“There, there,” Azor said, jumping from the porthole, and phasing midair. He scooped up her legs and she fell against his shoulder. “The scare is over. Let’s go home.”
With a splash, they were gone. Jacob fell to his knees, reaching out to the empty air that had just held her. She’d been there, within his grasp, and willing to go. They could have disappeared far away from the danger… and he messed it all up.
“Argh!” he yelled, pounding his fists into the floor. “Damn you, Azor!”
The mind-jacking power of the promise had tricked her once again. He pinched his eyes shut, shaking his head. Why had he expected anything different? Hope she’d fight back? Choose him instead? None of this should have been a surprise. She’d never leave him, even with everything. If only he was guarding someone else—anyone but her. He palmed his hair and breathed out a harsh breath, before he stood and dusted off his hands.
He had to return, like always, and resume the role as protector. And it was going to kill him.
18
: : :
Angelfish
Inside the compound, Coralade and Shanleigh were a flutter of conversation like their sister had returned from the dead while Nicole hugged onto Tatiana’s neck. Jacob shook his head in dismay. Would Tatiana see through those two at least? Did she already forget their vicious gossip?
His eyes met Nicole’s—Tatiana’s only true ally in the compound—and she breathed a sigh of relief, mouthing a, “Thanks”.
Jacob tried to grin in return, but felt sick inside. Yeah, he’d found Tatiana, but he hadn’t saved her from anything. Nicole would soon learn the hell this place was.
“There,” Azor said as a snap rung through the water.
Jacob’s head whipped to their location.
Tatiana smiled, fingering a delicate gold bracelet stamped with the Natatorian royal symbol. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Azor grinned.
Jacob’s heart hammered, hiding his glare under a straight face. This wasn’t a present, but a restraining bracelet—one filled with poison—and if she left the depths in Natatoria, she’d be dead within hours without the antidote.
As the mermaids admired the bracelet, Azor moved closer to Jacob with a knowing grin. “I can’t have my little precious angelfish wandering off now, can I?”
Jacob clenched his jaw. “Don’t you think she should at least know?”
“And ruin this moment?” Azor shrugged, surprised. “She needed a pretty bobble for her wrist, after everything. I have to ensure the safety of my possessions, as I'm sure you can understand. With the Tahoe gate about to be reopened, one can’t be too careful.”
“But she’ll die if someone abducts her.” Jacob’s tone, controlled, hid his desire to rip out Azor’s beating heart.
“Then I suggest you make sure that never happens.” Azor knocked Jacob in the chest, flashing him a condescending look before returning to Tatiana’s side.
As Azor led Tatiana to the porthole, all Jacob could see was red. Murder would end this. He calmed his gills while the servants returned to the kitchen and the guards to the barracks. Azor would be in his room with her, kissing her, touching her.
Jacob gripped his trident harder. It took all his self-control not to race upstairs and slaughter him now. How did Azor even know Tatiana was at her parents’? And why did he decide to look for her then? He’d made Jacob look like a liar.
“Smooth,” Grommet said, swimming over to where Jacob hovered in the water.
“Leave me alone,” Jacob grunted.
“I thought you’d finally done it,” he said, cocking an eyebrow.
“Yeah, well…”
“You’re one sucker fish for punishment.” Grommet punched Jacob in the arm. “Well, you look the part at least. No one would know where your true loyalties lie.”
Jacob laughed. “I need to put in for a transfer.”
Just then, the front doors of the compound opened.
“Get yer girlie hands off me, yah thieven bloke.”
Jacob and Grommet swiveled around. With shackled hands, Badger yanked on the chain from an unseen assailant. Jacob felt the blood drain from his face as he tried to appear calm.
Then, from nowhere, the end of a javelin pummeled Badger’s face, whipping his head backward. Blood and a lone tooth took flight into the water from his split lip.
“Quiet, traitor,” Blanchard seethed as he lugged Badger into the foyer.
Azor swam in from upstairs and a wicked smile spread over his face upon seeing the newest arrival.
“We caught him returning from Scotland. He was seen on land using a telephone,” Blanchard informed him.
“I knew it,” Azor said while tapping his lips with his finger. “Only a matter of time ‘til your true disgusting self showed, beta.”
Badger spit out more blood. “Why don’t cha let me outta these here shackles and then be accussin’ me proper. I’d fancy you a pop in the kisser before you knew what was comin’, ya panty-wearing coward.”
“Don’t talk like that to the Captain,” Blanchard bellowed and reared back to hit Badger again. Jacob flinched, ready to stop him.
Azor quickly intervened. “Leave him, Blanchard.” He swam up and got in Badger’s face. “Maybe one day you’ll get your wish, old man. But until then, you’ll rot in jail.”
“I did nothin’ wrong. You have no proof,” Badger spat.
“I could have you jailed for your disrespect alone. Who were you calling in Scotland, Badger?”
“Yer girlfriend and she be wantin’ her panties back,” he said, giving them a bloody sneer.
Azor pulled his eyes into slits; all of his prior happiness disappeared from his face. “Lock him up.”
Jacob worked to calm down his heart rate as outrage swirled in his gut. Inside, his heater revved out of control, boiling the water around his arms. His muscles ached in restraint, the temptation to stab Azor and free everyone from his miserable existence coiled in his fingers. He could do it and Grommet would have his back. He gave Grommet a nod, ready to pounce, when another group of mers flooded into the hall, pulled in by the Dradux.
Badger caught Jacob’s eye and shook his head, calling Jacob off.
“Yer makin’ a mistake, Azor. Mers don’t take kindly to martyrs and class warfare,” Badger seethed.
Azor ignored him and swam past, giving Jacob an appraising look before heading out the front doors. “Lock the rest of them up. I’m going to the palace.”
Jacob nodded shakily, watching another moment of opportunity fade. Badger gave him a quick smile before disappearing behind the double doors. The Dradux followed Azor and the rest went into the dungeon. Once the front room emptied, Jacob pounded the butt of his trident against the stone floor, cursing himself for not taking the opportunity.
“It wasn’t time yet.” Grommet gave a sympathetic look.
Jacob cast him a sideways glance. “I had him, right there. An open shot.”
“Yes, but then the others would have kindly slit your throat in return.”
“I don’t care anymore, Grommet. I need to stop playing it safe.”
“But what about Tatiana?”
Jacob closed his eyes and sucked in the briny water, wondering what she was doing upstairs alone. “We’re running out of time.”
“We’re biding our time,” Grommet corrected.
He thought about his foiled plan to leave with Tatiana. With spies watching the gates, they would have been caught, he would have been dead. Then Tatiana would be alone with these snakes. “Damn Blanchard.”
Grommet clapped Jacob on the back. “Stay positive. We still have the upper fin.”
But the panic swelled inside Jacob, the loss of power suffocating.
“How? Our numbers have dwindled and the people—they’re practically starving. Once they hear Badger’s been arrested, all the Queen has to say is she’ll grant pardons to anyone else who turns in a rebel, and we’re sunk.”
Gro
mmet’s face hardened. “And commit communal suicide? They’d be branded traitors on both sides. Not worth it. No one has been escorted to Bone Island yet. Azor is all hiss, no bite. We have to stick to the plan and wait for Jack.”
Jacob’s pectoral fins flared. “I can’t just wait.”
“Jack’s coming and he has friends on the outside. They’re bringing weapons and poisons, and then we’ll bust everyone free from here, ambush the palace, and set Tatiana as Queen since she’s royal now. And when that happens, you’ll be fighting a horde of mermen to get your hooks into Azor. She’ll be as good as yours after that.”
Jacob laughed at the thought of being king. “So optimistic.”
“You have to be strong, and on guard for the future queen of the new Natatoria.”
Jacob looked down at his hands. “She thinks I’m lying to her.”
“It’s the promise. Don’t worry about it.”
Jacob stretched his bicep, flexing the scared bite mark. “She thinks I just want to abduct her to punish her for staying with Azor.”
“You always hurt the ones you love.”
Jacob shrugged, thinking of how sexy her feisty side was, before he slugged Grommet in the chest. “Knock it off.”
He backed away, hands up. “I’m just putting it out there. And rumor is Azor hasn’t even spent one night with her yet. Bet they're not even bumping uglies, if you ask me.”
Jacob’s fanned his fins, spikes pointed outward. “I’d like you to kindly stay out of her bedroom, if you don’t mind.”
“I’m just saying, it’s a little odd. She doesn’t sleep in his room either, from what the girls say.” He pointed over his shoulder to the kitchen with his thumb. “They’ve got a peephole.”
Jacob wrinkled up his face. “What—?”
“I’m just saying… it’s odd.”
“News flash, Grommet. There’ve been no rogue promisings, if you’re trying to suggest something.”
“Az-hole is a son of a bass, but if Tatiana were mine, you wouldn’t be able to keep me away from her. And thank Poseidon he’s not tickling her regular, or you’d be one mad hornet fish. And you know they’re definitely not—” he pounded his fists together twice, “doing the nasty.”
Jacob shoved into Grommet, hard. “Shut your mouth right now, or I promise I’ll—”
Grommet held up his hands as Jacob flipped his trident, pointing it at his chest. “Okay. Sorry. I’m just suggesting he ain’t really promised to her and when the time comes, you might have only one choice.”
“To run?”
Grommet eyed the trident warily. “No, stupid. To kiss her.”
Jacob blinked at him, then shook his head and laughed, lowering the weapon. “How in the heck will that solve anything?”
“Well…” He smirked. “Maybe it’ll clear her head for a bit so she can see she doesn’t feel anything for that slimy bag of sh—”
“Clear her head?” Jacob pulled his shoulders taut. “No. More like mess with mine. Didn’t your mother teach you anything about the bond?”
Grommet rolled his eyes. “Well it’s either that, or waiting for Jack to come back and—” he drew a line over his throat.
Jacob leaned forward, threatening. “If I kiss her, it won’t be because she needs a distraction. Got it?”
“Suit yourself.” Grommet laughed, then swam off.
Jacob’s breath sucked in short, his heart racing. He turned and looked to the porthole. Sure, Azor was being a dick, but he’d never perform promise polygamy, not with his responsibilities and ambitions of the throne. Jacob would rather think him a cold hearted snake incapable of love. And right now, in Tatiana’s condition, kissing her wasn’t the answer. Not only because he would want her all the more, but because she’d know his true feelings. Then she really could hurt him. No. Jacob had to remember his kiss was powerless in the shadow of her bond to Azor.
There were only three ways he’d kiss her. Most important, because she wanted him to, second, because Azor was dead, or third, she’d somehow broken her bond to him. Nothing else could sever that. And at this rate, with how she defended Azor under the promising spell, that would never happen.
He’d have to shut it all off and wait. Hope he wasn’t fooling himself. Or he’d go insane.
19
: : :
Feathers
Upon surfacing through the porthole, Azor lifted Tatiana into his arms and carried her past her room and down the hall. She squealed on the inside, trying to keep her composure, reminded of the human custom of carrying one’s bride over the threshold. Was this the moment? The one she’d been waiting for? She smiled, finally happy. Jacob had been so terribly wrong about Azor.
At the double doors, he paused. “Close your eyes.”
Tatiana’s heart thumped wildly and her lids slipped shut. What did he have planned? Her hair danced with the fluidity of his movements. A soft clang of iron signaled he’d shut the door. “You can open them now.”
She peered momentarily into his dark eyes and startled. Somehow she’d expected blue-grey ones to peer back at her instead.
“You okay?” he asked quickly.
“Yes, I…” She turned and her voice hitched in her throat. Billowing blue fabric hung over the gargoyles head and a white silken sheet lay on the bed.
He cleared his throat. “I took the hint my décor made you uncomfortable.”
“Oh.” She put her hand to her mouth, remembering she’d hidden their disfigured faces with her clothes the other night.
Sconces filled with blue light lit the way to the bed like a runway. Small colorful fish darted about almost in a fireworks display around them. The only thing missing was a little music to capture the mood.
“It’s so lovely.” Her lips pulled into a smile.
“Good.” He took her hand and led her to the bed. “With everything that's happened, I figured it was the least I could do… to make it up to you for being so distracted.”
Tatiana’s soul sang at the words. Jacob’s lies hit harder. Azor had been concerned and her plan had worked. He’d finally seen she was worth spending time with, so much so that he’d made things romantic. She trailed her fingers lightly down his chest; her man in shining scales was finally ready to be her mate. “I—thank you. It’s so beautiful.”
“Just like you.” He sat and sculled his hand on the sheet, inviting her to sit.
She floated down, her hands trembling. She felt so inept—inexperienced. His confident smile warmed her and she soaked in the sight of him—his hair, his smile, his teeth. She wanted to exude that same confidence, do something bold. Movies where women brazenly took off their tops came to mind. Should she do the same? Or just start by performing the mating dance? Or both?
She floated up, reaching behind to undo the button, when Azor stayed her hand. “Let’s take things slow.”
He produced a red strip of cloth and waved it in the current, before he wrapped it over her eyes. She bit her lip, trying not to giggle, plunged into semi darkness. “What are you doing?”
“You’ll see,” he said with a throaty voice.
His tongue was at her neck, tracing her collarbone, his hands caressing her stomach and hips. A loud gurgle radiated from her throat, making an obnoxious burp.
“Sorry,” she apologized as her cheeks heated.
“Hmmm,” he said, halting his hands. “I have an idea.”
She held her breath, waiting for him, a bundle of nerves.
“Open your mouth.” His voice was at her ear again.
“Okay.”
A tingle of what he’d do rolled deep in her belly. Something smooth and oval was placed on her tongue. She broke the skin with her teeth, tasting sweet—a grape.
“That was a grape. Too easy.”
“How about this one.”
She quickly chewed and swallowed the grape, the last piece too bitter for her liking. Was the grape spoiled? She opened her mouth for the next delicacy. Bumpy and small, she knew right away.
> “A raspberry.” Again, something sour lingered after she swallowed.
“Try this one,” he said, his lips tugging on her earlobe.
Citrus and tang filled her mouth. “An orange. Too easy.”
Tiring of the game, she reached for him unable to find him in the current, preferring his taste in her mouth instead.
“When do I get to feed you?” she asked, her tongue suddenly lazy.
“In a minute.”
From nowhere, a blueberry popped into her mouth and she chewed, but ripped off the blindfold shortly after. “My turn.”
Azor hovered directly above her. He waggled his finger at her. “Uh uh… I have another game.”
Before she could protest, he snatched up her wrists behind her back and wove the tie around them, binding her.
“Oh, my.” She giggled, a silly flighty sound to her ears.
He slid behind her, his lips traveling from her ear down her neck. She wiggled as his whiskers tickled at her collarbone.
“Stopppp,” she squirmed.
He took down the straps of her top, trailing his finger where fabric met skin. “What’s down here?” He purred with his chin on her shoulder.
Tatiana snuggled into him, her inhibitions lowered. “Why don’t you find out?” she said, her words slurring.
“Hmmm…” He trailed his hands down her chest, then around to her back and stopped at the top of her skirt, unbuttoning the button.
With swift movements, he swiveled her around by her hips and laid her flat on the bed. Her head swirled in glee, the room spinning. “Wheeee,” she said, exaggerating the E’s on purpose.
He caught hold of the band encircling her waist and tugged. She giggled, shimmying her hips, and a plume of pheromones launched into the current around them. Azor’s face contorted, a grimace almost. Tatiana laughed, surprised by his odd reaction.
Once the skirt was free of her, she knew what would happen next. She tried to watch him over her shoulder, but the pair of Azors hovering over her—zigzagged and blurred in and out of focus.
“Hold still,” she said, trying to grab him, then remembering her hands had been tied. “This isn’t fun. I want to touch you.”
Everlost (Mer Tales, Book 3) Page 14
