Page 43 of The Merman’s Betrothal (Outcast Hearts #2)

T he region around the palace was crowded with Minchmen.

Word had gotten round of the impending wedding and near enough all the Blue King’s subjects had turned out for a glimpse of the Redfolk strangers.

Not that they were likely to get one, as the palace itself was heavily guarded by Iomhar’s warriors.

‘ Make way, ’ Iomhar rumbled, parting the throng of curious Bluefolk to create a path for Fionn. Some craned their necks to see him, leaving him feeling even more like a decoration on parade.

A sleek grey shape jostled through the crowd and broke into the water in front of Iomhar.

‘ Acha! ’ Fionn cried. She dived at him for a whiskery hug.

‘ Some decorum, Your Highness, ’ Iomhar said into Fionn’s ear.

Fionn scratched Acha’s head before letting go. ‘ She is coming in with me. ’

‘ You will be parted from her as soon as you enter, ’ Iomhar warned, but beckoned them both to continue toward the palace.

Yet another familiar shape separated from the crowd. Neacel lunged for Fionn, yanking him to a stop. Iomhar spun with a knife at the ready.

‘ What are you doing, child? ’ he huffed angrily at Neacel. ‘ You cannot approach the prince at this time. ’

Fionn seized the knife, lowering Iomhar’s arm. ‘ He is my friend. Allow me to say goodbye, would you? ’

Iomhar blinked twice, casting a surprised glance at Neacel. ‘ Very well. ’

Neacel’s face was clouded with anxiety. ‘ What’s happening, Fionn? They say the Redfolk are here. Does Rory know? What’s the plan? ’

It took all of Fionn’s strength not to break down and envelop Neacel in a devastated hug. ‘ Rory is not coming, Neacel. ’

Oh, no. It was heartbreaking all over again to watch the understanding dawn across Neacel’s earnest features.

Iomhar growled at a cluster of Minchmen straying too close and shooed them away. ‘ Rory is your human, I presume? Perhaps you can have this discussion elsewhere. ’

Fionn pulled Neacel close enough to hear a whisper. He feared his sorrow would taint the whole ocean if he sang it too loudly. ‘ The soul bond was a lie, Neacel. Rory is part Redfolk. Our bond was simply a reaction to the curse. To my betrothal. An accident. ’

Neacel recoiled. ‘ Part… part Redfolk? How… ? ’

Fionn shushed Neacel quickly. ‘ I have broken the bond. It is all reset and I can marry my intended. ’

‘ But you don’t want to— ’

‘ That is not the point.’

‘ But you love him! ’ Neacel cried, pushing Fionn back. ‘ Don’t tell me you have thrown it all away because of this!’

‘ It was all a lie, Neacel. We were manipulated by the bond. I had to cut it to set us both free. ’

The water shimmered with Fionn’s grief. Neacel’s gills flared, tasting the depths of his anguish. His eyes narrowed. ‘ Do you love him still? ’

‘ It’s irrelevant how I feel now, ’ Fionn mumbled.

‘ It is not. ’ Neacel shot up into his face, brows and mouth scrunched in a way he no doubt intended to be assertive, but had the same effect as a baby seal trying to be threatening. ‘ Remember what I told you, Fionn. At least be honest with yourself. ’

Iomhar watched all this in silence. The old Minchman had gone quite still, his sombre eyes unusually wide. ‘ Did you say this Rory was Redfolk? ’

Fionn cringed. He’d hoped to keep it secret, for Rory’s sake as well as his own. ‘ Yes. ’

‘ And this is what ignited your bond? ’

‘ Yes. Why do you look so troubled? ’

Iomhar’s frown was deep and foreboding. ‘ You are sure of it? Such a scenario verges on the impossible. ’

‘ I told you, I thought it was a fated bond at first, ’ Fionn said wretchedly. ‘ But when his form changed, there was no question. He has red fins and spines— ’

Iomhar covered his eyes. ‘ Spines, Fionn? ’

‘ From his back. I’ve heard these are Redfolk traits. ’ Fionn was suddenly uncertain. Iomhar’s interrogation made him doubt what he’d seen. Could he have made a mistake?

‘ And you love him? ’

‘ I don’t— I don’t know— ’

Now Iomhar was in his face, dragging Fionn forward by his harness. ‘ Did you make the right decision? ’

‘ I… ’ Fionn’s gills gasped for oxygen. He couldn’t hold back his tears any longer. They bled into the ocean, souring it with the tang of deepest regret.

Nothing at all had changed since the bond was broken. He’d expected to feel some sense of being released, or of a veil lifting. Instead his yearning for Rory had only wound deeper in the absence of his connection.

Iomhar touched his forehead to Fionn’s. ‘ Oh, little sprat. How I wish you could learn to ask for help. ’ He released Fionn, nodding to the guards stationed at the large entrance arch leading to the throne room. They looked harried; probably urged to get the prince inside as fast as possible.

‘ You must take your place, ’ Iomhar told Fionn, turning his gaze to the towering spire above. ‘ There is something I must inspect before I join you. ’

Fionn followed his line of sight. Much of the top half of the palace was devoted to the Record Rooms, the great circular halls where the clay tablets containing the kingdom’s history were stored. Confusion caused him to blink away his tears. ‘ Is this really the time for reading, old man? ’

‘ Go. ’ Iomhar shot away, leaving Fionn to the pack of guards moving forward to hurry him inside.

Fionn bowed his head, allowing the group of warriors to surround him as escort.

One of the guards held his spear in front of Neacel. ‘ He is not cleared to enter, Your Highness. ’

‘ He is my friend. I give him permission. ’ Fionn stared the Minchman down, but the warrior knew his duty.

‘ He has not been approved. The seal, too. We cannot allow such risks to enter. ’

Neacel tugged at Fionn’s arm. ‘ Don’t worry about me. I have matters to attend to as well .’

A new flicker of hurt flashed across Fionn’s heart. Neacel was content to abandon him? He wasn’t even going to stay to listen to news of the wedding from outside?

Of course, Fionn knew he was being selfish. Neacel didn’t owe him an audience.

‘Farewell, then. And thank you, ’ he added hastily. ‘ Truly. You’ve been an honest friend and fair counsel. I should have done more for you in return. ’

I never even gave him an introduction to Seòras, Fionn thought glumly.

Neacel returned a wry smile. ‘ I have enjoyed living vicariously through the story of your fated romance. Keep your head high. It is not over yet. ’

He retreated to the crowd and disappeared within the sea of blue bodies.

Acha nudged Fionn’s elbow.

‘ I know. I’m sorry, friend. ’ Fionn aimed a withering glare at the guard holding out his spear. ‘ Apparently our finest warriors cannot be trusted to watch a seal during the ceremony. ’

‘ We follow our orders, ’ the guard replied sheepishly. ‘ We must make haste, Your Highness. The congregation is waiting. ’

Fionn kissed Acha on the nose and gave her a final scratch along her neck. He didn’t know if he would get to see her again.

It was time to face his fate. Fionn swam through the dark archway into the palace with a guard escort at his side and more than half the kingdom watching, yet feeling more lonely than he ever had before.