Byron was winning the match. His fists were raised and Siveril was swimming away from him, forced into a defensive position by my half-brother. It wasn’t a surprise. Byron always won the match. Older than me by five months, he was the apple of our father’s eye.
I was the exact opposite.
Father never let me forget that I wasn’t wanted. My first memory was being reminded by Father that my mother appeared on his doorstep when I was only a few days old, thrusting a seaweed-wrapped bundle at him. I was his son, she said, but she couldn’t care for me.
Did she know she was condemning me to life as a bastard? Or did she simply not care? I supposed her intentions were inconsequential because I never met her. Father allowed me to be raised in his home and educated alongside Byron, but that was where his kindness ended. As soon as I Matured, I was thrust out of his home and forced to find my own way.
I always found it ironic that Byron had found favor in our father’s eyes through participation in these types of events, but no matter how I excelled in my position in the king’s guard, nothing was ever good enough for him. I was a bastard, nothing more. That was my lot in life. Nothing I did would ever be good enough for the male who had sired me.
Byron swung out with his tail. The roar of the crowd was deafening, drowning out the slap of my brother’s tail as it slashed across his opponent’s chest. A trail of red blood floated into the water, and they chanted my brother’s name.
“Byron. Byron. Byron.”
Mareena pressed her hand against the glass, and her tail swished excitedly as she watched my brother. My heart twisted at the sight, and it felt like part of me was breaking in half, but I pushed down the hurt. I couldn’t show my pain—this was the reason I had brought Mareena here. She needed a husband. A good, kind male that would look after her no matter what. Someone with virtue who, while not a lord, would be enough for her father.
Byron was that male.
An overwhelming ache consumed my entire body at the thought of playing matchmaker between the female I loved and my only brother. It was deep within my bones, starting at the tip of my tail and moving through my entire body. I consoled myself with the knowledge that at least this way, I would get to see my princess every once in a while. I could keep her in my life. If she married Byron, she would be happy.
Last night, I spent long hours thinking about this. Not only was my half-brother everything Mareena was looking for in a husband, but he was single. This was the only way to keep Mareena safe. If she married a stranger, who knew what dangers she might be walking into? They could be cruel or hurtful or ignorant.
No, it was better this way. At least this way, I knew Byron would give Mareena everything she deserved.
The crowd cheered, and I glanced outside. Byron had Siveril pinned, and the announcer was counting down from ten. By the time he reached the last few seconds, the crowd was in a frenzy. They stood, waving their hands in the air and roaring as Siveril tried and failed to get up.
“We have a winner!” the announcer declared. Swimming into the arena, he held up Byron’s hand.
The crowd went wild. Screaming. Cheering. They partied, waving their flags in the air as they celebrated their champion’s victory. Mareena swam at the glass, watching as the celebrations continued.
Eventually, the members of the crowd began filtering out of the stadium. Mareena pressed her hand against the glass. Every time she moved, I knew it. I always knew where Mareena was in a room, even without looking at her. It was as though there was something tying us together—but there wasn’t. It was just wishful thinking.
When the stadium was nearly empty, Mareena turned to me. “So you brought me here… to watch a wrestling match? Not that it wasn’t enjoyable or anything, but I thought—”
“I have a plan,” I said gruffly.
“A plan?” She raised a brow. “Do you care to elaborate, oh Silent One?”
Her tone was teasing, but there was a curious edge to her voice. It prodded that part of me that loved her. If only she weren’t a princess. If only I weren’t a bastard guard. I would love to do nothing more than show her exactly how loud I could be.
But I was a bastard, and she was a princess looking for a kind, decent male to marry.
Shoving my desires deep within me, I growled, “Yes.”
The weight of Mareena’s gaze was heavy as she eyed me.
Luckily, a knock came on the door. Thankful for the interruption, I swam over and pulled it open. The water moved around the door, and on the other side, a mermaid with long black hair in a tight braid held a basket.
“Your brother sends you and your… friend his greetings.” She handed me the basket. “He asks that you wait for him. He will be up as soon as possible.”
I wasn’t surprised Byron knew we were here. As soon as we swam into the arena, I knew the guards would alert him to my presence. Byron was the member of my family who cared about me—he was too good to care that I was a bastard. Without him, my childhood would have been unimaginably terrible.
Thanking the mermaid, I shut the door behind her. When I turned around, Mareena swam a few feet away from me.
“What’s that?” she asked, eyeing the woven basket.
“A gift,” I replied.
Placing the basket on a nearby table, I pulled open the lid and reached inside. My fingers met the soft fabric, and I withdrew two garments. Mareena gasped, reaching out and taking the smaller one from me. Our fingers met, and a jolt of electricity ran up my arm.
For a moment, the water seemed to still. Our eyes met, and her mouth opened as she stared at me. Did she feel it too? For a single moment, neither of us moved.
Then Mareena inhaled sharply. Her gaze dropped, and she swam back, putting space between us. My heart fractured as she ran her fingers over the black silk, making the sound of appreciation that only females who enjoyed fashion ever seemed to make.
“It’s from your brother?” she asked, holding the black silk around her breasts as though she were trying it on.
I forced myself to drag my eyes away from her chest. “Yes,” I said, my throat suddenly dry.
Leave it to Byron to send us something in his colors.
“It’s lovely.” She ran her fingers over the material. “Can you… will you turn around? I’d love to try it on.”
My mind emptied, and suddenly, thinking became difficult. She wanted to get changed. Now. While I was here.
She needs to find a husband, I reminded myself. One who isn’t you.
Forcing my tail to move, I did as she asked and turned around. Facing the door, I clenched the black tunic Byron had sent me, doing my best to ignore what was happening behind me. The walls felt like they were closing in on me as I tried—and failed—to forget about what was happening behind me.
I couldn’t do it. Picturing her curves was as easy as drawing breath. I could see the swell of her breasts in my mind’s eye. Imagine the softness of her skin beneath my fingertips. Every part of her was carved into my memory.
It felt like an eternity passed before Mareena tapped me on the shoulder.
“It’s safe to turn around,” she said.
Slowly, I did so.
The black band was wrapped tightly around Mareena’s breasts, accentuating her female form, and the excess fabric swayed gently in the water. She looked into my eyes, and everything seemed too tight. Breathing was too difficult. This room was too small. Too tight. She was too beautiful.
These were forbidden feelings. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way towards my princess. I shouldn’t have felt drawn to her.
So why did the way my heart beat faster when she was around feel so good? Why was my body straining to move towards her and draw her into my arms? Why did every part of me yearn to kiss her senseless?
Mareena eyed the fabric clenched in my fist. “Are you going to put that on?”
I dropped my gaze to the material between my fingers. I had forgotten all about it. Pulling the woken material on in one swift movement, it had barely settled over my torso when a single knock came from the door, followed by a, “I hope you’re decent, brother!”
I grinned, swimming over to the door and pulling it open. Taking Byron’s fist in mine, I slapped him on the back.
“Good match, brother,” I said by way of greeting.
Byron grinned. “I wiped the sand with him.”
“You did.”
My brother turned, and I knew the moment he noticed Mareena. His lips curved into a smile, and his eyes glinted as he swept into an overly dramatic bow.
“My lady,” he said, taking her hand and pressing his lips against her hand. “How is it possible that I have lived in Coral City my entire life and never met you before?”
“I’m… visiting,” Mareena replied, her eyes flicking up to mine.
I nodded, and she relaxed.
Byron continued. “Imagine my surprise when the guards informed me my brother was seen arriving with none other than a beautiful mermaid. I could scarcely believe my ears, and yet, here you are.”
His flowery words might have sounded insincere to others, but this was just how Byron was. Kind to a fault, well-spoken, and generous. If he weren’t my brother and the only member of my family who tolerated me, I probably would have been disgusted by it. As it was, my heart cracked in half when Mareena smiled.
“My name is Marie,” she said softly, using the fake name I had given the guard earlier. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Byron smiled, tucking the princess’s hand into the crook of his arm. “The pleasure is all mine, my lady. Do you plan on remaining in the city for a while? I cannot believe I’ve never met you before. I certainly would have remembered someone as stunning as you.”
Mareena smiled. “This is my first time here. Calix is… showing me around.”
“You’re not working, brother?” Byron asked over his shoulder.
I shook my head. Picking up my trident, I gripped it tightly before saying. “I’m off.”
Permanently, but that wasn’t important. I would explain the logistics of the recent change in my employment after they were married.
My half-brother grinned. “Then you must stay with me. Both of you.”
Mareena glanced at me. “Oh, we—”
“I insist,” Byron said. “Allow me to show you some hospitality. Please.”
Mareena paused, glancing at me over her shoulder. I dipped my head, tightening my grip around the trident.
“Alright,” she agreed. “We’ll stay with you.”
“Marvelous.” Shooting me a look over his shoulder that said, Can you believe this?, Byron led Mareena out of the room.
I followed them out of the arena and into the busy streets, the hushed tones of their murmured conversation filling the water. My stomach sank further and further with every passing moment.
I was right. The woman I loved and my brother got along splendidly. That left me as it always did.
Alone.