Page 54 of Whispers of the Starlit Sea
But no — she could understand him. She understood more than she wanted. Because that look offered something she could never have.
Tonight, they would free the imprisoned merfolk.
And at dawn, she would turn to sea-foam.
That was supposing her aunt’s tales were true, of course. Maeve had said there was a way to break the bond, but it was an impossible task. Arick was kind, and being around humans wasn’t as awful as she had expected, but from all she had seen, a human wasn’t likely to sacrifice themselves for a mer.
Arick stowed his oars and shifted forward on his bench. She leaned toward him, even though she knew she shouldn’t let her heart grow closer.
“Sorcha,” he said, his voice low and husky in the night air. She couldn’t resist its allure.
Taking her hand in his, he started to say something, then stopped. He looked around in frustration, unsure of himself. His calloused thumb drew swirls over her palm.
When he turned back, she gave a soft gasp. The surety of purpose in his gaze stole her breath, and she couldn’t move as his hand slipped along her jaw and drew her closer.
His breath whispered against her cheek, sending thrills through her. “Sorcha,” he said again, but her mouth refused to shape his name in return. Every part of her longed to close the distance between them, but she couldn’t move lest she break the spell that ensnared them. Her lips fell open as she whispered his name.
He leaned closer, and every piece of her thrilled like the bioluminescents that lit up the ocean floor.
The boat rocked as it bumped against something, sending them apart. Sorcha grasped the edge of her narrow seat to keep from falling over. Her heart thundered in her chest as she panted.
“What are you doing here?” A snarky voice demanded.
With Arick’s hand steadying her arm, she looked over the side of the boat to see Rona, her arms crossed as she bobbed with the waves. She smiled at her sister, pleased for the chance to speak to a family member again.
“Why are you in a boat?” Rona asked, not waiting for Sorcha to respond.
Sorcha glanced at Arick, grateful the darkness hid the blush that stained her skin. “I was looking for Ciara,” she confessed.
“She’s not here.” Rona fiddled with her bracer, the yellow stone shining eerily in the moonlight. “She’s been as absent as you of late.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you care? Trying to get your human to trap her too?”
“What? Arick didn’t trap me.” She stole a look at him, only to be met with his frown. He might not understand their speech, but Rona’s belligerence was hard to miss.
Rona snorted. “Then why haven’t you come back? You’re trapped.”
“I rescued him!”
“Because you were under his spell. All humans are the same, Sorcha.” She scoffed. “You were always such a naive little guppy.”
“What are you doing here, then?” Sorcha retorted.
“Looking out for you,” Rona said. “And it’s a good thing I was here.” She glanced at Arick with a knowing look. “You know what kissing him will do, don’t you?”
“I wasn’t —” Sorcha stopped, her ears on fire.
“You were. But don’t be so stupid again — kissing a human will ensure you never return to the sea.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do. So watch yourself, little guppy.” Rona smirked again, and pushed off against the boat as she flipped beneath the waves.
Arick grabbed the oars to steady the rocking. Sorcha watched him, but the moment of anticipation between them was lost. Was Rona right that kissing a human would mean…?
No. Rona was mistaken. But…why would her sister lie? And why did her heart leap at the thought of remaining with Arick?
