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“Tell me about the islands.”

Isen’s smile widened. “Ah! Of course! The biggest island in our kingdom was called Triton, that’s where the castle was located.”

Maris leaned closer, excitement gleaming in her eyes as she pictured everything in her head, painting every detail as a memory in her mind.

“Triton was connected to different sets of islands. Each island was home to a clan.”

Maris leaned her cheek on her hand, staring as she listened to Isen explain the costumes of the kingdom. It was common for the women to tend the crops as the men spent their days in the water, fishing. Education was lauded throughout the kingdom, with art an early and encouraged focus.

Isen told Maris how his sister could draw and paint to perfection. Her drawings were so realistic that the images flew off the page while he could sing. She laughed at that. Isen took that as Maris not believing him, so he belted all the shanties his father and mother taught him as a child. She couldn’t help but blush in embarrassment.

Isen told her about how they would celebrate a yearly festival in Triton Island, where children made an exposition of their art or had small concerts for their parents.

She felt homesick for a place she didn’t remember.

The excitement in Isen’s eyes made her wish that she had experienced what he had. Isen’s vehemence made her think if he could be exaggerating. The books she had access to did little to no justice to his recollections. It sounded like paradise to her, and although she loved the Sky Kingdom, she still felt like an outsider.

Isen’s energy dimmed when he noticed Maris’s saddened face. His hand gestures, which he said were very Sealian, slowed and he leaned towards her. His large hands grasped hers tenderly, affectionately...brotherly.

“If you wish me to stop, I will.”

Maris looked at their joined hands. Hers were miniature compared to his. She slipped away from his grasp only to quickly brush away a sneaky little tear. “It’s quite all right. I am just—”

“Overwhelmed?”

She nodded.

Isen took a deep breath and leaned back. “We can continue some other day.”

“No, please…” Maris wanted this to last forever; she wanted to soak up everything that had to do with her people and the kingdom more than anything. “Tell me about the king and queen, what were they like?”

The captain puffed his chest. “They were the most gentle and loving rulers on the entire planet. And I can assure you that this is true because I have traveled all of Gaia!”

Maris laughed softly as her tears trailed down her cheeks. “Don’t say that so loud. Queen Valda might hear you.”

Isen’s features softened as he watched her smile. “Happiness suits you better, Maris.”

She couldn’t help but blush at his compliment. “Tell me about them, please?”

“Of course. King Aegaeon was…” He sighed as he remembered. “Scary.”

“I thought you said they were gentle and loving?”

“Oh, they were! But King Aegaeon was strong and powerful. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was always telling jokes regarding his scary looks. He did not have the gift; it was the queen who wielded that power. But King Aegaeon was a force to be reckoned with. He would give his life to protect the kingdom and his queen.”Isen’s face softened in realization. “And he did.”

Maris swallowed hard, moved by the thought of a king giving his life for the people he loved. “And the queen?”

Isen stared at Maris. He nibbled on his lower lip as if he was looking for the right words. His tall build took up most of the space as he moved his seat closer to Maris. Once again, he moved his hand over hers and held it firmly. His eyes narrowed, and she suddenly felt nervous at the closeness of his body. “Captain?”

“You must forgive me for my behavior but,” Isen swallowed before continuing. “When I first saw you, I could’ve sworn that I saw Queen Amphitrite standing before me.” He placed Maris’s over his chest, his heartbeat accelerated as his deep ocean eyes stared at her. No trace of ulterior motives or lies. His eyes shone with an adoration that she didn’t know she needed. Her free hand traced the small scar at his face and shifted a loose strand of aqua-blue hair to secure it behind his ear. For some reason, a need to protect this man surfaced from deep within her…

It scared her beyond words.

Isen closed his eyes, leaning into the soft caress, squeezing Maris’s hand tighter to his chest.

“To think that I have been searching for you for decades…” he whispered, his eyes fluttering open to drown in her gaze. “You are my lost princess, aren’t you?”

Suddenly, Isen’s eyes grew wide and just as he was about to turn the sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the small room. Maris gasped and turned to the door while Isen stood, looking petrified.