Page 28

28

Claira

I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but this wasn’t it. Barren had brought us to meet with his queen, but the building looming before us could only be described as an underwater palace. Only we were very much on land.

Orbs of light danced over the great dome and its towering pillars, creating a glowing, golden aura against the dark night sky. Every inch, from top to bottom, was gold. Even the twin statues guarding the palace’s entrance were cast in the gleaming metal.

“Is that…?” My voice trailed, the statues’ dark, soulless eyes causing me to shiver. The two figures brandished glittering tridents, their fish tails sweeping in opposing directions. Hair that should have belonged on the cover of a romance novel flowed over their shoulders, merging into the golden waves that covered the front of the palace behind them.

“Poseidon,” Barren rumbled, standing well away from our group. “Subtlety is not my kingdom’s strong suit.”

Leander ran a hand through his hair. “Well, I like it.”

“Of course you would,” I mumbled. Leander blended in so well with the architecture it was possible he could pass as a living extension of the building. Had he transformed into his merman form, his glistening tail might have outshone even the statues.

“Trident’s Treasure,” Kai read aloud, his eyes fixed on the golden arch beneath the great dome’s crest. The bold lettering loomed above the entrance, dwarfing the sea of bodies below it.

Laverne shuffled to the front of the group, her nose lifting like she was taking in all the lights. “There’s treasure inside?”

“Mmh,” Barren grunted. Zero elaboration.

Did his kingdom truly spend half of the year in this palace? Before I could ask, Barren headed for the entrance. I took a final glance at the shimmering streaks of light dancing across the night sky before following behind him.

It had been a long walk to the palace, but I’d managed to keep myself calm and relaxed through it. Now that we were here, my hands fidgeted, clutching to the strap of my satchel I’d prepared in case Barren’s queen sent us straight to the ocean.

The atmosphere pulsed with energy, driving me to press in closer to Barren, but he was determined to stay well ahead of us. Was he expecting us to sprint to keep up?

“Is there anything special I should know about? Like something you should or shouldn’t do when meeting with a queen?” I asked aloud to no one in particular.

“Remember, you don’t have to do anything Queen Javalynn asks you to do,” Kai said, keeping up with my increasingly frantic pace. “She knows you’re a free mermaid. If she tries anything, don’t be afraid to remind her, okay?” With a wide grin, he clenched a fist and pounded it in his other palm.

“Thanks, Kai. I’ll try not to forget.” Gosh, I loved how well he put me at ease. His face lit with intrigue when I gave his fist a bump.

The thought of meeting Barren’s queen made me nervous, but it wasn’t the queen herself that scared me—it was the hold she had over Barren.

Barren had nearly gone against her orders, delaying taking me back to his kingdom when she’d ordered him to steal me away. She was bound to be upset by his disobedience, right? And if she was anything like King Eamon, she was more than upset. King Eamon didn’t get upset. He got enraged, and Poseidon help anyone who crossed him.

My thoughts were in a whirl as we merged with the crowd. Wait—was that English I was hearing? I looked around. Up close, the crowd seemed unremarkable. Strangely normal.

“Humans?” I whispered, trying to brush closer to Barren, but his long strides carried him at a speed that was hard to replicate. “All right,” I mumbled, directing the words at his freakishly large back. “Sprinting, it is.”

Laverne shrieked her annoyance as I took off after Barren, but I ignored her, catching up to him as he passed underneath the golden archway.

“What is this place?” I asked as soon as I stepped inside, but my voice was lost in the lively hum of commotion. Around us, the air was vibrant with the sounds of laughter and the clinking of chips.

The soft ripple of overhead light caused me to glance upward where a breathtaking mural covered the dome ceiling—an ethereal underwater world where golden-hued merfolk and majestic sea creatures swam amidst a vibrant coral reef.

It was dizzying. Taking in the colors and the lights was like being underwater, and my legs had almost lost their balance when Barren’s deep voice cut through the chaos. “A casino.”

“A casino?” Now that he wasn’t running away from us, I circled around him, hoping to stop him with a hand to the chest.

He took an immediate step back, but my mind was elsewhere. I hadn’t noticed when we’d walked inside, but behind us, massive tanks filled with water ran from polished floor to ceiling. Within them, merfolk gracefully swam, their colorful tails shimmering under the golden glow of the lights. Elaborate nets made of gilded chains adorned their bodies, flowing in the water as they dove and twisted.

I pointed at the great tanks, large enough for dolphins to swim through, my mouth bone dry, as the merfolk waved and blew kisses to patrons as they passed. “Mer–mer—” I was still stuttering when the others caught up to us.

“Whoa!” Kai gasped, rushing up to put his palms flat on the glass.

“The curse is broken, or is this one of your kingdom’s mirages?” Leander asked as soon as his eyes landed on the tanks.

Barren didn’t bother turning around to gawk at the merfolk. “Part of the show,” he said with a hint of bitterness. “No mirages. They are wearing fake tails and holding their breath.”

“They’re fake?” I said, scrutinizing every detail. They were convincing fakes, if they were. Each tail was intricately frilled, flowing through the water the same way Barren’s did under the waves.

“Before the curse, we pumped salt water into them,” Barren admitted with a shrug. “Not anymore.”

“Your kingdom doesn’t care if humans know the truth about what we are?” I couldn’t believe it—how had news not spread from the island? Was it mermaid glamour willing humans to forget or forcing them to keep their mouths shut? What a sickening thought.

Barren shook his head. “They believe that the money and the alcohol is real, but everything else is all a part of the show.”

My chest loosened a bit. Maybe he was right. Despite the presence of the tanks, the people seemed preoccupied with other things, like the tables draped in plush velvet set up further into the dome.

I was still looking over the crowd when I noticed two men wearing barely more than strips of lace approaching. Their eyes, heavily lined with eyeliner, seemed to scrutinize me up and down before they shared a look.

One man with feathery white hair stepped forward. “You have arrived,” he said, his accent heavy and lilting. “Our queen will be pleased.”

I glanced over at Barren, expecting him to say something, but he stood as stiff as the columns that held up the palace’s entrance.

“Come, come,” the other man said, his arms jangling with oversized jewelry. He gestured to me like he was offering me a dance while his white-haired companion gave Laverne a peculiar look. Perhaps the Indian Ocean didn’t see many sea lions in their casino.

“That’s our cue, I guess,” I said.

Leander was the first to make a move when the man with dancer-like movements blocked him with a bejeweled finger.

“No, no. You misunderstand,” the man said, his finger wagging. “Outsiders are not permitted. We will take one guest to our queen.”

I planted a hand on my hip. “Outsiders? Well, I guess this meeting is over, then, because I’m not going anywhere if all of us aren’t welcome.”

While the man with white hair bunched his eyebrows, the one with the jangly jewelry clapped his hands. “Another misunderstanding,” he trilled, waving a woman over who carried red velvet bags in her arms. “It is with great pleasure that we welcome the esteemed royalty from other kingdoms into our establishment.”

He gestured to Kai, and the woman shuffled over, handing him the first of the bags. “For you, the least of the Pacific’s princes, a token of our gratitude for your visit.” He mocked with every word, his accent making it all the more obvious. With a twirl, he turned to Leander. “And for you, the Atlantic’s crowned deserter, a token.”

The woman attempted to pass the second bag to Leander, but he let it slip right to the floor, his jaw set as a variety of chips and tokens scattered about the gleaming marble at his feet.

The dancer smiled like he hadn’t noticed, spreading his arms with flair. “Our establishment may be humble, but we welcome you with open arms.”

“And what about me?” Laverne demanded, and the way the duo’s eyes flicked over to her confirmed they were both mermen. Her chest heaved with a huff. “Maybe I am royalty as well. You have no proof that I’m not.”

The man with white hair hummed with doubt, and the glare she gave him was sharp enough to cut through glass. “Sea lion royalty.”

“Our mistake,” he said, his hand flicking through his feathery hair. “Feel free to help yourself to the deserter’s share.”

“Hmph.” Laverne scoffed, wrinkling her nose at the merman like she thought gathering up tokens and chips was far beneath her. Okay, she definitely thought that.

“Go, now. Treasures await you in these halls.” Jewelry glistening, the quick-tongued man gestured for me like it was his turn to collect me. “Now come, come. We must not keep our queen waiting.”

Leander’s arms folded around my shoulders. “Like she said, we’re coming with her, or she isn’t going at all.”

The men’s combined laughter bubbled over the noise of the crowd as I glanced up at Barren, wondering if he had anything to say about this. These were his people, his kingdom, after all.

“Ah! The tainted one may follow along, if you wish,” one of the men added. “Now excuse us…”

“The tainted one?” I repeated. It was possible I’d misheard him due to his accent, because what could he have meant by that?

Barren flinched. He gave Leander a hard look, every muscle in his neck tensing as he nodded. “No harm will come to her. I will make sure of it.”

Leander’s grip over my shoulders changed, and for a second, I wasn’t sure he would let me go.

“It’s fine, Lee, look around,” I said, shooing him off me. “We’re in a casino surrounded by people. What’s the worst that could happen?” I cringed as soon as the last word left my lips. Saying it aloud sure felt a lot like asking for trouble.

“Do not trust a word Queen Javalynn says,” Leander murmured, leaning in for only my ears to hear. He released my shoulders and gave Barren a nod. “Don’t fuck this up, Barren. We’ll be around if you need us. Right, Kaius?”

When Leander turned back, Kai was on the floor, scrambling for tokens and chips. “Uh, what?” Kai said, stuffing them into the velvet bag while Laverne held it open with its string.

“Come now,” one of the mermen said, impatience sharpening his melodic voice as he took a step forward.

“Fine,” I muttered. I was lightheaded from standing amid the flashing lights, anyway. As I reached out to steady myself on Barren’s arm, he pulled away from me as if my touch was as toxic as the lionfish Laverne had found earlier.

“Barren?” I asked, a sharp pain stabbing through my heart.

The white-haired mermen gasped, taking exaggerated steps backward.

“You mustn’t,” the adorned one said, his jewelry slapping him in the face as he brought a hand to his mouth.

But my attention was solely focused on Barren, leaving me nearly oblivious to everything else. He didn’t want me touching him now? What was it about his kingdom that had him acting so strangely?

Though he turned away from me, Barren’s deep voice carried. “Touching me is forbidden.”

My jaw fell open. “What? Why? ” It was forbidden? I’d been touching him, well, not all the time, but I’d done it a lot. Was it because he was a prince, or…

“My kingdom is superstitious. They believe that certain things can be passed on by touch.” Barren’s voice was as hard as stone, and I stared at the muscled back of his neck as he spoke. “I should have warned you, but I…” His voice trailed off, and somewhere, deep in the cracks of this stoic statue of a titan, I could hear all the pain he held within him. This was why he was walking so fast, why he was standing apart from us.

“Why would they think that?” I asked, sure that my voice was too weak to be heard over the commotion of the casino.

Barren didn’t answer, but I had every intention of asking him about it later. As soon as I could.

The two mermen seemed to have pulled themselves back together, tempering their unease. “Step away from him, miss. As he said, it’s forbidden.”

“Forbidden?” My voice cracked with a bitter laugh. In five minutes, these assholes had managed to insult everyone that I cared about, and I found that I cared little about propriety or adhering to their kingdom’s customs. “I’m a free mermaid,” I said, seizing Barren by his arm. Only, instead of yanking him over to me like I’d planned, I only managed to lose my footing. Freaking titan .

The moment I regained my balance, my lip curled. “I have the freedom to disregard your customs and your superstitions.” At least, I thought I did. Maybe. Whether it was legally true or not, there was no point in second-guessing myself now.

Barren’s muscles were solid, unmoving, but I clung to them like a remora to a leopard shark. “Come on, Barren,” I said, nudging his side, hoping to spark something in him that would get him to move.

Was he mad? Disappointed? No—my gut told me this was the right thing to do. Even if my voice never called to him, his voice had called to me, and I wanted him to feel just as protected as he made me feel. Whatever it took.

I looked up, offering him my best smile. “Let’s go meet with your queen.”

Despite clenching his teeth, he nodded. My heart raced when he didn’t pull away.

The two mermen appeared confused, but I maintained my composure even as rage built inside me. Why would a kingdom treat their prince like this? Rocci had mentioned a ‘scandal with Barren’s impairment,’ and if that was the reason… I wasn’t sure what I would do.

My heart shattered, thinking of the injustices Barren had endured at the hands of his own kingdom. It seemed the Indian Ocean was no better than the Atlantic.

“This way, please.” With a twist, the mermen took off, leading the way through the casino.

Fury burned all the way up my throat, but I followed, clutching tight to Barren’s arm.

“My sister is not going to like you,” Barren said finally, his deep voice breaking through my thoughts. My stomach knotted until I noticed the hint of humor playing over his otherwise tense expression.

“Wait—the queen, she’s… your sister? ”

He nodded. “Mmh.”

How had I not realized? It made sense, of course, but I couldn’t recall him ever referring to her as anything other than ‘his queen.’

I pursed my lips. Even though she was Barren’s sister, was it terrible that I didn’t care if she disliked me? Especially if it was because of something as ridiculous as not heeding their superstitions.

As we passed through the sea of gaming tables, my eyes lingered on the crowd. Here, deeper into the casino, alcohol seemed to flow as freely as the chips that were being thrown onto the tables. Workers I suspected to be merfolk slid through the throng, making sure the patrons were well distracted, whether by drink or their flitty outfits of gossamer and gold.

We descended a path leading to a secluded seating area recessed in the back of the dome, and with each new step, the lights dimmed and the noises muted. It was a much-needed respite from the overstimulation of the casino floor above.

A woman sat on a black leather couch, the centerpiece of the extravagant lounge. Wow . The dark hair cascading past her shoulders looked as if it had been strategically placed there for a painting. Except there was no canvas, no painter. Only her and us.

“Ah. You’re here.” She held a glass filled with a pale liquid, staring disinterestedly at its rim. “Better late than never, I suppose.”

An elegant sweep of gold crowned her head, and when her focus lifted from her glass, it struck me how much her dark eyes resembled Barren’s.

It was my first time seeing a queen, and she did not disappoint.

“My darlings.” The queen stretched out like a graceful pantheress, extending a gloved arm that both mermen took. I shifted uncomfortably, leaning into Barren as they doused her long black glove with dueling lines of passionate kisses.

She didn’t bother glancing our way before saying, “Sit.”

There were four of us here, yet somehow, I knew the command was meant for me. Only, just as I wouldn’t pull up a seat beside King Eamon, instinct told me I had no business sitting next to this woman.

Her gaze lifted from her devotees, catching on where I clung to Barren’s arm, and her dark eyes seemed to hollow. “Come,” she said sharply.

With one look, I knew Barren’s prediction had been right—the queen already didn’t like me. My nerves rising, I tried to take Barren with me, but he stood fixed on the stairs.

“Just you,” the woman said, her voice growing tight with impatience. “You are currently looking at our VIP area. Entry is restricted to those whom I have authorized as my guests.”

I was about to ask why a prince wasn’t considered a VIP when Barren’s arm pulled free from my grip. “Barren…?” I questioned as he started backing up the steps.

He shook his head, though his intense eyes seemed to hold his promise from earlier. ‘ I won’t let anything happen to you.’

With a forced gulp, I nodded up at him. I felt it deep in my chest—a promise that I trusted completely.

When I stepped into the lounge, Barren’s sister gave me a twisted smile. She gestured to the seat beside her. “Sit with me.”

Reluctantly, I took a seat, though I kept my eyes on where Barren stood on the steps above. Even if this queen wished me harm, as long as he was nearby, everything would be okay.

She shooed the two men away with a flick of her gloved hand. “Leave us.”

“Yes, my queen,” they answered in unison. They bowed low, and I reminded myself that it was okay that I hadn’t greeted her with a bow. I was a free mermaid, and after all, even Barren hadn’t?—

“My queen.” Barren bowed just as low as the other two mermen had, his arm flat against his side as he did it. My mouth fell open as all three of them left us, retreating up the steps. When Barren finally settled, he was standing all the way next to the gaming tables. Close enough to wave over but well out of earshot.

“Mmmh,” the queen hummed, and I bristled at the sound of it. So similar to Barren . “What do you think?” she asked, and when I turned to her, her dark eyes were lingering on where her two mermen attendants stood well away from her brother.

“Excuse me?” I asked, trying my best to read this woman. Her body language conveyed a sense of ownership, as if she thought she possessed everyone and everything in her vicinity. Including me.

The tip of her tongue toyed with the corner of her mouth, reminding me of a sea snake contemplating which prey to strike. “I’m to marry one of them.” She didn’t look particularly thrilled by the notion. “Which do you think I should choose?”

Was a queen truly seeking my counsel on two mermen I had scarcely encountered? I didn’t even know their names—not that I cared to know them. They both seemed terrible, and I had no doubt they would make awful kings.

When I didn’t immediately answer, she tutted. “I hate the thought of splitting them. They complement each other so perfectly, don’t you think?”

Was she serious? I went to eye the strangers when movement behind them caught my eye as a man in a black suit stood from a card table. The back of his broad shoulders flexed when he ran a hand over his dark hair, slicking it back.

Beside me, the queen laughed. “Ah. It seems you won’t be much help.” She swirled her glass before throwing back the drink, draining it down to the ice. “You have quite the wandering eye.”

I squirmed in my seat, my body tensing in response to her accusation. “If you’re so concerned over splitting them, why not marry both?” I said with a shrug. “You are the queen, aren’t you?”

She laughed even harder, the grating sound so different from Barren. Each of his hard-won laughs was throaty and genuine, nothing like the noisy crowing of his sister.

“And miss out on crushing one of their hearts?” She tutted again, going for another sip of her drink and scowled when she realized it was empty. “A queen must seek her amusement somewhere.”

With the swish of a hand, she summoned one of the mermen back over. The man’s jewelry bounced as he rushed down the steps.

“My darling,” she said, drawing out the words.

“My queen,” he replied, his eyes revealing a desire so deep it was uncomfortable to look at. She brought him close enough to toy with his dangling earrings. When he seemed a hair’s breadth from crawling onto her lap, I tuned them out by shifting my attention up to Barren.

Despite the distance, his unwavering gaze was on me. Had he even blinked once since leaving my side?

“My brother seems very taken by you.”

Startled by the queen’s words, I sat up even straighter. How long had I been staring at Barren? I hadn’t even noticed that the queen had sent the merman away. “R-really?”

Her eyes gleamed as her attendant returned with fresh drinks, though when he went to hand me mine, his hand swerved away at the last possible moment. Gasping, he twirled around and chose to sit the drink down on the low table in front of me before taking his leave.

Strange. Was I included in the superstition surrounding Barren now that I’d openly touched him?

The queen took a long sip from her fresh glass. “My brother’s conduct has been rather unusual as of late. It appears his attention is focused solely on you.”

I shrugged, though my eyes found Barren again, and sure enough, he was looking right at me.

When I glanced back at the queen, her eyes had narrowed. “It makes one wonder if he intends to betray his queen.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Barren brought me here, didn’t he? You’re the one who asked him to take me, right? Well, here I am.”

The queen sighed. “That, I did. But he was… hesitant.” She swirled her new glass, as if pondering. “Hesitancy is not something I tolerate. It leaves me no choice but to question his allegiance.”

“No, I—I guarantee Barren wouldn’t—” An abrupt slam cut me off, her glass against the table in front of us.

“And what do you know about Barren?” Rage flickered in her eyes as she leaned in, her voice compressing to a hiss. “My brother is broken, more worthless and pathetic than a bullray who’s lost its spine. He was only good for one thing—following my orders. Now tell me, why is it that Barren is looking at you when his loyalty is supposed to belong to me? ”

The word ‘broken’ reverberated within me, penetrating my thoughts as if determined to stay. Barren, broken? I didn’t believe it. Even so, the word gripped me, boring into every corner of my being, willing my mind to accept it as fact.

The queen’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint.

I clutched my head as tension built in my temples.

What kind of mermaid magic was this?

My knees almost gave out underneath me as I shot to my feet. “Barren is not broken,” I said, gasping out the words. “He’s not worthless. If this is you trying to get me to help you…”

My chest heaved—my heart was beating so, so fast. If Laverne were here, she would have seized the glass on the table and dumped it on top of the queen’s perfect, shiny head of hair.

Accompanied by a smirk, the queen’s magic seared me again, branding my insides with her lies. No—Barren was not broken. Not worthless. My fingers tangled in my hair, pressing against my scalp as if maybe I could claw the magic back out.

“Well, aren’t you resilient? Impressive,” the queen said, though her laughter was far too cruel. “But let me be blunt. I did not bring you here to play fetch. In fact, I believe it would be a challenge for you to even locate my trident.”

With my hands still muffling my ears, I stared down at her in disbelief as she continued, “Do I strike you as the type of ruler who would leave her most valuable possessions lying around?”

Leaning forward, she smoothed out the front of her black dress. “Here’s what I do want. I want you to continue living here on my island without a care in the world.”

“Right,” I said stiffly, lowering my hands as the effects of her magic seemed to wane. “I believe that.”

“As you should. You were unable to locate that fool of a king’s trident. What is his name?” She tsked, faking disappointment in herself. “Oh. King Eamon, perhaps.” I held my breath, going rigid, not wanting to reveal that we had been successful in locating the trident. “So, what would make me confident that you could find mine if I sent you down to look for it?”

“I don’t understand. If you don’t want me to get your trident, then why am I here?”

“Ah, now there’s the question I’ve been waiting for. I do not wish for you to collect any of the tridents. What I want is for you to live up here. Wait out the curse on land like the rest of us.” She waved a gloved arm, dismissive. “I care little about what it is you do as long as your legs remain dry. Those are my terms—stay here on land. Disobey them, and I order my brother to execute you.”

“ Execute me? ” Well, that sure was an abrupt and unexpected turn.

She shrugged. “And if he refuses, I’ll have him executed as well.”

My heart plummeted, rattling all of my organs on its way down. As much as I desperately wanted to dismiss her threat as empty, the ruthless, unyielding look in her eyes made it impossible not to believe her.

Shit.

“I cannot risk losing all that my kingdom has worked for here amongst humans. As you may have realized, the other kingdoms are na?ve, desperate. There is no telling what one of those fools might do with a trident if you were to bring one up here on land.”

I stiffened. The logic was there, but I couldn’t bring myself to agree with someone who casually threatened our lives. “And what if another kingdom steals me away again? What then?”

“This island is under my complete control,” she said with a smirk. “Nothing happens without my knowledge, so do not think of pursuing the trident for Barren’s sake.” Picking up her glass, she took an annoyingly long sip before adding, “Even if you gave him my trident, he could never be ruler. This kingdom had the opportunity to welcome him as its king once already, and, well, you know how that turned out.”

“What…?” I whispered.

“They chose me, of course.” Her self-satisfied sneer was like a punch to the gut. “In their eyes, even a six-year-old merfry was more desirable than him.” Her lashes lifted, as if maybe she finally spared him the briefest of glances. “Although I can’t blame them for wanting someone clean . Untainted.” She sighed as if reliving a fond memory. “No matter how much Barren wants power, this kingdom has already declared him unworthy.”

“It’s a shame,” I said flatly, causing the queen’s gaze to snap up from her glass.

Her expression turned cold. “Excuse me?”

“That you don’t know your brother at all,” I said, even as her eyes sharpened with what looked like murderous intent. Maybe my execution would come sooner rather than later. “It’s a shame for you, because Barren is worth getting to know.”

I glanced up at where Barren stood and felt my lips tug into a smile when our eyes met. “Although I can see why he might want to keep his distance from you.”

Turning back to her, I threw my hands up in an exaggerated shrug. “But what do I know? I’m just a free mermaid caught up in all this trident drama and undersea politics. You want me to stay dry on land? I’ll stay dry. Because, honestly, I don’t believe you’re worthy of wielding a trident. But just so your teeny crown feels a bit more secure there on your teeny head, I’ll let you in on something you obviously don’t know about Barren.” I leaned in, just to be sure she could hear me. “He doesn’t want your trident. He detests them. So, if you’ve got nothing else to say to me, I think we’re done here.”

Had I lost my mind? Probably. Here I was in her kingdom, surrounded by her followers, running my mouth like she hadn’t just threatened to use one of my mates to end my life. Sure, Barren had promised to protect me from harm, but I doubted he had considered the possibility of me starting a fight.

Wait— my mate . Barren hadn’t even confirmed that he was drawn to me, but I felt it. The undeniable bond between us, maybe even before the first time his voice called to me.

With my hands balled into fists, I lifted my chin high. “Well?”

Without a word, the queen set her glass down on the table. She sat back for a moment, assessing me. “For the lowly offspring of one of King Eamon’s dogs, you are quite bold.”

Then she stood, and I wasn’t ready for the sudden change in perspective when she rose to her full height. Damn . She looked like a bronzed statue of a goddess draped in black and gold. Their parents really must have been titans.

“You are free to take your leave,” she said, formal and stiff. “Dive for the trident, if you wish. I will enjoy watching the light fade from your eyes as I order Barren to strangle your neck. Or perhaps a better punishment would be to have you watch him get strangled first. As I said earlier, a queen must seek amusement somewhere.”

Poseidon help me. This woman knew how to piss me off. “I wonder how you plan on doing anything to Barren when it appears that your entire kingdom is too afraid to even go near him.”

She scoffed. “My brother is not someone to get close to, yet you seem na?ve of that fact. Why is that?”

I blinked at her, and the way her smirk grew had ice slithering down my back. “Ah. It seems he hasn’t told you. How interesting.” Reclaiming her glass, she lifted it to her lips, throwing her head back and draining the pale liquid down in one gulp. She slammed it back on the table. “Please, do come and have a chat with me once he tells you. Or, better yet, I could tell you right now what makes him such a dirty, worthless ?—”

I grunted as I covered my ears, tearing myself away from her presence by sprinting up the stairs. Her vile magic seemed to follow behind me, clawing at the back of my mind, desperate to leave its mark. Dirty. Worthless .

When I made it over to Barren, I could barely think.

“Are you okay?” It was Barren’s deep, gentle voice, but I couldn’t even look at him. Not yet. Not with his sister’s magic filling my head.

“No,” I whispered, my voice shaky. I wasn’t okay. I knew mermaids were monsters, but she was something else. Something worse.

“I need a minute,” I said, fighting against the magic invading my mind. I needed someplace far away, someplace quiet. “Where’s the—the restroom?”

“This way,” Barren said, and although he tried to keep his distance, I wrapped my arms around his.

Dirty . My mind screamed the word, but I fought against it by holding on to him even tighter. Barren wasn’t dirty. I knew that more than I knew anything.

“Sorry, Barren. I know she’s your sister, but she’s pretty terrible,” I said, wanting nothing more than to curse her.

Barren stifled a chuckle, but not before the sound managed to melt away some of his sister’s magic. “It might be better to hold off on disparaging my queen until a time when we aren’t surrounded by hundreds of her loyal followers.”

Oh—right.

“It’s fine. No one is close enough to hear us, anyway,” I mumbled, fastening myself to his side. If his kingdom was going to consider him dirty and tainted, then I was determined to be dirty and tainted, too. It seemed to work, and bodies readily parted for us as we made our way to a hallway tucked behind a pleated velvet curtain.

“I’ll wait for you here,” Barren said, and I gave him the best smile I could manage while his sister’s magic still loomed.

“Thanks. I’ll be quick.” I said, ready to do whatever it took to pull myself together.

I pushed my way through the crowd and finally arrived at the bathroom, where a mirror lined in an excessive number of lightbulbs awaited me.

Staring at my reflection, I took a deep breath. “So, Barren’s sister is a psychotic queen,” I mumbled, noting how one of my eyes was twitching. I hunched over an obnoxiously golden sink to splash water on my face, then pressed my eyes shut in concentration.

Barren’s not dirty, not broken, not worthless. Minutes passed, but I kept reciting the words, desperate to override what the queen had done to my brain. Barren is amazing. He’s kind. He cooks for me. He cares for me—he cares for all of us.

I kept it up until my tight muscles eased, and I was certain the last of her magic had drained away. With a final deep breath, I straightened, ready to face him again without fear of his sister’s lies coming back. Hopefully.

Was it glamour that she’d used on me, or something else? I didn’t think mermaids could be affected by glamour, but what did I know? I was an ex-mermaid with only the knowledge I’d picked up in passing from the palace maids.

Despite all the negatives, there was one good thing that came out of our meeting. The queen didn’t expect me to retrieve her trident. And although I didn’t trust the motives of a murderous tyrant, she was right about the chaos a trident could bring on land. Leander had proven that already.

When I reentered the hallway, I was scanning the crowd for Barren when a rush of something cold swept over my back.

“The heck…?”

With no further warning, black smoke flooded my peripherals. Coiling wisps wrapped around the hallway, and I bit back the urge to scream. The hallway was being consumed by shadows, but the people around us were laughing and talking, seemingly unaware. Frantic, my eyes raced to find Barren among the crowd. Where… where was he?

Barren —

An arm wrapped in a black suit jacket encircled my waist. I stared down at it, too stunned to react as a forceful presence snuck up behind me, pressing into my back.

A voice invaded my ears, as smooth and all-consuming as the dark smoke that spread through the hallway. “Can’t stay out of trouble, can you?” The hand that had been gliding over my hip extended its reach, securing its hold around me. “It seems destroying the portal was a wasted effort.”

I shivered. Every part of the unseen man seemed to toy with my senses. His voice. The smoke.

This was magic, I was certain. Not like the queen’s magic, no. But dark magic. Familiar.

A cool breath brushed past my ear. “Did you miss me, little captive?”

Without giving me a chance to answer, my captor’s body crackled with an electrifying surge of magic, and the floor seemed to drop from underneath my feet.

With a final puff of black smoke, the magic consumed us, pulling us down into a shadowy abyss.