Chapter 31
My mother’s red in the face as she screams. She’s been at it for almost an hour now, berating me for my behavior, my betrayal, for my very existence.
“Why couldn’t you be more like your brothers?” She finally collapses on the chair in her receiving chambers, spent after her tirade.
I stay quiet, knowing it’s not a question she expects me to answer. We study each other. Hands clasped behind my back, I float in front of her, waiting for her judgement. I don’t regret what I did. And she knows it.
The way she looks at me is so full of hatred, my stomach rolls.
I have no doubt she’d kill me if she could do it without angering the elders or losing the treaty she’s so set on ensuring.
My mother has always been a hard woman to live with, but her cold fury has a sharp edge to it now that terrifies me more than ever before.
Refusing to give her the benefit of my fear, I clench my fists and hold my head high.
A knock on the door disrupts our stare-down.
“Come in,” my mother calls without rising.
The door opens to reveal Marius, the captain of the guards, Nero, and Princess Farrasea.
“You summoned us, Your Majesty?” Marius bows before entering the room.
Nero and Princess Farrasea exchange a look. I wonder if she told him about humans and my pack.
“Ah, yes, good. Come in, all of you.” The queen waves her hand, gesturing impatiently at the group. The murderous glint is gone from her eyes, replaced by cold indifference.
After the appropriate deference, they enter.
Marius positions himself beside the queen, just a few inches behind her.
Nero and Farrasea swim toward me. There’s a silent question in Farra’s eyes as she looks at me, and I offer a tiny nod, trying to let her know my pack is safe.
I’m grateful for that small show of concern.
Thankfully, my mother doesn’t seem to know that Princess Farrasea was at the prison. At least she hasn’t mentioned it. I have a feeling we’d all be in a lot more danger if she believed the existence of humans was no longer a closely guarded secret known only to her and her inner circle.
The queen lifts herself to her full height. “I’m moving the wedding up to tomorrow.”
“What?” Nero says. The outrage and panic in his voice surprises me.
Judging by the looks turned on him, I’m not the only one thrown off by his reaction.
Maybe it’s just because our mother asked him to arrange the reception after the ceremony, and he’s not prepared, but I suspect it’s more than that.
The queen narrows her eyes at him, leveling him with a look that has him immediately dropping his head and showing his neck in submission.
“Forgive me,” he says. “I was just unprepared. There’s a lot still to do, and I’m not sure the staff will be ready so quickly.”
“Well, get them ready.” She points to the door. “Go! I expect you to have everything arranged by morning.”
Nero throws one more glance at the princess before turning tail and leaving the room.
“Might I ask why you’re rushing our nuptials?” Farra asks with a stoic expression that gives nothing away.
“I have my reasons.” She flicks her tail in obvious agitation. “Do you have an objection?”
“Of course not, Queen Namora.” Farrasea sinks a little lower, allowing my mother the advantage without giving her neck in submission. “It is my honor to join our two kingdoms in this alliance.”
“Good.” My mother swims closer to me. “And you?”
I bare my neck, but keep my lips sealed. A thousand plans and escape routes flit through my mind.
“Are you not excited to wed the lovely Princess Farrasea, Caspian?”
I hate the disdain she twists my preferred name with each time she says it. Forcing a smile, I glance at the princess. “Of course, it will be my honor as well.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” she whispers in my ear, too quiet for the princess to hear. “If you try anything, I will sink your humans’ ship, and there will be nothing left of them.”
She knows where their ship is? Fuck, of course she does. It can’t be far, and she has scouts who regularly patrol the waters. Even if she’s bluffing, I can’t take that risk. If I can just get to them first, maybe we can slip out of range before she can do anything.
My mother turns a radiant smile toward Farrasea, then flicks her hand through the water. “You’re dismissed, daughter. I’m sure you have much to do to prepare. We’ll see you bright and early for the ceremony.”
As soon as Farrasea leaves, my mother turns back to me, a sneer on her face. “Do not ruin this for me. I know you have never shown interest in politics like your brothers, but Tythas needs this union.”
My mind whirs as she swims closer, her face a scant few milliwaves from mine. An intimidation tactic if I’ve ever seen one. Why could we possibly need this union so badly?
“Sirena is powerful. Being allied with them will make us untouchable.” She swims from one side of the room to the other as she speaks, her movements erratic and twitchy. “The seven seas are growing restless.”
What does she mean by restless? We haven’t had a war between kingdoms in over a century. Does she know something? Or is she allowing the paranoia that’s been creeping into her mind since Father perished to overwhelm her sensibilities? It doesn’t make sense.
“You will marry Princess Farrasea, just as your father intended. You will help her ascend to the throne. And you will forget all about your human pet.” She screams the last bit, picking up a vase studded with bazal gems, and hurling it at the wall.
I flinch, unable to hide the movement, and she smiles before whipping her attention to Marius, who’s been silent through the entire conversation. “Throw him in the dungeons until the wedding.”
Fuck! Now how am I going to get to my mate?