Page 50 of Sea of Evil and Desire (The Deep Saga #1)

48

Morgana

I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that this merman was Finn from Bayside. My Finn. Here he was, now gliding beside me on a tail of emerald scales. They weren’t just one color either; they were every shade of the green spectrum, and they changed hues with each flick or twist of his muscular torso. The torso that I was trying not to look at, but somehow couldn’t take my eyes off.

With him by my side, the Mer castle felt less intimidating. But as we approached its looming shadow, my throat tightened, memories of the dungeons flooding back.

We were passing through the village now. Again, the merfolk came out of their sandy mounds to watch us. This time, they didn’t scowl or spit; instead, they lowered their eyes and bowed. Finn was different, too. He had drawn himself up taller. He turned both ways and acknowledged the merfolk paying him homage.

“I can’t believe people bow to you,” I muttered as a young Mer couple holding a child slipped out of their dwelling and dipped their heads.

“And why’s that?” He raised a black brow.

“Because you’re Finn, the mysterious boy who works in a dusty pawnshop.”

“ Prince Finn, who works in a dusty pawnshop,” he corrected me.

I laughed and saw two Mer tending their seaweed garden, eyeing me curiously. Well, curiosity was better than spite.

“Are you and your cousin close?” I asked, thinking of the bromance I had witnessed earlier.

“When Pisceon’s father died eleven years ago, he became our ward. My father has always been . . .” He paused, and a muscle in his jaw ticked. “. . . tough on me, but he eased off after we took Pisceon in. I am forever grateful to Pisceon for that, even if he did it unintentionally.”

“I bet you have some fun on land together.” I fought a grin as I imagined those beautiful men walking into a bar.

“We only go to land when the king wills it.” Finn’s mouth thinned.

“But surely you would want to engage in human pleasure while you’re up there?” I pressed, glancing at his magnificent tail. I was still thinking about his hands on me . . . his lips. No!

“Don’t get me wrong—human pleasure is nice . . .” Finn’s lips tugged into a grin. “But once you’ve been with me as a Mer, you’ll never scream a mortal man’s name again.”

Gods. I swallowed.

“Has your father always been this way?” I asked to distract myself from these damned feelings.

“There are moments I can almost remember him being . . . kind.” Finn stopped flicking his tail, floating stationary while staring into the green. “But that was before my mother’s death. It’s like losing her broke him. But instead of shutting down, he became . . . something else.”

“I know what it’s like to live with someone haunted by the past,” I said gently, thinking of my mother.

“It’s funny, isn’t it? How we can feel so alone even when we have someone left.” He turned to me, his dark hair drifting in the swell.

“Can’t you just tell your father no when he asks you to do things?” I stared at Finn thoughtfully, wondering if there was a way out of his engagement.

“The leader of each Mer kingdom controls a trident.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “Not a physical trident like the ones you’ve seen in movies, but a three-pronged combination of powers. My father’s trident channels lightning, stormy weather, and the current. This makes him the most powerful merman in the seven kingdoms—and he’s losing his mind, which only makes him more dangerous.”

My stomach tightened as I remembered the king’s wild black eyes.

“My power will never match his until I succeed him. Even with the curse, his lightning trident could stop a heartbeat with one prod.” The shadows had returned to Finn’s face.

The ascent to the glittering sandstone castle seemed to go slower than it had last time, even though Finn and I were swimming. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t going toward certain doom this time, but I wasn’t sure about this venture either.

Finn followed my gaze. “If you think this is grand, wait until I show you our gardens. Every color of coral imaginable—” He motioned toward the shadowy waters behind the castle, where a faint glow shimmered.

“For some reason, when I think about your castle, the dark dungeons have been imprinted on my mind. I wonder why that is?”

He let out a low chuckle. “We will have to rectify that impression, won’t we?”

As we reached the stone passageway leading to the grand entrance, I glanced up at the open-mouthed figurine carved on the arch above us, recognizing the Runes of the Ocean on either side of it. The same ones that decorated Finn’s wrists.

We made our way toward the yellow glow ahead. Finn glided on his magnificent tail, and I kicked beside him on my webbed feet. My webbed fingers were splayed before me as I parted the water with them. There were guards in the doorway. Their pearl tails glistened in the sapphire light, and their identities were shrouded by tarnished silver armor.

Finn moved closer, and his shoulder brushed against mine. “While we are down here, I have to be . . . a prince.” He let the soft crimson tips of his tail caress the back of my thigh.

“What do you mean?” I whispered as the fierce stares of the Mer guards found us.

He didn’t answer, but his fingers furled with mine quickly. He let go as we reached the doorway.

“Your Highness.” The men bowed their heads, and the seaweed crests atop their helmets rippled in the swell.

“I need an audience with the king. Send word to prepare the war room and request he meet me there,” Finn commanded. His voice, which had been soft with me, had become deep and authoritative.

My mouth was agape as I watched him, straight-backed and confident, barking out orders while keeping himself afloat on that magnificent tail.

“H-herm,” I coughed at Finn’s side, and one of the guards turned his wild eyes on me. “I would also like my dagger back, please.” I lifted my chin in a manner that matched Finn’s.

The man eyed me coolly before turning to Finn.

“Yes, yes, retrieve the girl’s dagger from the armory.” There was a grin in his voice as he nodded in assent.

One of the guards bowed and then retreated into the castle. Finn and I followed. This time, I was not immediately shoved down the dark passageway leading to the dungeons, and I could look around.

Sparkling granite staircases rose on either side of me, converging at the intricately carved double doors of the throne room. Above the doors, countless levels towered endlessly into the distance. A ribbon wound down between them, attached somewhere high above. Lights glimmered on either side of it until it blossomed above us in a glittering chandelier.

Once the guards had disappeared, Finn retook my hand and led me into what looked like a waiting room. It was smaller than the vast hallways—a Mer architectural attempt at cozy. The ceiling was lower, and couch-like masses had been constructed out of sea sponge. I bounced up and down on one, and it made a squelching sound.

Finn rolled his eyes, furrowed his brow, and sat with his elbows on his tail.

This room was also made of glittering sandstone and had a polished stone floor. A pretty shell mural had been embedded in the wall. There was a small table before us, and on it, a glass vase held sprigs of seaweed. Next to it, a giant clam lay open, holding small pieces of raw fish that had been cut up and wrapped delicately in seaweed, available to ease guests’ appetites. I took one hungrily. So, the Mer had discovered sushi—or maybe they’d invented it.

“Want one?” I offered the fish to Finn, but he raised his hand in rejection.

He’s nervous .

“The king says he will debrief with you after the Blood Moon Ball.” The pearly-tailed guard’s voice in the doorway made me choke on my sushi. His cloak ballooned in the swell at his back.

“This is important.” Finn floated up from his sponge chair and puffed his chest out again.

“He says it can wait until tomorrow. He knows you don’t care for balls, but it’s important to show our people united strength in uncertain times. Your friend will be treated as a guest of honor.” The guard turned his eyes to me.

“I forgot about the darn ball—foolish frivolities,” Finn growled, his eyes darkening.

“The Blood Moon Ball?” I raised my eyebrows.

“The tides are higher and the currents stronger when there’s a blood moon; it’s something our people celebrate.” Finn waved a hand, his brow still furrowed in frustration.

“Your dagger,” the guard said, pulling a sponge cushion from behind his back, on which the blade lay.

I took it and fastened it around my waist. As its shape found the side of my thigh, it emanated something tender: love. No, it couldn’t be.

Finn waited until the guard disappeared before glancing sideways at me. “I like the new look,” he snorted, but his eyes flared hungrily as they traveled over my hips.

“Say one more smug word, and it will be at your throat.” I threw my hair over my shoulder, grinning.