Jeremiah.
His short hair was the shade of a golden sunset and his skin was as dark as a stunning, black diamond. When he smiled at the audience on each front twirl, his solid golden eyes with white sparkles danced in mirth and his lithe muscles bunched with power.
I tilted my head and evaluated him.
The merfolk certainly knew how to entertain and clearly enjoyed it, as if he were feeding off the audience’s delight. It was curious, though, that as the owner of the establishment he continued to perform. It either meant that he simply loved what he did…or he was an egotistical bastard that needed the praise.
Or, mayhap, he was simply bored with life.
I leaned back and looked over at the Merfolk Queen to the right where she hid behind the jellyfish enclosure next to me. No one could hear us over the uproar, so I asked loudly, “What is your plan?”
Queen Alora didn’t speak. She pointed behind her in the darkness and started slipping back in that direction. The rest of us followed until we were in a yellow hallway that flickered with light seeping through the small holes of the coral. The Merfolk Queen turned around to face us, ordering decisively, “Let us find his office. We will wait and ambush him.”
As this was her kingdom, we would obey.
“This is a large space.” King Elon glanced back and forth, one way continuing on and the other returning back to the playhouse. “There were many of these hallways, too. How long do the aerialists perform for?”
The Merfolk Queen’s forehead wrinkled. “Mayhap, another fifteen minutes.”
King Traevon shook his head. “I like your plan, but that is not enough time for us to search.”
“We split up,” Queen Mikko suggested. “Once we have found and detained him, we bring him back here. This will be our meet spot.”
My father’s jaw clenched. “I do not want my heir by herself.”
“King Traevon, I can handle myself perfectly fine,” I reasoned. “There is not time for us to argue about this.”
Queen Alora smirked. “You are correct, Princess Trixie. We won’t be arguing. Youwillbe coming with me, because I am in agreement with your king. I do not want you running amok.”
I glanced at my king in a silent plea.
King Traevon ignored me. “Very well, Queen Alora. It doesn’t make sense for two individuals with royal firepower to be together. She may be with you, but do watch over her.”
“Of course.” Queen Alora pulled her hood down farther over her forehead. “We will all meet back here in a half an hour, hopefully with Jeremiah.” Her merfolk eyes snagged on mine. “Follow me.”
I sighed and trailed behind her like the dutiful heir I was, while the rest split up in a flash. But I muttered under my breath, “This is silly. Icantake care of myself.”
“It is for your own safety, Princess Trixie.” She shook her head at me. “We cannot have you perish in my kingdom.”
I snorted and stayed silent after that.
Every room we came upon, we quickly looked inside and hurried to the next one before anyone noticed us spying on them.
And there weremanyrooms.
Queen Alora snuck a peek into a chamber on the right, while I did the same on the left. Then I grunted as she grabbed my elbow and yanked me quickly into the room she’d accessed, hurrying us inside. The Merfolk Queen shut the door again and smiled, stating, “What say you, Princess Trixie? Is this the right room?”
My jaw dropped as I turned in a slow circle, staring at the parchment sketches plastered to the yellow coral walls. Then I started laughing and waggling a finger at all the sketches ofthe star, muttering, “He is an egotistical bastard. I knew it!”
