Page 11 of The Siren & the Sea

Anatolius gave her hand a squeeze and let it go. "Thank you for your company, Maura. I'll see you tonight."

She nodded, still surprised, and he winked at her before he turned to go.

Chapter 11

The following days passedin a blur for Maura; so many formal functions, so muchchatting. The times that she got to spend alone with Anatolius were what made it all bearable. She was self-aware enough to know she was beginning to have feelings for him, but he had told her that night in the garden that he'd always dreamt of finding his Chosen. She couldn't take that chance away from him. She also couldn't live at the bottom of the sea.

Every day was filled with official activities and stolen moments with Anatolius, and every night Maura fell asleep alone and awoke to an empty room. She asked Ana one day where exactly he was sleeping, and he gestured to the pool. He had been shifting to sleep sitting up in the tub. Maura thought it was both very sweet and respectful, and highly ridiculous. She had told him he could sleep on the other side of the bed, but he had insisted on not invading her space just for the sake of appearances.

Maura thought back on her time in Vathós as Galana helped her into a beautiful white silk wrap. The fabric caught the light and looked for all the world like a pearl. Anatolius arrived shortly after, and they walked together to the banquet hall. Maura was surprised they hadn't had a formal dinner before tonight, but most evenings had been rather quiet.

They entered the hall, and the sight before them was overwhelming.. Rather than the usual white light, orbs in all the shades of a sunset dotted the hall, casting it in balmy shades of orange, pink, and purple. One long table ran the length of the hall, and beautiful arrangements of coral and shells and deep green kelp adorned the center. Siren nobles gathered in small groups around the hall, talking and laughing and sipping from delicate shells.

Anatolius led Maura to the far end of the table and pulled out a seat for her before taking his place to her left. Once they were seated, the rest of the nobles took their cue and made their way to their seats as well.

The kings were the last to arrive, walking arm-in-arm across the hall to the head of the table. Maura was surprised to see that the nobles didn't stand; they simply inclined their heads in acknowledgment as the kings passed. Maura had spent a bit of time with the kings during her time here, and similar to her first meeting with them, they both seemed kind and genuine and happy for their son. Knowing how their deception would hurt them weighed more on her with every day that passed.

When the kings reached their seats next to Maura, Demitrios gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. Xander took his place at his husband's right hand, and Cornelia sat opposite Anatolius. Demetrios cleared his throat, and the hall fell completely quiet save for the distant singing of the sirens in the city below.

"Welcome, friends. We are here, as you well know, to celebrate the union of two of the old gods' Chosen. We rejoice that theyhave found their partner, their friend, their soul-deep love. May their union bring joy and understanding in abundance." With that, the king raised his glass in a toast, and all the sirens present followed suit. Maura took a delicate sip from her shell as well, the bubbly tang of some sort of wine dancing across her tongue.

"Maura, Anatolius, would you like to kiss your Chosen to bring good fortune to your union?" The king's eyes crinkled as he smiled at them. This was all real to them, and Maura was suddenly struck with a deep pang of sadness that it wasn't real for her.

Maura felt the now familiar warmth of Anatolius' hand on her arm and she looked up into his face to find a flurry of emotion. His brows pinched with a hint of the worry he must be feeling, but his cheeks were flushed a lovely dark blue. His eyes flicked down to her mouth for a split second. She gave him an almost imperceptible nod, and he bent toward her.

Their lips met, a gentle touch, and Maura's whole world shifted on its axis. Kissing Ana…felt like home.

After a long moment, Maura sat back, and the gathered sirens erupted in cheers and applause. Ana was the only thing Maura could look at, though. She saw all of the longing and fear she felt mirrored in Ana's face.

Xander clearing his throat and broke the spell enough that Maura was able to face forward again and focus on what was happening around her. She glanced up to see the crown princess, Cornelia, eyeing her and Anatolius from across the table. Ana said his sister had agreed to help with her escape next week, and Maura was grateful. The look she was giving them now, though—Maura had a feeling Cornelia saw the true secret Maura was keeping.

The rest of the banquet passed in a blur. All Maura could think about was that kiss, and how much more she wanted. She wanted Anatolius; she wanted to touch him and be close to himand spend time with him. She didn't want this to be a ruse anymore. But it was. She was not his Chosen.

Maura's unsettled thoughts still plagued her as Ana walked her back to their room late that night. When she stepped inside and he turned to go, she reached out to catch his wrist.

"Will you stay?" He must have read all of the emotion behind her words, because his face softened and he gave her a small smile.

"You only ever need ask," he said softly.

Maura pulled him inside her room, and they stared at each other for a moment before Maura decided to take a risk. She stepped closer to him, went up on her toes, and kissed him. Not a soft peck this time, but a kiss as desperate as she was.

Ana didn't hesitate—his arms immediately wrapped around her waist, and he kissed her back like he'd just been waiting for permission. The thin silk of Maura's dress was the only thing between them as their bodies pressed together.

Ana deepened their kiss, stroking her tongue with his, gently at first, but growing more insistent. He moaned when she matched the strokes of his tongue, and her hands explored the muscled planes of his back.

Maura pressed her hips against Ana's thighs and pulled back in surprise at the hardness against her stomach. She glanced down between them to see not one, but two hard cocks protruding from the slit between Anatolius' legs. They glistened with some sort of natural lubricant, and delicate ridges that almost looked like tiny fins spanned the length of both.

"I'm sorry, it's very hard to maintain my control around you, Maura," Ana said quietly.

"Don't be sorry. Can I…" She trailed off. Summoning every ounce of boldness she possessed, she made herself continue. "I'd like to touch you, Ana, is that alright?"

"Yes," Ana's voice came out as a gasped plea, as if he'd been waiting to answer her question for a long time. Maura reached out her hand to brush her fingers against Ana's top cock and he shuddered. She ran the pad of her finger down its slick length, enjoying the feel of the ridges that spanned its length. She wanted to feel it inside her.

Growing more confident, she wrapped her hand around his length and stroked once. Ana moaned in pleasure and caught her wrist gently in his hand.

"Do you want me to touch you too, Maura?" He asked, his eyes alight with desire.

"I do, yes," she answered. Gods help her, she wanted it more than anything.

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