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  Although Desma said he wouldn’t be there, I scan the unfamiliar faces searching for Nerio from time to time. On one of my quick glances, I notice a very hot guy swimming in my direction. He’s absolutely gorgeous and exactly what I used to picture when I thought of a merman—dark blond hair, blue eyes, chiseled features, rock hard muscles, and cocky confidence—Poseidon come to life.

  Alexios sticks his chest out proudly. “This strapping young merman is my son, Xander.”

  Xander reaches for my hand and bends over it. At closer inspection he wears a calculating expression, as if he’s figuring out how he can use me to his benefit or what my true motivations are for being here. He strikes me as someone who never acts by mistake. Realizing it sounds callous, I chalk it up to my fatigue.

  “Just when our kingdom couldn’t get any lovelier, you show up to prove me wrong.”

  “Um, t-thanks.” His presence dominates everyone else around him. My reaction is to retreat, or, more appropriately, push myself back with a flick of my tail. “Glad I can help,” I mutter in good humor.

  A huge smile breaks across his face, finally reaching his eyes. “And you, my lady, are refreshing.”

  Overconfidence oozes off of him, which dampens his appearance. Past his shoulder, I catch Eustacia glaring at us. Maybe glaring is too simple a term. She wants to rip out my hair.

  Awesome, that’s all I need, some crazy princess with the impression I’m here to steal her merman. His smugness annoys me. The way he glances around, like he’s making certain everyone notices how nice he’s being to the new girl. But he isn’t treating me as an oddity, which is a huge plus. I soften my initial feelings toward him. I would hate to jump to conclusions the way many probably are about me.

  Galina interrupts to announce it’s time to eat. My stomach sinks when I’m seated across from Eustacia, but at least Xander is at our table and Galina. The stone is adorned only with the lights and nothing else—no silverware, no forks, not even a glass.

  Which is logical, we’re underwater and drinking wouldn’t exactly work, but I have a sudden craving for a cherry Coke.

  Stavros rises, near a podium at the head of the longest table, commanding everyone’s attention. I’m in awe of his presence and unable to compute that this is my dad. I’m impressed I came from him, but can’t stop the sadness over all the memories I missed out on. Growing up, there were a lot of instances I regretted not having a dad. Those are issues I’ll have to deal with. Our time together is a gift I intend to take advantage of.

  “Thank you for being here tonight.” He clears his throat. “When I was a young merman, after my father died, I left in a moment of rebellion. I wasn’t ready to lead this great kingdom. It would be my final Sojourn before I took the throne and I fled, desperate for a final moment alone, a chance to burn off my indecision. On an island near Fiji, I met an extraordinary human woman and fell in love. We spent a wonderful couple of days together, then said goodbye. I came back to do my duty and she hers.”

  As I watch him, I recognize what drew Mom in. Putting aside his attractiveness, I catch a glimpse of his passion and charisma. The entire package would be hard for anyone to resist.

  Yet when he mentions my mother, I notice Magdalena’s evil glare. It’s as if she’s mentally conjuring up ways to hurt him. No woman appreciates hearing about her man’s long lost love, especially in a room full of her subjects, but I can’t sympathize with her. She makes me uneasy.

  “The result of our brief union was a daughter I never knew about. A firstborn daughter who bears my royal blood and discovered who she was only recently.” He gestures in my direction. “Zoey, please join me.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  As gracefully as I can, knowing all eyes are on me, I rise out of the chair and take my place next to him. He beams and I stamp down the incredulous expression governing my features. Being in front of these merpeople is surreal. So many fantastic creatures and I’m tempted to drink in every single detail.

  But because I’m floating next to the king, I square my shoulders and hold my head high. It’s important they don’t see me as a confused and awestruck newcomer. In this moment, I need them to think of me as one of their own.

  “I want to introduce my daughter, Zoey. I trust each of you will guarantee that this transition is as easy as possible by welcoming her to our kingdom.”

  A loud burst of applause rings out. A majority of the attendees rise out of their chairs in enthusiasm. The sensation of truly belonging beats into me with each individual clap and a hesitant smile plays on my lips. Only a few people aren’t participating, like Magdalena and Eustacia, a fact the others must notice as well.

  An older merman with short gray hair and a craggy face shouts above the din. “Soon Calandra will rule the oceans. What will you celebrate then? I embrace her impending presence in the Pacific. No more will we be forced to linger in the archaic royalty system of those who cling to a long vanished god!”

  Gasps and startled cries erupt throughout the room. Those next to the speaker edge away, as if to avoid appearing in league with his traitorous remarks. Beside me, Stavros turns to stone, not moving an inch. The outspoken merman glowers defiantly as a hush settles. Finally, my father raises a single finger and motions to the guards at the door. Swift and silent, they rush forward and grab the man by the arms, escorting him out.

  His rants continue, “The merwitch is more powerful than any of you! You cannot stop her. If you don’t join with Calandra, you will die.”

  Within a minute or two, it’s over. Once he’s been removed, hushed conversations buzz through the hall. My limbs are like wood, unbending and clumsy to control, and my heart pounds in my chest. After a few seconds, the sound of overly joyous laughter trickles over as the tense atmosphere dissipates. How can everyone just pretend that didn’t happen?

  Stavros guides me to my seat and barks an order for the feast to begin.

  “What was that about?” I ask him.

  “Don’t concern yourself with it. Please. Enjoy the meal. I’ll explain later.”

  The authority in his tone subdues me. Galina catches my eye with a curt shake of her head. Apparently, she wants me to drop it too. So I do. Tucking away the curiosity, I concentrate on the meal. Then I realize I’ve been so hungry, and caught up in the events of the day, I hadn’t paused to think about what we will eat for dinner.

  I lean over to Galina and whisper, “What kind of food is there?”

  Before she answers, a large clam shell full of shrimp is set in front of each of us.

  Xander grins at me. “I’m sure it’s similar to what you’ve eaten on land, if you enjoy seafood.” He picks up a shrimp with his fingers and pops the whole thing in his mouth.

  I follow his lead and do the same. The raw texture is fresh and clean and tastes wonderful. It isn’t unpleasant at all. In fact, it’s very good. The only oddity is having water in my mouth as I chew.

  The shrimp dish is followed by a crab shell stuffed with its own meat and mixed with kelp or seaweed. After that, it’s a blurry parade of delicious food, each course served in a way that prevents the food from floating away. When I ask a question or comment, Magdalena or Eustacia never fail to chime in with a snide remark.

  “It’s amazing how much of what I’ve seen is familiar but different at the same time,” I venture, repeating the observation I made to Desma.

  Wrinkling her nose, Eustacia says, “Don’t compare anything of ours to the dirty habits you have in your world. The difference here is when we’re done with our trash we don’t toss it on land or in the ocean and forget about it.”

  “Like you toss out your broken hearts,” Xander quips and is promptly rewarded with Eustacia’s ever present glare.

  Galina leans over and pats my arm encouragingly, which quiets the churning in my gut. I ignore my half-sister and glance around the room. While the entire affair is meant to be a celebratory event, a few concerned glances are being exchanged between the nearest mer.

  “Ev
eryone seems distracted,” I whisper to Galina. “Is it because of the merman they took away?”

  She tucks an errant piece of hair behind my ear. “They’re worried, especially when someone so openly supports Calandra. Horrible events are occurring everywhere and they don’t know what to make of it, of what is coming.” She lowers her voice even more. “Worse, they don’t have a clue how it can be stopped. Now, they’re concerned her supporters are living amongst us and if this poor soul was the only one. The force behind these natural disasters is stronger than most of us have ever witnessed. Don’t let it steal from your debut. We’ve been searching for a chance to be happy, to have hope. Enjoy your evening. We’ll talk about it again.”

  I resist the urge to ask more, realizing she’s right. I’ll work on extracting the information from her later. She provides such a unique perspective on everything. My other grandmother is very earthy. Mom calls her a hippie and she spends most of her days lost in her garden, oblivious to the world beyond it. Galina promises to be full of uplifting advice and worldly observations.

  Images of Mom hit me with a sharp edge and I try to picture whatever she might be doing this exact moment. I know she’s in pain and the guilt clogs my throat. I miss her so much it’s like a piece is missing. And I wish Charlotte was here, giving me her words of wisdom or in the very least, making me laugh.

  Homesick, I glance around at these strangers, suddenly lost. Focusing on Stavros, he gives me an encouraging grin, chasing away the ghosts.

  Once the last plate is cleared away, music begins. Surprise jerks me upright and I search the room, straining my neck to discover where it’s coming from.

  Xander notices. “Our music comes from certain shells that are blown into. Different sizes produce different sounds. Some can be struck together to create chords.”

  He points to a corner and I spot five mer either playing shells like drums or blowing into others. It sounds sort of creepy, similar to an old, warped music box. The longer I listen to it, the more charming it becomes and I close my eyes to concentrate on the subtle note changes.

  When I open them, I’m hit with another surprise. The mer are dancing!

  Captivated, I watch the couples spin each other in a series of choreographed movements. It’s similar to the fish, and their happy dance, but graceful.

  “What do you say?” Xander asks. “Want to give it a whirl?”

  Hovering to my left, he holds out his hand. His smirk is challenging and I find myself pushing out of my chair.

  He leads me through the crowd and many bow as we pass, moving aside to let us onto the small dance floor. I follow Xander’s lead as best I can. The spinning, twirling, and arm movements are a cross between water ballet and synchronized swimming. Xander’s so confident and it’s hard to mimic. On land dancing is awkward for me, but judging by his encouraging nods, I’m catching on quickly.

  For a few precious moments, the entire ordeal of turning into a mermaid and joining a whole new world fades. I’m just a nervous girl dancing with a boy who has silky hair that floats around him and an overconfident sparkle in his eye. Xander doesn’t talk as we dance, which is nice, but I also catch him gazing at our onlookers smugly. I battle against rolling my eyes. He’s such a contrast of conflicting personalities. Which is the act?

  When the music ends, we’re surrounded by the other couples, who applaud proudly. Heat creeps into my face and they continue to clap, staring at us. Xander leans down and kisses me gently on the cheek, catching me off guard, and the cheering grows louder. I can’t help but feel if I’ve just been played and cut him an icy glare.

  As Xander guides me to our table, we’re stopped by many friendly mer who invite me to visit them once I’m settled. Up close, their strange characteristics are fascinating. In place of brows there are rows of shells or lips painted green to resemble scales. One man has what appears to be a live mollusk attached to his earlobe. Most are pleasant and I feel horrible, I’ll ever remember them all. I tell Xander as much.

  “Don’t worry. They’re just happy to have a princess who’s actually approachable and caring. They’re honored, as they should be.”

  “You’ll have to warn me if I step out of line. I’m out of my element.”

  He gives me a deep, mocking bow, eyes twinkling in mischief. “Any time you wish, my lady.”

  Regardless of his character quirks and the staged kiss, Xander has gone out of his way to welcome me. Still, when I’m with him, my thoughts drift to Nerio. I want him here with me, or to be out swimming, away from the crowds and whispers.

  Chapter Twenty

  The rest of the evening is a blur. Exhaustion drags me farther and farther down until all I can do is seek out Stavros and ask his permission to go to my room. I join him where he’s speaking with Alexios and the worry lines bracketing his mouth vanish when he sees me approach.

  “Zoey. I hope you’ve been enjoying yourself.”

  “I have. This has been wonderful, thank you.”

  Alexios smiles in Stavros’s direction. “She’s a lovely young lady, Stavros. My Xander’s quite taken.”

  I shift uncomfortably and attempt to ignore the pleased expressions.

  “Your son has been incredibly kind to me,” I say. “I have to call it a night. It’s been so long since I’ve slept and I’m dead on my feet. I mean, on my tail.”

  Stavros offers to escort me out. I bid goodnight to our table and follow him into the atrium. Though most of the mer have been accepting, I breathe a bit easier outside, hidden from their blatant stares.

  “I’m so proud of you, my darling. I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter. Rest. Tomorrow morning we’ll have a couple hours to explore and get to know each other, in private.”

  “That sounds great. Thank you.” My tone remains stiff with nerves when I’m near him. I offer a warm grin to balance it.

  He calls to one of the nearby guards, who have doubled in number since the beginning of dinner, and commands him to take me to my room. “A precaution in case you lose your way.”

  I’m pleased to see Nerio head our direction and the slow, nervous stomach roll is louder than words. Time apart has not diminished my crush. Before I can greet him, I feel a touch on my arm.

  Xander.

  “Couldn’t let you sneak off just yet. It’s truly been a pleasure.” He winks and kisses my hand with exaggerated moves. Out here, away from the crowd, his smiles are freer.

  He leaves with Stavros and I turn to Nerio, humming with expectations. I have so much to share. “I’m so happy to find a familiar face.”

  Motioning in the direction of my room, he remains impassive. “After you, my lady.”

  Confused by his change of attitude, I move ahead. Once we’re out of the atrium, I try again. Maybe he had to be formal with everyone watching.

  “I didn’t have a chance to thank you earlier. You’ve been a lifesaver, in every meaning of the word.”

  “I am merely doing my duty.” He sounds so stiff.

  “Why are you treating me like a stranger?” He merely grunts so I push further. Is he upset about how friendly Xander was or is that a foolish hope? “You weren’t this…formal earlier.”

  “I’m not treating you differently. It’s nice to know you’re fitting in.” His sarcastic reply knocks me speechless. I hope Desma wasn’t right about us not being able to interact.

  “You’re not making any sense,” I finally manage to sputter.

  He cuts me an exasperated glance. “Surely you understand by now that things aren’t the same here. The time we spent together was great, but you have the king and Xander to aid you.” His lip turns up in a sneer as he says the merman’s name.

  “I refuse to believe you and I can’t be friends. I don’t know anyone else.”

  He appears to waver for a second, but we reach my door and he brusquely departs. Loneliness settles over me as I watch him disappear. Hurt, I enter the room only to be assaulted by Desma’s bubbly attitude. It’s a change from earlier, which
only reminds me of Nerio again. They are so diverse. As I watch her, I recognize traces of her brother in the graceful movement of her body and the husky color of her skin, even their eyes are rimmed in the same dark lashes.

  I hope she and I can be friends, regardless of her stubborn sibling.

  “What an exciting night. I can’t believe you danced with Xander. That probably didn’t sit well with Eustacia.”

  The impatient invasion of sleep pressing down on me is enough to buckle my legs, if I still had them, so I sit at the vanity and test the starfish comb. Despite my exhaustion, I’m curious, remembering the glare my half-sister threw at me. “Why would that be?”

  “I’ve heard she is begging her parents to work on setting an engagement. He might possibly be the future king, if no better match is made. Of course, he doesn’t seem as pleased with the prospect as she does. You coming here might change that.”

  “How so?” The macho merman and the bitchy princess would make a great couple.

  “Even with you being a half-breed and a bastard,” she certainly doesn’t mince her words, “you’re the king’s firstborn. It means you received the majority of his blood. That’s how it works. He claimed you as his own, effectively cementing your right to succession. You have no idea how important it was. There are many who fear what the kingdom will be like with Eustacia on the throne. That is, if you choose to stay mer.”

  My head spins. I didn’t come here with the intention of putting myself in line to rule the kingdom. I just want to know my father and find out who I am. The situation is growing more complicated by the minute. I’ve been thrust in the middle of a diverse and dynamic family.

  After Desma helps me into bed and leaves, I’m finally alone. Dozens of memories thrum through my mind and I intend to mull over everything, wondering what’s happened to the merman who spoke out against Stavros. Instead, I fall into a deep sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-One