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He watched with some amusement as the two men glared at each other. Seeing that neither of them seemed inclined to say anything that would be of use to the princess, he stood at last.

He nodded to them, a slight courtesy motivated more by his desire to show royal dignity than by any respect for them as individuals.

The same young soldier who had brought him to dinner escorted him through the halls to a set of heavy wooden doors he had not seen before. There were six guards outside, but they nodded him in without protest.

He entered a large private study, where the princess and Brighton were waiting, along with Jill and a young lady who seemed to be a personal servant to Marin.

Kaerius bowed deeply, and when he rose, he noticed another man seated by the fireplace.

He bowed again, realizing that this must be the king, for no one else was seated. The king wore a golden crown upon his head, but Kaerius knew so little about humans that he did not remember at first that this was anything other than a strange human custom, and actually signified the king’s status.

The king’s eyes were unfocused, but he turned his head toward Kaerius questioningly.

He mumbled something, and Brighton said, “Yes, Your Majesty. Prince Kai, if you would approach the king and kneel, he would like to feel your face.”

Kaerius stepped forward, noticing how the king’s hands trembled. The man was not very old, but he was apparently quite ill and likely had been for some time.

Marin stood at her father’s side with one hand on his thin shoulder. Her gaze followed Kaerius as he stepped closer.

The Mer prince knelt in front of the king, took the king’s right hand in his, and guided it to his cheek.

The king’s fingers were cold against Kaerius’s skin, with the faint rasp of old calluses testifying that he had not always been so infirm. The king’s shaking hands swept over the prince’s jaw, his lips, his eyelids, his cheekbones, and the long, silky hair that fell over his forehead and ears. His fingers lingered on the knot over Kaerius’s ear, and he whispered, “What is this?”

Brighton said, “I hit him, Your Majesty. He was startled from sleep and thought he needed to defend himself from Sir Vincent.” At another questioning noise from the king, the guard added, “His Majesty wishes you to attest that you bear no grudge against me for the wound, Prince Kai.”

Kaerius held the king’s hand against his cheek and shook his head firmly. Then, for good measure, he turned a little so that the king could feel his lips, and he smiled, bright and carefree.

An answering smile ghosted across the king’s pale face, and he sighed. “You smell like the ocean.”

Kaerius blinked.It is my home.

The king straightened in his chair and took a deep breath. “I like him,” he said, his voice quiet but unequivocal.

Chapter 15

The king’s suite adjoined the princess’s, though they both had plenty of space, and all doors to the royal quarters were guarded. Thus no escort was required for the princess when she left through a private door to her own side of the royal suite.

Brighton was therefore free to escort Kaerius back to his suite before returning home.

They walked through a corridor Kaerius had not yet seen, wide and straight, with enormous painted portraits in gilded frames on either side. Kaerius stopped and looked up at one.

The man in the painting was not much older than Kaerius himself. His dark hair curled over his ears, and his lips lifted in the hint of a dignified smile. His left hand rested on the hilt of a sword on his hip.

Kaerius looked at Brighton and raised his eyebrows inquiringly.

“That’s Sebastian de Gracey, the king’s father, shortly before he was crowned.”

The prince tilted his head and studied the young man’s face with more interest. He could see a little similarity between the youth and the princess in her jawline and around her eyes. Hewondered if someone, looking at Kaerius, would see anything of his father in him.

He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering arguments and cruel words, pride and anger. Perhaps he and his father were more alike than Kaerius had realized.

He turned to look at another painting, trying not to think of his father. The Mer king probably did not even know that Kaerius had bargained with the Lord of the Deep and ventured onto land. He probably thought Kaerius was dead; the prince had never simply vanished before. Kaerius was suddenly ashamed of how he had left his people, left his father, without a word of explanation. In the fury of the moment, he had thought only of his own hope and desire.

His father ruled well, and Kaerius’s presence or absence would not harm them.

But he had been selfish not to leave word for his father.

“That’s the lost prince,” Brighton said quietly.