“Why?”
“I have a bad feeling—”
A squeal down the hall interrupted them. Girraween ran and embraced Tatiana, practically toppling her over. “Oh, Tatiana! You’re up. You missed breakfast. And ooooh! Look at your crown!”
She jumped up and clapped, then took Tatiana’s hands and twirled her in a whole glee-filled circle, like children.
“I overslept.”
“Overslept?” Girraween laughed like what she’d said was absurd, then sobered up. “You’re feeling okay, right?”
“I’m fine.”
“Well… you’ve done it. You’ve caused another stir. Everyone thinks you might be pregnant already. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Jacob crossed his arms, flexing his biceps, and returned to his spot against the wall. Tatiana couldn’t stop her cheeks from flushing and she kept from looking directly at him. Of all people, Jacob knew she and Azor had never slept in the same room, let alone done
it
. Why was everyone so keen on her womb anyway?
Maybe leaving
was
a good idea,
she thought until she remembered Azor. He’d come to the palace, looking for Tatiana first, then report his findings to his mother. She didn’t want to miss him, or the news.
Azor’s prolonged absence still punctuated her mind with worry. She couldn’t live in the middle of a family feud her entire life.
“Possibly,” Tatiana mumbled in a lie, trying to return to the present. She hoped her admission of pregnancy would quell the gossip temporarily until she could get Azor alone to seduce him.
Tatiana caught Jacob’s raised brow at her lie.
“That’ll prove Pearleza wrong.” Girraween pulled on Tatiana’s hand. “Come on. We need to hurry.”
Tatiana stole her hand back. “Nicole is bringing me breakfast first. I’m starving.”
“Oh, right.” Girraween patted Tatiana’s tummy. “You’re eating for two now, or maybe three! Just hurry. Mother won’t be happy if you’re late.”
Tatiana cringed, considering she’d just returned to her good graces, proof being in the crown.
“Late to mermaid school?” Tatiana hoped.
Girraween laughed again. “No, silly. School is cancelled for now. We must be present at the audience. It’s practice for your future.” She winked, eyeing the crown again and oohing.
Tatiana sighed in disappointment, but feared angering her mother-in-mer further. She bit her lip and stared at Jacob. How could she ask to leave now? However, another day of ceaseless glares while the mers begged assistance of a male leader who was incapacitated made her head hurt. Maybe Azor would come home and save her from this nightmare today. Then they’d go home to the compound like Jacob wanted.
Nicole arrived and brought the breakfast tray. Tatiana shoved a bit of jelly-slathered biscuit in her mouth and hummed before Girraween managed to drag her away. Jacob reluctantly followed, but not before Tatiana made him eat the other half of her biscuit.
Through the vast window in the audience room, Tatiana counted the blue grenadiers as they swam by. Only the smallest of the schools were left—a terrible sign. If the fear to venture through the gates remained, the mer population would starve. Hunting in open sea was needed for bigger game fish that didn’t like swimming at Natatorian depths—like salmon, tuna, grouper and dolphin fish.
“Tatiana.”
Azor’s voice made Tatiana practically jump out of her skin and she scanned the hall for him. Beads of water rolled down his muscular chest and stomach, pooling at his feet in the doorway. At the sight of him, she forgot everything she’d been upset over—basking in his glorious presence.
She rose to her feet, her breath held. He crossed the room to her. Collectively, everyone held their breath along with Tatiana until his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. Her legs quivered and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, finding the soft wet hair at the nape of his neck. He was here, touching her, and she was finally whole again.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered in her ear.
“Azor,” the Queen said sweetly. “Good to see you’re home.”
She dismissed the anxious group of awaiting mers with a wave of her hand. “Blanchard, take these citizens out. We’ll resume after lunch.”
At the groans, Azor yelled for “silence.” In the hall, Tatiana could hear soft pleas to speak with Prince Azor, but the guards ushered them away. Tatiana’s heart broke with each tortured face disappearing around the corner and out of sight.
Queen Desiree stood from her throne and walked over to hug her son. After their embrace, Azor intertwined his hand with Tatiana’s. She beamed, hoping they wouldn’t have to stay long under the Queen’s watchful eye.
From the hall, Jacob glared. Her stomach tightened. Of course Jacob would be angered at her happiness to see Azor. What did he expect her to do? Yell at him in front of everyone? Azor was her mate, after all, and she the understanding wife. She’d pick her battles and this wasn’t one of them. With a flick of her hair, she focused on Azor.
“Son,” Queen Desiree said, her eyes darting quickly to Tatiana. “I’m sure you have lots to share. Let’s go talk in my private chambers, shall we?”
Tatiana squeezed his hand tight and followed, glued to his side. They walked into the hall and her heart pounded, wondering about the news. Was her family safe? Had he returned empty handed?
Azor stopped and nuzzled her ear. “I’ll be right back.”
“What?”
He kissed her cheek and touched her nose. “Wait for me in your chambers. I’ll be there shortly.”
He dropped her hand and her arms fell limp. How could he just leave like that again? Bar her from the conversation? She wanted to know where he’d been, what had happened. Did he find her parents? Would he pardon them? But her mouth, just like her legs, wouldn’t work, the humiliation was overwhelming. And just like that, he walked around the corner, out of sight.
Stunned and shaking, she gathered her courage and smoothed her sweaty palms down her skirt. She wouldn’t allow the rumor mill anything new to chew on. A queen would never crumble; Tatiana would prove the same. She was strong, even in disappointment. Azor had a job to do and she’d allow him freedom to do it.
With firm steps, she moved down the adjacent hall, away from prying eyes. She lifted her chin and turned to Jacob, barely holding onto a shred of sanity. “Would you escort me to my room?”
With a heavy nod, Jacob replied, “Of course, Princess.”
12
: : :
Fleur-de-lis
Tatiana walked down the stark corridor with Jacob next to her, lost in her own world. With each step, the weight of everything bore down on her shoulders—the secrets she kept along with the lies. She longed for more than just a promise with Azor, longed to be his confidant, to be his best friend.
She fought everything inside her not to run to the Queen’s private chambers and demand they include her. Why couldn’t she know what happened? If he’d captured her parents, she’d find out. Better to tell her himself, than let the rumor mill do it.
She fisted her hands, furious at him, and turned down the last hall on the right. The door to her room cried out as a beacon, a safe haven where she could crumble into a fit of tears out of view of Jacob. As she twisted the knob, Jacob called out.
“That’s not your—” But he stopped speaking.
Tatiana blinked out of her thoughts and stepped barefoot into a room three times the size of her own. In the center was a huge oak four poster bed. The King lay in the middle of it, eyes closed.
She gasped and backed up into Jacob’s body, ready to retreat when the King turned, his eyes locking on her.
“Hello?” he asked, his voice tired and weak.
Her hands shook, one for disturbing him and two for the sight of him. His skin, pale and weathered, hung loosely on his deteriorated muscles. He wasn’t reminiscent of the powerful king who’d just conducted her promising ceremony a few days ago.
“I’m sorry—my mistake, I didn’t mean to—I’ll leave.” She dipped into a quick curtsy.
“Tatiana? Is that you?” A smile spread on his face. Grunting, he pressed his hands downward and wiggled his hips to adjust himself upright. Tatiana could see there was nothing under the sheets below his hips—a creepy emptiness.
She hid her gasp, averting her eyes back to his, then to the floor. “Your Majesty, I know what you’re about to say and I sincerely apologize…”
“For what?” The King laughed. “Visiting the King? Please. Come talk with me. Do you have good news?”
She stood, stunned. He wanted to talk with her? The King? This couldn’t be the same man who’d just force-promised her and threatened her father; the one in charge of all of Natatoria.
“I—I,” she stuttered and gulped down her words of more apologies, her tongue stuck as if in peanut butter.
“Come.” He motioned to the chair next to him. “Sit with me and tell me all that’s happening in Natatoria. Are you and my son finally happy?”
Her chest heaved, her legs numb. Didn’t he hate her? Shouldn’t he? Or maybe this was a trap. A way to get her to spill what she knew.
“Yes, I’m happily promised to Azor,” Tatiana lied, trying hard to cheer up her face as she warily scanned the room for hidden Dradux guards. When no one sprung out to seize her, she moved to retrieve a chair. The King gasped behind her. Tatiana swiveled around, ready to spring for help. “What’s wrong? Are you ill? Should I get the healer?”
“No,” King Phaleon said, eyes wide as he composed himself. “I—it’s nothing.” He looked off to the large windows beyond her, his eyes losing focus. “I’ve been wondering how she—managed to—never mind. I’m rambling.” He cleared his throat, regaining his smile. “Why has Azor left his pretty mate wandering the halls of the palace anyway?”
“Uh-mmm.” Tatiana inhaled deeply, her heart pounding. She sat down and gripped the cushion under her thighs to stop them from quaking. Was this a test? How could he not know where Azor had been?
She closed her eyes and murmured, “He’s with the Queen.”
With a tilt of his head the King sighed and clasped his hands in front of him. “Yes, of course. Last I’d heard, he’d left for Tahoe. How’d that go?”
Her breath quickened at the confirmation. “I’m not sure.”
“Did he find your family?”
“Hopefully, no.”
“Yes, I’m sure the kingdom will breathe a collective sigh of relief if that were true—they do love Jack.” He shook his head, murmuring, “Foolish boy.”
Confusion continued to swirl about her. Foolish? Did he mean Jack, or Azor? The ultimate decision of her parents’ fate lay in the king’s hands after all, according to Azor.
“What will you do with them?” she asked with a hoarse throat, eyes low.
“Your parents?” The King chuckled. “If Azor actually manages to catch them, nothing, if I have any say.”
Nothing?
She bit the inside of her cheek, unsure what he meant exactly. With the fight, then the explosion, and now his injuries, why was he so willing to let it all go?
King Phaleon sighed. “I’m
dying
, Tatiana, if you didn’t know. My voice no longer matters.”
Tatiana blinked in shock. “You—you don’t seem like you’re dying to me.”
“You and Queen Desiree are so optimistic.” The King laughed jovially, as if disbelieving her honesty. With a reddening face, he clenched his fists and cursed under his breath. “Little do you both know how quickly things can change on the eve of power.”
Tatiana pulled her head back sharply at his abrupt anger. She pressed her lips to stop herself from asking questions.
“I’m not faulting you for my injuries, so stop looking at me like I’m going to scalp you. I’m…” He dropped his head. “I owe you an apology, my child.”
Her eyes, as big as saucers, fell to her quivering hands now clenched in her lap. The fear to speak any further overcame her. This couldn’t be real. Was he sincerely apologizing?
“No, sire. Please, I beg of you—” She moved to the floor on her knees, clasping her hands. “I—we—what happened with your fin—so tragic.”
His hand reached out and touched her shoulder, cold but soft. “Please, stop groveling, and sit. I blame no one but myself.”
She blinked up at his genuine smile pressed into the wrinkled leather of his cheeks. Slowly, she returned to her chair.
“Tatiana, you’re such a sweet girl. I should have never allowed Azor to manipulate—” He stroked his beard and slowly closed his eyes. “Jack has always been the wise one, and I, the fool. And I betrayed our friendship over the lust of a woman, and then again to a thankless son. I thought your union would help mend things and bring our families together once again. But only now that I’m laid up here, do I see my ignorance. I wish I could tell Jack in person and convince Azor to… ah, Hades.”
Tatiana couldn’t believe her ears, that he’d actually accepted fault for the forced-promising and banishing her father over it. Was he saying he’d tell Azor to stop going after him. Had the accident given him brain damage?
“I—” Her mouth hung opened.
“And now I’ll pay—with my life, I imagine.”
Tatiana blinked, astounded. “What do you mean? You’ll return to the throne soon after you mend. A little sun, or fresh water perhaps.”
“Red Tide!” The King cursed and Tatiana slammed backward into her chair in fright. “My time is over! You will be queen soon, and you must listen!” He pounded his fist against a book engraved with his name in gold letters on his nightstand. “I would have never guessed, without knowing the look myself, that my son would betray me, even after I’ve given everything he’s asked for. So I’ve written down the truths in this book to show you the way you must raise your son. To teach him respect and the history of our people, mistakes and all. His heart must desire to serve the people. It’s my unborn grandson who’s the future of Natatoria’s salvation. I beg of you, please! Do you understand?”
Tatiana’s breath caught in her throat. What was he saying? That he disapproved of how Azor turned out? That he’d somehow betray the King? And what did he mean she’d be queen
soon
?
“But you’re fine,” Tatiana squeaked out.
The King harrumphed and flipped back the blankets revealing two stumps mid-thigh, scarred and bulbous. “As if I could rule like this—with these things. You’re too young to know the prejudices of our people.”