“The Drowned won’t die until they’ve served their sentence to the gods. Let Pisceon and me train your people to contain them,” Glacies offered, and Pisceon nodded, his jaw so tight it seemed he could no longer speak.
The king rubbed his chin in thought while Queen Peisinoe ran her fingers through his violet hair. “Training isn’t a bad idea, my love,” she said. “Let them teach our people the art of warfare, and I will train the Siren girl in mastering her dream weaving.” She smiled at me.
I was halfway through popping a peeled prawn into my mouth, but I paused to return the gesture.
Proteus sighed and took a deep gulp of wine. “Yes, you’re welcome to hold training sessions for anyone who wants to join.”
“Thank you,” Pisceon grunted, but his tone remained curt.
“I’d like to train.” Layla’s golden bangles gleamed as she looked to Porphura, who nodded in agreement.
“I-I’ll come to training, too,” Edward piped up from his corner. “I’ve always quite fancied learning how to use a blade.”
“I’m not trainingyou.” Pisceon’s eyes flashed as he surveyed Edward. “I’ll teach you how to use it, and you’ll stab me in the back.”
“Must you be so completely blind?” Edward folded his arms, his seat swinging with the sharp movement.
“Enough.” Peisinoe raised a hand. “I have seen the boy’s innermost desires, and trust me, Pisceon, he will not stab you with a blade.”
“The Drowned boy can train with us.” Glacies blew out a breath, reaching for the nearest vat of wine. “So can the Siren girl.”
She hadn’t used our names, but it was a start.
Pisceon snarled, gliding up from his swaying chair, his cobalt tail flicking sharply as he disappeared into the gardens. Damon excused himself and followed. I toyed with the seaweed salad on my plate as I watched him go.
“Don’t worry, my brother will relieve him,” Alexandros whispered into my neck, trailing one hand up my thigh to rest on the space where the heat was building.
I put down my fork and drained my glass of wine. “I think I’m ready to retire.” I stifled a mock yawn, which turned into a little gasp as Alexandros intensified his gentle stroking between my legs.
“Each Mer kingdom can draw unique powers from the ocean within which it stands,” Alexandros said, his hands on my hips, as he hovered before me on his fuchsia tail in my expansive stone-hewn chambers. “Those powers will also be channeled into lovemaking.”
I angled my chin up at him. “If you breed with another kingdom, do you get both kingdoms’ powers?”
Alexandros let out a low chuckle. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
I flushed.
The merman shook his head. “Sadly, no, that is rare. One kingdom’s power normally manifests as the strongest. When my hair turned purple, I knew I would have the powers of Thálassa.”
“Whyisyour hair purple?” I asked, reaching up and twirling a strand between my fingers.
“Long ago, our ancestors used the hypobranchial glands of murex sea snails to create a purple dye for their hair. Over time, the color became part of our genetics. Now, where were we?” Alexandros slipped his hands around my lower back, drawing me close against him. “While my cousins in the Neptunus Kingdom can manipulate the waters to offer pleasure...”
A flutter danced in my throat. No wonder Morgana was hooked on that merman.
“Our skills are different,” he said. “We can manipulate the saltwater of the Mediterranean for healing and store magic within ancient artifacts, but above all, we are the keepers of pleasure. Pleasure is our magic.” Keeping one hand on my back, he ran his fingers lightly up and down my arm, and I felt it—a tingling rush, unlike anything I’d ever known. “I haven’t used this on you yet because it would have overwhelmed you, but I think you are ready now.”
“How does it work?” I asked as he continued to trace his fingers down my arm, my skin quivering beneath his touch.
“Lie on the bed,” he ordered, releasing me and gliding backward as he gestured to the ornate bed in the corner of my room.
I crossed the space, swallowing against the heat already pooling between my thighs from the lingering sensation of his touch.
He drifted toward me. “Close your eyes.”
I let them flutter shut as Alexandros floated on his magnificent amethyst tail beside the bed.
“Take my hand,” he said, guiding my palm to his wrist and curling my fingers around it. His skin vibrated beneath mine, radiating with the same pleasure-laced power he’d shown me before. “Place it where it feels good.”
