Page 49 of The Merman’s Betrothal (Outcast Hearts #2)

The Aft Tower was the highest point in the palace, protruding a little from the main spire. It was the king’s private study.

Fionn led Rory up the winding spiral corridors bathed in the green glow of orb lights. He felt a jumble of trepidation and anticipation for this meeting with his father. Something had changed in the throne room. As if his father had truly seen him for the first time.

Or as if he had truly seen his father for the first time.

Rory’s hand trailed over the marks carved into the walls. ‘ You said this language is Pictish? ’

‘ Indeed. The ones you are following tell the story of a great battle fought against a monster that came here from the fae realm. ’

‘ What kind of monster? ’

Fionn studied the carving. ‘ This one you would perhaps call a kraken. ’

Rory’s hand jerked back. ‘ Woah. ’

They came upon the king’s study suddenly as the upward spiral ended. The doorway was covered by an intricate kelp tapestry. Fionn rang the cockle bell that floated from a hook next to the door.

‘ Enter, ’ called his father.

Inside, the Blue King floated with his back to them, staring at shelves of clay tablets that took up the entire rear wall. Next to him, Iomhar abruptly removed his hand from where it had rested on the king’s shoulder.

Fionn raised his eyebrows at Iomhar but said nothing.

‘ I have not yet congratulated you on your serendipitous soul bond, ’ the king announced, turning around.

His DeepSong was the familiar flat tone that Fionn was used to.

He found himself straining to listen, as if he could glean deeper meaning behind the formality of his father’s words.

‘ We welcome you, Rory Douglas, into our tribe and swear to treat you as our kin. May you find much happiness here. ’

‘ Uh. Thank you, ’ Rory said awkwardly.

‘ You will be provided with quarters and provisions within the palace if you wish. Iomhar will arrange a bodyguard for you— ’

‘ Have you always known it was a lie? ’ Fionn blurted.

His father blinked slowly. Iomhar held up a hand of warning.

‘ What was a lie? ’ the king asked.

‘ The alliance between Redfolk and Bluefolk, ’ Fionn said indignantly. ‘ The peace we supposedly work for together. Have you always known that the marriage bargain was a flimsy charade that only gives them power to rule over us? ’

King Aonghas steepled his fingers over his stomach, his posture proud and regal. ‘ They do not rule us. ’

‘ Lie! ’ Fionn shouted, aghast. ‘ They steal sons from us and that is not domination? Tell me I heard it true from your own mouth—you did not give me willingly. ’

This was the truth that had been burning a hole in Fionn’s heart since the ceremony. That maybe his father did care for him; did care to lose him.

Rory’s spines flickered, sensing his agitation.

‘ Of course I did not give you willingly, ’ the king sang in a hoarse whisper. ‘ I do not conceive that any king has given their son willingly to this bargain, except perhaps the first. That foolish King Uradech who cursed us with it. ’

Was it resentment or relief that trembled over Fionn’s skin? He knew he was turning a deeper shade of blue and didn’t care that it gave away his distress. ‘ Then why have you always treated me as though you had already given me away? ’

The king’s mouth dropped open.

Iomhar darted forward. ‘ You go too far, sprat. ’

‘ No. ’ The king raised a finger. ‘ Let him speak. ’

Rory caught Fionn’s eye, sending a ripple of encouragement across the bond.

Fionn squared up to his father. He was a little taller than the king, but the way his father held himself had always made him appear to be the tallest in the room. Fionn had always felt small in his presence. Until now.

‘ You have never had time for me as you do my brothers, ’ Fionn declared.

‘ My accomplishments do not impress you, my requests to take on more duties for our kingdom are ignored. You barely acknowledge me when I am before you. I have always been painfully aware of my purpose as an object to be bartered with in your eyes, rather than a son for whom you hold any regard. ’

King Aonghas listened silently, his expression impenetrable. Fionn would not be deterred by his dispassion this time. It felt freeing to put these feelings into words, however his father might react. He stood tall and proud, awaiting a response.

Slowly, the king unclasped his hands and sighed.

‘ My son. Fionn. My first son. I have loved you always and love you to this day. ’ His father looked so very weary, all of a sudden. ‘ Yet from the moment you were born I knew the magic had its grip on you. That one day I would lose you to the bargain, just as I once lost my older brother. ’

Rory’s nose wrinkled, perhaps with confusion as his gills inhaled a morose flavour in the water. Such deep sorrow, the same Fionn had tasted during the ceremony.

Reluctantly, Fionn put himself in his father’s place.

Considered what it would mean to have watched his own brother be married off to some unknown Redfolk in his youth—remembered the relief in Brudus and Drostan’s eyes at having Fionn returned to them.

And then the pain that must be a thousand times more acute with knowing the same fate awaited the child he had borne from his own body and watched grow from eggspawn to adult…

Still, Fionn tipped up his chin. ‘ I did not deserve to have my entire life tainted by your grief. ’

Rory stiffened, a stab of pain shooting through Fionn’s chest. A shared heartache that let him know Rory related all too well. Rory’s hand found Fionn’s and held it firm.

Behind the king, Iomhar crossed his arms and wore a dark frown. He looked ready to summon a storm. ‘ You do not know the half of it, little sprat— ’

‘ He is quite right. ’ The king’s soft voice was deceptively commanding.

His gaze was focused on something far away for a moment, then came to rest fully on Fionn.

‘ I have spent so long mourning your loss that I have forgotten to hold you tightly while you are near. I am a blind fool for not seeing the effect of my apathy upon you. ’

‘ Fatigue, not apathy, ’ Iomhar cut in insistently. ‘ Fionn, if you would know that your father has spent a lifetime searching for a way to end this bargain— ’

The king placed a hand on Iomhar’s arm. ‘ A search that has come up with nothing. Instead it seems I have sacrificed my own son upon the altar of saving him. ’

Fionn thought he ought to have felt triumphant at these words, or at least cheered in some way.

Instead, he felt merely hollow and sad. He had wanted his father’s regard, but not at the expense of his happiness, Fionn realised.

He’d wanted a sense of reparations, but wasn’t prepared for this well of regret that it had opened.

The king held out an open palm to Fionn.

‘ My son. If you can ever forgive me, I am sorry for my absence in your life. I can only ask if you will allow me to be a part of the new life you forge for yourself and your mate. ’ He smiled, an achingly bittersweet smile.

‘ I see there is deep love between you. Perhaps I would have seen it earlier, had I thought to look closer into your soul. ’

‘ I… ’ Fionn grasped his father’s hand hesitantly. It was warm and gentle, like the hands he remembered stroking his hair as a child. He looked into his father’s eyes and felt seen. And he saw the man looking back at him. Two imperfect reflections of pride, regret, and love.

Fionn flew forward and wrapped his father into a tight hug.

Uncertainly, the king patted his back at first. Then he leaned in and returned the embrace with a heartfelt squeeze.

When they parted, Iomhar was tactfully looking elsewhere while Rory hastily rubbed his face.

‘ Got something in my eye, ’ Rory muttered as Fionn rejoined him.

Wisely, Fionn didn’t tell him that he knew otherwise.

After a beat to collect themselves, the king cleared his throat. ‘ Perhaps soon we can discuss your duties in more detail, Fionn. But first, I would ask to hear the whole of your story. How you came upon Rory and the events that led you here. ’

Fionn launched into a more subdued re-telling this time around, though he made sure to underline the strength of his feelings for Rory at every turn.

‘ He’s a persistent bugger, your son, ’ Rory mumbled at one point, avoiding the king’s penetrating stare.

‘ And Rory has a righteous spirit, ’ Fionn added proudly.

The king hummed thoughtfully. ‘ It sounds as though you perhaps bring out the best in each other. ’

The cockle bell clinked outside the chamber.

The king glanced at Iomhar and frowned. ‘ I did not invite anyone else up here. ’

‘ Please, Your Majesty, I beg an audience, ’ rasped a voice from outside.

Iomhar nonchalantly placed a hand on his spear as the king replied, ‘ Enter. ’

In burst Liath, the abandoned Redfolk, accompanied by two guards who hurriedly bowed to the king. ‘ Our apologies, Your Majesty. He insisted it was urgent. ’

Fionn hadn’t paid much attention to the man that had been his intended mate, but once Liath was in close quarters he was hard to ignore.

Taller yet skinnier than the average Minchman, Liath gave the impression of a firmly muscled eel.

His flowing fins added to the fluidity of his body, though the short spines on his back were raised in what Fionn was coming to think of as an offensive position.

Liath barrelled past Fionn and prostrated himself in front of the Blue King. ‘ I come to plead a case for my people. ’

The king let out the smallest snort of disbelief. ‘ Have you, now? Do explain. And get up. ’

Liath bolted upright. ‘ Your Majesty, I hear talk in the throne room of discontinuing your tribute of food to our people. ’

‘ I have made no such suggestion. ’

‘ But your people speak of it. ’ Liath positively jittered with worry. ‘ I’m here to tell you what our king will not. I may be an exile but I won’t allow my people to suffer for his malice towards you. The truth is that we will not survive without your tribute. ’

Fionn recognised something in Liath’s song—a kindred earnestness to do his duty, to do what was right for his people. ‘ Calm down, brother. We’ll hear you. ’

The king shot Fionn a wry smile. ‘ Will we, indeed? Go on, then. Liath, was it? ’

Liath nodded feverishly. ‘ It is the Rot, Your Majesty. A disease that is sweeping the fae realm. It steals our prey from us, renders our oceans barren. We rely heavily on the supplies you send through the portal from your world. ’

Was that a glint Fionn saw in his father’s eye?

‘ Interesting news, indeed, ’ the king said. ‘ I see we may have many enlightening conversations, you and I. If you are to be trusted. ’

Fionn recalled the voice that had tried to comfort him from beyond the blindfold during the wedding ceremony—Liath imploring him to look beyond the cruelty of a short-sighted king.

‘ I feel he can be, father. It would be a good start to leaving behind old ways of doing things, yes? Such as archaic marriage bargains. ’

King Aonghas studied Fionn anew, his expression as serious as ever. ‘ When did you grow a wise head on you? Leave now, before I put it to some good use in my court room. ’

Fionn gave a half-bow to his father, a nod to Iomar and Liath, then hooked his arm in Rory’s and towed him out into the spiral corridor.

‘ Almost sounded like he was offering you a job back there, ’ Rory said in his ear.

Fionn’s blood was electrified. New possibilities tingled at his fingertips. He nuzzled Rory’s neck. ‘ All of this is thanks to you. ’

‘ Don’t sell yourself short. I’m not the one who spent day after day watching a guy cast creels for a living. ’

‘ I learned a great deal while doing so. I came to admire your diligence, even if I misunderstood your purpose at the time. ’

‘ My purpose? ’ Rory sounded amused.

Fionn was almost embarrassed to admit it. ‘ I thought you were a lifeline sent just for me. An escape rope, of sorts. But I realised I loved you when I saw that your purpose lay far beyond me. ’

Rory stopped their descent to pull Fionn closer. ‘ You know my purpose lies with you now, right? I’m making my own meaning… or some other poetical shit. You’d put it better than me. ’

Fionn kissed Rory’s webbed fingers, one by one. ‘ I am with you, Rory Douglas. Wherever you choose to go. ’