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L ukas reacted before I had the chance to scream. Bolting up from the rock, he shoved me behind him and unsheathed his dagger. He held the sharp blade sideways in front of him as he braced himself for an attack.

“Take another step towards us and it’ll be your last,” he warned.

The mermaid tilted her head, a grin spreading across the subtle scales on her face. “That’s alright. I don’t walk anyway, silly,” she chuckled. Then, she slotted her blade into its netted sheath, her long, blue fishtail swishing around beneath her. “And you can put that weapon away.”

Lukas stiffened, unmoving.

“I only had mine out in case of unfriendly sharks. Surely you know I’m no threat to you or your human pet.” Her emerald eyes shifted to me. “Although I’ll admit that I’m certainly jealous.” She paddled closer, swimming in a slow circle around us. “However did you find such a pretty female?”

She reached out to grasp a lock of my hair when Lukas planted himself between us.

“Leave,” he hissed, dagger still poised.

The mermaid just laughed. “You really are a funny one.” Tilting her head up, she smiled at the sunlight filtering in from the cave above. “How did you get into the Ryntook palace?” Her eyes glittered. “I’ve never been able to do it. Even with legs and all that fabric covering my body, just like the human girls do it, guards always sniff me out.” Her smile dropped before she suddenly leaned closer, her eyes wide on Lukas. “Are you one of my mother’s spies? Was that why you were in the palace? Did she send you up there to go and live with the humans?”

“I am human,” Lukas grumbled.

This time, the mermaid’s singing laughter filled the cavern. She doubled over, her red hair spilling around her like a coral tree. It was only when a few bright fish began to weave through it, that she flipped her hair back up and stared at Lukas, still giggling.

“It’s lovely you think that.” She slowed her laughter. “But I’m afraid you’re about as human as my mother, and she’s the literal Sea Queen!”

Wait, Sea Queen? “You’re a princess?” I blurted.

“Of course, dear.” The mermaid smiled sweetly. “Princess Adriana to be exact. Though I won’t be offended if you hadn’t heard of me.” She brought her long green fingernails up to her nose, inspecting them while she added, “I am one of eleven after all.”

“You have ten siblings?” I gawked.

“Ten sisters.” She tapped me on the nose, and I blinked. “Boys are incredibly rare. Speaking of…” She turned back to Lukas. “Which family are you from? I thought I knew all the men at court, and considering you can change form,” she gestured at his legs, “you’re clearly the son of someone important.”

Lukas narrowed his eyes, keeping his mouth shut. In truth, I probably should’ve done the same. But with potentially all the answers staring at us expectantly, I couldn’t help but spill everything I knew.

“His mother was a mermaid too,” I started, ignoring the way Lukas’s shoulders tensed. “But she fell in love with a king named Ikelos about twenty years ago – the King of Drothmore – and then he gave her a potion that forced her to stay on land. Her name is Erissa. Did you know her?”

Adriana’s lips popped open. In that moment, it was as if the entire ocean stilled. The current toying with my blonde curls paused like a child caught playing with something it shouldn’t. The fish that were just moments ago diving in and out of the corals froze, as if a word, or a name , had been said that meant so much more to the sea than we could possibly ever realise.

That was until Adriana’s lips widened into a huge grin, and she let out a squeal loud enough to set the entire ocean back in motion.

“Cousiiin!” She barreled towards Lukas, almost knocking him to the sand as she threw her arms around his neck and peppered his cheeks with kisses. “Oh I always knew this day would come! I should’ve recognised you sooner. You just look so different under the water.”

“He’s your cousin?” Was all I could focus on while Lukas battled to keep the mermaid from hugging him. “But that means—”

“Erissa was first in line for the throne. She’s a princess. Though I suppose she’s more than that now, being married to King Ikelos,” Adriana babbled excitedly. “Has she come here to visit too? Is that why you’re in the palace? I’m assuming she forgave her husband for stealing her essence? Not sure I ever could!” she laughed while I swallowed nervously.

“Actually—”

“You must come and meet my mother!” She kept her focus on Lukas. “And you can bring your human pet too!”

“Absolutely not,” he growled, finally shoving Adriana off him. “Come, Naria, we’re leaving.” He charged towards me and snatched up my hand, pulling me away.

“So soon?” Adriana pouted. “But you’ll return, surely? And come and visit?”

“No,” Lukas grunted. Kicking off the bottom, he began to swim towards the circle of blue light up above, marking the entrance to the cave.

“I don’t like doing this,” I barely heard Adriana murmur below us.

Ethereal singing filled the cavern.

My vision began to soften, anything sharp became blurred and creamy. My limbs felt heavier, my arms now sinking as I stopped kicking.

“Naria? Is that your name, sweet pet?” a lovely voice sung out to me. “Will you bring my cousin back down to the sand? It would make me so pleased.” My heart soared. Of course. Anything for her and her lovely voice.

Smiling, I dragged against Lukas, kicking in the opposite direction and tugging him towards the mermaid on the sand.

“Naria, stop!” he growled, but his voice sounded grating and nothing like hers . Hers made me feel so warm and fuzzy, so safe.

“That’s it, my sweet. Bring him to me,” she sang again, her words making my entire body glow. “And remember, Cousin. If you do not cooperate, I can force her to drown.” It was those lovely words that made Lukas still. “She’ll never feel the sun on her face again. Would you like that?”

Lukas’s eyes met mine, all cold and steel-like. There was something else too, but I couldn’t quite make sense of it with the beautiful music weaving through my mind. I also didn’t really care.

My smile dug into my cheeks while the two of us sunk through the water. But when my feet hit the sand, it was like all weight returned. I gasped as my vision cleared. Harsh colours assaulted my senses and the once warm water on my skin now felt like ice.

“She’ll be alright.” Adriana shrugged while Lukas could’ve melted through her scales with the glare he was pinning on her. “Just give her a minute and then we’ll head off to the palace. Our family’s palace.” She grinned eagerly.

“If any harm comes to her…” he warned, steadying me by my waist.

“Oh she’ll be fine.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Just have her pretend you’ve charmed her, then everyone will know to stay away.”

“What?” I muttered.

With a sweet grin, Adriana swam closer until she was inches from my face. “You know that lovely feeling I just made you feel? Like you’d do anything for me? Even drown?” she purred while Lukas’s hold around my waist tightened.

Slowly, I nodded.

“Just pretend he’s done that to you permanently.” She swished a lock of hair away from her face. “Merfolk keep human pets all the time, so no one will touch you if they think you’re claimed already. And believe me, Naria,” her gaze flicked from my bare feet and back up to my eyes, “you’ll want people to think you’re claimed, especially since merfolk tend to prefer the females.”

She cackled as she turned away, her long fin propelling her towards a gap in the coral trees.

“Come now, Cousin and my new human friend! We’ll take my ride to the palace,” she called over her shoulder before dipping behind the trees.

When I went to follow her, I felt myself being held back by a strong arm.

“Just do what she says and pretend I’ve enchanted you,” Lukas whispered, but his tone suggested he didn’t find the idea anywhere near as exciting as his cousin did. “The second I’m able to, I’ll get us out of here and back on land.”

I nodded slowly. After taking one last look at the shimmering ocean cavern, I followed the cackling mermaid through the coral trees.