Page 40 of Secrets Among the Tides
If she could have killed me with her eyes, she would have. “You took your payment.”
I liked the way her voice quivered at those words. It almost made me want to take her mouth again, but I vowed that the next time we kissed—and I’d makesurethere was a next time—she’d tremble and beg me for it.
“You think that’s enough to satisfy the Black Blade?”
She scoffed. “First, don’t refer to yourself in third mer. It’s weird. And second, as I told you before, I have coin.” Flipping the flap to her messenger bag, she open it to reveal the contents inside. I caught sight of a flash of gold and rubies, but what held my attention was the disk.
Without asking for permission, I reached inside and pulled it out despite her cry of protest. When she made a lunge for it, I held it out of her reach.
“Give it back!”
She obviously cared for this thing a great deal. It was more valuable to her than any gold pieces she had in that bag. I looked it over. It was one of those old time conch projectors. Why would this be more valuable than anything else?
“Are you done gawking?” she snapped.
I smirked, holding the disk tightly in my fingers. “Where could you possibly be going with this?”
“I’m going to have it fixed, if youmustknow.” She huffed angrily as she lunged, snatching the disk from my fingers and shoving it back into her bag.
“I’ll fix it for you,” I offered with a mischievous smile.
She snorted. “No, thank you.”
My smile only widened. This little fish obviously didn’t know that I never backed down from a challenge. She was no exception. “Do you even know where to go to get it fixed?” I asked. “Or were you planning on swimming around the streets of Eramaea without a clue?” Her face flushed and I knew I’d been right.
“I’m sure I’ll manage well enough alone.” She tried to swim past me but found herself blocked again.
“You’ll be fresh bait for thieves and criminals out there, little fish.”
She looked down at her outfit, then back up to me. “I blend in.”
I snorted. “You think they won’t notice that the thread on those clothes is made from expensive sea silk, or the your purse clatters when you swim? You think they won’t notice the color of your lashes and your tail?” My irritation rose higher the quicker my words were spoken. I reached forward and yanked the hat from her head and watched her purple hair slowly float down past her shoulders. “Did you really think I wouldn’t know who you were,Princess?”
I noticed everything. I’d known from the moment she’d appeared in that alleyway, the moment I’d set eyes on her.
She appeared too startled to move or even speak. Her eyes were widened with shock that she didn’t bother to try and hide behind glares or sharp words. I’d expected more than her silence…
Then, “You really are as incredible as the stories say.”
I hadn’t expectedthat.I smiled and tossed the hat back to her. She caught it in her fingers. “I’ll take it to get fixed for you,” I offered again. “I know a mer. He owes me a favor.”
The look of awe vanished immediately and was replaced with the narrowing of eyes and distrust. “Why would you help me?” she demanded.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Who wouldn’t want to have the Princess of Thalassar in their debt?”
She scoffed. “Despicable tadpole,” she hissed under her breath.
I held out my hand, smiling. “So?”
She thought for a long moment, so long and with an unreadable expression that I thought there was a possibility she would be stubborn and turn me away. But what had happened moments ago in this alleyway had been proof enough that she was not ready for the streets of Eramaea. Her royal sensibilities and upbringing would be a dead giveaway.
Strange, how she didn’t act like any royal I’d ever met. And I’d met my fair share of royalty, after all. I was the Black Blade. Escapee. Seller and vendor of secrets. Leader of the uprising. Hero to Thalassar. King of the slums of Eramaea.
Finally she dug through her bag and pulled the disk out. I took it from her and tucked it under my arm. “Fine. But I’ll need it back as soon as possible.”
“As soon as possible, little fish. Though I have to wonder, you have servants at your beck and call. Why not get one of your palace maids to do it?” Her stiffening was answer enough. She was so easily readable, the little thing. I waved her off with my fingers. “Scurry away back to where you came from,” I said. “The hour grows late and you’ll soon be missed.”
Her black eyes narrowed and she pointed an accusing finger at me. “You promise you’ll get it back to me as soon as possible?”
