Page 30 of The Merman’s Betrothal (Outcast Hearts #2)

Fionn’s heart broke for him. He couldn’t imagine the grief Rory must have suffered to have lost not only one parent in body, but the other in spirit too. He wrapped his arms around Rory, hugging him close. ‘You did not deserve to be raised like that. You do not deserve it still.’

Rory’s head slipped into the crook of Fionn’s neck. His hands rested at Fionn’s waist. After a few moments he mumbled, ‘This is nice.’

‘It is,’ Fionn agreed. He’d been dwelling on the same. How warm and peaceful this embrace was.

‘What are your parents like?’ Rory asked, almost sleepily. Fionn would have been perfectly happy for him to fall asleep there if he’d wished.

‘I have only one parent. My father, the king.’

‘Oh. I’m sorry.’ Rory’s grip tightened.

‘What for?’

‘Well, I mean… did you lose your mum too?’

Oh, of course Rory would not know how it worked for Bluefolk royalty. Fionn kept Neacel’s advice in mind and tried to explain without using too much detail. ‘I have no mother. My father birthed me by himself.’

Now Rory pulled back a little, squinting up into Fionn’s face. He looked like he was trying his best not to grimace. ‘Okay. Right. So someone put an… an egg in him?’

‘Normally, that would be the case. But for the king, not so,’ Fionn said matter-of-factually. It was all right to answer if Rory asked, wasn’t it? ‘A Bluefolk king produces and fertilises his own egg, because he cannot take a partner for himself.’

Rory raised a hand to scratch his head. Fionn immediately missed the contact with his skin. ‘So are we talking about asexual reproduction here? Like… like sharks? I’ve heard of hammerheads doing that when they can’t find a mate…’

‘It is not a question of not finding a mate. Rather, of being forbidden one.’ Fionn touched the centre of his chest, and then Rory’s chest. ‘The king is the vessel and guardian of the magic that fuels our soul bonds. He cannot form a soul bond of his own, because he must protect those of his people.’

‘You just said magic,’ Rory said thickly.

‘Yes.’

‘The king is magic?’

Fionn chewed his lip, wondering how much more to explain. Rory’s eyes had glazed over a little. ‘This is how it is with all our kings. Our soul bonds are sacred.’

‘Hang on. Won’t you be king some day?’

Fionn felt a surge of worry through Rory’s side of the bond. ‘No. As First Prince I have other… ha… duties. One of my brothers will take the throne when my father dies and they shall become the new vessel.’

‘Right.’

Rory’s flurry of concern settled. Then his gills fluttered open as a large wave rolled their way. Fionn caught the startled look in his eyes.

‘How do you feel now, knowing that you are part-Bluefolk?’ Fionn asked carefully. Holding himself back from pushing, from declaring it proof of something beyond Rory’s control.

‘I haven’t decided.’ Rory’s brows knitted together. ‘Maybe it’s fate, right? Isn’t that what you keep going on about?’

Strangely, Fionn wasn’t thrilled by this answer. Previously, he would have soared for joy at the prospect of Rory admitting the role of fate in their coupling. But now he found he wanted to hear Rory choose it for himself. To choose Fionn for himself.

Fionn cupped his cheek, pulling Rory’s gaze to meet his own. ‘This transformation does not have to change anything for you, Rory. Fate or not, I only wish to see you happy.’

Even as he said it, Fionn felt released by the truth of those words. He wanted to see the spark in Rory explode. To see him become his fullest self, not dragged down by sorrow.

Wasn’t that his most truly selfish desire?

All Fionn’s anxiety about his Redfolk betrothal fell away. Dodging his royal duty didn’t have to be the end goal any more. Rory’s happiness was a far greater dream to aspire to.

Some sense of this must have flowed through the bond. Rory swallowed, pressing his cheek into Fionn’s hand.

‘How do you recommend dealing with it?’ Rory asked, voice deep and throaty like it had been when they were wading by the shore.

‘I believe we should pursue our own fate,’ Fionn said, strong and certain in his answer. ‘Not suffer the one assigned to us by others.’

Rory’s features briefly scrunched in thought.

‘How’s that different to suffering a fate determined by some other power?

Like, for example, a magic soul bond.’ His tone wasn’t hostile, or even unfriendly, but it was as just dry as Neacel’s could be when pointing out a flaw in Fionn’s logic.

Loaded with the quiet intelligence that Fionn felt Rory was good at hiding.

‘It’s different because it belongs to us,’ Fionn answered, squeezing Rory’s shoulders. ‘And because no one can take it away from us.’

‘Ha…’ Rory bowed his head, connecting his temple with Fionn’s again. ‘Do you know what I hate most about this merman soul bond business?’

‘What?’

‘It means I’ve definitely run out of excuses for myself. I can’t stay here, knowing this. Knowing there really is more out there for me. That there was all along.’ He breathed in deeply and looked toward the horizon. ‘How far can we swim in a day?’

Fionn hesitated. He was expected back at the palace. The wedding preparations were in full swing. But Rory’s words echoed in his head. There were no more excuses not to leave it all behind. At least for today. Rory was right by his side, and that meant his fate was whatever he wished to make of it.

‘Shall we find out?’ Fionn said, his own voice sounding far away. He was adrift on a sea of imagined futures. ‘Let’s see how strong you are, Rory Douglas.’