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Chapter 7

Terror rips through me, but I quickly recover from my shock. “Okay.”

Mrs. Middlebrooks flips her long hair behind her shoulder and her eye color returns to normal. “I believe you meant to say, ‘Yes, ma’am.’”

A shiver runs down my spine. “Yes, ma’am.”

She straightens her shoulders and smiles slowly. “Much better. Now, like I said, I don’t have time for you. Here’s an info sheet with all you need to know.”

While she digs into a drawer, I size her up, trying to figure out what Mrs. Middlebrooks has against me. Is she a Tiberias supporter and hates my family for taking over his reign? Or is it something else entirely? Does she hate leaders in general? Or is she jealous?

She hands me a stack of papers. They’re heavier than typical paper—or should I say paper used on land. It’s normal weight for paper down here, made from special plants that will last centuries in saltwater. I’m just not used to it.

Mrs. Middlebrooks presses a button. “Come show the heir to her room.”

No response comes. The dean flips through papers and mutters to herself.

Well, I didn’t want to be bowed down to. I should be happy. Maybe I should wish for no extremes. But I have a feeling that’s all I’ll get around here as the king’s daughter.

Knock, knock!

I hope it’s Sally. It’s probably not, but that doesn’t keep me from hoping. More than likely, it’s someone with as much disdain for me as Mrs. Middlebrooks.

“Come in.” She doesn’t look up from her papers.

The door opens, and in comes the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen. My heart actually skips a beat. If I was on land, my mouth would go dry. This guy is the physical embodiment of masculine perfection with slightly wavy black hair hanging just over his ears, piercing blue eyes, and just the right amount of facial scruff.

He doesn’t even look my way. Just glances at the dean. “You called for me?”

“Yes.” She still doesn’t pull her attention from the paperwork. “Take Marra Ayers to her room.”

Now he glances my way, then looks me over—head to … fin. Kill me now. My heart is going to explode out of my chest. I can’t think. Those eyes. He lifts a brow, and with just that one gesture, I swear he dissolved me into a puddle—if that were possible at the bottom of the Pacific.

He flips his hair, and as his arm moves I realize just how muscular he is. “The Marra Ayers?”

I need to say something. My voice has fled. I nod like an idiot.

The guy lifts his other brow and kind of twists his mouth. I can’t tell if he’s impressed or couldn’t care less. He turns to Mrs. Middlebrooks. “I assume she’s in the Royal School.”

“Yes, Bash.” She flips a paper. “It’s all in her paperwork.”

Bash. That has to be the most perfect name ever.

What is wrong with me? Why am I mentally falling all over myself because of this guy? He’s just a merman in Valora. I’m going back to land and focus on track, college, and … what’s his name? Think!

Bash does that thing with his mouth again. “Come on, princess.”

I rise. “You can call me Marra.”

“Whatever, princess.” He whips around and goes into the hallway.

I hate that I like him calling me that. Doesn’t matter, anyway. Once he takes me to my room, our paths probably won’t cross again. The tattoo peeking out from his tighter-than-necessary shirt tells me that much.

We head down the opposite direction than Sally brought me. Bash turns to me. “What’s your room number?”

Where’s my voice? I shrug since my voice box seems to be broken.

He grabs the papers from my hand and flips through them. “Surprise, surprise. You’re in the suite.”