My lower lip trembled. “I just don’t understand… Why did I jump?”
“It’s their singing.” He kicked harder as we approached the shoreline. “It’s like a spell. It catches you, and it’s addictive enough that you’ll drown just to hear more of it.”
I glanced over my shoulder, catching sight of the scowl hidden beneath his damp hair. “But why didn’t you get caught too?” My voice trailed off as I remembered his mother, Queen Erissa, or at least how she looked with her own blue fishtail.“Of course… your mother was—”
“We’re not going to talk about her right now.”
I flinched, but then my bare feet scraped against a layer of sand and a relieved sob leapt from my throat. A long beach stretched out in front of us, its sand ivory under the moonlight. Palm trees stood just beyond the shoreline and amongst them, not far from where we’d washed up, was a tall, lantern-lit archway marking the path back to the palace. Back to safety.
Together, we both flopped down upon the shore.
“Your balcony door stays closed from now on,” Lukas said between heavy breaths.
“Agreed,” I sighed, wiping the wet hair from my face. Stars painted the night sky above as we both laid with our backs in the sand.
After a few more waves tickled my toes, Lukas squeezed my hand. “How do you feel?” he asked quietly.
“I’m fine,” I rasped. Before I could ask him the same question, he rolled over to his side and pushed up from the ground to face me.
“The merfolk didn’t hurt you?” Concern laced his voice.
“I promise you, I’m fine.” I smiled, propping myself up onto my elbows.
His hand reached for my cheek. Brushing my jaw with his fingertips, his tone sent warm tingles down my spine. “Forges Naria. When I saw you jump I—
The tingles turned to ice. Something dark and panting flitted across the beach. I barely had time to scream before a familiar voice roared over the waves.
“You better take your filthy hands off my betrothed orI’ll turn this entire beach to thorns, boy king.”
Arenn. I leapt back. Somehow, the faery prince stood just metres away, dressed in a black embroidered tunic with matching breeches and boots. A familiar silver circlet rested upon his styled dark waves, and with the murderous glint in his eyes, it was as if he’d just stepped out of one of our dreams. Or one of my nightmares.
“What is he doing here?” Lukas growled, pushing up to his feet.
“Quiet, boy. I’m not here for you,” he spat, chest heaving. I scrambled up from the sand as he charged towards us.
Before the faery prince could reach me, Lukas pushed in between us, holding me behind him. “Don’t you dare take another step,” he snarled.
“Or what?” Arenn laughed.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. I glanced up to see the stars fading as they were snuffed out by thick black clouds. Something powerful crackled beneath Lukas’s skin where his hand held mine. Powerful enough to make me shudder.
My heart sank. This was just like when Lukas somehow summoned a lightning storm in the goblin camp. He’d saved me from a dozen hungry goblins using some kind of magic and then refused to speak of it again.
As if I could ever forget.
“Interesting,” Arenn huffed out a laugh, staring up at the sky. “You know I always thought I felt something different about you. I suppose your mother was merfolk, after all. But she gave you more than that, didn’t she? You’re gifted.”
“What?” I breathed, glancing between them. “What do you mean gifted?”
“Do not speak of this.” Lukas glared at Arenn.
“You obviously can’t control it yet. Or I’d be dead by now.” The faery’s eyes sparkled. “Go on. Strike me down.”
I shivered, both from my wet clothes and the new awful chill in the air.
“Do it,” Arenn laughed.
Lukas let out a furious growl. But before he could reach for the sword sheathed at his hip, I stepped out ahead of him.
