Chapter 18
“Your little strumpet almost ruined everything!” My mother storms into my quarters, already mid-sentence.
“She was spotted just outside the city. If Princess Farrasea had seen her—if anyone had seen her—the results would have been… it would have…” She ends the partial sentence by throwing her trident across the room and screaming.
I flinch as it collides with a table, knocking it over and shattering the items on top.
I’ve never seen her this angry before. My hands shake as I hold them up in a placating gesture. “I’m sure no one saw her. If they had, everyone would be talking about it. You know how quickly gossip spreads.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.” She looks around my room, a cold calm settling over her features that terrifies me even more than her previous fury. “It seems I’ve been too lenient with your mate.”
A chill races over my skin at the thought of my mother hurting my starfish.
“No more leaving the city. I want all of your attention on Princess Farrasea.” She straightens her posture, adjusting the necklaces that cover her top half so they lay flat again.
Once she’s reset her appearance, she retrieves her trident then turns a cruel look in my direction.
“And I think I’ll pay a visit to your pet. ”
We stare at each other for a long time. Cold fear ices my bones. I don’t think she’ll risk killing Madi until after the wedding, probably just before the bonding, but there’s still a lot she could do that doesn’t involve death.
“If you touch a hair on her head…” I stretch to my full length, chest expanding.
My mother growls, baring her teeth. There’s something wild and unhinged in her gaze.
“How dare you threaten your queen? Do you want me to throw you in prison, too?” She lifts up, curving her body over mine.
“I am the Queen of Tythas. You will do as I say.” She turns her back on me and swims to the door.
“Nami!” she yells even though I know the guard is right there.
“Yes, Queen Namora?” Nami swims closer, giving me a view of her through the doorway. Everyone is always deferential in the presence of the queen, but Nami’s shoulders are so tense they’re nearly up to her ears, and she keeps her eyes glued to the floor, the posture of prey before a predator.
My mother throws one more look at me over her shoulder.
“Double my son’s protection. He’s to remain within the city walls at all times.
We wouldn’t want anything to happen to him before the wedding, now would we?
” Her display of fake parental concern is blatant even to Nami, I’m sure.
“And send Marius to me as soon as possible.”
Marius is the captain of my mother’s personal guards.
He was with her when she took Madi. I’m sure if she could increase the number of merfolk at Madi’s prison she would, but she probably doesn’t want to reveal her secrets to more than her inner circle.
Which means she’ll just guard me more closely, and punish my mate and me both by keeping us apart.
“Right away, Your Majesty." Nami bows her head even lower. Her hands shake at her side, and her tail twitches nervously. Did my mother do something to terrify the guards even more than normal? It wouldn’t surprise me, considering the mood she’s been in.
“Good.” The queen smiles, showing sharp teeth. “I have an outing beyond the city walls. My son is confined to his quarters until dinner with Princess Farrasea.”
I want to beg and plead, fight, keep her from going, but the second I head after her, Nami gets between us.
“You heard her,” she says, stern and unyielding. She’s not nearly as afraid of me as she is of my mother.
“You don’t understand.” I swim closer. “It’s a matter of life or death.”
Nami shakes her head. “I care for you, Caspian, but I’m not reckless enough to disobey my queen.” She points the tip of her spear at my chest. “Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be.”
“Nami, please. Help me.”
She gives me a sad look, shaking her head before she backs me into the room. The moment I’m across the threshold, she closes the door and engages the lock.
Fuck!