Tatiana stared back. Argue or obey were her only options. And if she stayed to argue, Azor could hurt someone.
“Fine,” she grumbled and swam past him outside.
Through the current, Tatiana whipped her tail hard, anxious to get to Azor before another blast blew. Jacob followed behind, eyeing the horizon. Upon crossing the clearing, she could see a row of shackled prisoners handing rocks to one another. Within seconds, another blast sent bubbles zipping out of the hole up to the ceiling of Natatoria. Instinctively, she cupped her hand over her sore ear.
Then, she saw Azor, dark hair waving in the current. The water once again rippled from the heat blazing off her skin.
“Azor!” she called out.
He turned in surprise as the water shimmered, vibrating again. She held her ears, expecting the blast to burst her eardrum. Azor’s eyes burned first into Tatiana’s lithe frame, then Jacob.
“What are you two doing here?”
“Seriously? Rockfish!” She frowned, propping her hand to her hip. “I should be asking you.”
Azor pressed his brows together, his glare ping-ponging between them. “Jacob, take her home. Now.”
“No!” Tatiana latched onto Azor’s arm and pulled him away from the onlookers. Temptation to choke him besieged her. She put her face inches from his. “You said you’d come to bed last night.
Promised me
you would, and you didn’t. Now you’re here, without even so much as a good morning. To what? Open the gate?” She pressed out her claws and dug into his skin.
“Hey,” he barked, whipping his arm away. “Keep your talons to yourself, woman.”
“I’m done! With this and with you!”
“Tatiana, Love,” he said his voice softening. He approached her with his hands raised. “I came to bed last night, but you’d fallen asleep. And this morning, I wanted so badly to kiss you, but you looked so peaceful, like an angel.”
She blinked in confusion. “Angel?”
“Yes, Love,” he said, cupping her cheek.
The same ache returned; the thrill and delight from his touch. She fought him, closing her eyes, willing away the curse of the promise. She’d get her point across one way or another. “My parents have left. Leave Tahoe be.”
He lingered for a moment, then recoiled, wrinkling his nose. “You stink.”
Her cheeks heated. She cast a glare at Jacob, who pivoted away—studying the crew at the mouth of the Tahoe gate. But at the absence of Azor’s touch, she could finally concentrate on what she’d wanted to say.
She clutched her fists, gaining courage. “This is dangerous and silly. Someone could get hurt.”
“Like I care if a rebel beta or two gets singed.” He blew out a chuckle. “It’s their leader’s fault that…” He stopped himself and rubbed his goatee, jaw clenching.
“You don’t know that for sure. It could have been…” She clamped her mouth shut when Badger’s name came to mind. She wouldn’t sell him out after he’d proved his loyalty to her family. “Uncle Alaster.”
“Alaster?” Azor laughed. “No. This has nothing to do with your
parents
. We have assets in Tahoe we must attend to.”
“What, a house? My father built that, and the charter business and everything else in and around that house. Those assets belong to my family.”
“We bought the land, which means the assets belong to us.” With a dark expression, he continued. “Don’t make this a bigger issue than it needs to be. There’s no other way into Tahoe and I will reopen the gate; it's as simple as that.”
Tatiana laughed coarsely. The King’s words about a foolish son came to mind and she couldn’t agree more.
“Did you know Nicole and other servants lost their parents to a mining accident when they were only children?” she hissed. “I’m sure these explosions are giving them and all the servants a huge vote of confidence. They’re already afraid to get supplies as it is—”
Azor puffed his chest forward; his pectoral spikes flared. “All of that is none of your concern, Tatiana.” He smirked. “But if you insist on sticking around, please do so out of view of the rebels. Your presence is confusing.”
“Confusing?” She perched a brow. “As future queen, I care about all mer: beta, rebel, maimed and the orphaned. And dynamite is dynamite. If the servants are terrorized, who’s going to get your mom her coveted croissants and fresh berry jam?”
His smile remained. “Maybe she’ll have to eat fish like the rest of her kingdom.”
“That’s if we have any left in a few days.” Tatiana huffed.
His eyes hardened into a scowl. “I refuse to argue with you. Your father forfeited everything once he defied the King and I will reopen the gate.”
“My father did nothing wrong and your actions aren’t fixing the problem. It’s only making it worse! If you’d only listen to your father and stop this before it’s too late!”
He cocked his head back and snarled. “It’s not up to you. Ever!”
“Ughhh!” She turned her fin in disgust and kicked her tail toward the compound. She’d expected him to chase after her, or at least call out her name, but he yelled for Jacob instead. Heartbroken, she sped off blindly, leaving them in her sand-filled wake.
: : :
Her heart stuttered and mind whirred. She couldn’t return to the compound, not after the sharp-tongued servants sliced her up like sushi. This would only add to the gossip mill, though they’d know soon enough when the explosions didn’t stop. Her words to him were nothing. With another pump of her tail, she turned east and headed for her old house. Maybe in the ruins she could salvage what was left of her stolen life. Maybe there an answer to her problems would arise.
Upon rounding the last row of mer houses on Percophidae Lane, Tatiana gasped. Unscathed and pristine stood her home, just like she and her mother had left it right before the promising ceremony.
“That little piranha,” Tatiana mumbled under her breath as she swam in for a closer look.
The furnishings and familiar smells greeted her with open arms, and she threw off the stinky jacket and spread herself across the floor. She inhaled, bent her knees and wriggled her toes, thankful spiders couldn’t take over like they would in her Tahoe home. At her song of joy leaping off her tongue, a crab skittered across the floor and Tatiana laughed, thinking of Fin—his hated underwater version of spiders.
Immediately, Tatiana dashed to her room and put on her favorite pink tulle sequin skirt, then hustled to the kitchen and whipped up a batch of vegan pancakes (due to a lack of eggs and milk) and brewed a pot of hot coffee. The delicious smells danced with one another and tickled her nose. She ate with a peaceful smile, the first one in a long time, until a twinge of guilt hit her.
Though she’d meant every word she’d said to Azor, dread over her delivery took hold. How would they unite a kingdom when they couldn’t even get along? Or sleep in the same bed, for that matter?
She groaned into her hands. Lies… all he told were lies. He’d promise one thing and do the total opposite, then expect his apology would smooth things over. If she returned to the compound now, he’d win and she’d virtually be in agreement of his poor treatment of her. Why, in spite of his cruelty, did the promise have such an unfair hold on her heart and her actions and not on his? Only briefly would she have moments of clarity, like in the heat of an argument, where she could see what an ass he really was. But then his touch turned her to a spineless jellyfish, addicted to him like a drug. She’d hated him once. She wanted to remember her feelings, use them to help her think clearer. Azor clearly showed there was a way to control oneself, master the art of the promise. What was the secret?
Maybe distance was the key. What if she hid at her parent’s for a while? Would he finally care? Miss her? Worry to the point, he’d realize his mistreatment of her? There was no reason for him to pursue her parents anymore. Sure, the King suffered because of a chain of events he admitted he started. But hadn’t Azor talked to his dad yet? Asked for advice on how to lead Phaleon’s kingdom, at least? Surely King Phaleon would mention he’d seen Tatiana, that he’d asked her forgiveness, that he no longer wanted to press the issue. Besides, the sharks were Azor’s doing. If they’d been held on the other side, in the Pacific Ocean where they belonged, and not in Natatoria, the King would be ruling today. Azor and Tatiana would be on their promisetide.
At the thought of a vacation, she closed her eyes and moaned. Fruity drinks and playing tag with the dolphins floated in her mind, along with intimate things only the promised do.
If only.
Ash and Fin drifted in her mind. They’d be at the Florida safe house by now, starting over. Had any of the runaway mers given them an update on what’s happening in Natatoria? Did they care? Ash and Fin would be head over fins in love, and her parents… well, apart for practically a month, they’d be just as bad. And in their minds, they’d probably thought the same of her and Azor—but nothing could be further from the truth. Did they even miss her?
After how she’d treated them when they’d only wanted to save her, they’d know it wasn’t a good idea to return. And with news Azor might be hot on their tails, they’d never risk coming back anyway. To know they’d accepted her choice and moved on without her hurt. Was this her punishment for wanting to become human? For wanting such a selfish dream?
She pushed away her half-eaten plate, her appetite ruined. If only she and Fin had successfully escaped when she’d broken him out of Azor’s dungeon. They’d all be together in Florida, preparing to attend Florida Atlantic University with Ash, and peace would have inhabited Natatoria. Everyone would have been so much better off.
She stared at the time zone clock in the kitchen and bit her lip. Would this be her life? Constant waiting, pining, begging, and fighting? What would happen after she bore a child? Would Azor steal away her son? Warp their sweet merling’s mind to be mean and cruel like he was? She couldn’t bare the thought. And then with the servants watching and gossiping, bets on how she’d handle the responsibility, handle the stress, handle the throne.
No.
Then the solution crossed her mind, an escape from all the madness. She could simply leave. She already knew where her family was. Once in Florida, her parents could convert her and she’d forget everything, all the blame, madness, treachery—that is if they forgave her. The thought thrilled and sickened her.
At the plan, her eyes drifted to her mother’s waterproof bag tucked neatly in the rock cabinet over the lava stove. She didn’t need anything for the trip—only the heirlooms that were special to her family. Her gut tightened and twisted, the thought of leaving Azor exhausting. Though life under the sea had proven to be nothing but heartbreaking, could she honestly go through with it and leave him?
Before she could chicken out, she grabbed her cup of coffee and moved to her room to pack her things, one of which was
Little Women
. At the thought of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, she missed Ash, her best friend and sister-in-mer; her heart pounded faster. She packed her journals, her paints, and cookbooks. The growing, intense fear screamed from her soul, squeezing her chest and inflicting her with dread. She continued on, blaming Azor. His pigheadedness was the reason she was leaving. Maybe now he’d finally understand how serious her threats were. A lifetime of loneliness seemed a fitting punishment.
Like a small hurricane, she whizzed through her room, scooping up bikini tops and skirts from her closet, when her beloved pink sparkly bag flopped to the floor. Inside was a collection of memories she’d made with Ash. As she clutched the purse to her chest, she vowed she was making the right choice. This and the rest of her belongings could only be enjoyed on land—with the wind in her hair, the sun on her face, and the sand between her toes. Freedom. A life of her own.
She stuffed the pink purse into the waterproof bag and lugged it to the porthole. With a soft thud, the bag hit the floor. Tatiana took a deep breath and stared at the shimmering water.
What are you doing?
She teetered, the task daunting. Could she leave? Would she leave? Maybe all Azor needed was a few hours. Yes, that would wise him up. She just needed to wait him out. He’d eventually come looking for her and be sorry. Wait it out. Win.
She sat on the couch, her bag in her fingers, and pulled her feet up. She’d prove a point. This time, she’d be stronger than the promise. Had to be.
17
: : :
Too Late
Frantic, adrenaline pulsed down Jacob’s fin as he swung his tail, cursing at himself for insisting she wore the scent-covering cape. If Tatiana wasn’t at her parents’ house, he didn’t know what he’d do. Escape, too. Or die trying.
He’d watched her vanish over the dunes toward the compound, but she’d never arrived. She’d been missing a day. An entire day and no one, not even the rebels, had seen her. Did she get mad enough to run? Did she somehow get past the Dradux and the cassava drenched nets and escape out of a gate? The thought of Tatiana in the hands of the Dradux, especially Darrellon, made him want to punch something. Poseidon help anyone that dared touch her.
Secretly, he hoped she’d escaped to Florida. He knew about the safe house and figured Tatiana did too, but with the iridescent hooded cape covering her scent, he couldn’t track her. And before he left Natatoria, he’d need to be certain she’d left. There was no coming back.
He hadn’t thought until now to check her parents’ house. Rumor was the crystal ball had damaged the home and others beyond repair. At this point, he’d check anywhere. And like a singing beacon, Jack and Maggie’s house stood at the end of the lane—untouched. He darted up the porthole, took in the sight of Tatiana on the couch, and practically passed out on the floor in front of her.
“Princess? Thank Poseidon you’re safe.” Lying on his back, his chest rose and lowered from his breaths. “I’ve looked everywhere. You don’t know how terrified…”
Jacob’s eyes glazed over before he closed them slowly, thanking the heavens above, then he cursed them. She’d stayed in Natatoria—wild and frantic like a dying fish—for Azor. He scolded himself for his over-protectiveness in insisting she wear the cape. His eyes scanned the floor and saw her bag near the porthole.