Chapter 19
GAVIN
I want to rip apart everyone who has taunted Kyler.
Thankfully, Damon calms me down while Ailey and Kyler talk.
Kyler looks much calmer now, though his eyes are red-rimmed and his face is puffy from crying.
All I want to do is hold him. Sure, he’s merfolk, which draws me to him, but Kyler is also a fascinating person, and I want to know him.
“Have a seat, if you will, everyone.” Ailey reaches out her hand for Kyler and pats the spot next to her on the bed. I keep my jealousy to myself.
With a stoic face, Ailey folds her hands in her lap as Kyler settles next to her.
She scans the room, meeting all our eyes. “What I’m about to tell you is a secret. Something I’m only disclosing because I trust you. So please don’t make me regret this.”
We all nod, and she continues. “My father’s mental state is rapidly declining.
I don’t wish to inherit this impending war.
If it sparks, I want it to end quickly. But he’s whipped the people into a frenzy against Farerk.
I need the two of you to keep doing this little game with the pair-bond, so I can continue to build alliances behind my father’s back.
Everyone is so distracted by you two that no one is paying attention to me.
That’s how I got to come on this little adventure with you in the first place. ”
I pace the small room. “You’re planning to usurp the throne?” Leander had thought to do that to His Majesty, but we don’t know yet how strong his backing is with the nobility. We can’t risk it yet.
“Yes. I needed to be out of Avondra to get everything in final order. So I staged an early arrival to my fiancé’s realm as cover.
I would have told you had you had the decency to talk to me instead of ignoring me like a child.
If I thought you were clever enough to decode a message, I would have said as much in my letters, but you never seemed interested in actually communicating. ”
My face burns. She’s right. I just knew I didn’t want to marry her and hadn’t wanted to from the beginning.
She continues, “You and Kyler are a better distraction than I could have come up with. And your Task? Perfect. The drama of your so-called pair-bond being a pirate? I couldn’t have asked for anything better for people to gossip about. Anything to keep them from watching me too closely.”
“Kyler and I are pair-bonded.” I hold out my hand, and Kyler stands to press himself against my chest. He smells of fear and anxiety. How did I not realize this? I want to wrap him up and keep him from feeling that way ever again.
“No. You aren’t. Did you know there is a literal bond of magic that connects pair-bonds? Those trained can see it.”
“And you’re trained?” I ask.
“I am.” Ailey stands and dusts her hand over my shoulder where the fake mark is. When I lift my shirt, the mark is gone. “How?”
“I’m a Grand Mage myself, but we keep it from the other realms so no one thinks to use me as their weapon.
” She swipes her hand over my shoulder again, reapplying the magic.
“What you needed to add was a fake connection bond to fool everyone.” Ailey waves her hands until violet fire erupts from her palms. “I can do that for you, but it’ll make you feel each other’s emotions intensely. ”
A pang of jealousy strikes my gut. Not only has Ailey gotten the opportunity to train, but she’s achieved the Grand Mage status I seek.
“Grand Mages are so rare, no one else will be able to tell,” I start. “I don’t want to put Kyler through that.” His emotions are already a mess, and we still have weeks on the ship.
“We should,” Kyler says. “Just in case.”
I step back to really look at Ailey. She has to hide herself and scheme for her own freedom. “What happens when you and I don’t marry at the end of all this?”
“Nothing. I’ll be queen, and I don’t wish to jeopardize the alliance with an unnecessary marriage.
Our countries have been friends for over thirty years without problems. The alliance will stay intact if you’re worried about that.
Trade with Lane has been good for Avondra.
We’re both thriving. No need to unite us more. ”
“What if I actually wanted to be your warrior?”
“You don’t. You love Lane too much. And as much as you’re playing at lovers, I think you’re starting to have feelings for Kyler.”
Kyler blushes prettily. Ailey gives him a soft smile.
Damon laughs from where he stands against a wall. “You should have seen the way he pined for Kyler after the tavern. He whined about not seeing you again. It was sad and hilarious.”
I keep an undignified sound from escaping my lips, but just barely. “I did not whine about it.”
Damon presses the back of his hand to his forehead. “Oh, I wish I could see that Kyler again. He was so pretty.” Damon bats his lashes. “His eyes are so gorgeous I could get lost in them for hours.”
“Don’t make me sound like a lovesick child,” I chide.
“Don’t act like one then.”
Kyler snorts, and that sound makes my heart soar.
“Enough, you two,” Ailey laughs as she says it. “I have my own beloved and don’t begrudge anyone for being with someone they cherish. Luckily for me, mine is royalty, and we’ll be wed once I’m queen.”
My heart opens. I really would be free from the marriage. And I don’t pine after Kyler. How ridiculous. I just want to make sure he’s okay.
I feel oddly protective of Ailey now that I truly am not being forced to marry her anymore. “They’re not just after you for the crown?”
Ailey smiles as she fiddles with a pretty garnet pendant around her neck. It matches the ribbon in her hair. “No, Trance wants what’s best for Avondra and Farerk.”
I straighten my posture. “You’re in love with your father’s enemy?”
She nods. “So you see why I wish to keep the war from happening? I’ll present it to the people as a new alliance. We’ll show a united front and reveal how vile my father was to everyone.”
“You’ve thought of everything then.”
“I have. And as long as you keep playing with Kyler, I can keep my appointments.” Ailey lifts a mage stone from her pocket. “We have to all play our parts perfectly for this to work. I’ll try to get your attention, and when you don’t give it to me, I’ll storm off a lot.”
“Consider it done. I shouldn’t have—”
“It’s fine. When everything’s settled, I want you to come visit. You too, young Kyler, if you’re so inclined. I consider you a friend of Avondra.”
Kyler nods. “If…”
If he’s free. My heart and soul ache for him. A man I hardly know, but I feel such a connection with.
Kyler straightens his spine. “We should have a code word so we know when the acting isn’t really acting. When we need to meet for one reason or another.”
Ailey taps her lips. “That’s a good idea.”
“Tart,” Damon says. “We can use it as an insult or for food. So we can work it into most conversations.”
“Tart it is,” Ailey agrees.
I rub my thighs, unsure what to do with my hands, but not wanting to sit. “I wish you and I could have been friends, Ailey.”
“There’s nothing stopping us now, is there?” Ailey leans forward with a smile on her face.
“I suppose there’s not.”
Damon paces the floor with his arms crossed, a scowl marring his features. “We have a few more things to discuss, and it won’t be pleasant. But I think with all of us, we can discover something.”
“Which is?” I ask.
“Why did His Majesty ask the Navy to look for merfolk, and why does His Majesty want the phoenix stone?”
Kyler’s shoulders slump, and he makes his way back to the bed to sit.
Ailey frowns. “I have an idea about the merfolk.” She explains about an elixir that could bring back the dead.
I can’t help looking at Kyler. He hasn’t glanced up from the floor in so long.
“It could be innocent curiosity?” Kyler sounds too hopeful. “Maybe he’s been fascinated with them like Gavin has.”
“Doubtful,” I say. But who would His Majesty wish to bring back? He didn’t love the queen. When she passed, he only did the mandatory three months of mourning before moving on to several lovers. Did he have a mistress? What else would His Majesty want a mer for?
“Let’s not speculate on that now,” Ailey says. “Poor Kyler’s stomach is making such a racket. We all need food and rest. I bid you good night until the morning.” She tips her head and leaves for her own quarters.
I nod for Damon to join her. She probably doesn’t need protection, but I want to make sure no one messes with her, though I have a feeling she can take care of herself.
I go to the door and pull the tassel to ring the servants for food. Kyler hasn’t moved from the bed.
He clings to the bed cover like his life depends on it, as if letting go would send him drifting off into the waves rocking the ship.
“I’m sorry for—” Kyler starts, but I take two strides to the bed and scoop him up.
“No need to be sorry for anything. I knew you were a pirate. That you stole. That…” What? Kyler has been violated against his will? Repeatedly. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t pity me.” Kyler pulls away from my arms. “I’m alive. And right now, I have a dragon prince at my disposal, a dinner coming I don’t have to pay for, a bed for the journey, and two favors to look forward to.”
“How do you stay so optimistic?”
“I don’t think about my life. I live in the now because if I remember the past or try to really think of a future… well, it doesn’t go well.” He picks at the skin around his nails. “I do what I can to survive. And most of the time, that’s going with whatever Vex says.”
“But you’re not with him now.” I hadn’t really understood the agreement with Vex.
Kyler fiddles with his palm, the one with the binding spell.
“The binding allows me my freedom at port after I play a game of find the jewel. I can do whatever I want. Because.” He hangs his head.
“I promised if he allowed me that, I’d do everything he wanted me to do on the ship.
I used to fight him over everything. It made his life hard, and mine even more so.
But when he discovered I got so sick I almost died when he didn’t let me shift for a few weeks, we came to an agreement. ”
“A half freedom for a half-life.”
“Better than no life.” Kyler’s stomach growls as someone knocks on the door.
I push it open and take the tray with thanks.
Kyler follows me to the table bolted into the floor in the center of the room.
We sit, and I pass out the food. Nothing fancy—just a bit of jerky, apples, and bread that has already seen better days.
But Kyler eats it all like it’s one of the best meals he’s had in his life. Maybe it is.
“Are you sure you don’t need to shift?” I ask.
“I’ll be fine,” Kyler answers with a mouthful of roll. “But maybe I should swim in the morning, during the day, so you can keep an eye on me.”
I nod. I like that idea a lot. Perhaps we can practice the mer kiss. “Will you be comfortable sleeping in the bed with me?”
Kyler swallows. “Yes… My body is mine when I’m with you. I—”
“I’ll never take advantage of you.” Skies, I hate knowing what has happened to Kyler. “I wish I could make it up to you.”
Kyler cocks his head like a puppy. “Why would you need to make it up to me? You’re not the one that—” He shakes his head. “For a few weeks, I won’t have to worry about anyone—”
“But you being merfolk would still be a secret had you not joined me on my mission.”
Kyler’s mouth opens, then closes. “You’re nothing like I imagined a prince would be like.”
“I don’t think either of us is what the other imagined.”
“How did you imagine merfolk? What did you think someone like me would be like?”
I slide my chair back and get more comfortable after the meal. “I don’t know. I imagined merfolk would move like a dancer, which you do. But your voice isn’t ethereal.”
“It is in the water. I can’t speak when my gills are above water. I can’t breathe either, which is damn inconvenient.”
I snort. “I can imagine.”
When Kyler yawns, I decide it’s time for bed. I pull Kyler’s chair away from the table. “Come, let’s get some sleep.”
“Can we sleep in?”
I drop a kiss on the top of Kyler’s head. “We’ll see.”