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“I can’t do that.”

“We aren’t your enemy.” Honour’s eyes opened, and for a moment, Hudson was caught once more in the strength behind them, as familiar as they were foreign. “We have others in danger who need to be saved.”

“Always the hero.” Hudson’s top lip curled up in a scowl. She pushed back with one strong flap of her fluke. She moved awayfrom Honour, but not far enough away that the pull between them didn’t continue to hum in the water between. “Well, Hero. You aren’t going anywhere. Not until I get what I want out of you.”

“And what’s that?” Honour snapped. “Because from where I stand, you’re nothing but a pup playing at grown-ups.”

“You should be thanking me, not antagonizing me.” Hudson clung to her calm with everything she had. How was it that this injured mermaid, this useless guard of a pathetic kingdom could cause such frustration with mere words? Words struggling to be formed and too weak to push the water far from their lips at that.

“Thanking you? For what?”

“For saving your life.” Hudson was back in Honour’s face. Her chest moved hard and fast, bubbles streaming thick from her mouth and tickling her lips.

“After you and your goons put it at risk in the first place? No, thanks.”

Hudson laughed wildly, getting even closer. Her lips nearly pressing against Honour’s. Their chests touched, Hudson’s breathing moving into Honour’s. “I don’t know how you’re going to help me yet, Honour. But trust me when I tell you, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of me when I don’t get what I want.”

Hudson laughed again at Honour’s blank stare. Hudson’s lips pulled back in her widest grin, her white teeth opened just enough for the bubbles of her laughter to continue to slip through. Oh, she was going to enjoy her new playthings. She had no doubt of that.

4

Honour woke with minimal pain, and the breath she sucked in was the deepest she had dared since getting hurt. She wasn’t sure how long it had been. The relief from the lack of pain lasted barely a moment before her worry and concern about Soulara took over.

“Hi.” Kyree’s smile was wide, and her eyes even wider. She was so close, pressed up against Honour’s side so that the water from her lips brushed Honour’s skin as she spoke. “How are you feeling?”

The warmth that had rested low on Honour’s hip shifted, and she instantly missed the weight of Kyree’s arms and the pressure of her longer body curled around her own curved form. Kyree’s movement as she swam over the top of Honour and now faced her head-on was gentle and smooth. The water brushed Honour’s skin in a soothing stroke.

“You look a bit better. There’s some color in your face.” Kyree slid a finger down Honour’s cheek to her chin, a tender touch that Honour never expected from the deep sounding mer. She’d been opposed to any kind of touch since she’d arrived. But now? What made the difference?

“I…” Honour struggled for words as she lost herself in those dark eyes. “I am… uh… feeling better. Thank you.”

“I’m not sure what would’ve happened if Hudson hadn’t been able to help me.” Another slide of that finger, although Kyree hovered above Honour’s body. What would it feel like to have the full weight of Kyree against her? Honour bit back a moan.

“You would’ve found a way.” Honour was going for reassurance of Kyree’s skills, but she heard the edge of anger toward Hudson and was relieved to have her mind focus once more on what was important—finding a way to rescue Soulara.

“Perhaps.” Kyree’s response might have annoyed Honour, but there was nothing but Kyree’s usual honesty and openness in the word. The idea made Honour want to move and shift, shake off the sensations she didn’t quite know how to experience. Being indebted to someone for kidnapping her wasn’t exactly something she thought she would ever have to think about.

In her life, things had usually been quite simple in comparison. She had allies and enemies. Not whatever Hudson and her goons seemed to be. Which at this point, Honour couldn’t say one way or another.

“We need to get information to Reine. They need to know what has happened to Soulara.”

“And to you.” Kyree’s words were strong and left no room for negotiation. But Honour knew her role. She had always known. They wouldn’t care what happened to her. She was at the crown’s disposal.

“I’m getting better. They need to find Soulara. They have to go after those humans and find out what they have done to her.” Honour snatched Kyree’s wrist, holding her tightly in place. But for the life of her, when she looked into Kyree’s dark eyes, she couldn’t remember why she’d done that.

“Are you sure she’s still alive?” The sadness in Kyree’s voice wanted to reach into Honour’s chest and squeeze until her heart burst and spilled enough blood to fill the cave they lay in.

That was a pain that Honour couldn’t handle. The tears stung her eyes, but she wouldn’t ever let them spill into the water. She was the one who was paid to be strong and nothing else, and that was exactly who she would be. “Where isshe?”

“Soulara? I don’t know.” Kyree seemed taken aback by the sudden shift in Honour. Which was expected. Honour hadn’t exactly led her down the change in paths.

“No.” Honour shuffled, wincing at the movement but pushing through it until she sat, leaning on the cave’s wall once more.

“I’m right here.” The voice purred from the cave’s opening. The sinuous silhouette was framed in the irregular oval shape of the cave’s entrance. This mer was stunning, no doubt about it. Her curves were in fine shape, and despite Honour not typically being attracted to breasts, she couldn’t help but find the obnoxious mer gloriously stunning.

“Did you miss me, Honour?” Swimming into the cave proper, Hudson pouted her lips, her eyes sparkling with devious sexuality. A wash of heat flooded down Honour’s body at the way the mermaid moved, tailfins flicking up in balance to the thrust of opposite hip as she drew closer.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” Honour had suspected it when Hudson had sneered the term hero in her direction. But now it was confirmed. She saw it in the flash of resistance Hudson couldn’t quite hide behind the shark-playing-with-a-clown-fish attitude she wore.