Page 24 of The Merman’s Betrothal (Outcast Hearts #2)

F ionn headed straight back to Neacel’s cave after the ordeal with Rory. He needed to dissect all of this immediately, to recount every action and work out where it had gone wrong. And most of all to get the burning shame out of his chest. To get the taste of Rory’s rejection out of his mouth.

Neacel had good ears. He was remarkable for absorbing Fionn’s troubles and then helping to lay them all out in a logical fashion that Fionn could digest again more sensibly.

Fionn didn’t bother to announce himself this time when he reached the cave. He swam right through the curtain of kelp over the entrance and into the softly glowing light of the interior.

‘ Neacel! ’ he called out impatiently. It hadn’t been much more than an hour since he’d last been here. Surely Neacel hadn’t gone out for the night. ‘ Where are you? ’

A soft rustling sound indicated someone must be inside. Fionn swam to the end of the living space and rounded the corner into Neacal’s private chamber.

‘ Why did you come in here? ’ Neacel shrieked at him. The young Minchman snatched his kilt from the wall, trying and failing to cover himself with it.

‘ Is that a dress? ’ Fionn asked, momentarily fascinated.

Neacel gave up with the kilt. He ran flustered hands through his short hair, not meeting Fionn’s gaze. ‘ It is. ’

His body was swathed in a slinky wrap of fabric, shimmering silver and adorned with sequins.

He also wore the necklace Fionn had seen earlier and a pair of long white net gloves.

Neacal had evidently been trying to get out of it all when he heard Fionn arrive.

The sequins cast a pretty speckled light over the carved rock walls.

‘ Where did you get it? ’

‘ I bought it. With human money. ’ Neacel sounded wretched, like he was admitting to a crime. ‘ It’s just an experiment. ’

Did Neacel think Fionn would disapprove? Guiltily, Fionn recalled how suspicious he’d been of Neacel’s familiarity with the surface world before. He hadn’t exactly presented himself as a fan of human culture.

He strove to come up with a reassuring comment. ‘ It is an interesting material. I like the effect with the lights. ’

Neacel uncurled a little. ‘ You don’t think it’s strange? ’

Fionn shrugged. ‘ It is strange but it is also elegant. I imagine it could make for good armour in the deeps. Some creatures would be easily spooked by such glimmers. ’

‘ Does this look like armour to you? ’ Neacel frowned, turning away from him. ‘ Not everything needs to be so… No, forget it. ’

Fionn floated awkwardly, waiting for him to say more or at least indicate that he was welcome to stay.

Eventually, Neacel sighed. ‘ What can I do for you? ’

Fionn didn’t see any reason to delay. He got straight to the point. ‘ I’ve just been with Rory and he is a fool— ’

Neacel held up a hand. Fionn stopped more out of shock than obedience.

‘ Not now. Please, Fionn. I wish to help you but my own cup is running empty. I’ve held enough of your woes for today and right now is not a good time to continue them. ’

‘ But… ’ Anger welled up on Fionn’s tongue. He was already hurting and now Neacel was rejecting him too? ‘ But Rory is Bluefolk! ’

The revelation had the intended effect. Neacel drew a breath then asked, ‘ What happened? ’

Fionn gave a hasty account of events, emphasising Rory’s unreasonable reaction at the end. Neacel’s mouth hung open, undoubtedly in awe and dismay for him.

However, the tone of Neacel’s reply did not sound quite so awed or dismayed as Fionn imagined. ‘ And you revealed this information to him like that?’

‘ How else should I have done it? ’

Neacel scrubbed both hands over his face like he was trying to erase the exasperation from it. ‘ Gently. With fewer details. In short, Fionn, without scaring the life out of him with merman anatomy. ’

‘ But this discovery is huge— ’

‘ I don’t deny that! ’ Neacel threw up his arms. ‘ It’s astounding and brilliant, yes. The perfect proof that your bond is fated and that you have more common ground than you thought. I understand why you are excited. But you must slow down for Rory’s sake. ’

He clearly didn’t understand, because he didn’t have the same urgency as Fionn.

‘ I do not have time to slow down! ’ Fionn roared back. ‘ The full moon is approaching. If I cannot convince Rory to acknowledge our bond in front of the king, I lose everything. I will be handed over to the Redfolk as the bargain demands. ’

‘ I know. Try to calm down. ’ Neacel pinched the bridge of his nose, sounding harried. ‘ It is getting late and you are agitated. Let us come back to discuss this in the morning. ’

Wait until morning? Had Neacel lost his mind? ‘ I cannot wait— ’

‘ Please, Fionn. Take some time to reflect on this first. I cannot do your thinking for you. ’

The cheek of him. Fionn neatly side-stepped the uncomfortable reality of his fuck-up and rounded on Neacel instead. ‘ You cannot dismiss me like that. You swore to aid me! And I am your prince and there is nothing more important than this mission. ’

Neacel swivelled back to him. ‘ Aid you? Very well. I would wager your attitude is at least half the reason for all your frustrations, ’ he said curtly.

‘ You profess to serve your entire kingdom but you won’t look at it beyond the end of your own spear.

How are you to serve your people if there is nothing more important than yourself? ’

‘ You are calling me selfish, ’ Fionn said, aghast. How dare he? ‘ There is no one else more dedicated than— ’

‘ Dedicated, yes, ’ Neacel snapped. ‘ To proving something to yourself, I am sure. You are only concerned with how you measure up, or how your own fate is directed. Has it occurred to you that your success with Rory depends on more than just your own feelings on the matter?’

‘ What is that supposed to mean? ’

Neacal threw up his hands. ‘ Exactly. You act and react and barely take the time to understand. ’ He swept up a net-woven kelp shawl, pulling it around his shoulders. ‘ To be clear, I do not care if you are being selfish, but I would prefer that you were honest about it. At least to yourself. ’

Neacel shimmied quickly out of the sparkling dress and pulled his kilt on, before bundling up the dress under one arm. ‘ Please move. I am going out. ’

‘ Where? ’ Fionn asked, unable to keep the sulk out of his song.

‘ It’s none of your concern. ’ In clipped words Neacel finished, ‘ Please don’t tell anyone you saw this, ’ then disappeared out through the cave entrance, leaving Fionn feeling both indignant and foolish.

‘ I shall find someone else to help me, then, ’ he yelled into the gloom.

* * *

As he always did when he felt useless, Fionn’s only course of action against the awful feeling was to resort to combat. The next hour saw him relentlessly practicing spear drill in the palace courtyard, executing complex maneuvers against empty water with muscle-straining precision.

If only someone would put these skills to use. Then he could serve his people meaningfully.

Neacel didn’t know what he was talking about. Fionn didn’t fight to serve himself. He would gladly put his own life on the line for his kingdom. If only he was given the chance!

But you wouldn’t give up your life by peaceful means, a Neacel-esque voice pointed out in his brain. Such as a diplomatic marriage.

Fionn smacked his own ankle in a mis-timed spin with the spear. He cursed vividly, agitating the water around him.

He wished Acha were here but she was out hunting for food. She would have agreed with him. Not that she knew what a marriage was, or anything about politics or complicated humans. But she would know that Fionn wasn’t being selfish.

No. He was simply trying to thwart centuries of solemn tradition that had kept the kingdom safe.

Let’s try that again.

He was simply trying to chase a miraculous soul mate that the fates had gifted him.

How does that help the kingdom?

He was simply trying to get Rory to like him.

Why doesn’t he like me?

Fionn stared into the darkness at the bottom of the courtyard. Down there were the arches that led to the sprawling kitchens. Where the people who really carried the kingdom on their backs worked.

Was he deluded? Did he really believe his own story? That even if Rory—and right now it was a big IF—acknowledged their bond and helped Fionn to avoid a Redfolk marriage… that Fionn would go on to add value to his kingdom in a way that he wasn’t doing now?

‘ There you are! You are late, little sprat. ’

Fionn squinted into the arches above. Iomhar darted down to him.

‘ What am I late for, old man? ’

Usually this would have prompted a quip in return, but Iomhar seemed uncharacteristically sombre. His many braids were woven into a single plait; a formal style for a formal occasion. Anxiety gripped Fionn’s heart. No. Surely the Redfolk hadn’t arrived already.

‘ The rehearsal. ’ Iomhar took hold of Fionn’s spear. ‘ I have made excuses for you, but you cannot delay any longer. ’

Fionn closed his eyes. A measure of relief replaced his fear. He had forgotten entirely about the wedding rehearsal. At least, hopefully, he had a few more days to talk Rory round.

A few more days until he had to say good bye to Rory forever.

This thought stung far deeper than the prospect of signing his life over to the Redfolk.

‘ Fionn, ’ Iomhar said, shaking his shoulder. ‘ I understand your melancholy. I will be here with you. Your father will be here with you. ’

Fionn ripped himself away with a snort. ‘ My father? As if the king’s presence would lift my spirits at all. Let’s get this over with. ’

‘ Fionn— ’

Fionn left the old warrior to catch up, swimming at speed to the throne room.