water pulls us apart, pushing Nathan to the other end of the dining room. Henrick grins, flicking his hand as he controls all the water in the room. His eyes are feral as he watches us.
"Twenty minutes. The Conch Coliseum. I'll see you there." He pauses, tilting his head before baring his teeth at Nathan. "Oh, andNathan? I've never lost a duel, and I don't plan on starting today."
With a swish of his tail, Henrick leaves the room.
Twenty minutes.
That's all I have to prepare Nathan.
This is why I have never tried to fall in love. This is why it was a bad idea to have anything more than one-night stands. My life is a mess, and I’m entangled between two courts set on hurting each other.
Then I admit to myself the truth building for months. I love him.
* * *
Twenty minutes feelslike both an eternity and the blink of an eye. We swim past unsuspecting Merpeople by rows of coral houses and abalone buildings. On any other day, my eyes would have been drinking at the magnificent underwater city.
Not today.
Ultimately, I can't summon those three words to say to Nathaniel. I feel them in my heart, but they're stuck on my lips, refusing to make it out of my mouth.
"How could you do this?" I ask as we swim along to the Conch Coliseum. The large building is in sight. The coral-pink conch shell that gives the arena its name is much larger than the rest of the city. It curls up and reaches high into the water, the focal point of this part of the city. It is beautiful. Pale blue lines reach down the side of the enormous shell, each pointing to a different entrance.
Nathan is silent for a moment. "I will do anything for you,” he says.
But why this?
I want to scream, cry, kick something, and then fall apart. The Summer Fae is too honorable for his own good. I push down my mother’s voice as hard as possible, silencing that treacherous part of my being.
"Henrick is weaker on his left side," I say to Nathan as we swim through a side door of the coliseum. I can hear the shouts from the stadium. I float away from my Summer Fae and look out of the open entrance. I’m shocked at how many people have already arrived. Aqualis is a large city, but having so many pain-hungry spectators is alarming. I turn back to him and blow out a large bubble. "He injured his ribs on that side long ago, which still bothers him. If you have a shot, you need to hit him there."
Nathan winces, and his hair floats around him as he steadies himself with careful strokes of his hands. I remember how he almost beat me. He has talent.
"You don't think I'll make it out of the arena, do you?" he asks.
Of course, I do.The words are on my lips, and I try to force them out. They won't budge.
