Chapter 21
How can I be utterly bored and anxious at the same time?
State banquets never appealed to me, but this one is worse than normal.
It doesn’t help that my bones and joints ache, and a dull headache pounds behind my eyes.
It’s been too long since I’ve been with my starfish.
But I’m forced to keep up appearances, maintaining the smiling facade.
Princess Farrasea is on my arm, but all of her attention is on my brother, who I swear is preening like those birds they have on land with all the feathers. What were they called? Ah, yes, peacocks.
The two of them have been talking about technology advancements for the last hour, and I want to pull out my hair. If there weren’t multiple guards at each door, I’d try to duck out to see my Madi, but my mother is being extra cautious. Even if she isn’t here.
Just as Princess Farrasea asks me to get her some crestibia jellies that are known to cause a pleasant buzz, there’s a surge of excitement through my weaker bond with Hunter. It steadies my nerves and makes me even more eager to get out of here so I can see my omega.
Maybe I can distract the guards, create a diversion. I’m formulating a plan when my mother, her top advisor, and her personal escort enter. Her brow creases in worry for a moment, but it’s gone just as quickly, and her rehearsed smile replaces it.
“Forgive my tardiness,” she says magnanimously to the room.
“There was something that required… my attention.” Her eyes fall on me, and I shiver under her cold gaze, but her focus quickly shifts back to the crowd.
“I’m so pleased to see you all here to support the upcoming nuptials of my son and the dear Princess of Sirena. ”
Nerocaitan frowns, eyes still on the new entrants though he speaks to me.
“It’s unlike mother to be tardy to anything, much less something as important as this.
I wonder what’s happened.” He places a hand on Farrasea’s forearm before bowing graciously.
“Forgive me, princess, but I must check in with the queen.”
Farrasea watches him go before jolting, guilt washing over her features as she looks back at me. A rosy blush highlights her sharp, pale, cheekbones and she clears her throat, slipping into her powerful alpha persona quickly. “I do hope nothing is wrong.”
“Queen Namora has been… stressed recently.” I shouldn’t do this, but I need to know if Farrasea is as in the dark about humans as I was. “Of course, much of that may be my fault.”
Farrasea’s head tilts. “Oh? You seem so… obedient.” There’s a slight flicker of disgust on her face before it’s replaced by a teasing smile. “How could you possibly be the cause of her troubles?”
I huff a self-deprecating laugh, preparing to stretch the truth a little. I won’t risk my mate’s safety by outright telling Farrasea about humans or my bond, especially not here where we could be overheard, but perhaps I can pave the way.
“Ah, well, I’ve always found the stories my grandfather told me as a merling absolutely fascinating, and I’ve been pestering her about them of late. I found… a new text on the mythical city of Ocearus that contained very compelling evidence it was real.”
“Ocearus?” She laughs once and rolls her onyx eyes. “Next you’ll tell me it had proof land dwellers existed as well? That the fables we’re told of the lost city of Ocearus filled with magic, omegas, and mixed species packs are also real?”
Well, that answers the question of whether or not she knows about humans. I pop a shrimp in my mouth and chew slowly, hoping it doesn’t set off the nausea that’s been my constant companion today due to being separated so long from my mate. Finished, I meet her gaze. “What if it were real?”
Farrasea stares at me curiously, her eyes narrowed like she’s trying to discern if I’m serious or jesting.
She doesn’t know me, I could play this off now as a bit of humor.
Forget trying to make her an ally and figure out another way.
But she speaks before I can convince myself of the right decision.
“Well,” she says slowly. “I’d say that it sounds fantastical and idealistic. But if it were real… it would change our entire society as we know it.”
I swallow hard and nod. It would. It will. The question is, will I be there with my mate to witness it?
She breaks eye contact, glancing toward where my brother and mother are talking in hushed tones. Does he know I’m mated? Are they discussing what to do with my starfish? Gods, I’m becoming as paranoid as my mother, and I don’t know who I can trust.
“Why don’t you show me this text?”
Farrasea’s statement pulls my focus back to her. “What?”
“This text you found recently, the one you’ve been pestering the queen about. I’d like to see it.” Her gaze is a challenge.
Fuck. That’s the last thing I expected her to say.
I haven’t found anything new besides the necklace that was tossed into the sea that alerted me that humans still exist. But my mother took that as soon as I showed it to her.
She denied the whole thing and told me I’d only imagined humans throwing the necklace into the water.
That was when my frustration bubbled over enough to send me searching for myself.
I do have my grandfather’s tomes, and Farra doesn’t know they aren’t something I’ve just discovered.
I can show her those. And maybe, if her skeptical stare is anything to go by, she may be open to the idea of the myths not being fiction at all.
This is dangerous territory, but I’d do anything to save my mate.
I just have to make sure my mother doesn’t find out what we’re discussing or see us leave.
“Of course, princess.” I hold out my arm for her. “Shall we?”