Page 6 of Coral Prince Conundrum (Runaway Prince Hotel #1)

My brain is telling me not to let him get close, but something deep down lets me feel like I can trust him. In the past two weeks, Daryl has gotten under my skin and has me breaking all my rules. “It is…wonderful.”

“Really? You understand their words?”

“Not quite. Their words do not always specifically translate, but I get an…intuition of what they want, and what they want me to know. And they revere us.”

“Wow,” he whispers. “All Coralese?”

I snicker. “It’s Corali. And no, only some can communicate with the ocean’s creatures.”

“So, you’re special. Like a real-life superhero.”

I laugh. “I am no hero.” He has no idea of my goal, a mission I am not close to accomplishing.

“And you can breathe underwater?”

I sip my drink and nod. “Most of my people can.”

“That is astounding.” He levels a look of awe at me. Dressed in the outfit known as a blue blazer and black slacks, Daryl appears incredibly attractive. “You are the coolest, most interesting person I’ve ever met.”

Warmth creeps on my cheeks. His voice is filled with such reverence. While the people of my kingdom bow to me, Daryl makes me feel more important. When he talks to me, I feel more alive than ever.

“Well, no one can know that I am here.”

“Because you ran away from your isolationist kingdom?”

I nod. “Um…yes.”

“But why here?”

I play with my now-empty bowl. How much truth can I share with him? “I am looking for ways to protect the ocean. And this city has multiple ports with fish-catching vessels, and they plunder the ocean.”

“I hear you. I can’t stand it either.”

“Yes!” I beam at him, and he grins. “You understand that changes must be made to the fishing industry!”

“I understand it more than you know,” he murmurs around his cup.

He sips water, and I wonder what he means. Still, nothing can change how energized I’m feeling by this conversation. Daryl, the most attractive man I’ve ever met, understands me and wants to keep my secret. Spending time with him feels right in a way I’ve never known.

With lunch over, I insist on walking Daryl down to the parking lot. He has to drive to class, but we’re laughing so much, I don’t want today to end.

“And my dad told me bird poop was good luck, all just to get me to stop crying!” he says. We both guffaw at his story as we walk down to the cars.

“And then what happened?”

“I got an A on the test!” We both laugh as we walk among the automobiles.

“So yup, that was me in sixth grade.” He puts his hands in his coat pockets and grins. The urge to grab his hand, an instinct I never felt with previous romantic partners, is almost overwhelming. But Daryl and I are only friends. “What were your school days like growing up?”

I recall the multiple royal tutors I had. “Um…I was homeschooled.”

“And they taught you English there?”

I nod and reply, “Despite being isolationist, Corali are taught multiple languages.”

“Gosh, that’s so cool. My dream is to one day see different sea creatures around the world.”

“Let me take you, Daryl.” The words almost escape my lips, but I recall the reality of this situation. This is all temporary.

We stop in front of a tall vehicle. “This is my ride.” He gives me a sheepish smile, and I step back. Before I can tell him we should have lunch again, I read the words on the large metal automobile. My smile falls and blood drains from my face. I stop breathing and my throat goes dry. Impossible.

“Why…do you drive a truck that reads ‘Tishman’s Fishery?’”

Daryl shakes his head and smiles. “Oh, it’s so fucking embarrassing.” He knocks on the large vehicle, and I take a step back. “Technically, this truck is mine.”

“Why?” My heart pounds in horror.

“My dad owns Tishman’s Fishery.”

“Wha…what?”

He shrugs and looks up. “I am technically the heir to the Tishman’s Fishery fortune. I’m Daryl Tishman, after all. But don’t ask me for tuna samples! Even though I can get them whenever I want.” He laughs like it’s a joke, but I take another step back.

How could this be? “What?!”

His smile falls. “What’s wrong, Seero?”

I shake my head, the words unable to form.

Daryl shrugs again. “Is this because I don’t have a fancy car? Honestly, I hate this old thing. But my dad gave it to me as some sort of punishment because?—”

“Tishman’s Fishery plunders the sea!” I shout, pointing at him.

He startles, looks at the truck, then back at me. “Well, actually?—”

“Which…which means you destroy the marine ecosystem!” My face burns with shock and fury.

“Seero—” He steps forward, and I leap back.

“Stay away from me!” I yell.

The hurt on his face is undeniable, but I don’t care. All of the ecosystems that have died by his hand didn’t get to plead their stance, why should he? “You’re the reason that entire oceanic environments will collapse!”

“Seero, that’s not?—”

“Never speak to me again, Tishman!”

He tries to argue but I turn and run away.

I don’t want to give him, a verified destroyer of the ocean, the satisfaction of the tears in my eyes.

My heart is shattering; whatever we were building is gone, cast out into the oceans he refuses to protect.

Daryl is the enemy of my people, and now that I know that, I can never speak to him again.