by Chanda Hahn
I gasped in recognition as I stared at the woman before me.
Or should I say… mermaid.
Velora smiled serenely at the waiting crowd. She beckoned to Brennon, and he leaned down as she whispered into his ear. He gave a forced smile, and she blushed in response. Brennon put a gentle guiding hand on her back and led her into the palace. Up the stairs they came, and she slowed, stopping on the step next to me.
Her lips were plump and red, the color of fresh blood. She met my gaze and smiled. “Thank you for your sacrifice. It’s because of you I could arrive sooner than expected.” She ever so subtly licked her bottom lip.
I was shaking, my hands trembling with anger. I clenched my fists to keep from reaching out and attacking her. I couldn’t believe what was transpiring.
I could feel Brennon’s gaze on me, but I burned a hole in the ground with my own hateful glare. Refusing to look at him. Afraid he would see my anger and resentment.
He cleared his throat to get my attention.
I clasped my hands on my skirt and curtsied. “Your Highness,” I said sourly, refusing to meet his gaze. The air became heavy with awkwardness.
“Come, my love,” Velora purred. “I’m exhausted from my travels. I would like to rest awhile.”
“Yes… darling,” Brennon edged out, leading her into the palace, into his home, a place I would never belong.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The outdoor gardens were filled with music, laughter, and speculation as guests from all over the city came to celebrate Prince Brennon’s fiancée’s arrival. Many saw her coming as the answer to their problems. I knew better.
Seeing her walking on two legs, dancing with Brennon on the outdoor patio under the moonlight, filled me with bitter jealousy. I heard her laugh, and my own voice felt shallow. It was my fault. She was here because of what she’d taken from me.
“You seem very solemn tonight.” Vasili came out of the shadows and moved to my side.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t feel like celebrating.”
He held a flute of wine and took a sip before grimacing and rubbing his chest. “I know what you mean. Something feels off, and I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Are you okay? Do you feel any pain?” I asked worriedly, focusing on his chest.
He flashed me a fake smile. “No, I’m fine. Perfectly healthy, thanks to you.” He raised his glass toward Velora. “It’s her that’s giving me pause. I feel like I’ve seen her before.”
“You have,” I whispered.
“No, I haven’t. I would have remembered someone that beautiful.”
“On a certain island,” I said vaguely.
Vasili’s brows furrowed, and he stared at Velora. “I don’t think so, maybe—” His mouth opened in surprise. “If you remember her, that means you were there on the island. Brennon was right.”
I gritted my teeth and let out a forced sigh as the spell kept my mouth from speaking the truth about the curse. Instead, I opted for the truth. “That’s the sea witch’s daughter.”
“So, we found the old hag. And yet, she failed to heed Queen Darya’s royal ring.”
I snorted. “She wasn’t affected at all by your signet ring. She seems to only care for herself and implement her daughters to rule the seas.”
“I have to admit, I never expected the sea witch’s daughter to be so beautiful.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and I could see the blush coming to his cheeks. He seemed smitten with the girl. Too bad he wasn’t engaged to be married to her.
“Vasili, I know you can’t rule, but can you marry her? Would that solve the problem between the kingdoms?”
He took another long sip, and I could see the effects of his drink were wearing on him. I had to wonder how many he drank before he showed up next to me.
“Don’t think we didn’t discuss it,” Vasili muttered. “But alas, the sea has chosen the two of them.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked and waved down a house-elf. She stopped, and I took a glass of fresh-squeezed juice from her silver serving tray.
“I can’t say, exactly. Just that it was deemed so.”
Velora hung on Brennon’s arm and pulled him to the dance floor. It differed from the music his crew played on the ship. It was a lively dance, and I watched as the guests created a circle around the two of them, and then an outer ring formed.
Her face came alive with excitement as Brennon easily guided her through the steps, his hand on the small of her back. When there was a lift he picked her up and swung her in the air, her silver silk skirts flowed in an arc. The circle of dancers lifted their hands, and an intricate chain began, and I became mesmerized by the patterns they made with their bodies. I couldn’t help but watch Brennon and Velora, his tall frame and her lithe body with her long lavender hair, which looked to be made of moonlight. I could almost see it, the future king and queen, and I realized I was nothing more than a fading memory.
Melancholy slowly moved through my body, and Vasili sensed my somber mood, which now matched the slower song the musicians played.
“Will you dance with me?” Vasili asked. He held out his hand and bowed.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I whispered. I had no intention of being closer to Brennon.
“For a woman who pretended to be a boy, calmed a storm, jumped off a cliff, and controlled the sea, you sure surrender easily.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I snapped angrily.
“I know things are out of your control. I just never expected you to roll over and give up.”
“Give up. Do you mean Brennon? He was never mine to begin with.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Vasili grabbed my wrist and pulled me onto the dance floor. I hoped to stay on the opposite side of the outdoor terrace, but Vasili was maneuvering us right next to the engaged couple.
“Please, don’t,” I begged and struggled to get away from him.
“I can’t help it. You know how I love to rile Brennon up.”
“But I don’t want to.” I closed my eyes, and he spun me in a circle. I gasped and clung to Vasili for fear of falling and making a fool of myself. When I opened my eyes, it was to see Brennon’s glued to mine. The muscle in his jaw ticked, and I knew he was angry.
Vasili leaned close and whispered in my ear, but to the curious bystander, it looked more like he was kissing up the nape of my neck. “Any moment now.”
“Any moment and what?” I squealed as his lips brushed my neck accidentally, and I jumped.
Brennon stopped dancing in the middle of the floor. He looked like he was contemplating leaving his betrothed and attacking Vasili.
“You may think you know Brennon, but I know him better than he knows himself. He has always been a jealous person. He hates the idea that he can no longer have you. You’re off limits. But you know what he hates even more?”
“Dare I ask?”
“That you may have feelings for me,” Vasili whispered.
Now, I stopped dancing. Vasili grabbed me around the waist and pulled me close, uncomfortably close, and I tried to pull away from him.
“Relax, your secret is safe with me.” Vasili smiled, ran the back of his hand up my face, and I shivered. Not from attraction, but from nerves.
“Which secret is that?” I asked breathlessly.
“That you love Brennon.” His hand cupped my face.
“I don’t,” I exhaled.
“You do,” Vasili teased. “And I’m about to prove that he loves you too.”
“How?” I asked, fascinated by Vasili’s green-gold eyes, and he leaned in as if to kiss me.
“By taking a beating for you.” His lips inched closer, and he whispered, “Now.”
Vasili was yanked back by the collar of his jacket. I heard a sickening crunch as Brennon’s fist connected with his face and he was flung away from me. Brennon towered over us, his eyes dark, his face filled with rage not directed at me. He pushed me behind him and spun to face Vasi
li. “Don’t you dare touch her!” he yelled.
Vasili was grinning ear-to-ear. He straightened his jacket and gave me an “I told you so” wink. “You okay, doll?”
“She’s not your doll!” Brennon threatened.
“I’m not your doll,” I snapped at the same time.
“Now, remember what I just said about proving something to you.” Vasili shifted his feet from side to side, testing his balance. “I’m one hundred percent right.”
“Vasili, stop this. This proves nothing.”
“Stay out of this,” Brennon ordered, using his captain’s voice. “I will kill him.”
“Why?” I asked.
“You need to ask?” He rolled up his sleeves. “Because he kissed you.”
“No,” I snapped. Stepping between them, I faced Brennon, my arms held wide, shielding Vasili with my body. I lowered my voice. “You have no say over me, Brennon.”
“The contract—” he started.
“Doesn’t control my heart,” I stated. “It’s not yours to take, but mine and mine alone to give.” My words had the desired effect on Brennon. I could see my words crush him.
“Prince Brennon,” Velora spoke softly. She came forward and placed a hand on his arm. “Is there a problem?” she asked, feigning ignorance.
“There’s no problem.” I was proud of how calmly I spoke, even though my emotions were in turmoil. I weaved my hand through Vasili’s arm and batted my lashes at him. “Is there, darling?”
Brennon’s knuckles cracked, and Vasili tensed before sweeping me with an adoring gaze. “No, Prince Brennon was just congratulating us on our recent engagement.”
Velora’s eyes widened, and her lips pursed. “Congratulations.” She let go of Brennon’s arm and raised a finger to my shoulder, tracing the white curse mark. “When exactly are you getting married? I’d hurry, if I were you. Unless you get cold feet.”
“I’m not the one who has cold feet… or should I say fins.”
Her eyes glistened, and she grabbed my elbow and waved at Brennon and Vasili, pulling me off to the side amongst the palm bushes.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Velora said. “You will mess everything up.”
“What do you mean by mess everything up? It’s already messed up. I’m going to die thanks to you.”
When Velora wasn’t focused on pretending to be a lady, her dialect slipped. Her words became sharper and sounded more foreign. “No, not me. Them. The bad men.”
I shook my head. “No bad men, Velora. Your mother cursed me.”
She was becoming impatient. “Only because she was forced to by the... um…” She tried to think of the correct wording. “Malus, bad… evil one.”
“Evil one?”
“Yes, all I want to do is to save seas from poison… dying. My home.” She pointed to the sea. “One of the sea daughters—” She pointed to herself. “—must wed the sky prince.” She pointed to Brennon. “It is written.”
I was getting a headache from trying to keep up with her broken English. But how could I get angry with a girl who had only gained her voice a little over a week ago?
“Where is it written?” I rubbed my forehead.
“In the Undersea's temple. But it is gone. Destroyed. Many years ago.”
“So now to save us all, you will marry someone you don’t even love.” I shook my head.
“No. I love him.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I’ve always loved him. I used to sit on the rocks—” She pointed back to the breakers. “—and watch him play in the ocean when he was little. I would leave him presents. Shells. He wears my gift on his neck.”
Velora gestured to her own neck, and I knew what she said was true. For I had seen the leather cord with the shells he wore. She loved him for her entire life. I’ve only known him a few weeks. There’s no way to compare our love. I would lose.
“I don’t want to die,” I whispered.
“Then take the dagger. Use it.” She mimicked stabbing with it.
“I can’t!” I cried. “It only lit up for one person.”
Velora brushed her lavender hair over her shoulder. “So, take that life in exchange for yours. Easy.”
“Murder is never noble. And the person the dagger wants in exchange for my life... is Brennon’s.”
Velora hissed; her eyes flickered and became elongated slits. Her fingers and nails stretched into deadly weapons. “No. No one kills him. I will protect. I protect.” She attacked, clawing at my face and my throat.
I screamed and used my hands to cover my face, trying to curl into a ball.
Velora became murderous, her eyes wild, and she ripped at my hair.
“Stop it!” I cried. “I won’t ever hurt him. I can’t.”
“I’ll protect him by killing you. Even if it dooms my sisters.”
“I could never hurt him!” I yelled back. Her nails ripped at my throat. “For I love Brennon too!”
Velora backed off in her attack. No, not backed off. Vasili physically dragged her away. His arms wrapped around Velora’s waist as he lifted her into the air.
“Let go. I kill her!” Velora cried out. “I will prove my love for the prince and kill her now.”
My heart thudded in my chest when I realized we had an audience. Brennon stood frozen, his face filled with disbelief. How long was he there? Did he hear my confession?
Warm blood trickled down my neck and face. I wiped at my cheek with the back of my hand, and it came away bloody.
Brennon dropped to his knees next to me. He reached out to help me to my feet.
“No.” I held my hand out, and Brennon froze. “Don’t touch me.”
“You’re hurt.”
I shook my head, knowing I couldn’t bear to have him touch me after I foolishly declared my feelings in front of him. I was embarrassed and felt like a fool. “You can’t. I can’t. We… can’t.”
His hands dropped; he bowed his head. His hands clenched the fabric of his jacket instead. “I can’t help how I feel about you, Meri,” Brennon spoke slowly. “Please don’t ask me to stop. It would be like asking me to stop breathing, and I can’t.”
“Duty before love,” I said and met his eyes. They were pools of pain that mirrored my own. “Always.”
I found strength I didn’t know I possessed and got to my feet. Brennon wisely kept his distance, even though every beat of my heart told me to run to him. But it wouldn’t do either of us any good, only hurt each other. I had to be strong for both of us.
I brushed the sand from my dress and palms and then headed toward the palace, skirting the larger groups of people. When I was halfway there, I noticed I lost one of my sandals in the scuffle. A servant saw me and gasped, running the opposite way, and I could only imagine what I looked like. I passed a mirror and slowed. Tangled hair fell across my face, and smeared blood coated my cheek. Fresh trails of scratches lined my neck and chest, and some were deep enough they still bled. My only consolation was that I kept my temper in check. I hadn’t used magic, and I hadn’t killed her.
So maybe it wasn’t such a terrible day.
I held my stoic form until I made it to my room, and once inside, in solitude, I lost what little control I had left. I screamed. The doors on the archways blew open with power; the candles and all the sconces lit. The curtains on the bedposts blew wildly as if tossed by unseen hands. Even the cold fireplace roared to life and burned with such intensity that it was a molten white.
Rosalie could ground herself by touching the earth and releasing magic back into it. But it wasn’t the same for me. I couldn’t find balance that way. It always came out in a torrid of emotions and power via my voice. Then the scream lent way to a loud sob, and then a hiccup as I fell onto my bed, burying my cries and heart.
When I released all my magic and was finally numb to the pain, I reached under the mattress to search for the sea witch’s dagger.
It was gone.
The shutter doors slammed open, and I went to the window to try to secure them
closed. On the balcony, I saw fresh scratches across the ledge and ran my fingers into the deep grooves. They looked to have been made with a metal hook.
“Looking for me?” Fang taunted.
I spun and raised my hand, prepared to defend myself with magic, but he thrust a jar that smelled like sulfur under my nose, and I inhaled.
I felt dizzy, faint, and fell to my knees. Gagging and coughing, struggling for breath.
Fang’s grinning face swam before my eyes, and he kneeled before me. “You’ll be sorry, rat.”
“Y-you pig,” I spat, and I tried to raise myself to my knees to fight him.
Fang’s fist connected with my face, and I blacked out.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“How much are you going to pay me?” Fang’s voice rang out. “I did most of the work, scaling the walls and bringing her to you, since you failed to capture her earlier. I should get some of that reward.”
My eyes struggled to adjust to the dismal room. The earthy smell and dampness that permeated the floor and my clothes led me to believe we were in a cellar. The ground was cold beneath my body, moisture having wicked through my dress. The gag in my mouth tasted of salt and bitter herbs. I tried to work it loose with my tongue, but they tied it securely around the back of my head.
I moaned, as moving made me nauseous. My head throbbed painfully, and I tried to follow the shadows and movements with my eyes. There were four people—no, five—in the room with me. It was hard to count, because they were backlit, and moving halos blurred them.
“You will get the amount we previously agreed on. That’s all.” The hooded leader of the Brunes Guild moved in front of a table they were huddled around.
“Well, that was before I found out there was a hefty reward for this one.”
“Fang, you are nothing more than backwater scum. A black-market smuggler and thief. You feed on the misfortune of others. You cannot see the big picture,” the leader spoke.
