It was only when I’d popped back up from the waves and suggested to Adriana that we just go without him that he finally accepted a quick peck from the mermaid. Though he spent the first fifteen minutes of our journey wiping his lips with the back of his hand, his expression turning more sour each time she grinned at him.
“But isn’t Sweetie already a predator? He’s a shark, isn’t he?” Raena chimed over Sweetie’s fin. She and Arenn had taken his left side while Adriana and I clung to his right.
“Sweetie isnota predator,” Adriana huffed. “He’s a sweetheart. That’s why I gave him his name.”
“So you said,” I mumbled to myself. While the shark had never attacked us, I couldn’t help but doubt her name choice every time his pointed teeth flashed. It seemed to happen far too often in this dense coral forest – especially whenever a larger, more human-sized fish would pass by.
“How long until we reach the cave?” I asked the merfolk, desperate for a distraction.
“We’re almost halfway,” she said, patting Sweetie. “Maybe another half hour and then we’ll be searching for the little prince’s cure.”
“Will it be difficult to find once we’re there?” Raena asked, pushing her hair back from her face. We’d been over the plan already. Adriana had covered every detail after Sweetie had arrived to take us through the forests. Still, judging bythe way Raena kept fidgeting with her curls, she was just as nervous as I was.
Adriana shook her head. “I don’t think so. The stories say the creatures you’ll need are hard to miss – tiny little green things that’ll be drifting around the seaflowers. Just scoop some up, and that’s all you’ll need.”
“Doesn’t sound very dangerous,” Arenn murmured, his fiery gaze pinned on her.
Adriana laughed awkwardly. “Oh, did I say it was dangerous?” Laughing again, she chewed her lower lip.
Raena and I exchanged confused looks. But before we could ask what in the realm she was scheming, Sweetie pulled us to a sudden halt.
“We’re stopping here,” she announced, pushing away from Sweetie’s side to grab the ropes around his snout.
“What? Why?” My feet thudded against the sand.
“Sweetie’s tired.” Adriana fashioned the rope into some kind of lead. “There’s a town nearby that has a stable he can rest in.”
“Will it take long?” I tilted my chin up to the waves high above. If I squinted, I could just make out the moon sinking towards the horizon. We still had time. Not much, though.
The blue-tailed mermaid led the shark through a gap in the corals, gesturing for us to follow. “He’ll be rested enough to finish the journey soon.” She ducked as we passed below a low-hanging coral tree, the colourful branches tickling my shoulders.
“But how long is ‘soon’—”
I gasped. Any words I’d wanted to say abandoned meas the trees parted to reveal the prettiest town I’d ever seen.
Dozens of houses and shops sprawled across the sandy ground ahead of us, each delicately shaped like shells or anemones, and glittering in different soft colours as if they were alive. Seafoam-green grass swayed gently in the water, lining the pearl paths that wove through the village, while thin coral spires topped with glowing clams bathed the streets in golden light. Even the merfolk drifting through the town wore ethereal, flowing garments that would put any human fashion to shame.
“It’s so beautiful,” Raena breathed. Slowly, I nodded.
“I suppose it is,” Adriana called over her shoulder. “Sweetie likes it here too, but that’s probably because this town lets sharks into their stables, and he loves making friends. Don’t you, Sweetie?” She scratched under his chin. “Especially with the girl sharks. He’s a real ladies’ man.”
Arenn snorted. “So what are we supposed to do while he flirts?” He folded his arms as Adriana shot him a scowl. “Just sit here?”
“You can go into the village if you’d like?” She nodded towards the closest street. “There are shops and cafes to look inside. But if I were you, I’d just wait here until I get back from the stables.” Her gaze turned serious as she glanced my way. “The same rules with humans apply here as they do in my mother’s court. If you’re not already a merfolk pet, someone else will claim you.” She then turned her lip up at Arenn. “And don’t think you’re safe, faery boy. I’m sure there are merfolk here who’d love to have their way with you – unless they think I’ve claimed you already.” She grinned teasingly.
I could almost feel the anger rolling off of Arenn, butbefore he could do more than glare, I stepped between them. “It’s fine. We’ll wait.” I spoke for the group.
Adriana nodded, but the moment she’d set off with Sweetie, Arenn was upon me, fuming like a wildfire.
“I am not letting anyone think I belong toher,” he growled.
“It’s alright. I doubt she’d even touch you.” I tried my best to calm him. “We’ll just have to stay close to her and—”
“I don’t want to be anywhere near that seawitch,” he hissed, not even looking at me. “And I don’t want her anywhere near you, either. If you’re to be anyone’s pet, you’ll be mine.” His gaze hardened onto me, the sudden possession in his tone making me queasy.
“Stop that,” I told him firmly. “We’ve been through this.”
But of course Arenn wasn’t listening. “I know what we can do.” He stood taller, eyes determined. “I’ll glamour myself into a merfolk then you can bemypet. We’ll leave your friend with Adriana.”
