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thirty-six. mer.

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“I would not advise it, your majesty. Humans can be dangerous.”

I rolled my eyes. What did he know of humans? I was sure I’d interacted with more of them than the elder Perlnaut had in his lifetime.

Besides that, Lorcan was just as stuffy and boring as he’d been when I was a child. Not fun at all. Where was his sense of adventure? Did he not care about finding the L’even pearls as much as my brother and I did?

I sighed, growing tired of him following me around the throne room as I paced.

I turned my head. “You may go.”

He frowned. “Have you no intention of heeding my warning?”

I pouted my lower lip forward. “I will consider it.”

“Those words bring me no consolation. I fear for your safety—”

I glared at him.

“Very well, your majesty.”

I waited until he left the room before stretching my arms and torso. It felt so good to be rid of him.

Kai hadn’t mentioned anything about having met Hazel’s grandfather; he’d only spoken with Hazel and her mother. But I had met the human they called Pap. His deceased mate had hoarded my kingdom’s L’even pearl pieces. I suspected many of them were still in his home. It was time I paid his land dwelling a visit.

I exited the throne room and coursed through the tunnel that led outside the kingdom to the surface of the lake.

I swam along the lake’s outer edge, searching for small tunnels that would span the distance between here and Pap’s house. There was no way I was going to attempt traveling on land, as my foolish brother had done. Crawling on his elbows and fins? I shook my head in disgust. The water was my preferred method of transportation, and through it I would find my way.

I drew in strength and power from the L’even pearls to better see.

“Ah, there,” I murmured.

A small pipe, an outlet from the house, connected my realm to Pap’s. The pipe was no wider than my wrist, and the capillaries I would navigate to reach it were even smaller. I would need to transform.

The light of the L’even pearls glowed brightly as I concentrated and absorbed more of their power. Blue light flowed across me, enveloping me from head to tail fins. A chill ran along my body as I liquefied. The L’even pearls’ blue light filled everything, including the tunnels and my transformed self.

I jetted forward, with no intent of stopping until I entered the house.

***

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THE PIPE ENDED ABRUPTLY, with a roaring splash and an ear-splitting scream.

Out the side of my vision, I saw Pap. A sharp, bladed instrument flew from his hand and fell to the ground. He reached for it, fumbling to pick it up as he scowled at me. And then held it out in front of him, waving the blade from side to side.

“Drop your weapon,” I said, though I knew he couldn’t hear me. I lifted my arms so my palms were facing him. “I mean you no harm.”

He narrowed his eyes and lowered his blade. “What are you doing in my toilet?”

I looked down and around me. I was half transformed and bathed in blue light. My bottom half was still liquefied and blended in with the bowl of water that appeared to be set in some form of throne or chair. A toilet?

“I needed to speak to you,” I lied. “This seemed the fastest way.”

He frowned and rubbed his face. Half of his jaw and chin seemed smoother than the other.

“You caught me in the middle of shaving.” He set his blade down. “I can’t hear what you’re saying, you know. And I’m not about to stick my head in the toilet.”

Pap shoved his hands in his pockets and lowered himself toward me, presumably for a better look.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice a touch calmer. “You frightened me, that’s all.”

I, too, had been startled. I’d hoped I wouldn’t run into Pap while exploring. I’d only wanted to enter the home and search for the collection of L’even pearls. Having attracted his attention, I figured I’d make the most of my visit.

“Has there been an emergency?” he said.

I shook my head, unsure how to ask him whether Hazel was at the house at the moment. Perhaps she would be more willing to find a way to communicate. Maybe even lead me to the jewelry collection.

“In that case,” he said, “I’ll tell Hazel you stopped by.”

I nodded. I could tell by the way he looked at me that I was drawing suspicion, even more so than my entrance. Momentarily defeated, I decided to leave as soon as possible. Now that I knew where the pipe led, perhaps I could try again another day.

“Now, if you don’t mind.” Pap waved his hand at the toilet, as if shooing me away. “I’d like to clean this mess.”