Page 9 of Coral Prince Conundrum (Runaway Prince Hotel #1)

CHAPTER EIGHT

Daryl

I’m jostled between two people in the large front seat of Layla’s truck. The streetlamps flash through the night as we make the two-minute drive to the beach. I’m holding a towel in my lap, and to my left, Layla is going on and on about some absurd story from her past.

“And I really thought it would be the end for me. Touching the mystical river means instant death, but I was able to hop on enough stones to get out of there and back to our world.” She snickers like it’s a cute anecdote. “But I was limber in my twenties.”

To my right, Seero, with a towel on his shoulders, smiles. “You are truly the most worldly person I know.”

“Sometimes otherworldly,” Layla corrects. They both howl in laughter, and I chuckle uncomfortably. How can I be chill?

The guy next to me, my crush, is so much more than some sexy foreigner. This man—with his perfect pecs and killer abs on display —claims to be a freaking prince.

I gulp and try not to stare at his fine torso in the dark.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Why am I surprised?

The rumor mill has dubbed the Renversé Hotel as the ‘Runaway Prince’ Hotel for years.

But I always thought that was an urban legend, a modern- day fairy tale.

Well, considering how much magic has been popping up in kingdoms all over the world…

Is he made of magic? Fear creeps up my spine, and I’m once again acutely aware of how close Seero is to me on my right. If I kiss him, will I turn into a fish or something?

We pull into a parking lot near an empty beach.

I notice half an abandoned boardwalk above, and other than streetlamps, the area appears bathed in the dark azure of the night sky.

I try to breathe normally and think rationally, dismissing the thought of his magical mouth on mine.

Seero doesn’t even like me like that. He thinks my Dad is the worst human to ever exist, so I don’t need to worry about any kiss-based magical shenanigans.

I’m just a barista who attended his aquatic aerobics class once.

“Out you two.” At Layla’s words, Seero darts off. He’s practically a blur in the dark, tossing his towel on the sand and leaping into the water. I’m still overwhelmed by learning that my crush is actually royalty, so I turn to Layla with hopefully a pleading look. “That means you, Daryl.”

“Um, what should I…?”

“The water will heal him,” she says. “When he’s all patched up and ready, think you can walk him back to the hotel?”

I bite my lip, and then nod. After a beat, I scoot to my right to the passenger side door.

“Hey, Daryl?” With one foot out of the car and a towel in hand, I turn back to Layla.

“Give him some time to explain himself. He’s new to our customs, and I never turn away royalty when they need a place to get their head on straight. ”

I let her words sink in, then softly reply, “I will.” With that, I hop out of the truck, and she drives away.

I take two steps and gaze upon the scene. The sounds of crashing waves surround me, and in the night sky, there’s nary a seagull in the sky. Looking around then turning back, I realize I truly am alone. The only other person is swimming through the waves.

Even in the dark, he’s a sight to behold.

Seero glides, cutting out of the waves with ease.

Suffice it to say, he must be rapidly healing in the ocean.

I step forward until my feet sink in the wet sand.

I’m not about to jump in the water at night in my corduroys and blue button-down. I’m simply here to babysit him.

Seero…AKA Searoyal. A Corali. The prince of the freaking Coral Kingdom.

The immensity of it all makes me woozy, so I step to the side.

I walk back closer to a streetlamp so I can at least have some light to ground me to reality.

How am I friends with a royal dude who can breathe underwater?

This shit doesn’t happen to black nerdy dudes from Oregon.

More importantly, what do I do with this immense secret?

Shit, is there some sort of rule against befriending the Coral Prince? Are Seero and I in danger?

I’m taken out of my spiral of thoughts by a figure approaching. Seero is sauntering over to me dripping wet and shirtless. I should be thrilled or at least try to check him out, but I have too much on my mind.

“All better,” he says with a sheepish chuckle. He’s so charming I have no choice but to smile.

“Here.” I hand him his towel.

“Thanks.” While he rubs his beautiful torso, I step forward and place my towel on the sand. I plop down into a cross-legged seat, and without asking, he does the same.

Now that I’ve relaxed, the thrumming of the waves is a soothing melody.

My concerns and questions are still there, but my anxiety is slightly quelled.

Seero’s presence has thrown me for a loop for the few weeks I’ve known him, but this is a companionable silence between us.

It’s like we’re both enjoying the solace of the ocean sounds before real life starts up again.

After a long minute, Seero breaks the silence. “Um, is there anything you want to…ask me?”

I snort. “So many things.” We both laugh quietly, and I stare down at the sand. “Okay, first question.” I take a deep breath in and out. “Do all Coral Kingdom people talk to sea lions, or is it just the princes?”

He snickers. “Many in the royal guard do, as well as most of my family. Not everyone, but most who work in the government have to in order to maintain our infrastructure of marine wildlife.”

I glance at him. “Your kingdom’s infrastructure is based on animals?”

“Yes. The various creatures ferry our boats along the waterways, similar to your streets, and across regions,” he replies, like it’s the most casual thing in the world.

“Of course, how else would you get around,” I deadpan. “Any other magical abilities I should know about? Do you turn men into fish by kissing them?”

He snickers. “No. None of the men I’ve kissed have turned into fish.”

My heart wants to throw a parade at the fact that he implied he kisses men. I bite back a swoon and stare back down at the sand. “So no other Coral Kingdom powers? Do you become invincible in the ocean or something?”

“No. But it has healed me.”

“I saw that.” I pick up a tiny stray seashell and play with it in my hands. “You can breathe underwater?”

“In the sea, yes.”

I nod. “And you were swimming up and down, bobbing out of the waves with ease.”

“That…is a gift from the ocean. To me, and members of the royal family.”

“What? Your amazing swimmer’s body?” I shoot him a facetious smirk.

“No.” He bites his lip, like he’s conflicted. “I…can show you my greatest gift of all. But…it may shock you.”

“Man, you broke my car and almost died in my arms.” I lean back on my elbows. “We’re way past keeping secrets. I’d like you to come clean.”

He nods and stands up. “We treat the sea with the utmost reverence. And it has granted my people the gift to commune with it deep within our souls.” He puts out his right arm and pulls his left back, like a fighting stance.

“What do you mean — ah !” I yelp and scramble to my feet at the sight.

The beach water in front of us changes. The waves bend and are fucking moving toward me in a vertical wall. My mind can barely interpret it as a flowy curtain of water leaves the ocean and flows toward me, surrounding my body. All the while, Seero is maneuvering his arms like he’s doing tai chi.

“What the hell?!” I try not to hyperventilate, but the ocean water is freaking floating around me!

“Do not be alarmed,” Seero says, calmly.

“How can I not be alarmed when…when…?” My words die out as his arms continue to move. The wall of water spins around us like a slow-moving vortex. “You’re…doing this?”

“Some Corali have this ability. But yes.” He puts his hands together, and then pushes his palms forward to the ocean. With that simple gesture, the wall of water unravels and flows back. Within seconds, the ocean is back to normal, and all is right in the world.

“You…you…” I gulp. “You have…hydrokinesis?!”

“Is that your word for controlling the water?”

“Yes!” I shout, waving my arms around. “What the hell?”

He steps toward me, unfazed by my panic. “I thought you wanted me to, how you say, come clean?”

My shoulders slump—he’s got me there. “I guess.”

“I am a water mystic; I commune with the ocean. I am able to shape and bend water. It is a gift to our people for our reverence to the sea; we owe it our lives, after all. Every living creature on this planet depends on it.” He gazes at the nighttime waves, and I do the same. “But some cause it harm.”

“Some like my dad,” I mutter.

He turns to me with a tired but sincere look in his eyes. “The duty of the Coral Prince is a great one. Once I travel the world enough, I am to return to the Coral Kingdom and report my findings. My people are counting on me.”

I nod, letting his words sink in. “Understandable. But Princedelphia is hardly the world.”

“I am, as you might put it, running away? I fear what will happen when I go back home.”

“What?” I step forward and touch his shoulders, a surge of protectiveness flowing through me. “Are…you in danger?”

He shakes his head. “No, but you are.”

“Huh?”

He picks up the towel and I do the same.

Then, he looks right at me, his eyes pooling with dread and sorrow.

“The world is filled with people like your father who disregard marine life. We have witnessed it time and time again, and my people know this to be true. We regard the surface world as a toxin that must be purged. As such, if I cannot sway the Corali Court, they will enact martial law on the world’s oceans.

My father the king will declare full control and make a statement to the United Regions enforcing rules in the water.

We have enough water mystics and sea creature whisperers that we can do it. ”

He shakes his head. “Ships will be capsized. Boats will be destroyed. Deliveries will be halted. Shores and docks will be ravaged. Entire economies will cease.”

“People won’t get their medications and supplies,” I say softly. “Not to mention the jobs lost.”

“Then, when nations start the inevitable pushback, men will go to war and die.” His voice catches and my pulse rises with fear. “There will be devastation by the water.” He shakes his head. “I do not know how much time I have to delay this.”

Woah . Those are some high stakes.

Without saying another word, we quietly trek back to the hotel.

It’s a somber mood between us, and I try to wrap my head around the immensity of it all.

Billions of people in the world, dozens of kingdoms, and I somehow got entangled with the guy who can prevent world war.

This is a serious conundrum, and now I need to find a way to stop it.

But how? I’m a freaking barista whose dad won’t stop pillaging the oceans for profit. He’s a man who can talk to fish and control water, a prince of the sea. He has all this knowledge, and even he is feeling lost and helpless.

Twenty minutes later, we make it back to his hotel room. Seero shrugs, the resignation rolling off of him, and he unlocks his door. He gives me a small wave and walks in. “Thank you, Daryl. For saving my life.”

I smile, trying to cheer him up. “For what it’s worth, I’ve enjoyed learning about you.”

He steps into his room. “Well, I’d be happy to learn more about you, too. Maybe one day, right?”

I snicker. “Yes. One day you can learn all about how I make coffee because I’m a broke marine conservation student.” A tiny spark of an idea jolts in my mind. My back straightens and I whisper, “Wait.”

“Hm?” He turns, his gorgeous dark eyes on mine.

“My studies…I’m all about marine conservationism.”

Seero nods like he hasn’t made the connection yet. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’m an ocean nerd.” We exchange smiles, and I snap my fingers. “What if you tell your dad that some of us want to protect the world? That we’re not a detriment to the ocean?”

Seero bites his lip. “The Corali Court will want proof. They are the governing body that work in conjunction with Father, and they are very close-minded. Without evidence…”

“Then we’ll give them evidence!” Hope rises in my chest, but Seero seems skeptical.

“What?”

“I can compile multiple presentations and sources for you.” The idea begins to take shape in my mind and my hands shake in excitement. “Photos and videos. I have hours of evidence to prove that some of us are good for the environment.”

Seero smiles and scratches his cheek. “With that, I may be able to convince the Corali people that peace is a beneficial option.”

“Yes! You’ll be able to show that other countries are not beyond saving!”

“Correction.” He steps forward and grins. “ We will be able to prove that the world is worth protecting.”

With his sexy smile right in front of me, arousal courses through my veins. Tonight has been such a whirlwind, and having this hunk gaze at me with earnest admiration has me weak. “Um…we?”

He stands up straight. “It is settled then. I, Seero Dagat of the Corali Royal Family, would like you, Daryl Tishman of Oregon, to work with me.” He nods, and it’s so formal, foreign, and sexy.

“Um…of course.” I stiffly bow to him and we both chuckle.

“How about tomorrow? I have to teach aquatic aerobics in the afternoon.”

“I’ll meet you after I get off work. How’s that?”

“Very well.” Before I can go, he rushes up to me and gives me a hug. He’s strong, so strong , and smells like ocean water, but not in a gross way. It’s manly and delicious, and the hug is over way too soon. He steps back and says, “Goodnight, my dear Daryl Tishman.”

After he shuts the door, I take a moment to pause.

Walking down the hall with half a woody in my pants won’t be easy, so I shake out my head and try to calm down.

Everything I knew in life has changed, and that should scare me instead.

Instead, I’m hopeful. I can’t fight the grin on my face as I exit the hotel.

The stars shine on me and I breathe in the early summer air.

“Goodnight, my dear Coral Prince,” I whisper to myself.