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“Yup.”
“Okay, here it goes.” She pulls, and my breath catches me. “I hear that. That’s as tight as it’s going.”
While I’m not looking for another mate, I need it to appear like I am. Play the game. That’s the mantra I run through my head. It’s the one that’s going to get me out of this mess and back into the mess of my lab. Where I still have a few weeks before I lose everything.
She jerks me around a bit as she finishes tying me in.
I release my waist and turn around to her. “How do I look?” I’m still shocked there are no full-length mirrors in this suite. But there was one across the hall in the mermaid’s retreat room. “I wish I could see myself.”
Kai smiles. She’s short and sassy and doesn’t remind me of her mother at all. “Trust me, you look beautiful.”
“Why is there no mirror in here?” I ask.
“That’s simple. There’s no need to look at your own reflection when your mates tell you how beautiful you are every day.” She squeezes my hand.
I release her hand and smooth down the front of my dress. It’s been fun getting ready with her. I haven’t done anything girlie like this in a long time. Not since my cousin and aunt left. I’m wearing the darkklaramawith gold stripes, the one I bought with Holter. I like the ones Ophelia picked out for me, but there’s something about this one. It just fits my style better.
I look over my shoulder and ask Kai, “Are you sure your mom isn’t going to be upset with me? Not wearing one of the ones she bought?”
“She’ll get over it. This one’s perfect.” There is a twinkle in Kai’s eye that makes me wonder if she’s up to something. “Seriously, the reason this closet is full is that she likes buying clothes for other people. Don’t worry about it. You’re going to do great tonight.”
“I’m not so sure. I mean, I’m worried about Nico and the trial, what the verdict will be, and then there’s the fact that I only know three out of the ten dances for the ball.”
“No one’s going to be watching your feet. Just make sure you hop when the other mermaids hop. A good partner can guide you through anything. That’s kind of like life. It sounds like something Dar, my mate, would say.” There’s a smirk on her face as she glares over my shoulder. She’s clearly remembering something. “I can say honestly that I miss Augustine’s food here. But I don’t miss being under my mom’s thumb as much. Now, you’ll be fine. You look lovely.”
“Thank you. You do too.”
She winks a perfectly made-up eye at me. “Yes, but they are coming tonight to see you. A mermaid who is sponsored by Ophelia Drakos? You’ve got nothing to worry about. Trust me, I’ve been in your shoes.”
“I’ve been in your shoes too.”
She glances at my feet. “That had to hurt.” She smiles.
I nod. “But thank you.”
“Any time. But we’ll get you some more shoes soon.”
I lift my dress. “These are nice.” They’re gold, like everything around here, but they lace up like a boot with a little heel.
Kai puts her hand out, and I take it. She looks a lot like both of her brothers. And I wish I could tell her a sworn secret, but I promised I wouldn’t. Soren’s engagement isn’t mine to share.
“Now let’s go see if we can find that brother of mine,” she says.
“Which one?” I ask.
“It doesn’t matter. Any of them will make Ophelia happy.” She turns quickly away, and I understand she means any of them but Castor. “Ouch. Maybe loosen my dress up a little more.” She turns her back to me.
“Are you okay?”
She glances over her shoulder. “I have a secret, but you can’t tell anybody.”
“You’re pregnant.”
She nods. “I’m gonna have a podlet. I’ve just found out.”
“Well, that’ll certainly keep your mother happy.”
“Me too.” Kai has a dreamy expression. Never once have I thought about children in that same way. It’s too hard, remembering my childhood. My uncle and aunt arguing all the time. My dad retreating to the barn, letting my aunt raise me. It was all fine and good until she did the right thing and left to protect herself and my cousin.
