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I push the button for our apartment level. Ophelia might not feel that our apartment is adequate for a mermaid, but it’s what I have. Stepping into our foyer, I see it with fresh eyes. Ophelia might be right. “We need our own place.”
“I’ve talked to Soren already.” Castor has his shoes off and is staring at Annabelle.
“Your brother?” Annabelle sits on the other end of the sofa from me, her attention cast out the window.
“He works in the Glyden offices,” I answer for Castor, who scowls. He’s not happy about it. But Soren is the one who will decide what apartment we get, or rather, what Annabelle gets.
Annabelle has her shoes off and is massaging her reddened toes.
“Don’t wear any more of Kai’s shoes. They’re hurting you.” Castor grabs her foot away from her hand. The shoemakers of Doria will have a profit today.
She nods. Behind her blue eyes, her thoughts are obviously whirling like a school of fish caught in a dolphin’s bubble ring. When she leans into me, it is comfortable, and I find myself slipping toward sleep. Thoughts swim through my mind.
On what Annabelle becomes.
On what our people become.
On what I become.
I should be able to read what their outcome for me is. I run every word over in my head, every action they gave me. They’re trained to keep emotions at bay, but I’ve been able to pick them up for a long time, read the littlest reaction for the tell it is. A talent when dealing with my fathers, a necessity when dealing with a vessel full of males.
And while I think they will vote for execution, inside of me is a seed of hope. A seed I must drown. Having a life with Annabelle isn’t my fate. It’s the thought I focus on while I absentmindedly stroke her hair. The last thought I have before blackness takes me.
18
Castor
Watching them sleep on the sofa, I don’t want to wake either of them. If there is anything they both need, it’s sleep. I’ll put my mother off for another hour. Annabelle’s perfect the way she is. And I’m not sure my feet could take any more practicing of the minnow. Yet I would gratefully do it if it meant a minute more with her in my arms, my best friend guiding her around the floor. Watching them now, I can’t move.
The apartment door opens. It must be Holter; he’s the only other one with a key. From how they’ve slumped down on the sofa, he can’t see them. I rush to the door and pull him out into the hall.
His blue eyes question me as we stumble backward. “Hello.”
“Sorry. Nico and Annabelle are asleep on the sofa.”
“Nico?” Holter steps toward the door. “They’ve ruled him innocent?”
“No, a reprieve. Until they decide, he’s permitted access to all of Glyden’s domes.”
“Ophelia?”
I nod. It has the feeling of my mother over it. Her influence is as wide as our family is large.
“The Gorsca is parked in its normal spot. Thanks for letting me take it.”
“Of course. How is Alder? Any change?”
“None. But I did convince them to let me sit with him for a while. He’s so pale, but his heart is strong, and he’s always been a tough one.”
“Yes.” Because what am I supposed to say? He was tough enough to withstand his entire life being pulled apart by my parents.
“I’ll be quiet. But I’ve got a few things I need to get done.” He nods at the door, and at the same time the elevator opens. To my fucking brother. Well, they’re all some sort of fucking brother, but this is the one that my mother wants to take my place with Annabelle. He’s also the same one I messaged an hour ago about Annabelle needing her own apartment.
“Soren. It’s good to see you.” Holter throws a look at me over his shoulder.
“You too. I wish it was for a different reason, though. How is Nico?” My brother looks like all of us. Light blond hair, an inch shorter than me, something that’s driven him crazy for years. He’s good at what he does, but there’s just something about his cocky attitude that drives me nuts.
