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The Mer prince asked for so little, so very little, in his voice of magic and power. He merely told them they should turn around and return to their own country, and offered so much safety and protection from the terrifying dangers of the Elerian bay. The authority of the Boravian officers could do nothing against his voice.

Even the most stalwart of the officers cracked, for he finally let himself imagine for just a moment the sharp-toothed Mer who swam beneath them and the kraken which waited to crush their mighty ships into pieces. The admiral screamed in terror, and at this, all pretense of organized retreat was lost, and the ships turned and sailed away with entirely undignified haste.

In the palace, Brighton changed into dry clothes and a thick wool coat as quickly as he could, and, still shivering, he and Lila met Marin at the lookout in time to see the ships retreating.

“Incredible,” he murmured.

“Is he a prince after all?” asked Marin.

“He said he was, and I almost believed him, but it was difficult to fathom.” Brighton swallowed, leaning harder on the wall. “I don’t find it difficult to believe anymore.”

From this vantage point, they could not see Kaerius streak back through the bay toward shore, for he swam just a little too deep underwater. They saw him emerge at the shore line and the sudden appearance of legs rather than his tail, and they saw him hurry to his clothes and dress before disappearing on the curving path below them.

“Go inside,” said Marin. “You must be freezing.”

“You need the privacy?” Brighton said.

“I just don’t want you to catch pneumonia,” said Marin.

Then Kaerius came into view striding up the road, and his face broke into a smile when he saw them.

“May we go inside?” he said. “You look cold.”

They urged Kaerius to change into new clothes that weren’t wet with water and blood, but soon they were gathered in the royal quarters.

Seated by the fire,Brighton eventually stopped trembling with cold. He and Marin and Lila listened with wide eyes to Kaerius’s account of his bargain with the kraken and his memory of those strange moments between life and death.

“Why would you make such a bargain?” Marin said at last. “You didn’t really know me and couldn’t have really loved me.”

Kaerius flushed and looked down at his hands. “I thought I loved you, and I certainly loved myself. But I found that the more I knew you, the more I loved you, and I didn’t care as much about the bargain. Instead, I cared about your safety, and it made me furious to think of you trapped with one of those men.

“You deserve so much better, and I would gladly die to keep you from being so trapped. I thought I would.

“But…” He glanced at Brighton, now slumped back in the chair, exhausted and dazed from his ordeal but still paying attention. “I found that in the moment of crisis, there was little I could do for you other than to keep Ralph from killing Brighton, and I was honored to give my life for him.”

He straightened and met Brighton’s eyes squarely. “You were always kind to me, even when you had no reason to be, and I respect you more than I can say. Also, if you were alive, you could defend Her Highness better than I could, and I would give my life for either of those reasons.”

“You really do love me?” Marin said softly.

Kaerius knelt before her, looking up with his wide, ocean-blue eyes. “How could I not? You didn’t believe me or understand when I told you, so I tried to show you.” His voice caught a little. “I would like another chance to show you I mean it.”

Marin’s cheeks flushed pink. “I believe you mean it,” she said. “I wonder only if perhaps you were a little precipitous. I have seen your honor and courage, but how much do you really know of me?”

The Mer prince caught her hand in both of his and pressed his forehead to it. “I know you are willing to sacrifice your happiness and your life for your people.” He looked up to hold her gaze. “I know you were kind to me when you thought I was a half-drowned human, able to offer you nothing, even after I offended you by my customs that were strange to you. I know you wanted to send me to safety, as if the life of a stranger ought to be valued even when you felt yourself trapped and doomed. I know you respect and love your father, though his ability to protect you has been compromised by injury and illness.

“I do not know all of your heart, but I know enough to be certain of mine. I love you, and I will choose to love you as long as I breathe air or water, if you will let me.”

Marin gripped his hands. “Eleria is not safe yet,” she said.

Her hands trembled. Still on his knees before her, he kissed them. “All the more reason to let me love you,” he said, smiling roguishly. “It is an honor to defend you and the people you love.”

“What of your people?” Marin asked.

Kaerius stood and drew her to her feet. “Shall I introduce you?”

“You’re really a prince?”

“I am! But I hope not to rule for many years.”