“We can’t be here,” Dane warned me for the dozenth time.
“Shh,” I said, grinning from ear to ear. “Here they come.”
We both leaned toward the glass of the windows that lined the barracks. I’d been waiting all day for this. Our doppelgängers were swimming through the barracks. They didn’t wave or smile or speak.
But, Triton! They looked exactly like us!
I frowned as I watched them lie down and pull the covers up. There was something extremely creepy about them. Like living dolls. They made my fins stand on end, to be honest. Then I shrugged.
“I guess it’s better than nothing.”
We swam away as the lights inside started to dim.
“If they stick to coming and going just before lights out, we should be fine,” he said.
“Isn’t it going to make people talk? If we are always together like that?”
“We are usually together anyway, Tri.”
I bit my lip and shrugged. He was right. We’d have to clue in Starla and Rip. Having them in on it would definitely help with the illusion.
“Can we visit Beaz? Unless you are still feeling . . . you know . . . ?”
He shook his head.
“I’m fine. Let’s go.”
“I can go by myself,” I offered, feeling like a jellyfish for dragging the Prince with me to hang out at the stables.
“No way are you going anywhere by yourself, Tri.”
“You aren’t my bodyguard,” I said in exasperation. I stopped swimming and looked at him curiously. He was fighting back a laugh. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“What?”
“I’m more than happy to guard your body,” he said with a chuckle.
My cheeks turned bright pink. I turned away, swimming for the stables, fervently hoping he hadn’t seen how flushed I was. He had never said something like that to me before. I had no clue how to respond to it.
Flirting with a prince was not something I was prepared to do.
I nodded to the guards and was happy to find them loading bags of food for Beazil. I grabbed one and tried dragging it to his stall. I was grateful when Dane grabbed an edge and helped me.
Beazil was happy to see us, nuzzling each of us with his nose. I told him he was getting fat and he gave me a dirty look. Then he settled onto his back to get belly rubs and be fed snacks.
“So . . .”
I looked at Dane curiously, reaching into the bag for another lobster. I was tempted to take one for myself, but these lobsters were still alive. Thankfully, they were magically spelled to feel no pain. And more importantly, not to use their pinchers. Beazil was lucky they were raw. If they were cooked magical lobsters, I would have fought him for them, shark or no.
“There’s a ball tomorrow night.”
“I know,” I sighed. I was so not in the mood for a ball. “Visitors from . . .”
“Gundorth,” he offered. “My mother expects us both to attend.”
I nodded, hiding a grimace. I was expected to attend state functions. I had gotten a scroll about it last week.
Most Mers would be thrilled to attend. But after the last event . . . well, I was wary to hang around Royals other than Dane. Particularly the Queen.
“I want you to dance with me,” he said. My head snapped up. I frowned. “At least once.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? We are already . . .”
“I’m sure,” he said. Then he gave me a devastating smile. “Besides, I want to.”
I swallowed and frowned. Not that I didn’t want to dance with him, but he was getting less . . . subtle about having romantic feelings for me. I wasn’t ready to make a decision about what the future might look like. And as for Dane, he gave me butterflies, but he was more than just a handsome Prince to me. He was my friend.
I was terrified of losing that.
“I’m embarrassing you,” he said evenly. “My joke about guarding your body.”
“Maybe a little,” I admitted.
“Tri . . . how long are we going to swim around this?”
“Forever?” I asked hopefully.
He chuckled, coming closer. I closed my eyes as he tipped my chin up.
“Do I have to transform to a shark to get some affection from you?”
“No,” I breathed, finally looking at him. The look on his face was tender and very, very warm. I felt it all the way down to my fins. “I don’t know.”
“No matter what happens, Tri, I want to be with you now. For as long as you let me.”
I blinked at him. Now? He was making me decide now?
“I could have died today, Tri. I’m not afraid of that. I am afraid of not living while I’m alive. Why shouldn’t we grab a little happiness where we can?”
“A little?” I asked breathlessly, very much aware that he was about to kiss me.
“A lot of happiness. A tsunami’s worth,” he said softly, his lips coming ever closer. “If you’ll be mine . . .”
My eyelashes fluttered shut as his lips pressed into mine. He hadn’t kissed me since the Trials. This was different. We knew each other better now. And we had magic.
I felt his power unfurl between us, gently brushing against mine. I shivered and opened my eyes, pulling back. I stared at him in shock.
His lidded gaze was still on my lips.
“Your magic . . .”
“Do you mind, Tri? Truly?”
“No,” I said, suddenly sure that I didn’t mind. I wanted him to kiss me again. No matter what it meant. “I don’t mind. But I can’t promise anything. Just right now.”
He stared at me, his eyes hardening a little. But then he nodded.
“Fine. Right now.”
This time when he lowered his head to mine, he didn’t lift it for a long, long time.