“Erm, sure.” Morgana sat down awkwardly on her sponge-covered bed.
“Let’s see.” I drifted over to the mirror, where jewels had also been laid out for her, releasing a shuddering breath.
“What do you think they mean by a pleasure party?” Morgana chewed on her lip as I pinned half her fiery hair up, letting the rest cascade over her shoulders.
I winked at her and draped a delicate golden chain across her tresses. “Oh, honey, I think it’s self-explanatory.”
Morgana flushed.
I handed her an elegant bangle for her upper arm and painted flourishes of glitter across her eyes. “Do you think you and Finn will—”
“No,” she said quickly.
“What happened between you guys?” I rifled through the rest of her jewels, choosing pieces for myself.
“He— It’s a long story.” She waved a hand, her mouth falling into a thin line, and I got the message.
I shoved a golden crown onto my head and spun around, wanting to offer a distraction from whatever thoughts were darkening her. “Do I look like Helen of Troy, beautiful enough to start a war?”
“You’ve seenTroy?” Morgana raised her eyebrows incredulously.
“Girl, if it’s got Brad Pitt in a skirt, I’m there for it.”
Morgana giggled, standing to survey herself beside me in the mirror. “Did you know this whole war beneath the waves started with a woman? My ancestor, Siana Selich. Manannán, the God of the Drowned, and MerPrince KyanoA?tlanticus went to war over her.” She sighed, toying with one of her cherry strands.
“Nowthatis a history lesson I’d pay attention to.” I hooked two stunning gold earrings into my own ears. “How about those twins, though? I wouldn’t mind if they wanted to go to war for me... or on me.”
Morgana stifled a chuckle, and my mouth twitched upward. I’d caught the worried glances she’d been casting my way throughout the journey, and I wanted to show her I was okay, even though that was far from the truth. But this was how my life had always been—wearing a smile so no one would see the sadness that lived inside me all those years with Parker.
When I’d finished adorning myself, I glided over to the mirror. Taking a shaky breath and letting it release, I lifted my eyes to survey my reflection. The twinkling crown nestled in my hair, which I had artfully pinned half up and half down, brought out the deep hazel of my eyes. The bracelets and earrings glittered in perfect contrast with the scales on my forearms and the bustier that now encompassed my breasts. My beastly form looked almost... beautiful.
No. I pursed my lips, pushing down the thought.
There was a soft knock at the door.
“Come in,” Morgana called, moving to sit on the sponge bed, and I wafted over to join her.
The gorgeous twins, Alexandros and Damon, glided into the room. I elbowed Morgana, whose cheeks turned ruddy.
Alexandros’s purple tail beat against the water, and he was wearing a golden necklace and rings. Damon had a coronet in his ebony hair, his dark scales glinting in the aquamarine light.
“Can we escort you downstairs?” Alexandros held out his arm to me, and my stomach fluttered as the muscles in his chest rippled with the movement. He had an Italian accent—or maybe it was Greek. Whateverit was, it was hot as hell. I could hear it in my mind even though only bubbles were coming out of his mouth.
I flashed him a smile before resting my arm on his. Beside him, Damon offered an elbow to Morgana, who hesitated.
“Come on.” I grinned at her. “Let’s see what this pleasure party is all about.”
She sighed and allowed Damon to take her hand.
Our chambers opened onto an expansive marble corridor beside a balcony overlooking a central courtyard, where stone lounges lay tastefully strewn among coral and seaweed gardens. The hallway led to a staircase that descended to the throne room, where the others awaited us.
A flicker of delight ignited within me when we arrived and I saw them all equally decked out in gold finery. Even Edward had been given a gleaming necklace, which hung beneath his porter’s collar, and like me, he was wearing a crown. Finn had gone for the understated look, removing his silver breastplate, swapping his silver cuffs for bronzed ones, and adorning his fingers with thick golden rings.
Like me, the rest of the Thálassian royals had draped themselves in as many bright jewels as possible. Perhaps I would fit in here after all. The passing thought tightened something in my chest.
Queen Peisinoe glided forward. “Walk with me, daughter of Agápe. This transition must be hard for you, but you are with family now.” She gestured toward the marble pillars that marked the room’s entrance.
Alexandros continued to hold my arm as we drifted beside the queen.Family, she’d said. The word struck a chord in me, reverberating with both hope and loathing.
