Xirene continued. “Can I bring you something to do today? Sewing, perhaps?”
Tatiana pouted before she popped a fresh blueberry into her mouth. Cooking, yes, hand sewing, no way. She remembered the disastrous vest she’d made for Azor for the festival—partly because she’d tried to make it ugly—and suppressed a smile.
“What are the big plans?”
“Oh… the guards are reattaching the crystal ball and rebuilding the shark fence,” Xirene said, flitting around the room as if to look for something to do. “Along with other things—all boring stuff.”
“Hmmm.” Tatiana popped another berry into her mouth. “Actually, I need your help with something.”
She stopped, eyeing her warily. “You do?”
“I’m going to my parent’s house today, to get clothes, but to also set up a romantic dinner for Azor. I need you to cover for me, then send him to my house at, say, six o’clock.”
Xirene open and closed her mouth in quick succession. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Princess.”
Tatiana chuckled “And why not?”
“Well, with everything.” She shook her head and tsked.
“What do you mean,
with everything
?”
Xirene fiddled with her white gloves, pulling them taut around her elbow. “Azor wishes you to stay here, where you’ll be safe. And I don’t feel right—”
“Safe?” Tatiana tilted her head. “Come on, Xirene. If Jacob escorts me, how would that be dangerous? I could dress like a Dradux—cover my head. Maybe Coralade can help?”
“About your parents’ house.” She looked down and gulped. “I’ve been meaning to tell you. There was… an accident.”
Tatiana’s limbs fell limp. “What do you mean, an accident?”
“When the ball fell, it crushed a few houses. Your parents’… I’m sorry to say… was a casualty.”
“What?” Tatiana sucked in a deep breath; her fin sunk to the floor. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“We… we weren’t sure how to tell you.” She flashed an apologetic smile and patted Tatiana’s shoulder. “And… everyone knew they wouldn’t be back, and you live here now—I’m sorry.”
Tatiana turned and closed her eyes, unwilling to lose it in front of Xirene. “Oh.”
“I’ll leave you alone.” Xirene slipped out of the door.
Tatiana wanted to die. Though her home didn’t have much as far as memories, her mom had brought priceless keepsakes from Tahoe. And if Tatiana never saw her parents again, only her memories would remain. She at least wanted to see the damage—see if she could rescue anything, though most everything would be ruined by the water.
“Gah!”
She couldn’t stay cooped up in this room anymore. She was beginning to go stir crazy and her hibernating legs itched for room to breathe.
Jacob greeted Tatiana with a smile when she entered the hall. “Princess.”
She startled in surprise. “Jacob?”
“At your service.”
She pressed her hands to her sides, grazing the place Azor had stung her the night before, and refrained from flinching. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m your bodyguard. I go where you go.”
She pursed her lips. “More like an electronic leash.”
Jacob’s mouth twisted. “Electronic leash?”
“Never mind. Human thing. So, what gives?”
He still kept a puzzled expression.
“Forget it.” She swam to the porthole, done with small talk.
Jacob blocked her path, spreading his flukes over the passage. “You can’t pass.”
“And why is that?” She perched her hands on her hips.
“It’s just better you stay in your room. You don’t need to be bothered with—”
“With what?” She huffed. “The big plans? I’m already in
the know
, so… move aside.”
“How about a game of Carfunkle?”
“Carfunkle? You can’t be serious.” She laughed. This wasn’t the time to offer the merling version of marbles. “What do you think I am, ten?”
Jacob flustered. “It’s just a suggestion—to help you pass the time.”
“I don’t need to be protected from overhearing the details about the palace repairs, Jacob. I’m not a delicate flower.”
“It’s not my request.” He moved closer to the porthole and flared the spikes on the sides of his fin. “Please, Princess.”
She eyed the spikes warily, the last jolt with Azor a little too fresh in her memory.
“Or you’ll what? Hurt me?” She laughed temporarily until remembering the heat between them when he’d restrained her—her cheeks flushed.
“I’ll do whatever is necessary.”
She glared, wishing she had laser eyes like the mermaid movies often depicted.
“Azor!” She yelled through cupped hands. “AZOR!”
The voices stopped on the first floor. Azor appeared in a flash. Tatiana smiled when she saw him, hoping he’d straighten out this misunderstanding, but he didn’t return her happiness.
“What is going on here?” Azor said through his teeth.
“Jacob won’t let me go downstairs.”
“I know,” Azor said, “I told him to keep you up here.”
She pursed her lips. “You did? But why?”
He grasped her by the elbow and pulled her into the room.
“It’s for your safety.”
Though she’d wanted his touch more than anything, she pulled her arm away and laughed. “My safety? Seriously?”
“Yes,” he said earnestly.
“We’re in your dumb compound. Who’s going to attack me here? A moray eel?”
“It’s not a matter of protection…” Azor looked away momentarily. “But of trust.”
“Trust?” She dropped her hands. “Xirene said you’re talking about repairs, right?”
Azor closed his eyes for a beat. “No, Tatiana. The daughter of the rebel leader cannot be seen overhearing the plans involving the rebels. It sends the wrong message.”
“The wrong message?” Her mouth gaped. “Well, wouldn’t our relationship send the wrong message? No?”
“Well…” Azor flipped his tail nervously.
Tatiana leaned in. “I thought you were going to hold the rebels for a few days and then let them go. I mean, we were just promised. We haven’t even celebrated our promisetide, or… done anything, yet.” She looked upward at him, eyes twinkling, hoping he’d get her underlying meaning.
“Yes, but there have been rumors there will be another attack.” Azor’s eye twitched. “And with my father out of commission, it’s my duty to deal with this. There will be plenty of opportunity for celebration when all of this is over. So for now you must be patient. I’m needed most here.”
Her shoulders dropped and she pressed him with an angry scowl. “Your wife needs you most.”
“Wife?” He laughed and rolled his eyes. “The human ways have clouded you and your parents’ judgment. If you would have been raised in the colony, we wouldn’t be having this problem in the first place. You need to learn your place among the mers, starting with me.”
“Or what? You’ll take me to Bone Island?” She guffawed. “I don’t even feel like you’re promised to me. You haven’t kissed me once or told me you love me.”
Azor raised his brow. “I’ve been a little busy, if you haven’t noticed.”
“Too busy to acknowledge your new
mate
?” She tightened her eyes when annunciating the official mer term.
“I’ve acknowledged you as much as I’m afforded and I don’t allow my feelings to overrule me.”
“Oh, right. Sure you don’t.” She balled her hands into fists. “And yet you’ve managed to direct all your anger and blame on me for what my father has done. How’s that for keeping your feelings in check?” She turned her back on him, unwilling to allow him the satisfaction of seeing her lip quiver.
He swam over and touched her shoulder.
“Don’t say that,” he said softly.
He began to pet her hair and rested his chest against her back. She rolled her eyes shut, the fire dousing under his touch. Their bodies pressed up against one another and she ached for him to take her into his arms and away from the madness.
She reached around and clenched onto his backside, wiggling her hips against his, launching a few of her pheromones in the water. “Then show me.”
Azor’s body tensed and he kicked his tail, dragging Tatiana backward in the current with him. When she didn’t let go, he extricated his body from her hands. “Tatiana, please. I need to go. We can do this later.”
“Later?” she asked with a laugh. “I think something’s seriously wrong with you.”
Azor’s nostrils flared and he flew at her, and flattened her body against the wall, trapping her hands above her head. “Don’t insult my restraint.”
Tatiana’s pulse leapt in her throat. She could see in his eyes he wanted her, that he just needed an excuse to call off his duties for the day. Her hips swirled again in the mating dance.
“But I want you,” she whispered.
His chest heaved, his face conflicted, before he succumbed to her. Hungrily, he pressed his lips to hers, pressing his taut body against her. She wriggled her hands free and wrapped them around his neck and up into his hair. He gave in to his wants, deepening the kiss further.
“I do… want you, Tatiana,” he said in her ear, the water whooshing from his lips, forced and warm. “I just need my men to trust me, that’s all. Cooperate with Jacob until this is all over and then I’ll make it up to you. Can you do that for me?”
She closed her eyes, her head spinning, and pushed down her selfish desires. “Barbados?”
He laughed, playfully. “We’ll see.”
“Fine, I guess so. But you’re mine tonight. Promise me that.”
“Yes, of course.” He finished with a quick kiss on her forehead and turned to leave.
But given a tiny morsel when she’d been starved of his affection, she couldn’t let him go just yet. She caught his hand and pulled him back to her like a rubber band. Her mouth pressed eagerly to his as her hands moved to run down his chest and to find the top of his manskirt. Fumbling to unbutton the top, she wove her tail around his. His eyes opened wide in shock.
He yanked his head back and pushed her off with his hands. “Ta—Tatiana, what are you doing?”
She pressed an impish smile on her lips. “Just an appetizer of what’s to come later.”
Azor’s head whipped around to the door. A silver fin with a missing fluke flashed past the cracked doorway. He turned to Tatiana and scowled, like they’d done something naughty.
“Don’t do that in public. It’s not proper,” Azor scolded as he left the room.
Confused and still turned on, Tatiana blinked, trying to process what had happened.
Public? What—?
“We’re in our own house,” she called back.
And serves Xirene right to get an eyeful, the little snoop.
But Azor didn’t return.
“Azor?” Tatiana called, “I’m not done talking to you.”
As she entered the hall, Jacob slid over, blocking her path to the porthole.
Her cheeks flared, knowing he’d been in the hall this entire time. “Where’d he go?”
“Princess.” Jacob bowed in a heavy nod.
“I don’t want your sympathy, Jacob,” she said with a scowl. “And why are you here anyway? Pretending to care about Azor’s cause? So much so you’re protecting his mate?”
“I’m here just as you are. Pretending.” He cocked his head, challenging her.
“Pretending? I’m promised to—”
“And that means you let your feelings, however wrong they may be, overrule what is right? That’s not the girl Jack bragged about,” Jacob interrupted.
Tatiana flexed her fin. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“If your father were here right now, would he be proud of your choices? Would he say well done for begging the attention of the one who stole your kiss and mistreats your people?”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “You have some nerve, traitor.”
“Traitor.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I guess the promise does brainwash a mermaid. I’d hoped, for Jack’s sake, you’d feel differently.”
Unwilling to take any more of his insults, Tatiana swam up into Jacob’s face, grabbing ahold of his chest plate. “You have no right to judge me, Jacob. You have no idea what I’m going through right now. This wasn’t my choice and if my father didn’t—”
Jacob thrust his jaw upward. “You’re father came to your rescue. Don’t blame him for standing up for your rights.”
Her lip quivered, her insides exploding in heat and anger. She withheld swiping her nail across his cheek and instead pointed at his face. “You may have been able to con Azor and become my bodyguard, but I don’t have to like it and I will most definitely be keeping an eye on you.”
He quirked a smile. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Oooh!” she grunted before flipping her tail to disappear into her room.
With a hard shove, Tatiana pushed the iron door shut and flung herself onto the woven kelp bedspread, mad as a hornet fish. What did Jacob expect her to do? Fight with Azor and make him see reason? Or what? Take up a trident and rescue the mers herself? And his audacity to bring her dad into the argument. Ugh! She pounded her fist against the bed, anger and frustration swimming in her brain. Jacob had some nerve lecturing her, considering they couldn’t just let the rebels go. And as it was, Azor had put his work above her needs anyway, more worried about Xirene seeing them than letting his inhibitions free.
She moved to the window and grasped the cemented bars, pressing her forehead to the smooth rock. Off in the distance, mermen worked to reinforce the spires, and over the ridge was her family’s home—destroyed. Somewhere in the rock face, the tunnel to the Pacific Ocean loomed. If only the sharks weren’t there, maybe she’d give Azor a well-deserved scare and exit through the Pacific gate to the Sacramento River and on to Tahoe—home. Her mom would know what to do. She missed Fin and Ash so much. Most of all, she missed her life on land, the sun, the wind, and her freedom.
She tugged the bars and grunted, finding them well cemented down, when a shark swam her way. She backed up, heart pounding, as the beast’s lifeless eyes deadpanned her, good and hard. Tatiana momentarily forgot her greatest defense, her siren scream, and cowered in the corner.
“Get out of here, fish brains,” she said.
It startled, then rammed its gigantic grey torso against the wall before swimming out of sight. She caught her breath and reassessed her feeble plan. The only way to maneuver past the sharks was to siren, and that would give away her plan before she could even embark on it. She slid to the floor, her head in her hands, lost.