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On the one hand it pissed her off. She shouldn’t care about an alien on another planet she had kissed once. But Soulara had shown her more care in the few times they had met than anyone else in Autumn’s life.

Not just the kisses.

Soulara had protected her.

Soulara had fought for her.

Soulara had shown her that she mattered.

“What’s wrong?”

Autumn jerked toward the water.

Soulara stood like the day she was born, clear water dripping from her body, over the line of her neck to her pert breasts. A droplet clung to her hardened nipple, threatening to drop at any second. Autumn held a groan in.

This was just lust. It was always just lust, wasn’t it? Distracting herself, Autumn closed her eyes to focus. “How do you always know when I’m here?”

Soulara moved closer, stepping fully onto the sand. Fuck, this woman was stunning. She had curves in all the right places, she oozed confidence, and she knew exactly what she was doing, didn’t she?

“I’m here a lot.” Soulara’s answer carried to Autumn’s ears, snapping her attention back to Soulara’s face.

When had she started looking her over again?

Autumn cringed. She was becoming one of those leering soldiers she despised. She looked deep into Soulara’s eyes, focusing there. Those pale blue eyes that shouldn’t exist in the real world. But here they were. Mermaid and human, standing toe to toe on the water’s edge.

Soulara blinked.

Sadness.

Autumn would recognize it anywhere. It had been her companion for so long, this unwavering sense of loneliness that she could never get rid of. Autumn reached out, her fingers skimming along Soulara’s damp arm, down to her fingers, twining them together.

“What’s wrong?” Autumn asked softly, staring down at their joined hands. Soulara’s skin wasn’t pink like hers. But it was stunning, and with the water drying, it almost shimmered in the light.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Soulara stiffened. Then she sighed heavily. “No, that’s not true.”

Autumn raised her gaze, looking deeply into Soulara’s eyes. Soulara had protected her against that other mermaid. Surely Autumn could do something in return for that. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Well, you’re royalty.” Autumn nearly choked on that word. It had barely made a dent in her brain until now. Soulara was just Soulara until the other week. And now she was a princess. “I guess that comes with the territory.”

“It does.” Soulara sighed heavily and gestured to the sand. “Want to sit?”

Autumn didn’t really answer, but she moved to sit in the sand. The sound of the waves was no longer foreign to her, and it had a calming effect she’d never managed before. Or maybe that was Soulara’s presence.

“I’m not just a princess, Autumn. I’m heir to the throne.”

“What throne?” Autumn churned all the possibilities in her head, but the concept of a kingdom was foreign to her.

“Reine. That’s the name of my home.” Soulara let out a wan smile. “There are many tribes of mermaids in the waters. My home is Reine. And we all have peace. There hasn’t been war between us in many seasons.” Soulara covered Autumn’s fingers with her own. “It’s my duty to protect my people.”

“That’s what I do, you know, protect people.”

“While killing them.” The vehemence in Soulara’s tone was unmistakable.

“Surely you’ve had something similar in your past.”

Soulara’s jaw clenched.