Tempest Unleashed (8 page)

Chapter 6

I woke up slowly, feeling like I was swimming through cotton as I reached for consciousness. My tail hurt, but it was more of an ache than the sharp pain I’d felt when I was first injured.

Stretching slowly, I checked out all my muscles. Was relieved when nothing else so much as twinged. I seemed to have escaped my latest encounter with Tiamat’s evil goons relatively unscathed. Thank God. And as long as I didn’t think about the shark-shifters and what they looked like after I’d—

I cut myself off, refusing to go there. Not now, and maybe not ever. I did what I had to do, I reminded myself. That didn’t mean I had to like it, but I wasn’t going to make myself sick over it either. Not this time. Not when I’d come so close to death myself.

Rolling over, I bumped against Kona’s warm, hard body and nearly jumped out of my skin. My eyes flew open, met his silver ones. He smiled lazily and, flushing a little, I smiled back. He was propped up on an elbow, watching me. Totally relaxed, with the attitude of someone who had been doing the same thing for quite a while.

How long have you been awake?
I asked softly.

I don’t know. A couple of hours, maybe?

Oh. Sorry. You should have woken me—

Why? I like watching you sleep. When you’re awake, you’re usually running in so many different directions that sometimes it’s hard to keep up.

I snorted, then choked on a mouthful of water. When was I going to stop doing that?

Kona’s laughter echoed tauntingly in my head.
Good one
.

Yeah, I can see why you have such a hard time keeping up
, I told him sarcastically.
Nothing like trying to anticipate what your idiot girlfriend is going to do next.

He ignored that.
How are you feeling?

Almost as good as new.
I stretched again.

The medication all worn off?

I think so. I mean, I can actually focus now, so that’s a plus. Why?

Because I want to make sure you’re completely lucid when I do this.

He leaned over and his too-long black hair fell around his face, brushing against my cheeks. I reached out, rubbed a few strands between my thumb and fingers. It felt so good, soft and silky despite being immersed in salt water most of the time.

You really scared me
, he whispered, his lips brushing over my forehead and down my cheeks.

I’m sorry.
My breath hitched, as if my gills had suddenly stopped working.
If it makes you feel better, I kind of scared myself too.

That doesn’t make me feel better at all
,
actually.
He skimmed his mouth along my jaw, paused to nibble at my right ear.

I jumped a little, tangling my fingers in his hair and pulling him closer as delicious shivers worked their way down my spine.
Kiss me
, I told him.

I am kissing you.
To prove his point, he pressed a firm, open-mouthed kiss against my collarbone.

My head fell back and I clutched at him, pulling him even closer.
You know what I mean.

Do I?
He nibbled his way up my neck to my other ear.

Kona!

Yes, Tempest?

Please. Kiss me.

But instead of waiting for him, I closed the distance between us and captured his mouth with my own.

It was exactly as I remembered it, exactly as it always was between us. All brilliant colors and sparkling fireworks and loud, raucous music. Amazing, intense, like catching the perfect wave and riding it all the way into shore.

His arms tightened around me until our chests were pressed snugly against each other.
I love you
, he told me in between kisses so sweet and salty that they took my breath away.
I love you so much that it scares me sometimes.

I love you too
, I answered, running my hands over his back. Because I did. Despite what had happened with Mark earlier, I knew that I loved Kona. Knew that he was the right choice for me. The only choice.

He felt so good, so strong, so
perfect
, that I wanted this moment to last forever. I could do anything, could face down a great white shark, could deal with a selfish, over-the-top merQueen. Could even take on Tiamat herself if I could also have this.

Could also have Kona.

I don’t know how long we lay there, kissing and touching and reveling in the feel of each other.

Long enough that the dull ache in my tail disappeared completely.

Long enough that I forgot everything but what it felt like to be held by Kona.

More than long enough for the events of the previous day to become distant memories, like a bad dream that fades, grows less scary, with time and distance and a light in the middle of the darkness.

We might have stayed like that forever—or at least for the rest of the day—but a knock on the door finally reminded us that we both had things we should be doing. We both had responsibilities.

Slipping out from under the waterproof violet comforter I had picked out months before, I ran a self-conscious hand over my hair as I opened the door. My friend Mahina stood there, looking embarrassed about interrupting Kona and me, but also gleeful as she took in my flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips.

Tempest!
She threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck in a giant hug.
I’m so glad you’re okay.

I’m fine, Mahina
, I answered, gently extricating myself from her grip.
Sorry to worry you.

I wasn’t that worried—I know you can take care of yourself.
She winked.
Queen Hailana, on the other hand, nearly wore a new trench in the ocean floor as she waited to see you with her own eyes.

Yeah, right.

I’m serious. She was more frantic than I’ve ever seen her—she’d be screwed if she lost her star mergirl. Which is why I’m here interrupting your little lovefest, by the way.
She glanced mischievously at Kona, who was now standing next to the bed and looking a little like he wanted to run.

Not that I blamed him. The way Mahina was looking at us—like she was imagining exactly what we’d been doing before she knocked on the door—made even me uncomfortable, and I’d had eight months to get used to her teasing bluntness.

Mahina! Stop.
I sent the request along our private communication path.
Can’t you see you’re embarrassing him?

She eyed Kona without apology.
He needs to lighten up. For such a hottie, he takes himself way too seriously.

Selkies are different than mermen. They don’t have quite the same sense of humor.

That’s too bad
, she sniffed, somehow managing to do it without snorting a noseful of water. The fact that I loved her despite her teasing spoke more to what a fabulous person she was than to any generosity of my own.

I was planning on getting myself a selkie for my next birthday—preferably one of those F.I.N.E. specimens Kona brought with him—but you know I like a guy who can make me laugh.

Kona makes me laugh
, I defended.

I bet.
She waggled her eyebrows lasciviously.

Mahina!

Fine, fine. I swear, you’re getting to be as bad as he is. Anyway
, she went on, talking on the general communication pathway so Kona could hear us again,
the queen requests your presence in her chamber at your earliest convenience.

I sighed.
Which pretty much means now, right?

Actually, I think it meant five minutes ago, but who’s counting?

She is.
I glanced over at Kona.
I should probably go see her.

I know. I need to head back anyway. I’m sure my dad’s ready to kill me by now.

Why?
I asked, concerned.

When I got the news about you, I walked out in the middle of one of his you-need-to-take-more-responsibility-for-the-kingdom speeches. He saves up his complaints for months before one of those things, so he’s probably apoplectic at being denied the chance to list everything that’s wrong with me.

There’s nothing wrong with you! You do ten times more than any of your brothers or sisters.

Yeah, but they’re not next in line to be king. Unfortunately.
He bent his head, pressed a long, lingering kiss on my lips that practically had me swooning all over again.

I’ll see you in a few days?
he asked.
For the Bringue?

Yeah, of course. You know I’d never miss that party, not after everything I’ve heard about it.

Don’t go getting yourself into any more trouble, okay? I don’t think my nerves could take it.

Kona … You’re beginning to sound like an old man.

He grinned before dropping another quick kiss on my lips.
Love you.

I love you too.

Bye, Mahina
, he said with a wink before slipping out the door.

We both watched him go, admiring the way his tattoos shifted with every flex of his muscular shoulders and back.

When he rounded the corner, I turned back in time to see Mahina pretending to fan herself.
I don’t care if he doesn’t have a sense of humor. That boy is freakin’ gorgeous.

He really is
, I agreed with a sigh.

I forcibly pulled my mind back to the matter at hand.
Did Hailana say what she wants?
I asked as I crossed to my closet and pulled out a bikini top that wasn’t ripped or stained with blood, along with one of the long, ceremonial pareos we were supposed to wear during command appearances with the merQueen.

Probably to yell at you. What does she ever want?
Mahina pawed through my closet along with me.
Hey, can I borrow this?
She held up a bright turquoise bikini.
I have a date tomorrow night.

I thought you said you were checking out the selkies?

I was.
She rubbed her knuckles against her chest and then blew on them.
What can I say? I’m a fast worker.

With that genius IQ of yours, I’m not exactly surprised. And in honor of your fast work, you can have the bikini
. I eyed her dark bronze skin and black hair.
It’ll look better on you anyway.

Thanks, Tempe!
She gave me a quick hug, then spun to face the closet as I changed tops. When she turned back, I was struggling to get the pareo to lie correctly and she rolled her eyes.
You’ve been here eight months. When are you going to get this thing right?

About the same time I finally understand Hailana?

I guess I better plan on sticking around for a long time then, huh? Here, give me that.
She grabbed the pareo, folded it in an intricate pattern I couldn’t seem to get no matter how many times she explained it, then draped the floral fabric softly around my tail.

Good?
I asked as she tied a knot over my left hip.

You look great for someone who just survived a violent attack.

Somehow, that doesn’t seem like much of a compliment.

She shoved me out the door.
I’m not going to lie. You’d look better without that massive hickey on the back of your neck.

What?
I slapped my hand over the body part in question.

Kidding, just kidding. Kona’s way too much of a gentleman for that. More’s the pity …

I refused to dignify that remark with a response. Instead, I concentrated on what I was going to tell Hailana. Should I ask her about the weird electric thing? Kona had told me I should, but I didn’t have the same trust in Hailana. He seemed to think that she was only out for my best interests, but I knew it was a lot more complicated than that.

Did Hailana want to see me survive this whole death spiral with Tiamat that I was locked into? Absolutely.

Would she go so far as to interfere to keep me alive? Only if it benefited her.

Eight months of living under Hailana’s rule, trying to please her
and
follow in my mother’s footsteps without actually making her mistakes, had taught me a lot. Namely that being a mermaid—at least at court—was much more political than it was fantastical.

I might be in the middle of a war with an evil sea witch, but
The Little Mermaid
really was just a Disney cartoon. Real life in mermaid territory was much more treacherous than Ariel could ever have imagined.

I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t become friends with Mahina and her pod soon after I came here. Probably died of a knife in my ribs from one of the mermaids who had been less than impressed by my presence here. As it was, much of my life in the ocean was a tightrope walk between pleasing Hailana and remaining true to myself.

So far, the score definitely seemed to be in Hailana’s favor.

Kona didn’t understand because he was selkie—and selkies, in general, were honorable and compassionate. Sure, there were exceptions to that rule—like Malu, the selkie I’d been forced to kill eight months ago to defend myself—but for the most part, the ones I’d met really did seem to care about each other and the world around them. I’m not sure I could say the same about mermaids—at least not most of the mermaids I’d had the misfortune of getting to know.

But Hailana’s court didn’t represent all the mermaids in the world, I told myself. It was just a small portion. Which meant that if I could stick it out here long enough to finish this death match with Tiamat, then—if I somehow managed to survive—I could find my own place, far from here. Cecily’s legacy, and all that comes with it, be damned.