Chap 13
"Found her!"
Sable's voice echoed through the garden.
Penny barely had time to blink before flowers and attendants came rushing from every direction.
A circle formed around her where she lay sprawled on the grass.
"Why is there blood down the front of her gown now?"
"Why are her fingers bruised?"
"Look at her hair!"
"There's mud everywhere."
"Celeste is really going to pay for this one."
Penny lay on her back and grinned up at them.
Mary crouched down beside her.
"Why are there black rocks in her teeth?"
Penny quickly closed her mouth.
Sable folded her arms.
"Celeste got to her again."
The certainty in her voice left no room for argument.
One attendant gasped.
"After she survived the drowning?"
Another looked horrified.
"They must have dragged her somewhere."
Sable nodded gravely.
"Obviously."
The story continued growing.
Penny watched in fascination.
"Look at the tears in her dress."
"Those are defensive tears."
"Her braid is falling apart."
"Signs of a struggle."
One attendant pointed dramatically.
"Those bruises weren't there this morning."
By now Penny wasn't entirely sure they were discussing her anymore.
The final version of events involved:
Being stripped.
Thrown into the lake.
Buried in mud.
Dragged away.
Beaten.
Forced to eat dirt.
And somehow escaping despite overwhelming odds.
Penny considered correcting them.
Then decided she rather liked being a legendary survivor.
Many hands pulled her to her feet.
The king was awakened.
He arrived looking sleepy and thoroughly confused.
Then the flowers began talking.
Everyone at once.
The king listened.
His expression grew darker with every accusation.
Darker.
And darker.
Until finally he looked at Penny.
Mud-covered.
Berry-stained.
Twigs in her hair.
Dress torn.
Fingers bruised with berry juice.
Looking exactly like someone who had survived a terrible ordeal.
His face fell.
"Send Celeste to her mother's family."
The garden went silent.
The king's gaze never left Penny.
Heartbreak flickered across his face.
"I will find my Songbird an escort from now on."
Then, apparently satisfied that justice had been served, he yawned.
Turned around.
And started walking back toward his chambers.
Halfway there, he paused.
"When she is cleaned up," he added sleepily, "bring her to me."
Then he disappeared inside and went back to bed.
The attendants took one look at Penny and collectively decided she was beyond saving.
The ruined gown was peeled from her body with expressions of horror.
Twigs fell from the skirt.
Leaves dropped onto the floor.
One attendant held up a torn section between two fingers as though it might be contagious.
The dress was carried directly to the fireplace.
Penny watched it burn.
Honestly, it seemed fair.
A warm bath awaited her in the king's private bathing room.
For the second time that day.
The attendants scrubbed away mud.
Berry stains.
Lake water.
And whatever else she had managed to collect during her adventures.
Then, satisfied she no longer resembled a swamp creature, they retreated.
Penny sank deeper into the steaming water.
A tray of fruit appeared.
Then a fruit drink.
Then more fruit.
Apparently the king's servants had concluded she survived entirely on berries and needed constant feeding.
She leaned her head against the edge of the bath.
The only thing missing was a good book.
Her fingers emerged from the water.
Still faintly purple.
The stains refused to leave.
Penny smiled.
Alyrina.
The sea prince.
The memory made her chest warm.
Then tiredness settled over her.
The day's adventures finally catching up.
Not trusting herself not to fall asleep and drown in luxury, she climbed from the bath.
The attendants immediately reappeared.
A simple sleeping shift was pulled over her head.
Her hair was brushed.
Her feet dried.
Then she was escorted back to the king's chambers.
The room was dark and quiet.
The king remained exactly where she had left him.
Fast asleep.
One arm wrapped around a pillow.
The attendants moved with practiced efficiency.
His arm was lifted.
The pillow was removed.
And Penny was carefully slid back into the space where she had apparently been ordered to remain.
The king made a soft sound in his sleep.
Immediately rolled toward her.
And wrapped his arm around her waist.
The attendants smiled.
Satisfied with a job well done.
Then quietly left.
Locking the door behind them.
Penny felt the king's cold body draw in her warmth.
Slowly warming.
Then returning it to her through the blankets.
Her eyes grew heavy.
Thoughts drifted lazily through her mind.
Alyrina.
The sea prince.
Berry-stained fingers.
The feeling of sea magic wrapped around her like sunlight on warm sand.
Cuddled safely in blankets and strong arms, she surrendered to sleep.
Dreams came easily.
Ocean waves.
Silver laughter.
Sea-green eyes.
Blue hair shining beneath sunlight.
The feeling of home.
A soft touch traced her cheek.
Her lips.
Her hair.
Penny smiled without opening her eyes.
Still dreaming.
Still chasing the fading memory of sea magic.
A kiss brushed her forehead.
She sighed softly.
When fingers slid through her hair, she turned toward the touch.
Seeking it.
Wanting the feeling back.
Wanting home.
Wanting the magic.
Half asleep, she tilted her face upward.
Offering her lips.
A kiss met them.
Soft.
Tender.
Ancient magic rippled through her body.
"My love."
The words were little more than a whisper.
A familiar ache stirred beneath her skin.
His mouth drifted to the curve of her throat.
A sharp sting followed.
Penny's eyes flew open.
The dream shattered instantly.
Not the sea prince.
The king.
The king's eyes closed as he drank from the mark on her neck.
Gently.
Reverently.
As though afraid to hurt her.
Penny didn't care.
She shoved both hands against his chest.
"Mmff!"
The king startled.
Penny twisted violently beneath his arms, trying to escape.
She opened her mouth to yell at him for drinking from her.
Instead, she found herself staring into a face that looked more confused than offended.
The fight drained out of her.
With an exasperated sigh, she flung herself back into the pillows.
The king blinked.
Then sighed.
"I am sorry."
The words surprised her.
"I thought you were accepting me."
The hurt in his voice stabbed unexpectedly at her conscience.
Penny glanced toward him.
A small smile tugged at her mouth.
Immediately his face brightened.
His fingers brushed stray strands of hair from her face.
"Very well, my little Songbird."
Amusement warmed his eyes.
"No kissing until you are fully awake."
Penny had to bite the inside of her cheek.
Yesterday alone she had been kissed by a mermaid, a sea prince, and half the vampire court seemed determined to kiss her hands.
One sleepy kiss from the king hardly seemed worth the fuss.
"There is your smile."
His fingertip drifted across her lips.
The look he gave her was unbearably fond.
"I'll need to find someone to teach you our words."
His hand slid lazily down her arm as he continued speaking.
Certain she couldn't understand.
"I'll give you everything, my love."
His smile softened.
"Now that we are one."
Penny's smile vanished.
The world seemed to stop.
The king was already turning away.
Already parting the bed curtains as attendants entered the room.
Completely unaware.
Penny sat frozen.
The dream.
The kiss.
The bite.
The old magic.
The ribbon.
The vow.
Her stomach dropped.
The king hadn't tricked her.
Hadn't forced her.
Hadn't stolen anything.
Half asleep and dreaming of sea magic and sea princes...
She had kissed him back.
What had she done?
Outside, the sea fell silent.
The wind stilled.
The garden held its breath.
And for the first time since arriving in the kingdom, Penny felt magic answer her from somewhere she could not see.
The old magic had heard her.
Too eagerly.
As though it had been waiting.
And now it knew her name.