Page 26 of Whispers of the Starlit Sea (Avalore Chronicles #1)

Chapter fifteen

T hat night, Sorcha trailed her hand in the cool water.

The sea was impossibly calm, the waves whispering against the little boat as the stars reflected in the midnight waters.

It was strange to be on the sea but not in it.

She was used to seeing the water from below, or from just above the surface, her head peeking up from the depths.

But now, she sat floating on it, with Arick looking at her like she was the moon.

Her throat caught, and heat rushed to her face. She had done nothing to deserve such a look, but oh, how her heart sang to see it. She gave him a tremulous smile, wishing not for the first time that she could understand him.

But no — she could understand him. She understood more than she wanted. Because that look offered something she could never have.

Tonight, they would free the imprisoned merfolk.

And at dawn, she would turn to sea-foam.

That was supposing her aunt’s tales were true, of course. Maeve had said there was a way to break the bond, but it was an impossible task. Arick was kind, and being around humans wasn’t as awful as she had expected, but from all she had seen, a human wasn’t likely to sacrifice themselves for a mer.

Arick stowed his oars and shifted forward on his bench. She leaned toward him, even though she knew she shouldn’t let her heart grow closer.

“Sorcha,” he said, his voice low and husky in the night air. She couldn’t resist its allure.

Taking her hand in his, he started to say something, then stopped. He looked around in frustration, unsure of himself. His calloused thumb drew swirls over her palm.

When he turned back, she gave a soft gasp. The surety of purpose in his gaze stole her breath, and she couldn’t move as his hand slipped along her jaw and drew her closer.

His breath whispered against her cheek, sending thrills through her.

“Sorcha,” he said again, but her mouth refused to shape his name in return.

Every part of her longed to close the distance between them, but she couldn’t move lest she break the spell that ensnared them.

Her lips fell open as she whispered his name.

He leaned closer, and every piece of her thrilled like the bioluminescents that lit up the ocean floor.

The boat rocked as it bumped against something, sending them apart. Sorcha grasped the edge of her narrow seat to keep from falling over. Her heart thundered in her chest as she panted.

“What are you doing here?” A snarky voice demanded.

With Arick’s hand steadying her arm, she looked over the side of the boat to see Rona, her arms crossed as she bobbed with the waves. She smiled at her sister, pleased for the chance to speak to a family member again.

“Why are you in a boat?” Rona asked, not waiting for Sorcha to respond.

Sorcha glanced at Arick, grateful the darkness hid the blush that stained her skin. “I was looking for Ciara,” she confessed.

“She’s not here.” Rona fiddled with her bracer, the yellow stone shining eerily in the moonlight. “She’s been as absent as you of late.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why do you care? Trying to get your human to trap her too?”

“What? Arick didn’t trap me.” She stole a look at him, only to be met with his frown. He might not understand their speech, but Rona’s belligerence was hard to miss.

Rona snorted. “Then why haven’t you come back? You’re trapped.”

“I rescued him!”

“Because you were under his spell. All humans are the same, Sorcha.” She scoffed. “You were always such a naive little guppy.”

“What are you doing here, then?” Sorcha retorted.

“Looking out for you,” Rona said. “And it’s a good thing I was here.” She glanced at Arick with a knowing look. “You know what kissing him will do, don’t you?”

“I wasn’t —” Sorcha stopped, her ears on fire.

“You were. But don’t be so stupid again — kissing a human will ensure you never return to the sea.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just do. So watch yourself, little guppy.” Rona smirked again, and pushed off against the boat as she flipped beneath the waves.

Arick grabbed the oars to steady the rocking. Sorcha watched him, but the moment of anticipation between them was lost. Was Rona right that kissing a human would mean…?

No. Rona was mistaken. But…why would her sister lie? And why did her heart leap at the thought of remaining with Arick?

She couldn’t unravel the questions, so she sat back, watching the moon reflect on the still water as Arick rowed them toward the shore. With every stroke, his shirt stretched over his muscular shoulders. She knew from experience how strong he was physically.

His actions tonight spoke to his moral strength as well. How many people would act against their own to free prisoners? Especially ones of a different species?

And he’d been quick to grasp the unique problem of the voices — without her, the merfolk would be terrified of hearing him speak and wouldn’t follow him. Indeed, without being able to understand him, they wouldn’t know it was safe to follow him.

Yes, he was willing to help her people. But he wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice himself like Aunt Maeve described. Maybe Rona was right. Kissing him wouldn’t solve her problems.

Oh, but she wished for such a chance again.

A kiss wouldn’t stop her from turning to sea-foam. But maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t be alone when she did so.

A rick rowed the little boat toward the shore, weaving around the rocks that had ripped apart the lifeboat he’d seen on his first night back in Iskarraig. How things had changed since that night.

The bow scraped against the rocky coast, and he sprang out to haul the boat farther out of the waves.

His boots splashed in the shallow water, but the shore was deserted.

When the hull was secured above the waterline, he offered his hand to Sorcha to help her out.

She stepped over the side with grace. Even though he knew her feet still hurt inexplicably when she walked, she hid it well.

But her ability to hide her feelings had him wondering what she was thinking now. He curled his fingers around hers, not letting go of her hand even though she was now safely on land. Had he been too forward trying to kiss her? She had seemed willing until the other mermaid had interrupted.

He glanced down at her, his eyes drawn to her lips. What would it be like to kiss her? Now that he’d come so close once, he couldn’t stop wondering.

Time had gotten away from them, though, and they had to hurry if they wanted to hide away from the guards. The boat would stay there until later, and he was gambling on no one caring that it was there. If the rest of their plan went well, they’d need it.

The guard at the cliff door gave him a knowing smirk as he let them pass. Arick resisted the urge to set the record straight. If the guards started questioning his reasons for being on that stretch of shore at night, it would ruin everything.

Besides, the guard was only partly wrong. He had been enjoying being alone with Sorcha. Something about her belonged on the water. Even though she’d said little, she’d come to life out there, shining as if reflecting the starlit sea.

He understood why. The sea was freeing, uplifting; it embraced one’s soul even as it challenged one to survive. It was unpredictable and wild, yet home lay upon the waves.

His hand tightened around hers. When the coronation was over and he returned to his training, would she come with him?

Would she join him in sailing across the world?

Or would she want to stay here, near her family?

The idea did funny things to his insides, a reminder of the pain that nestled there any time they were apart.

Wherever they went, they would have to go together. He found he didn’t mind the idea — but would she?

He opened the heavy door to the stairs and let her start the climb ahead of him.

The first time they’d ascended these stairs together had been a struggle, and now he knew that it truly had been her first time ever trying steps.

She’d come so far in only a couple of weeks.

He laughed at himself. How could he not have known she was a mermaid from the start?

The way she couldn’t walk, her lack of clothing, how she tried to swim away…

At the top, he checked that the long hall was empty and guided her out onto the terrace.

The wind that had caressed them on the boat was stronger here, carrying a hint of the glaciers from the Maighdeann Sea.

Sorcha shivered, and he wrapped his arm around her to share his warmth.

He watched for any sign of her limping, ready to pick her up should she be in pain.

If he were honest, he wouldn’t mind the excuse to hold her in his arms once more.

She stumbled, and as he moved to support her, he stepped on the uneven stones. After ensuring she was steady on her feet, he knelt down to inspect the floor of the open terrace.

Although worn from centuries of use, the stones all around were as locked together as the day they had been laid. Except for right here.

Across the width of the terrace, the stones had shifted, one side lifting slightly above the height of the other.

“The storms,” he breathed, running his hand over the ridge.

“Storms?” Sorcha asked with a frown.

“They’ve damaged…” he paused, and shifted back so she could see his hands in the moonlight as he did his best to sign the words as he spoke. “The storms damaged the castle wall, moved the rocks perhaps. We’ll have to be careful.”

He got to his feet and offered his arm to her again. When she tucked her hand in his elbow, they continued along the terrace to the open level below the lighthouse.

They would wait here until it was time to head below and free the merfolk.

They leaned against the balustrade and watched the distant waves.

Arick thought of asking her about life under the ocean, but he didn’t want to disrupt the peaceful moment with his halting use of speech and sign.

She shivered again, and he drew her closer, using his body to shield her from the wind.

She fit perfectly against him, her head the exact height for him to rest his chin on.

Her red curls tickled his cheek, and he couldn’t resist nuzzling his nose into her hair.

She stiffened, and he waited for her to pull away.

When she didn’t, he relaxed his arms, just enjoying holding her against him. Everything in him told him to ask her what she wanted, but he didn’t know how to make her understand.

Instead, he would show her how he felt, and she could choose.

Stay or go.

Him or her family.

A life on the ocean or one below.

It would be her choice.

The note from Elsbeth’s book taunted him, but he refused to believe it.

If the curse be not broke by the rising of the next moon at her height, then the mer shall return to the sea as foam.

No. That wouldn’t happen. Besides, the moon wasn’t yet full, was it?

The thud of the door leading onto the terrace broke through his thoughts. Quiet footsteps hurried toward them until Ailsa stepped onto the mosaic floor. Sorcha pulled away, and he didn’t resist, crossing to speak to Ailsa. He had been expecting the other sibling.

She gave him a knowing look. “Sorry to interrupt, cousin.”

“Nothing to interrupt,” he said, not quite meeting her eyes. “What’s wrong? Where’s Thomas?”

“Thomas is trying to convince Father to release the merfolk.”

Arick sighed. “We tried that. The council threw us out.”

“I know. But he read about someone in the Edeland court holding the floor and talking for hours and hours just to prove a point, so he’s doing that. If nothing more, it’s a distraction, so none of the council will be down in the dungeons.”

“It's night; no one should be down there anyway.” Although he wouldn’t put it past MacIsaac to be lurking around when he shouldn’t be.

“I know, but he’s trying to help.” Her words carried a note of pride for her older brother.

“Who is going to get the guard to move, then?”

“I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?” Arick had a hard time remembering Ailsa wasn’t a small child anymore. She was still small and delicate, but she was determined and resourceful.

“Unless we want to wait until tomorrow, there’s no one else.” She looked at him with a hint of challenge in the tilt of her chin.

He glanced at the moon, knowing he was running out of time. “No, it has to be tonight.”

“Then I’ll go. I’ll claim I was curious about them and hurt my ankle or something. Watch for my signal. I’ll toss my handkerchief out the lowest window.”

“We’ll follow shortly and hide in the tower, so we’ll be close if you need us.”

She laid her hand on his arm. “Take care, Arick. I know you care about her, but if she’s truly mer, do you know what that means?”

“Do you?”

“No. And that’s what worries me.”

“I’ll be fine. Go, before it gets any later.”