Sirena's happiness at seeing Kristian had dissipated by the time she reached the kingdom of Oceanica. His being a prince changed everything. All of her fantasies, all of her hopes and dreams — they all seemed so pathetic now. She never had a chance with him before, yet she had clung to hope. Now that hope had died.
Her mood became even fouler when Cordula swam up to her and said, "Father is looking for you."
Sirena wrung her hands. "Does he suspect?"
"Of course not," Cordula said. "I told you I would keep your little secret and cover for you, and I did. But find me after you talk to him."
She flicked her tail in response and glided through the waves to the castle to the throne room. Her father leaned against his polished black stone throne, several mermen hovering near him. When he glanced up and saw her, he waved them away. Once they were alone, he said, "Come closer, my child."
Sirena did as commanded. She had always loved the throne room. It emanated her father's power, reminding her of his love and protection.
If only he could have protected my heart…
"You may not think I've noticed," he began, his deep voice thundering throughout the room, echoing off the coral walls, "but I know you've been sneaking off."
Her heart pounded so hard her chest ached. "I—"
"I don't mind if you go exploring. Within reason and with a bodyguard. The sea witches have been active lately, and I can't stand the thought of you — or any of my daughters — becoming entangled with the likes of them. They're vicious, nasty creatures. Their powers have caused them to think themselves goddesses and…" He trailed off with a snort. "You know well how I feel about them."
Sirena nodded, still unable to speak. How lucky she was that he did not realize where she had been going! If he even suspected she was going to the surface, he would lock her up in the deepest part of the ocean, and she would never see blue water again, only the murky blackness of the depths.
As far as the sea witches were concerned, Sirena knew where they lived, but that was the extent of her knowledge. She had never met one nor saw the need to seek one out. Some of the other mermaids would barter for love potions or other spells. Sirena already had love.
No. Kristian was not hers to love.
"Is that all, Father?" she asked, her voice faint.
"Yes, my child."
Sirena bowed and fled the room. Outside, she bumped into Cordula and Diona. Her sisters each took one of her arms. "Hello?" she asked hesitantly. What now?
"You're coming with us." The sneaky grin on Cordula's face made Sirena's heart sink.
"Where to?" she asked, dreading the answer.
"You'll find out." Diona giggled.
Her face must have given away her trepidation as Cordula snickered. "Relax. We aren't going to get you into that much trouble."
Diona knocked into her fishy hip. "Actually, how much trouble depends on you."
Sirena gulped. If Diona was involved, it meant mermen, and probably more rather than less, as Diona was known to say, "The more mermen, the better." By far the most flirtatious of them all, she was the siren of the mermaid princesses.
"If you're planning on matching me up with someone—" She cut herself off. Maybe this was what she needed — to forget all about Kristian and try to move on.
Not that that would be an easy task.
They swam along, out of their underwater palace and toward a lagoon. Her sisters directed her toward a small cave to the left. It was dark inside, and it took her eyes a few minutes to adjust when a school of tiny sparkle fish swam by. Their light almost blinded her. When she stopped blinking, a tall merman appeared, as if conjured by magic. His shoulder-length black hair rippled in the soft waves, his long tail a deep green-black color. Despite the giggles and suggestive glances from Cordula and Diona, he wore a stoic expression on his face, which Sirena begrudgingly respected.
Diona released her and flew up to him. "This is Bastin."
Cordula dragged Sirena until she swam in place in front of him. "He's one of father's soldiers. Doesn't he have strong biceps?"
On cue, Bastin made a muscle, but Sirena caught him rolling his eyes a little. Could he not want to be here as much as she?
She gasped as Cordula yanked her arm and forced her to touch his arm. He was solid, firm, real. Too real.
Sirena ripped herself free and stared at his tail. She didn't want to be touching this Bastin or anyone else her sisters paraded in front of her. All she wanted was Kristian.
And not only because of Kristian's good looks, because Bastin was just as pleasing to look at, if not more so. She already missed Kristian's smile, his easygoing nature, the way they could just talk about hopes and dreams, nothing important and yet everything important. Although she might not know all the intimate details of his life, she didn't need to in order to love him. How easy it was to make him laugh!
Sirena loved Kristian. She was in love with him. Nothing would change that. He had burrowed a way into her heart, and her heart would never be wholly hers again.
Done with their foolishness, she glowered at her sisters. "I don't know what they told you, but I'm—"
"Don't listen to her," Cordula cut in. "She's—"
"I'm—"
"Sirena's much too shy to ask you this herself, but she would love to have dinner with you tonight. Say, just before the tide?" Diona added.
Cordula leapt forward, as if she knew what her sister intended to do, but Sirena managed to dart away and flicked her fin so hard she slapped the water. It stung, but it propelled her away before anyone could reach her.
Once the cave was well behind her, she slowed down. Perhaps time would make things easier. Mayhap she just had to wait, and her feelings would wane, like the tide. Maybe she shouldn't go to see him next month.
But deep in her heart, she knew she would not be able to keep away.