“You always maintained you’d be willing go on a mission when trolls starting flying,” Rodrigo said, jogging to keep up with his employer. “It seems you’ve changed your mind?”
“A vampire has to grow up sometime,” Leo threw back, rolling his shoulders. “Might have taken me longer than others, but I’m ready. I’m there. Time to get out of this place.”
A crowd of witches spilled onto the street in front of them, sparks shooting from their fingers and green flames from their drinks. Leo and Rodrigo paused to let them pass. All the while, Rodrigo eyed his friend, understanding dawning in his eyes.
With a devious flick of his tail and a narrowing of his eyes, he shrugged his slender, furry shoulders. “I think I know where all of this is coming from, sire. And I think it’s sweet that you finally found a female to distract you for more than five minutes, but there are plenty of fish in the sea. There will be others far prettier and better tempered. Women who don’t want to hold you hostage.”
Leo hissed and flashed his fangs, turning to face the cat. All the rage and frustration he’d been burying deep inside him the last day threatened to rear its ugly head. “How dare you? Don’t you ever speak of Eina in that way again.”
“So, she is the reason you’re fleeing the country?” Rodrigo walked away a few steps and glanced over his shoulder, unabashed by Leo’s scolding. “Isn’t it?”
He growled and shook his head. That cat had finally crossed a line he shouldn’t. Friends or not, no one would ever be allowed to speak of Eina in that way. She wasn’t just another one of his castoffs. She was intelligent, strong, gorgeous, and she made him want to be a better person. He pursed his lips into a tight line and stalked off down the street, leaving Rodrigo to sprint after him.
“If you care so much about the girl, sire,” Rodrigo called in a panting voice, “then why aren’t you sitting in on the meeting with King Viktor right now? The mermaids were called to convene with him this evening.”
Leo slowed to a walk. He’d known about the meeting and had purposefully made himself leave the castle for it. All it would take was for one more look at Eina and he’d give in to all his temptations. He’d take her into his arms and never let go. Kiss her sweet lips, feel her body against his, and run his hands through her soft hair. He’d whisper his feelings into her ear and never be able to take them back.
She might even tell him she loved him back and his heart would soar for one thrilling, epic moment. But then, he’d realize why he’d left her in the first place and he’d have to let her go again. He wouldn’t hold her down. Not for all the time in the world.
“I’m not going to that meeting, Rod. End of story,” he growled.
The castle came into view up ahead, a marvellous sight against the darkening sky. The ancient gray stones had withstood the stand of time and appeared just as formidable as the day they’d first been erected. He’d been happy there. And maybe he would again, someday.
“Well, then, I guess that’s too bad for the mermaids,” Rodrigo replied, shaking his head. “His majesty was going to try to let them down easy. I’m not sure how they’re going to take it.”
Leo whipped around and fixed the cat with an incredulous stare. “What does that mean?”
“Oh, just that King Viktor decided it would be more economically prudent to absorb the mermaid nation into Monstrana than to support their claim for a separate kingdom.” Rodrigo’s whiskers twitched. “There’s really nothing they can do about it. They don’t have the manpower and His Majesty is determined.”
Leo saw red. His whole body shook as he clenched his hands into fists. His brother couldn’t do that to them. Eina had worked too hard, sacrificed too much. He had no right. The mermaids deserved their own kingdom and they deserved Monstrana’s help.
He turned on his heels and hurried into a march.
“What are you going to do, sire?” Rodrigo called, struggling to keep up to the vampire’s pace.
“Knock some sense into my brother’s head,” Leo yelled over his shoulder, preparing to burst into a bit of vampire speed. “Rodrigo, you might want to sit this one out. This could get ugly.”
The cat sat on the sidewalk and watched his employer go, a devious smile on his feline face.
Chapter Fifteen
Eina felt the ache in her bones long before she stopped swimming. She was determined to make it past the island of Monstrana, but it seemed that her body disagreed with her. It needed a break and refreshment. They’d have to stop for the night.
“This is your last chance, Cascade,” she said, turning to her friend. The water sprite had surprisingly kept up the grueling pace with her tiny feet, a small pack of supplies slung over her shoulder. “If you want to return to Aestus, I won’t hold it against you. It’s been your home as long as it’s been mine.”
The sprite squished her childlike face into a dissatisfied expression. “Not a chance. I’m coming with you, Eina. You’re the only family I’ve got.”
A grateful smile lit the mermaid’s face. She had to admit, knowing that Cascade would be beside her every step of the journey was a big relief. Finding the lost city of Atlantis might be easy enough for a mermaid with the ocean running through her veins, but the journey was guaranteed to be a tiring one. Her friend would help ease the heaviness in her heart.
She glanced at the looming dark shores of Monstrana up ahead. Not far from here was where she brought Leo when they’d begun their mission to meet up with the ogres. The memory felt like a bittersweet bite of kelp. Raw and fresh in her memory. She couldn’t wait to be rid of the reminders.
She paused to adjust the straps on her bag and eased the heavy load further up her shoulders. At the back of her mind, something tingled with alertness. Her fingers froze on her straps and she strained her ears to listen. There was an eerie vibration in the water.
“Cascade, do you feel that...?”
The water sprite glanced over her shoulder and gasped in horror. Eina barely had time to snatch her and hold her close to her own body before a terrifyingly large gray form shot out of the darkness. Its sleek body barely made a ripple as it swam above them and waved its powerful tail. A school of tiny fish swirled up ahead. The shark darted toward the flashing silver scales and opened its yawning mouth to feed.
Eina watched the scene in awe. The shark swam with such grace and elegance. It intelligently divided the school and conquered small groups of fish at a time. The muscles along its sides rippled with the effort. The predator had hunting down to an art. When it was done and most of the fish had swam away, it kicked its tail and disappeared back into the darkness with a lazy attitude.
Despite the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, Eina couldn’t help but smile. It looked much like the shark that she and Leo had saved from the beach just a few days ago. He’d thought she was crazy. And maybe she was, but her reasoning made complete sense to her.
That shark had been voiceless—stuck on a beach, destined to gasp in vain until it died. She’d felt all too much like that stranded animal. Inside, she longed for the freedom and strength she saw in her sisters. But on the outside, she just couldn’t find a way to move forward.
“I thought that beast was going to eat me.” Cascade peeled herself out of Eina’s grasp and brushed off her gown. Her cheeks were bright pink from the excitement. “Good thing it only wanted the fish. It would’ve learned the hard way that water sprites taste like manta ray excrement.”
Eina didn’t want to ask how Cascade knew that. And anyway, she was used to her friend’s crazy ideas. Her mind at that moment was currently working a million knots a minute, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
“Cascade, do you believe in signs?”
The sprite frowned and her brow furrowed. “As in, billboard signs? I think automatically I have to be against them morally because most of what they advertise is junk that gets dumped into the oceans. What I wouldn’t do to collect every piece of human garbage and toss it on their homes...see how the
y like it.”
“No, Cascade.” Eina held up her hand. “Signs from a higher power? Or from fate herself?”
She twisted her face into a thoughtful expression and rubbed her tiny chin. “I suppose so.”
Eina’s eyes grew wide. Hope and disbelief seemed to wrestle for purchase inside of her head. Could that shark have been sent there to tell her something?
“And what would you say if I told you I think that shark was a sign?”
“I’d say you have some killer signs,” Cascade said with a giggle. The smile melted from her face and she looked Eina straight in the eyes. “And I’d also say you should follow your gut. If you believe it was a sign, then it was.”
Eina inhaled and pressed her hand over her mouth. “I think you’re right, Cascade. I’m the shark and the shark is me. Do you see the resemblance?”
Cascade tilted her head and frowned in confusion. “Well, to be honest, I think you need a lot less dental work than the shark.”
She laughed and stared unseeing through the dark water. “Before Leo, I was that shark, stranded on the beach. As much as I hate to admit it, he helped me break free. I’ve had a taste of freedom, Cascade. It’s a beautiful, wonderful thing. My colony deserves that same freedom. And they deserve someone who will work hard to protect it.”
“Uh huh. Right.” Cascade patted her shoulder. “Are you feeling alright, honey? Did you eat some bad shrimp?”
“I’m feeling fine.” She waved her hand at the sprite. “Don’t you get it? I rescued a vampire. I helped negotiate a treaty. I did those things. I’ve changed.”
“And you kicked butt doing them.” Cascade kicked her little foot and did a somersault in the water. “But what does that have to do with anything?”
“I was freed from that beach.” Eina’s eyes shone with tears. “I had a voice. Sure, some of the ride got a little bumpy and I did things I wish I could take back, but I’m not perfect. All I can do is move forward. But abandoning my colony for Atlantis isn’t the right move. I’m stranding myself on that beach again. Giving up my voice. That’s unacceptable.”
Awareness dawned on Cascade’s face and her mouth opened to a small O shape. “You’re going back?”
“No.” Eina clenched her jaw and smiled victoriously. “I’m going forward. Starting by accepting that position at the castle.”
The water sprite pumped her fist in excitement. She shot upwards in the water and sunk back down in a graceful spiral. When she was done, she had a serious expression on her face.
“And what about Prince Leo?”
Eina’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name. She still didn’t know what had happened between them to make him leave so suddenly, but the thought of seeing him brought new fire her to veins. She deserved an explanation. The old Eina would’ve lowered her head in defeat and swam away. But not today. She needed to ask him to his face what had happened. Her heart required it, if she was ever going to heal.
“I’m going to make him talk to me,” she said, her eyes shining, “even if I have to kidnap him and trap him on a deserted island until I get my answers.”
“That’s my girl,” Cascade said with a giggle. “Now, where to?”
“Monstrana’s castle.” Eina gazed off into the dark water, as if she could see it from there. Suddenly, energy coursed through her body and the weariness in her bones faded. “My new home. That’s where we’ll find a certain vampire.”
“I hope I get my own room,” Cascade said, swimming away. “I’ve always wanted a water slide. Do you think I can get one specially installed?”
Eina smiled to herself as she swam after her friend. Apprehension hung on the edge of her mind, refusing to be totally banished. What would Leo’s answers be? And could her heart handle the truth?
There was only one way to find out.
Chapter Sixteen
Leo arrived at the castle in a huff. He loosened his tie and marched into the lobby, hollering his brother’s name with a deathly bellow.
“Where is Viktor?” he demanded, his face red and a blue vein bulging on this temple.
He couldn’t believe the gall of his older brother. Never in seven hundred years would he think that Vik would pull something so low. So devious. He ought to knock some sense into the man. King or not, Leo would put him in his place. He had to support the mermaids in becoming a kingdom. Eina had sacrificed so much.
“Your highness.” A butler dressed in a black suit approached on shaky knees. He bowed his head and stared at the floor. “The King is currently in session with the mermaids of Aestus. They agreed to meet at the seaside.”
Leo turned to glance out the door he’d just barged through. There were still a few streaks of orange and red thrown across the sky, but it was beginning to get dark. There was no telling how much longer the meeting would go on.
“Thank you,” he told the shrinking butler. “I hope you still have a king left after I’m done with him.”
The butler looked up at him with wide eyes. Leo didn’t pause to explain. He ran out the door and down the palace steps, circumventing the castle, and headed for the nearby shoreline. In the distance, he could see a crowd of people beneath the soft glow of lamplight. Clerks and ambassadors had gathered for the meeting. They were all there to witness Vik’s refusal. Leo ran faster, his blood boiling.
“Viktor!”
He stormed through the small crowd and down a low embankment to a rocky shore. Lanterns had been hung on black metal poles all along the water’s edge. In the middle of it all was a thick wooden table and three chairs. Viktor sat in the middle chair facing the sea, his form crouched over a thick pile of papers, a ballpoint pen in his hand.
“Viktor, how could you do this?” Leo marched straight up to the table, his fists clenched at this side. He ignored the shocked expressions of Viktor’s assistants sitting on either side of him. “You piece of undead scum.”
Viktor looked up from the table, a heavy frown on his face. He narrowed his eyes at his brother and shook his head. “Leo, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you can’t interrupt an official meeting. Go back to the castle and I’ll speak with you there.”
“No, I won’t be silenced.” Leo ground his teeth. “You think just because I’ve never been interested in the political side of royalty you can pull one over on me, but I won’t allow it. Eina worked too hard to impress you. Her people deserve this.”
“Leo.” Viktor closed his eyes and wearily rubbed his temples. “I don’t think you understand...”
“You know what, Vik? Just because I may have preferred poker over cabinet meetings doesn’t mean I don’t know a thing or two about honor. Eina negotiated the treaty with the ogres for you. She did that in good faith that her sisters’ wishes would be honored. And you’re letting your greed get in the way.”
Leo took a step closer, his body tense. It felt like he was losing control of his senses. He never fought with his elder brother. What was happening?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Viktor growled, his amber eyes flashing with a warning. “But I’m not sure this is the right time or place to hold that discussion. We’ve got guests.”
He swept his hand out, toward the dark shoreline. Leo glanced in the same direction and gulped when he saw at least two dozen curious pairs of eyes staring back at him. Mermaids had gathered along the rocky shoreline, their wet hair and scaly tails glistening in the soft lamplight. At the forefront, sat Loriella, their leader. She regarded Prince Leo with raised eyebrows, an expectant look on her face.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Leo flashed a half smile, blood rushing to his cheeks.
“We were just finishing up with your brother, Prince Leo,” Loriella said. She pushed her dark hair behind her ear and suppressed a smile. “He has agreed to ally with Aestus as we begin our journey as a fledgling kingdom. We’ve already discussed a few modes of trade, a loan from Monstrana to get us off our tail fins, and potential meetings with other kingdoms.”
&nb
sp; Leo’s cheeks flushed a deeper red. His jaw dropped and he turned to stare at his brother, words escaping him.
“That’s right, little brother.” Viktor stood, an amused grin on his usually stoic face. “It’s all been stamped and approved. I’m not certain who’s feeding you these lies, but I think you ought to reconsider whom you’re relying upon as a source.”
Frustration blossomed inside Leo’s chest. He whipped around to look back at the castle, his fangs flashing. “Rodrigo!”
A small, black figure darted through the lamplight and disappeared into the darkness.
He was going to kill that cat. Or, at the very least, cut back on his catnip supplies for the next year. That would teach him to lie to his employer.
The adrenaline coursing through Leo’s body had begun to subside. In its place, an uneasy sensation of embarrassment and guilt festered. Now that he truly took a moment to think about it, denying a group of people their right to rule themselves just for economic gain wasn’t Viktor’s style. He’d never been that kind of vampire.
If anything, he was a wise and fair ruler. In hindsight, it was ridiculous he’d believed a single word that cat had uttered. It showed how unhinged he’d become in the last few days. Leo grimaced and turned slowly back to face his brother, shrugging his shoulders.
“I guess that black cat is more than bad luck,” he said with a mortified grin. “Teaches me to ever doubt my brother.”
“We all do stupid things,” Viktor said, chuckling as he approached Leo to pat him roughly on the shoulder. “Especially, when there’s a woman involved. I talk from experience.”
Leo grinned. He could remember a time not too long ago when Viktor was losing his mind over a mortal female who’d unknowingly found her way into a dating competition with the crown prince of vampires. But look at them now. Cate was the best thing that had ever happened to Vik. They fell in love and now ruled the vampire throne of Monstrana. Cate had even agreed to give up her mortality for Viktor.
Something Fishy About Love: Vampire & Mermaid Romance (A Monstrana Paranormal Romance Book 3) Page 9
