Tatiana’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, dear Poseidon.”
“Poseidon be damned; he had nothing to do with this.” He returned the silken covers to his non-existent legs. “This is my doing—or undoing. To think in all my eighteen years—” The King’s eyes met the ceiling before he pressed his lids shut. “That I’ve ruled that long and learned so little. That I’d betray my own father, not thinking my son would do the same—like all those before me. Knowing my son, you will need to be
creative
in your persuasion, and not as naive as the Queen and I have been.”
Tatiana fidgeted nervously in her seat. Had he no faith in Azor, or himself? He believed he wouldn’t return to rule. “Your Grace, pardon me, but I don’t know what to do with all of this.”
“I know. Just… accept my apologies and learn from my mistakes.” He held out the book to her.
Tatiana’s lips pursed, accepting it. “Of course, my King.”
“And please bring me your beautiful son, so that I might see him and wish him great wisdom before I go.”
“Of course, my King.” Thinking of the future, she rubbed her stomach. Then tears pricked her eyes at the thought of her merling never knowing his grandfather.
His eyes lingered at her hand before his body went limp. He fell into the pillows behind him. “I wish I had more time.”
His voice was merely a whisper.
“Rest, sire. I can come back later.”
“Please, one more thing…” he whispered. “Come closer, child.”
Tatiana rose from her seat and approached. The King blinked slowly and his eyes looked off into the horizon, his mind not with her. Tatiana grew worried watching him, as if he’d expire right then.
“Lean closer.” He clasped her hand.
And she did.
13
: : :
Crazy
Tatiana’s screams sent Jacob charging into the King’s room; the knife normally hidden in his boot was unsheathed and pointed outward, leading his attack.
“Princess!” he yelled.
But Jacob wasn’t prepared for what he’d see. Within the King’s grasp was Tatiana’s neck, his lips dangerously close to touching hers.
“Stop! Phaleon!” she grunted, shrieking again, pressing with all her might against his chest. “STOP!”
“Don’t fight me,” he begged. “It’ll be quick—you must let me. You must!”
“No!” She clawed at his chest, but as a human she had no talons. “Jacob!”
Jacob sprinted to her and pried Tatiana out of the King’s hands. With a shove, he pushed the King aside. Pointing his knife at the King, he watched his body flip over, almost toppling off the other side to the floor. The King cursed, lying on his back, pawing to cover his torso with the sheet.
“Get back, soldier!” he bellowed. “Guards!”
Jacob’s hand froze. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The King’s legs were missing. Pity stopped his need to strike and end his life. He backed away, pushing Tatiana behind him, prepared to fight the Dradux who’d come to the King’s aid.
Jacob scanned the walls for another exit. But neither a Dradux, nor anyone for that matter, appeared. Why was he left unguarded?
King Phaleon recovered, panting. “This isn’t what it seems,” he said, his eyes wild.
“I know what I saw.” Jacob’s steely eyes scoured the King. He took Tatiana’s hand, leading her from the room.
“No!” the King yelled, “I need Tatiana—it’s for my grandchildren. You don’t understand. Please, Tatiana. Allow me one kiss.”
Without a single look back, Jacob shut the door, silencing the King. He scanned the hall before taking the Princess’s face in his hands. With great care, he studied her. Then he touched her arms and patted down her sides. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
Large tears formed in her blue eyes.
She stared, unblinking. “H—he…”
“I know.” Jacob wiped away a tear with his thumb, sick at what the King almost accomplished. Her lips trembled and all Jacob wanted to do was quiet them with his own—smother them with loving kisses and promise her he’d never let that happen to her again—if they were together.
“I don’t understand,” she whimpered.
He dropped his hands as his conscience took over and closed his eyes to think. The worst was yet to come, and they didn’t have time to waste. He needed to take her far away from Natatoria—now.
“We only have one choice. We must leave,” Jacob took her hand and led her down the hall toward the northwest entrance.
Tatiana dragged her feet, stopping him. “No. I mu—must tell Azor first.”
Jacob swiveled around, facing her. At the mention of Azor’s name, anger flushed through his body. How could she still give this asinine family her allegiance?
“Azor?” He palmed his hair, exasperated. “Don’t you see? The King assaulted you. And once he tells someone I attempted to kill him, we’re dead—I’m dead. He’s sick—and he’s crazy. My fate is in his hands. They’ll lock me up and then I won’t be with you to stop that from happening again. I won’t allow it! Do you even know what I wanted to do to him when I saw his filthy hands on you?”
Tatiana’s face crinkled in worry. She pressed her lips and Jacob realized he’d said too much—she wasn’t his to be so possessive of. “I—I know, but Azor. He asked me to wait. We’ll be going home and…”
Jacob gritted his teeth, his heart pounding. “Tatiana. Stop letting your promise lead you and listen to yourself.”
“I know.” She pinched her eyes shut. “Maybe I am crazy. But from what the King said, I don’t think anyone is even listening to him anymore.”
Jacob’s features froze. “What did he say to you?”
She looked away, confusion crossing her face. “So many things about… about…the past kings and his disappointment in Azor.” She scanned the floor, searching for her words. “I can’t even make sense of it—it was all so jumbled, but he did apologize. To me and for what happened to my father. He doesn’t want to punish him for the shark attack, or the incident at the palace, or the explosion. He blames himself.”
“He what?” Jacob spouted a sardonic laugh.
“He does, for allowing Azor to convince him to force our promising, and then for betraying the friendship he had with my dad.”
Jacob stood, dumbfounded. “Well, now I’ve heard everything.” He tisked and shook his head. “A little convenient when all he wanted to do was
kiss
you, don’t you think? I know the King and he’s never repentant. Was there no one in his room attending to him?”
“No,” she said, sadly. “It was as if they’d stuck him there to die.”
Jacob pressed his palms into his temples.
Damn promise!
Why couldn’t she see reason? This wouldn’t be the only incident—many more would come and he couldn’t handle it if anyone succeeded in harming her.
“I still think we should leave,” he said evenly in one last-ditch effort.
She looked up at him, imploring. “I’m sorry, Jacob. I won’t leave without Azor.”
Jacob clenched his jaw. “Won’t or can’t?”
She pinched her eyes shut and sighed. “Just go, Jacob,” she said, with sadness in her voice. “I’ll be fine.”
“Like just now? I told you this place wasn’t safe and if I wasn’t with you—” Jacob bowed his head, regaining composure. She’d be the death of him.
She stared at her hands, silent.
He couldn’t believe he was about to let her stubbornness win. He had no choice. She’d only leave kicking and screaming, and that wasn’t really an option.
“No, Princess. Where you go, I go.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.
14
: : :
Vacation
Jacob said nothing further the entire walk to her room. Alone, she lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling, too numb to cry. The bruises on her neck had vanished under the quick healing of her mer blood, but the aftermath of what happened hadn’t yet. Hours had passed since Azor left with his mother and the assault kept replaying in her mind. With what the King said, she had so many questions, none of which she felt comfortable asking Azor.
“Tatiana?”
She snapped into the present and turned toward Azor’s silhouette in the doorway, curbing her desire to run to him. She clenched her jaw instead. After everything, he’d need to earn her affection first.
“You’re finished?” she asked, her voice drenched in sarcasm. “Nice of you to stop by.”
“You’re not happy to see me?”
As he entered her room, she tried her hardest to still her shaking limbs and stay mad. His soft, dark hair fell gently to his shoulders and all she wanted was for him to shut-up, kiss her, and tell her he was taking her far away from Natatoria.
“Did you find my parents in Tahoe?” she asked instead.
His face fell. “No.”
Relief filled her, but she hid that from her expression. “Did they leave?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
He walked closer and her heart pounded. He took her hands into his and abruptly yanked her to her feet. “Let’s not talk about the trip, okay?”
With a rush of rough movements, he encircled her in his arms and pressed his body against hers. She remained ridged, determined not to give in. Though her soul celebrated with his touch, she managed to subdue its all-encompassing power. She wouldn’t reward his niceness after he’d lied multiple times and abandoned her. Not to mention the other atrocities inflicted on her from his mother and father.
“You left me out,” she said, her tone biting.
“I know.” He traced a circle on her cheek with his finger, through the wet trail that ran to her chin. “I’m sorry.”
She gulped, her strength wavering, and turned her face to the side. “And you told your mother I had the
ick
.”
“What? No, I didn’t.” He laughed into her hair. His other hand slid down over her waist, cupping her backside. “Where were we the other day?”
Her breath caught unexpectedly and she closed her eyes. “You cannot leave without telling me where you’re going or when you’ll be back.”
“I said I was sorry.” His whiskers brushed her skin as his lips traced her jaw to her neck. Goose flesh broke out along her skin, her breath quickening.
“I don’t forgive you,” she whispered.
“Hmmm…” he said, nipping at her neck. “That’s too bad, considering you smell so enchanting.”
Her head swirled with his own musk mixed with the evergreens and water of Tahoe. Home.
“You can’t leave me, then expect one simple apology to make everything okay.”
“You’re right.” He tugged on her earlobe with his teeth. “I was only checking on your parents for you, to calm your nerves, but they’d left and I’m not entirely sure where. Maybe you’d know.”
“Probably the safe—” She winced as his bite pinched her skin. She closed her eyes, swallowing in the rest of her statement, working to clear her head of his seduction. Though she wanted to tell him the truth, she wouldn’t. Any information about the safe house in Florida would lead Azor right to those who’d successfully helped mers escape Natatoria’s tyranny.
“Safe?” He nuzzled her hair and pulled her in tighter, molding his body against hers.
“Just somewhere safe,” she spluttered.
She finally relaxed into him and grew anxious for him to actually kiss her lips instead of tease her neck with his tongue. But at the roughness of his hands and the hard metal of his armor pressing into her, she recoiled, reminded of the King. Soon enough, the after-effects of the promise took hold and swam in her head instead. For the briefest of moments, she forgot everything: the rumor mill, Pearleza’s earlier exam, the suggested mating dance class, King Phaleon’s confessions and wanting lips. They all faded into a distant memory. Azor was what she’d wanted: his love, his acceptance, his body against hers.
And as if he’d read her mind, Azor removed his armor and pressed all of his weight onto her tiny frame, forcing her to lie on the bed. Her heart raced at the thought of being together, and as humans do—so naughty. Her wiles as a woman weren’t broken after all. They’d only needed time alone, away from all distraction, to start their lives without a care of the world around them. No caste system, no servants, no titles or expectations of babies, no power, no death. Just their kiss and their touch.
Azor worked his lips down her chest and fumbled at unhooking the back of her top.
“Let’s run away,” she whispered, her wish slipping out off her tongue involuntarily.
His fingers froze and he jerked his body up. “What?”
She hiccupped, realizing her mistake, and smiled coyly. “Or not.”
Azor dropped her to the bed and stood, a parental glare replacing his desire. “Run away? Are you insane?”
She moved up onto her elbows, trying to coax him with her knee to lay on her again. “It just seems like a good idea considering,” she stalled, her voice quivering. “We could come back after everything smoothes over—take an extended promisetide in the Canary Islands.”
“Our place is here, with
our
people. We don’t have the luxury of a promisetide, especially not now.” Azor huffed and pushed his dark hair from his eyes. “We’re going to be king and queen sooner than you think”
He eyed her belly and then gritted his teeth.
She froze, remembering King Phaleon’s prediction. “What do you mean?”
Azor laughed. “Like my father has any desire to live now that he’s,” Azor gestured wildly, “finless and barely able to swim. How can he lead when he looks no better than a servant?”
Her throat constricted, knowing the direct opposite to be true—he wasn’t dead, he was very much alive. “Why does that have to matter?”
“It matters tremendously.”
“Then change that archaic prejudice and show that accidents happen but it doesn’t change the person inside.”
Azor’s eyes pressed into slits. “It’s not that easy.”
She grimaced, not really wanting the King, wild and insane, to remain on the throne, but angered at Azor’s narrow-mindedness. “Don’t you mean it’s easier for you to take the throne and let your father wither away?”
He closed in on the space between them, angry grooves marring his beautiful face. “Mind your tongue, Tatiana.”
She blinked back her tears and smoothed down her bunched up skirt with her hands. How could he be so wonderful one minute and such a monster the next? Maybe he
was
just like his father in more ways than one.