After a stint of self-pity, she nixed the idea altogether. A visit to Tahoe without Azor’s knowledge was stupid, and her parents were long gone by now. She had to hope once the drama died down that Azor would spend more time with her. That was the magic behind the promise, or so she was told. And Jacob… she didn’t know what she’d do about him.
A pile of beaded fabric waved in the current from the floor, probably Xirene’s ditched delivery. Bored out of her mind and sick of wearing her promising gown, Tatiana rummaged through the stuff and picked up a needle.
7
: : :
Abandon
Jacob flinched at the sound of Azor’s fist slamming on the table as another argument broke out. The smell of fear filtering in the water could mean only one thing. Azor had insisted they were to go through the Pacific Gate to capture Jack in Tahoe, no excuses.
Jacob eyed Tatiana’s door warily, then slid down the porthole for a closer look. Through a water vent, Jacob watched the Council shift nervously at the table in Azor’s war room. Darrellon—the most disgusting of all the Dradux guards—and Alaster were the newest members of the shrinking group. Darrellon, too good to join them at the table, wore the hood of his green cloak over his head, and leaned against the wall in a dark corner, fingering his scythe. Under the hood, all Jacob could see was a hint of his eyes and the occasional flicking of his parasite over his lips. At the sight of the disgusting thing, Jacob’s vent puckered.
“But what about the sharks?” Alaster asked as he scrutinized the others, as if to check if they could feel his fear.
“Cassava poison on the barbs will stop them if they’re feeling brave,” Azor said with a challenging glare toward Alaster. “Are you with me, or are you going to slither out on this one?”
“Of course, Captain,” Alaster said, puffing out his chest. “I just want to be sure, after the King was injured—”
“Must I remind you that if you were doing your part in minding the gate, the explosion would have never happened?”
Alaster frowned. “How was I to know my slimy brother rigged the gate with explosives?”
“That was quite a thing to overlook.” Azor pitched his brow. “I’m shocked you’re not eager to lead the convoy from the Pacific Ocean to the Sacramento River. It’s your territory after all.”
“Of course, Captain. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Alaster said with a hesitant smile. “If you deem that to be the best way to go about this. Of course, there’s always the option to reopen the Tahoe gate.”
“Reopen the gate?” Fendole, the eldest Council mer interjected. “We don’t have the merpower, or the explosives—”
“Nor the time,” Azor interrupted. “Yes, later we’ll shackle up the rebels and make them clear the Tahoe gate, but for now, we need to apprehend Jack and assert our authority. The citizens are watching and if we don’t squash this, who’s to say the rebels won’t grow in numbers and lead a revolt and overthrow the kingdom? Our only option is the Pacific Gate. It’s the closest body of water to Tahoe.”
The group murmured in agreement, but Alaster wasn’t the only merman who was concerned. Most of the Council members were bathed in worry, which was to be expected. After their King had lost his fin to a shark, they’d be idiots to swim through the enclosure with only spears. Why didn’t they just have a mermaid siren for them? Or did Azor want this convoy to go through undetected? But more important, could no one sense the fear like Jacob could—covering it up with useless nonsense?
Jacob surveyed the nine members of the Council. With his and Badger’s seat recently vacated, and two others arrested as rebels, only Grommet and Fendole remained undetected, secretly loyal to Jack. If the others didn’t speak up and stop cowering under their scales, they’d be looking for new positions in Natatoria. Maybe it was already too late. Azor had already begun to make decisions without them, adding more Dradux as his henchmen to carry out his wishes.
Upon a slim majority vote to swim through the shark enclosure, Azor left the war room. Jacob returned to the porthole entrance, expecting Azor to beat him there to grovel for Tatiana’s forgiveness. Instead, Azor swam into the kitchen.
Jacob waited, watching for Azor to return as the others could be heard milling about into the opposing hall with the occasional banging of armor and weapons. He glided over to the main room, curious. Outfitted mermen applied thick bright-green poison to the tips of their spears. Jacob’s stomach churned—cassava poison was supposed to be illegal. At least it was when Jack and the King were on the Council.
The time ticked on, yet Azor still hadn’t returned from the kitchen. What was he doing? Did he have any intention of telling Tatiana what he was up to? That he was leaving?
Jacob sighed and leaned up against the wall, questioning his choice in this assignment, questioning his sanity. Yes, he’d promised Tatiana’s father he’d keep watch over his daughter, but Jack couldn’t have prepared him for this. Sure, he knew things would get ugly considering he’d developed feelings for Tatiana, but he’d never expected Azor to act so callously toward her. What in Hades was wrong with him? Could Azor not see the beautiful woman before him? Her smile, her spunk, her beautiful deep-blue eyes, her amazing body. If Tatiana were his, she wouldn’t get a moment’s peace—well, maybe to eat and occasionally sleep. But it was as if Azor wasn’t even a man, let alone promised to her. His focus was solely centered on revenge. For what? Jack had only wanted Fin and Tatiana to choose their mates—nothing worth starting a civil war over.
And then Azor’s constant lies, like he only pacified her so she’d behave—to abandon her again for… Jacob couldn’t be sure what else could be more important. But still, he was secretly pleased for his own selfish reasons. If there was anything more than the little contact Azor gave her now, Jacob would have to flay his chest right there and cut out his soul.
And yet again, Azor would leave without saying where to or for how long. And she’d crumble, questioning herself when she should be irate at the lying loser—all because of a stupid kiss. Jacob palmed his hand through his hair.
Madness, utter madness.
He fought the urge to swim to her room, subdue her somehow, and abduct her again. He’d happily endure more siren screams and bites to help her see reason, to free her from Azor’s power. And he preferred that feisty side of her.
More importantly, he’d heard rumors of people who’d fought their promise if they weren’t happy or were mated to someone who’d somehow survived Bone Island and were never reunited. They’d overcome the pull; they’d moved on to another. Tatiana could do that as well, if she truly wanted. She didn’t need to be chained for life to such a sociopath.
Grommet swam up to Jacob, breaking him from his spiraling thoughts.
“We’re going, man,” he said under his breath. “Azor thinks Jack purposefully pushed Colin and Alaster through the gate before rigging it to blow. And I bet Jack thinks he’s got time, too.”
Jacob breathed harder. “We need to get him word. Where’s Badge?”
Grommet rolled his eyes. “Who knows? After he was kicked off the Council for being beta, I lost track of him yesterday. With everything going on, Azor’s gone a little wacko since the ceremony. He’s not only increased the guard, but the Dradux as well. He saved the grunt jobs for the betas whose alibis cleared. I bet Badger’s probably training in the yard with the younger ones like always, or worse—elder duty.”
Jacob withheld a laugh. Badger loved heckling the little kids and with Azor out of his hair, he could easily slip away to his mate’s cousin Dorian’s gate and warn Jack via phone without anyone noticing.
“I’ll take care of it,” Jacob whispered. “Just… you know.”
They gave each other a knowing smile. Since they were merlings, Grommet was king of making trouble and passing the blame onto someone else.
Azor emerged from the kitchen, distressed. He caught Jacobs’s eye.
Is his skirt on backward?
“I’m leaving for a few days. Tell Tatiana I’m… Hades. That she needs to sit tight and I’ll be back in a few days. I’ll make it up to her. Keep her from doing anything stupid, if you know what I mean.” He rubbed his goatee, thinking. “I’ll have my mother fetch her tomorrow and bring her to the palace. That might help her adjust better.”
Jacob nodded, fighting a grin. If anyone was about to do anything stupid, it was Jacob.
So much could happen in a few days when you leave your promised mate alone, Azor.
While watching Azor tie back his hair with a cord, Jacob thought of how easy snapping his neck would be.
He closed his eyes.
Patience, Jacob. Patience.
Without another word and none the wiser to Jacob’s deception, Azor left the compound with his minions in tow, and Jacob returned to Tatiana’s door. He waited for the shriek. Maybe he’d be lucky. Maybe she wouldn’t see.
Twenty minutes later, Jacob’s prediction came true.
“Azor!” Tatiana screamed from within her room. “What are you doing?”
Jacob’s pulse pounded as he waited a beat longer. He couldn’t burst into her room unannounced, unless…
At her siren scream, he quickly pushed open the door and Tatiana swam full force into his chest plate, knocking him back into the current. She let out a groan, rubbing her head.
“Princess. Are you okay?” Jacob steadied her, wary of her claws, as she fought to swim around him.
“They left—with Azor—through the sharks. He’s not safe. He can’t leave!” Her words tumbled from her trembling lips. “He promised.”
Jacob sighed, the ache of watching her fret was overwhelming. “They’ll be back. Don’t worry.”
“Back?” Her voice spiked an octave. “He said he needed a day. Where is he going? Why?”
She swam past him, through the porthole, not waiting for an answer. The entire place had emptied except for a few mermen guarding the front and dungeon doors. She yanked on the metal handle, unable to open it.
“Open these doors right now!” she demanded.
The guard on her left only watched with a smirk on his face.
“Didn’t you hear me? By order of the Princess. Open them!”
“No,” Jacob said somberly, resting his hand on her shoulder. “You’re to stay here. Azor will be back soon.”
“Where is he going? To—?” The fear in the water matched her face, chilling his bones as her frantic eyes darted from him to the door—like a caged animal knowing the slaughter was coming. She grabbed onto his arms, begging. “We have to warn—”
“I know,” he said quietly.
At the opposite end of the hall, groans flowed freely from the dungeon. Tatiana dropped his arm and turned as Sandy, Badger’s mate, exited through the doors. She wiped her hand across her brow when she caught sight of Jacob and the Princess.
She quickly bowed and retrieved an empty basket off the floor. “Jacob, how’s your—?”
“I’m fine, Sandy. Thank you,” Jacob said quickly, his hand grazing the arm bracer covering Tatiana’s bite. He’d failed to mention to Sandy that day that Tatiana had been his attacker when she’d bandaged him. He proffered his arm to her, anxious to pass word of Azor’s plan. “Can I escort you out?”
“Oh, thank you, Jacob. That would be nice.”
Sandy smiled and swam forward, then stopped. Tatiana, frozen in a trance, remained planted directly in her way. Jacob knocked into Tatiana’s tail when she didn’t move aside, breaking her from her spell.
“Sandy,” she finally said breathlessly, “nice to see you again.”
“Yes, it is. It feels like it’s been ages with everything that’s happened.”
The Princess gulped and eyed the dungeon door. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to deliver messages to the prisoners from their families. Part of their punishment is no visitors, so the Queen has allowed me to come once a day to bring food, at least until they’ve served their sentence.”
“Of course,” the Princess said, straightening up. “That’s very kind. I wish they didn’t have to suffer at all, it’s really not…” Her eyes hit the stone floor as her words trailed off.
“Don’t blame yourself, sweetie. This wasn’t your fault.” Sandy gave her a sympathetic look. With a quick tilt of her head, she clued Tatiana in on a guard listening. “We haven’t seen you around the palace. Is newly promised life treating you well?”
Jacob restlessly flicked his tail, annoyed at the small talk.
Come on, girls. Jack doesn’t have all day.
“As well as can be expected, considering …”
Jacob grimaced at Tatiana’s lie; her promising was far from the happily-ever-after any mermaid would have wanted. He could remedy that for her—now—if he were confident he could contain her teeth and talons first.
“Yes,” Sandy said and smiled sweetly. “Well, I best be on my way. Hopefully I’ll see you at the palace later.”
Jacob straightened with a slight smile and readied himself to solicit her help out of the guard’s earshot.
“Oh, why don’t you stay for…” —Tatiana fidgeted and looked to the kitchen, sweeping out her hand—“dessert, perhaps?”
Sandy blinked in surprise as Tatiana clearly gnawed on her lip. Jacob’s nostrils flared.
What are you up to?
“Sure,” Sandy said, her eyes darting in question to Jacob.
“Perfect.” Tatiana turned to Jacob, raising her brows. “Sandy is a long-time friend and I’m in need of some company since I’ve been alone this
entire
time. And Azor’s—well, you know, MIA—so, if you don’t mind.”
Jacob remained straight faced. “You don’t have to ask my permission. Sandy is always welcome.” Tatiana gnawed at her lip and he entertained a brief fantasy of taking her cheeks between his hands and kissing her, because in all honesty, that’s what she needed most.
“Great.” Tatiana arched her eyebrows. When Jacob didn’t move, she shooed him with her hand. “You’re dismissed, Jacob.”
Jacob inwardly chuckled at her spunk and moved to the front door. But as soon as the girls disappeared into the kitchen, he relocated to the foyer, and remained out of their sight, but close enough to listen in.
“Where’s Xirene?” Tatiana asked.
“Out,” Shanleigh grumbled.
Jacob recalled Xirene’s rushed escape earlier after interrupting the two in Tatiana’s room and he blocked out what the reason could be, assuming Xirene had the same problem he had—misplaced affection.