18. Erin
Chapter 18
Erin
I wake to the sound of whistles and clicks. My eyes flutter open just in time to see a group of dolphins swim over our bedroom. Never did I think I would have a view like this when waking up in the morning. A small, curious dolphin comes to the glass and inspects it before returning to the rest of the group.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” a groggy voice next to me says.
Allarick, always the gentleman, stayed on his side of the bed all night. It was only mildly disappointing that I didn’t wake up with my kraken’s arms around me, but I appreciated his presence regardless.
“You get to wake up to this every day.”
It wasn’t a question, but he nods anyway. “And now so do you.”
What a crazy, beautiful life.
Allarick rises to stretch. I get a good look at his muscular chest. His dark skin is a stark contrast to the vibrant colors of the ocean, but no less beautiful. If anything, his beauty supersedes everything else.
“Are you up to more exploring today?” he asks, and I begrudgingly tear my gaze away from his chest.
“Yes, actually… Did I see a music room yesterday?”
“You probably did. We have two. One on the lower floor for parties and one up here. Did you want to see the room?”
“I do…if you don’t mind. I know you’re busy with meetings and such?—”
Allarick braces his arms on the bed, lowering his head until he’s eye level with me. “My only duties today are with you, sweet girl. I assure you, I have everything else under control.”
Well, then.
Shortly after that, I pick myself up out of bed and head into the bathroom to take care of my morning routine. I search through the closet to find something to wear. Most everything in here feels like silk and provides very little coverage. The merpeople don’t have the same modesty values humans do, which is something I’ll have to get used to.
I settle on a blue shirt that’s a cross between a crop top and a bralette, along with a similar color skirt with built-in pants. The sides of the skirt flare open, allowing me to freely move my legs. There’s a lot of skin on display, and normally I would feel self-conscious, not of my body shape—I quite love the way I look—but rather the bruises that usually adorn my skin.
None are there today. None will ever be there again.
I walk out of the bathroom with a smile on my face and straight into Allarick. The man still hasn’t put on a shirt—I doubt he owns one—but he wears a pair of black pants that hug his thighs sinfully.
“Do I look okay?” I ask, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Is this appropriate attire for the future queen? Should I wear something more elegant?
My fears and insecurities are put to rest with the look Allarick gives me. It’s molten-hot, burning me from the inside out. Wetness pools between my legs from that look alone. This man calls to my body in a way I no longer thought possible.
“You look ethereal. The incarnate of beauty.”
Well, shit. Who says things like that? Incarnate of beauty? Men like Allarick only exist in old romance novels found on grandmothers’ bookshelves.
“You’re good for my ego. I might keep you around,” I tease, trying to hide my obvious lust and discomfort at being complimented.
“I’m your humble servant.” Images of him serving me fill my mind, and I have to press my legs tightly together. Allarick on his knees in front of me. Allarick pinning me to the bed. Allarick with his?—
Get a fucking grip, Erin. Stop acting like a horny teenager. Have some decorum, I chide myself.
“I think we should check out the one downstairs.” Allarick’s words break through my lust-filled fog.
“Hmm?”
“The music room. The one downstairs is bigger. Do you mind checking that one out?”
Oh. Music. Right.
“Can you play music underwater? ”
My question is greeted with a smile, and Allarick nods. “You can. Works similar to above, I imagine.”
Intrigued and more than a little excited to have my kraken back, I follow Allarick out of the room and down the hallway. We pass the music room, and my fingers itch to caress an instrument—any instrument. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to play, and I’ve missed it. James hated the noise and would become irate when I played. So, I stopped.
Allarick gets in the water first, and a small whirlpool surrounds him. A few seconds later, the water clears, and his legs are replaced with tentacles. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over the awe of the magic here, but I hope I never lose the sense of wonder.
“Come,” he says, and I take a tentative step down. The water is warm and soothes my cold feet, and as soon as I’m deep enough in, Allarick envelops me in his embrace. He’s so gentle with me, like if he squeezes too hard, I’ll shatter. He’s probably not wrong.
“This way.” He grins, and we take off back through the first story of the castle. I’m content with being pulled along, at least until my swimming skills get better.
The castle is alive this morning with staff, all wearing the same black button-down shirt. There are also a few in what looks like armor with spears at their sides. All bow as Allarick and I swim by. Even though everyone is working, there is an abundance of smiles and laughter. There’s a sense of community within these walls, and that’s a testament to what kind of king Allarick is.
We pass the meeting room from yesterday and head to an open room across the hall. The doors must have been closed yesterday, because there is no other way I would have missed this room. Like most rooms in the castle, all but the interior walls are glass. A few murals hang on the exterior walls, showcasing various ocean scenes and important-looking figures.
But what catches my attention is the number of musical instruments throughout the room. Most I recognize, but some I don’t. A piano sits in the center of the room, surrounded by couches. A violin and harp perch in the rounded corner of the room. Something that looks like a tuba and another stringed instrument I’ve never seen before sit on the opposite side.
My eyes gravitate toward the piano and harp, two instruments that sound beautiful alone or accompanied by others. They both produce a tranquil sound that always helped calm my body after a stressful day of school.
I don’t realize I’m swimming toward the piano until Allarick asks, “Do you play?”
“Yes…well, I used to. My mother signed me up for piano lessons when I was a young girl. At first I hated it because I just wanted to play with my dolls and the other children outside, but over time I grew to appreciate it more and more. I picked up harp in high school, just on a whim, and fell in love with that too.
“For my sixteenth birthday, my parents bought me my own harp. Some teenagers want cars, but I wanted musical instruments.” I laugh, feeling the familiar ache I always get when I talk about my parents. It’s bittersweet, but I love talking about them. It makes me feel like they are still alive in some way .
“Your parents sound like they were amazing people. They had to be to raise such a strong, intelligent, and talented woman,” Allarick says. “If you don’t mind, I would love to hear you play.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling. “Really?” No one has asked me to play for them in years. “I might be a bit rusty.”
Allarick shrugs like he doesn’t actually think that’s a possibility. “I don’t mind.”
“Right, okay. Let me…” I pull out the piano bench, wondering how I’m going to sit and play while keeping myself afloat. But I’m surprised to find my body sinking gracefully onto the bench, with my feet planted firmly on the ground.
“Gravity works a bit differently in some places here,” Allarick says by way of explanation.
“Magic, I presume?”
“Ah, you’re learning.” He grins, making himself comfortable on the couch. His tentacles fan out around him while he sinks into the furniture.
I play a note, and the sound reverberates around the room. The piano is tuned perfectly, though Allarick probably has someone assigned to that job. I play a few more notes, my fingers remembering the keys even though it’s been years.
“Is there anything you want to hear?” I ask after a moment.
Allarick ponders the question briefly before saying, “Play me a song that reminds you of happiness.”
I think of my parents and the very first song we learned together. The song I played at all their birthdays, even though they both had heard me play it a million times. They always claimed it was their favorite, and it quickly became mine too.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath as the notes and melody come back to me. Then I open my eyes and play the first note to “Let it Be” by the Beatles.