Page 23

C onsidering how spectacular the rest of the Ocean Palace was, I really shouldn’t have been surprised to find Cora’s library equally as breathtaking. Unlike the candlelit library tucked deep beneath Drothmore’s palace, these aisles of books basked in the daylight that poured in from the tall windows. Gold-tinted shelves stood free of dust and occasionally vine-like plants with bright flowers weaved between the books, as if I’d stepped into some kind of reading jungle.

It was all so beautiful. Mesmerising. Dare I say even Raena may have liked it here. But I didn’t let my wonder stall me for long. I could already hear Arenn’s bootsteps rapidly approaching, and it was hard enough to outrun him on the way here. Darting between shelves, I pushed forward through the vast room, weaving and changing direction as often as I could. It was only when I stumbled across a small alcove filled with desks and plush chairs that I finally paused to catch my breath.

That was where I found him.

Afternoon sun streamed through a nearby window, dancing off Lukas’s deep brown curls as he poured himself over a pile of books and parchment scraps. His tanned hands worked tirelessly, flicking through yellowed pages while his brow pinched in concentration. Despite my panting breath, he didn’t notice me at all. Until I stepped to his side and cleared my throat.

“Forges!” he gasped, dropping his parchment as he bolted upright in his seat. Through fluttering paper, his gaze crashed into mine. “Oh. Naria, forgive me. I didn’t hear you coming.”

“It’s alright.” I sniffed with laughter. “What were you doing?” Dozens of books lay open across the desk, and based on the dark rings under his eyes, he must’ve been here for hours.

“Nothing.” He swept a few stray parchments aside. “Just some reading.”

“Reading what?” I asked, not missing the way his jaw tensed at my question.

Before he could answer, limpets and green-tinged fingers flashed in my mind. “Raphael,” I breathed, wincing at the memory.

“What’s wrong? What is it?” Lukas rose from his seat. “Are you alright? Did something happen to Prince Raphael?”

I blinked, confused. “You didn’t hear about his condition?”

“I may have come straight here after the garden party.” Lukas swallowed, glancing away. “I apologise if I worried you.”

He visited the library after the party? But why ? Shaking my head, I focused on what was most important and filled Lukas in with exactly what I saw in Raphael’s bedchamber.

“And you’re certain it was limpets that you saw on his face?” Lukas’s expression had paled to horror after I gave him all the awful details. “How is that even possible?”

Running my fingers through my hair, I sighed. “I think it’s some kind of curse.”

“The faeries…” His voice darkened, but I just shook my head.

“There’s no reason for them to do this. This has to be from the merfolk,” I said, shuddering as I remembered the awful gurgling sounds the prince made in his bed. “You should’ve seen him, Lukas. It was like he was drowning. How could a faery do that?”

“We’ve seen the fae do a lot of horrible things,” he muttered, his voice low.

With a sigh, I met his heavy gaze. “We have to go back to the merfolk palace. If it is a mermaid curse, your aunt might be able to help the prince recover.”

“Absolutely not.” Lukas tensed. “I’m not going back there. Ever. And neither are you.”

I stepped back at his sudden tone shift. “What do you mean? They could be his only hope.”

“I said no,” he repeated, pressing his palms into the table. “Besides, even if they were responsible, why would paying them a visit help? You’d only be putting yourself at risk.”

“But they’re your family,” I reminded him. “They’d never hurt you.”

“My mother was family too,” he muttered in a voice so low I could barely hear what he said.

“What?” I breathed.

Clearing his throat, he ran a hand through his hair. “I misspoke.” When he turned back to his books, I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but instead my gaze fell to the open pages on his desk.

My stomach plummeted.

“Faery magic,” I read out loud, my voice shaking. “Faery deals?” I heard Lukas’s breath catch as my eyes darted from page to page; the more I looked, the worse it became. “Bonds between betrothed faeries? Lukas, what is this?” Anger curled at my lips. “You promised me you wouldn’t look for a way to help. You promised!”

“I…” His words trailed off as fear wavered across his eyes. “I cannot lose you, Naria.”

“You won’t.” I scowled. “It’s been months since Arenn put these crystals on me, and I’m still here, aren’t I?” As if mocking me, the crystals tingled against my wrist, but I ignored them, keeping my arms fixed to my sides. “I’m not going anywhere with that faery. I don’t care what bond he claims to share with me. I feel nothing for him.”

“That’s perfectly alright.” My heart jolted at the sound of Arenn’s velvety voice. “I feel enough love for the both of us, human.” I turned just in time to see Arenn stepping out from behind a bookshelf, his dark tunic contrasting against his moonlight-pale skin. Upon catching my gaze, he grinned, but before he could say another word, Lukas charged ahead of me.

“You have five seconds to walk back the way you came, faery scum,” Lukas growled.

“Are you planning on actually hurting me this time?” Arenn’s tone was teasing as he drew nearer to the desk. “Or just glaring really, really hard again?” He pouted mockingly before spitting out a laugh.

“Arenn, please, just give us a moment alone.” I gripped Lukas’s arm. “This is about Prince Raphael. It’s important.”

“Then don’t let me interrupt your meeting.” His cruel smile faded as he caught sight of my fingers on Lukas’s sleeve. “I’ll just wait here until you’re finished.” Pointedly, he leaned against the closest shelf, folding his arms and crossing his feet. “Proceed.” He flicked his wrist dismissively.

“Naria just told you to leave,” Lukas said, his arm tensing under my touch. “Did you not hear her?”

“Of course I did,” Arenn chuckled. “But the last time I let her out of my sight, I found my bride locked in a cell in the dungeons.”

“What?” Lukas choked, fury pouring over his face.

“So you’ll have to understand when I say she’s not leaving my side again until we return to Faelenna. Together,” the faery prince carried on, but Lukas had already spun away to face me.

“Who put you in the dungeons? Tell me now, Naria,” he barked, grabbing my shoulders.

“It was just a misunderstanding. I wasn’t in there for long,” I murmured, not missing Arenn’s scoff as I spoke. “The guards who arrested me blamed me for the prince’s illness.”

“You weren’t in there for long because I rescued you,” Arenn declared, stepping closer. “And, might I ask,” he addressed Lukas, “where were you, while your so-called fiancée spent the night in a cell? Dancing with another princess, perhaps?” Pain squeezed at my chest. “Maybe more than dancing?”

“He was here in the library.” I snarled. “He told me that himself.”

“Did he now?” Arenn grinned, glancing at Lukas. “Callie is awfully pretty though,” he mused, ignoring the rage rolling off Lukas. “And I can’t be the only one aware of your reputation? Marigold told me the last time you visited Hallshire, you were courting a new lady with each sunrise.”

“That’s not who I am anymore,” Lukas said, loud enough for his words to echo through the library.

“It’s alright,” I whispered. “Don’t let him get to you.” I didn’t care about his past love affairs. All I cared for was how he was now. Ignoring Arenn’s smirk, I attempted to tug Lukas back to the desk, but there was little point. Lukas remained rooted to the floor, his steel gaze fixed on the grinning prince.

“This is your last chance to walk away,” he told the faery, his voice simmering.

Arenn chuckled darkly. “If I walk, Naria walks with me.” He motioned to the books spread across the desk. “Since you’ve been doing your research, you should know by now what those crystals on her wrist mean for us.” My stomach twisted. Swallowing down the dryness in my mouth, I was able to hold Lukas back until Arenn uttered three awful words, “I. Own. Her.”

All his rage broke free. Lukas charged at the prince, and within seconds, Arenn was pinned against the nearest bookshelf, his fingers clawing at the hands now wrapped around his throat.

Everything was moving so fast. I couldn’t breathe. “Stop this!” I tried to yell, but all that came out was a squeaky rasp.

“You don’t get to speak about her in that way,” Lukas roared.

Books tumbled to the floor in a mess of fists and pages as he slammed Arenn into the bookshelf once again. Something hit my back, and I gasped. But when I turned, there was no one there – only Arenn’s wheezing laugh as it filled the reading alcove.

“And what gives you the right to stop me?” he croaked, rasping just as I was. “No matter where you take her, she’ll always come running back to me. Me!” Cackling, he tipped his head back. “You might spend each night in her bed, but I’m the one who haunts her dreams.”

“She’s not yours to haunt,” Lukas hissed. He released Arenn for a brief moment as air rushed into my lungs. What? “You don’t own her. Stay out of her mind,” he growled. “Touch her again – even in her thoughts – and I’ll make damn sure there’s nothing left of you to crawl back with.”

Stumbling against the desk, my hands pawed at my now clear throat. But I figured it out heartbeats too late. When Lukas raised his fist, Arenn’s eyes met mine with a playful glint. All I could do was yelp as a cold punch slammed across both of our faces.

Screaming, I fell to the floor.

“Quiet, human or he’ll figure it out,” Arenn taunted, the blood dribbling down his chin matching my own.

Lukas snarled, “Don’t you dare talk to her!”

I yelped again as another punch cracked across my cheek. “Stop, please! This is a trick!” But my whimpers were drowned out by another painful hit and Arenn’s hysterical laughter.

“She’s never going to forgive you for this.” Arenn spat blood in Lukas’s face.

“Fight back, you coward!” Another hit. Another yelp from me. I could barely see through the stars in my vision.

“Lukas, stop!” I screamed, just as Arenn crumpled to the floor and a knee swung into his stomach. Groaning, I doubled over. “We’re connected! You’re hurting us both!”

Lukas’s boot froze mid-stomp. Slowly, he turned away from Arenn to face me, his heavy gaze dropping to the puddle of blood by my feet. I could almost see the gears in his mind turning, the horror on his face growing as he pieced it altogether.

“Damn him.” He ran to my side, voice ragged. Immediately, he reached for me. But then he stopped, and pulled his shaking hands back. “I’m so sorry, Naria. I never meant to—”

“Beat her senseless?” Arenn finished for him, words clipped as he pushed up to his feet. Fresh bruises stained his face, but he seemed otherwise fine. “Now who’s the monster, human?”

I wanted to scream. I wanted to charge over there myself and finish the work that Lukas had started, but my body was roaring with so much pain I could barely stand.

“Please.” I turned to Lukas. “Will you take me to my room? I have poultices for…” I winced as another wave of pain cut through me, “for this.”

My voice was barely audible, but he must’ve heard me. Nodding, he wrapped his arms around mine before scooping me against his chest. Both of us ignored Arenn’s audible hiss of disapproval.

“I should take you to Ivy and your other friends, or the medical bay?” Lukas said, struggling to meet my gaze.

I shook my head slowly. “I don’t want anyone else to see me like this.”

“Naria, you can’t possibly still want him!” Arenn spat, panic and confusion battling across his features. “He hurt you!”

Rolling my eyes, I buried my face in the fabric of Lukas’s shirt. There was no point in arguing with delusion. Thankfully, for once, Arenn didn’t try to follow us as Lukas carried me away from the desk. The only sign he was even still there was the crashing of books and frustrated roars as Lukas carried me out of the palace library.