Page 67 of Oceansong
Cyrus let go and scowled at Angie before brushing past them to leave the cavern, speaking plainly for her to stay put. She didn’t take her eyes off him until the tips of his caudal fins had disappeared.
Kaden returned to her. “Angie—”
“What happened? Is that where you went, to talk to your parents? I almost died.” Angie flung her words at Kaden, unable to hold her anger in any longer.
“I’m sorry. It was so sudden. Cyrus came into my room to find me. The Queen and King wished for an audience with me. They were on their way to come looking for me themselves.” Kaden’s gaze pleaded with her, his voice softening. “I thought you would be okay. You still had some time before Iwould have to replenish the magic. My intention was only to tell them why I missed the banquet, and then leave.”
“So why didn’t you leave? Did they hold you hostage there?” Angie’s tone came out bitter and rough, and she immediately bit back her words. She didn’t mean to sound so harsh, but the adrenaline and unbridled terror still raged in her from her near-drowning and near-death because of the elder mer-prince.
Kaden blinked, looking down at his clasped hands in front of him. “They did. Had sentinels at the door to ensure I didn’t leave until they were done with their tirade and threats to punish me if I continued to embarrass our family.” There was no force in his words. “I’m glad I found you on my way back to the room. I feared I’d find you drowned in there.”
“I’m sorry they did that.” Angie’s voice cracked. “I didn’t mean for what I said earlier to come out so, you know, mean.”
Kaden gave her a one-shouldered shrug. “I understand. What you had just gone through, it would have put anyone on edge.” He swam closer to her so they were inches apart. “If I had awoken where you lived, and you’d left without explanation, and then if I was bested to an inch of my life by your sister, I would be angry as well. So, I don’t blame you for feeling the way you do.”
Angie stayed silent, taking in his words.
“I’m so sorry for what you endured today, and that I couldn’t protect you until it was too late. This should never have happened.” His voice thickened with regret and pain, and Angie put a hand on his forearm. He didn’t reciprocate, brushing the tips of his caudal fins back and forth against the palace floor. “Let’s go back to bed? I swear I’ll never leave your side again when we are here together. No matter what anyone wants with me.”
“I know it’s not your fault.” She let her fingers hang loosely from his palm. The thought of staying here any longer shook her to her core. Where she normally found every opportunity to be in the water, now she craved being back on dry land. She peered at him. Fear and shock still held her hostage, the beautiful night with Kaden ruined. “But I should go. C-can you take me back? Please.”
His luminous eyes became downcast, and he obliged, motioning for her to follow as they made back for the surface. She made sure she never strayed too far from him.
Twenty-Seven
With locked knees and stiffsteps, Angie left the sea, the happiness of last night sucked out of her. Her head swam with residual vertigo as she re-acclimated to being on dry land again.
On her way out, she scratched her bare arms on a nearby barnacle-studded rock, prickly bumps embedded in a blanket of deep emerald algae. She grimaced.
Cyrus was much more intimidating than Kaden. His eyes, darker than his younger brother’s but just as mysterious and striking, burned with fury and hatred, and she truly believed she was going to die before Kaden stopped him. His hands and tail were poised to strangle the life out of her.
Angie couldn’t blame him. She was an enemy and in their territory.
“Are you sure you will be alright?” Kaden’s head and shoulders bobbed in the waves, a flicker of concern crossing his features.
She smiled weakly. “I’ll be okay.”
“But I don’t want to leave you until—”
“No, no. I have to get to work, anyway. I’ll meet you before the week’s end.” He didn’t move, and she kneeled to clasp his hands in hers. “Friday. Uh, two days from today.”
Kaden squeezed her hands, his shoulders sagging. “Please don’t worry about my brother. He has a tough shell, but ultimately, he holds an open mind and heart. I will explain to him when I see him tonight and hope he will change his tune. He is very much my mother’s son.” He bit his lower lip, his eyebrow raised. “I am so very sorry about what happened. I shouldn’t have brought you to the sanctuaries, or to the palace, knowing the risk.”
“I don’t regret it.” She gazed into his eyes as she said the words, and stroked the tops of his hands with her thumbs.
With a forced nod, he pressed a kiss on her cheek before they partedways.
His words were of small comfort to her.
She retrieved her pack, right where she left it yesterday. Her body flushed warm with the mer’s magic, though Kaden had said it would only last minutes once she broke dry land. She towel-dried herself and slipped into her long pants, plain shirt and thick jacket.
Her back and knee throbbed when she walked. The memory of her and Cyrus stirred, a proverbial dagger twisting in her gut. The helplessness and cold terror from those moments crashed over her head and encased her entire body. Shuddering, she wrapped her arms around herself and shook the feeling off. She had to focus on getting to work.
Angie hoisted her pack over her shoulder and trekked back to the docks proper, tying her hair into a loose ponytail so its dampness was less obvious, in time to see Nick walking in her direction holding a thick swath of rope in his hands and undoing its knots.
He never came so close to the dock’s edge, and she deliberately lowered her head.
Nick stopped and looked her up and down, and zeroed in on her hair. Then he squinted and pursed his lips.
