She cackled as she turned away, her long fin propelling her towards a gap in the coral trees.
“Come now, Cousin and my new human friend! We’ll take my ride to the palace,” she called over her shoulder before dipping behind the trees.
When I went to follow her, I felt myself being held back by a strong arm.
“Just do what she says and pretend I’ve enchanted you,” Lukas whispered, but his tone suggested he didn’t find the idea anywhere near as exciting as his cousin did. “The second I’m able to, I’ll get us out of here and back on land.”
I nodded slowly. After taking one last look at the shimmering ocean cavern, I followed the cackling mermaid through the coral trees.
CHAPTER 14
Two dolphins stood guard outside the underwater cave. Each one wore a dainty golden bridle that sparkled in the sunrays dancing through the waves. Despite the volatile mermaid leading us past them, I couldn’t help but smile. It seemed Erissa hadn’t always been so mad, after all.
I tossed Lukas a quick glance. But he didn’t seem anywhere near as impressed, passing each dolphin a scowl smouldering enough to burn through their armour as we exited the cave.
“Why is this cave guarded?” I asked, turning my focus back to the mermaid.
“They’re supposed to keep the non-royals out,” sheexplained, swimming on ahead. “It’s a private cave, just for our family… I suppose it’s only fitting that our reunion happened inside.” She grinned at Lukas, but he kept his face emotionless.
The two of us half-walked half-paddled behind the mermaid while she led us through a lush seaweed forest. Tilting my head back, I could just about still see the glowing outline of the morning sun, beaming down at us above the waves. It was all so beautiful, I couldn’t help but sigh. Though any wonder was soon sucked out of me when Lukas yanked me back with an iron grip.
“What in the underrealm is that thing?” he hissed through his teeth.
My head snapped down. A few feet away, covered in belts and netted bundles, was the strangest and yet most fierce-looking creature I’d ever seen. At first, it looked to be some kind of horse-sized fish, with leathery grey skin and a sharp, pointed fin. But it had teeth. Lots of them! And the longer we stood there, with our mouths wide open, the more its own jaw unhinged in a strange, growling sneer.
“Oh, don’t look so scared,” Adriana tittered. “This is Sweetie!”
Lukas swallowed down a gasp. “Sweetie?”
“Yes, that’s his name,” she replied, her tone edged in offence. “I called him that because while he might look a little rough around the edges, he’s a real sweetheart inside.” Swimming to his side, she smushed her face into his snout. “Aren’t you, boy?” she mused, the beast nuzzling her back. “My little sweetheart.” Her words trailed off into loving mumbles as I bit down a smile.
“What kind of fish is he?” I stepped forward. Lukasattempted to yank me back, but I was out already of his reach and running my fingers along Sweetie’s leathery skin.
“A shortfin shark.” Adriana grinned proudly. “And I trained him all by myself, much to my mother’s displeasure.” She muttered that last part under her breath, but I still heard her over the shark’s domed back.
So this was a shark… I’d never seen one before, only heard of them in books. Although the stories I’d read had written them all as ferocious predators, and certainly not merfolk pets – pets who appeared to grin while their owner’s stroked their snouts.
“How can you touch it?” Lukas remained rooted to the sand.
Eyebrows raised, I tilted my head.
“Don’t mind his fear,” Adriana laughed to me. “It’s natural for merfolk to be terrified of sharks. I seem to be one of the lucky few who didn’t inherit that trait.”
My eyes narrowed. “But if what you’re saying is true, and Lukas is merfolk then why doesn’t he have a tail?”
“Exactly—”
“Because he’s only half-merfolk,” she explained, cutting him off. “Aunt Erissa was a merfolk when she conceived him and Ikelos is human. So it seems he inherited water-breathing and obviously the fear of sharks,” she chuckled. “But no tail.”
“For the last time, I am not merfolk,” Lukas growled. “I’ll admit I can’t explain how I can breathe here. But even if I can live and breathe underwater, that doesn’t mean I’m anything like your kind.”
Adriana’s sharp eyes glinted. “Then touch my shark,human.”
Lukas’s mouth slammed shut, his fists clenching. Seconds passed like hours while visible fear dug into his features. Eventually, he took a hesitant step closer to the beast only to take three steps back when Sweetie snarled.
“That’s what I thought,” Adriana cackled. “But you’re still going to have to grab his fin if you want to get to the palace today, it’s alongswim otherwise.” She emphasised those last words, smirking.
With a sigh, I rushed to Lukas’s side. “It’s alright,” I soothed, taking his hand. “Just close your eyes, I’ll help you.”
