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“Pfft.” Claira brushed past me, her fiery head cocked high in defiance. Clipped words trailed behind her in a rapid stream. “Afraid of what the others might think? Their perfect prince returning in the middle of the night next to Poseidon’s reject?” Her tone shifted to an annoyed grumble. “It’s not my fault you lost your clothes. Well, not entirely.”
I watched the dismissive sway of her hips as she stalked away and frowned. She was wrong. That wasn’t the reason at all, but how could I explain? If there really was a car out there, then a shark bite would pale in comparison to the dangerous waters we were treading now.
“I wrote the other kingdoms first,” I blurted, and Claira staggered mid-step. “Before I wrote your letter. Not to tell them about you—I swear it—but to see if they’d come across another mer unchanged by the curse.”
I’d been an idiot to trust that fucking gull. If the other kingdoms knew about Claira, it would be that much harder to guarantee her safety. I’d already broken her trust once. I’d die before breaking it again.
“There are four other kingdoms, so I thought there’d be others out there. Others like you. I don’t know if those letters ever made it, but either way, I’m sure my father was eager to let the other rulers know the Atlantic will be the first to reclaim its trident.”
“Well, that’s cute.” Claira huffed under her breath as I came up beside her. “So, the entire ocean wants to see the circus freak.”
I wasn’t sure what she meant, but my heart strained at the wounded tone in her voice. I wrapped my hand around hers without thinking, letting my fingers press into the warmth of her palm.
She didn’t deserve this pain. To be cast out, only to be dragged back in.
I’d practically tortured myself over the last month trying to let her go again. To let her live a life above the waves without my interference. But fate had intervened, and here she was next to me, close and bold enough to steal kisses from me under the moonlight.
Even through all the pain I’d caused her, some dark, twisted part of me felt immense satisfaction at her touch. Like I was gratified, awakened,acceptedwhenever she was near.
Before she could pull away, I closed the distance between us by pressing a hard kiss on her forehead. “This is my fault.” Salt from her damp hair coated my lips, and I reveled in the flavor, remembering how deliciously sweet her tongue had tasted on mine. “So, I’ll handle it. Just promise me you’ll stay behind me for now.”
She chewed at her lip before giving a tight nod. “All right, but I hope King Eamon doesn’t blame you for my escape.”
“Oh? And when did you start worrying about me?” I half-heartedly teased, hoping to put her at ease. I angled myself between her and the warehouse and guided her by the hand behind me. The netting around my hips sagged with each step, but my appearance was the least of my worries.
“I guess you were right,” I mumbled as a parked car in front of the warehouse came into view. Compact and as dark as a sea cave, I wondered how she’d seen it from such a long way out.
The warehouse light flicked to life at our approach, instantly illuminating two figures standing next to the car. Dozens of onlookers poked their heads out of their homes, their eyes swollen and sleepy, unsure of whether to focus on me, their king, or the two outsiders.
An intense gaze seized me all the way from the center platform, and I froze abruptly just outside of the door, sending Claira running into the middle of my back. Everything seemed to dissolve around me as that paralyzing stare held me in its imperious grip. Ice slid down my spine, and it wasn’t until a hand squeezed mine that I realized I’d forgotten to breathe.
“Lee?” Claira’s sweet voice whispered up into my ear. “Are you all right?”
I—
“Prince Leander.” My father’s voice thundered from where he perched on his makeshift throne. It wasn’t until his gaze cut over to the two visitors that I managed to pull in a quick breath. “Honored guests. We welcome you to the Kingdom of the Atlantic. We appreciate your swift arrival, though regret that it is under such…” My father’s glacial stare, numbing and merciless, cut back to me. “… disappointing circumstances.”
Terror shook through me, but I wouldn’t let it show.Couldn’t. Not while he was still looking at me. Not when I had to shield the delicate mermaid behind me from the nightmare sitting in front of us.
“Before we receive you both, we have a slight matter to attend to with our crown prince. Our captains shall receive you in our absence.”
Shit. Not now. Please, not now.
My father rose from his throne, and I swallowed back a mouthful of bile.
His shoulders turned, releasing me from his fiendish hold, and it was like waking from a trance. Suddenly, I noticed the crowd forming around us, and I caught sight of one of the Turbula twins. Sickly pale, I recognized her as the one that always slunk around, hidden in her sister’s shadow. Eyes wide with inquiry trailed down my hips, then over to Claira behind me, and a red stain rose over her face. She darted into the shadows like a mermaid on a mission, her mouth pinched in outrage.
Aleena’s pointed, manipulative lips flashed into my mind, and I suppressed a shudder. Even with mermaid glamour soaking her grin, she could never hide her true nature. Her lust for power was almost palpable.
I glanced down at the net around my hips, then back to sweet Claira behind me and cringed. This was definitely going to bite me in the ass later.
“Do you think the king wants you to follow him?” Claira said, her eyes trailing my father’s movements as he disappeared into one of the storerooms.
Storeroom 2B.
“I…” My jaw seized, and I settled on nodding instead. I pulled her into the warehouse behind me, unable to focus on the familiar faces moving around us. With each light step I took down the rows of fabric, my stomach sank deeper, and I focused on the sensation, like diving into an endless abyss.
Then a cheerful dolphin greeted me, and I absently traced a finger over the wide line of its smile before throwing open the curtain. I needed… clothes or something. What did I need?
