“Essa. Shh. Darling, it’s me,” a familiar, gentle voice murmured.
“Kai.” She choked back her fear, relief replacing it.
He enveloped her in his warm embrace. “What’s wrong?” He pulled away to peer at her, his sapphire depths filled with concern. “Shh. I’m here. Whatever happened, you’re safe now.” He clasped her to him once more, whispering reassurances in her ear until she calmed. “Is it Nazrin?”
She whipped her head. “Please, I don’t wish to speak of him,” her voice broke, “ever again. Kai, will you take me home?”
“Of course. Here, take my coat.” He draped the heavy fabric across her shoulders. They proceeded to the stables where he’d stationed his horse.
“How did you find me?”
“Aedre told me about this foolish plan, so I rode to the village and searched everywhere before finally coming across you.” He helped her onto the steed and settled in behind her. Essa leaned against him and soaked in his warmth, his heartbeat, and the rhythm of his breathing. They soothed the turmoil in her mind.
As they neared Halcyon, Kai asked the question she’d been hoping to avoid. “Will you stay with me?”
Her throat closed tight, but she nodded. She refused to return to Nazrin’s cabin. Water would shield her from him.
At the lake, they crawled onto the rocks, a few feet away from each other, and faced opposite directions. Essa shivered as she peeled off her dress, thankful she wore her sea clothes beneath it. The night grew cooler. Dark clouds condensed above them and blocked out the moon. A few tiny drops of rain pearled on her skin. By the time Essa finished the morphos, the skies opened into a full downpour. Heavy rains pummeled the surface of the lake. A good time to go underwater.
Her skin prickled. She scanned the forest. Between thick, leafy branches, a pair of predatory orbs gleamed.
Was it Nazrin?
Did she even care?
Those globes didn’t blink as they fixed on her location. Ever watching. Ever guarding.
Dismissing the creature, she dove under the water.
Deep under the surface, she was free again. Free from her human form, from stumbling on awkward, aching legs, from the cold seeping into her skin. She was lost in marveling at how wonderful it was to be back—to be alone and free—but then Kai approached her.
Oh, right, not so alone or free after all.
“This way, Essa.” He cast her an easy grin. “I can’t wait for you to see your new home.”
***
How could anyone exist in such a gilded cage and not go mad? Essa pressed her lips together, sensing Kai awaited a different, more enthusiastic response.
“Isn’t it magnificent?” he pressed, pride puffing his chest.
She gawked at the extravagance of her room in the underwater palace. Gold coated the chamber from floor to ceiling. The walls glistened and sparkled, inlaid with thousands of tiny precious jewels. Exotic, swirling runes were etched into the marble floors and domed ceilings. Rich fabric woven from special sea plants stretched across an enormous four-poster bed. The silks shimmered a deep purple. A beautifully crafted marble dressing table occupied one side of the room and on the other, a large silver chest.
Kai opened the jewelry case on the dressing table and slipped a massive sapphire necklace around her throat.
Her fingers brushed the smooth jewel. “Oh, Kai, it’s too much. I’m not used to such things.” This room will suffocate me. This necklace hung like a noose around her neck.
“You are royalty, my dear Essa. Such things are your birthright. No longer shall you live in squalor. This is your rightful place.” His earnest tone tugged at her heart. Kai loved this place. She wished she did as well.
Essa examined the room in more detail. It was huge, easily three times the size of Nazrin’s cabin. She shivered and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. How she craved to return to those earthy scents of wood and rock, to the simplicity of its design. His cabin was warm, cozy, and inviting. This place was cold, flat, and elitist. No, she didn’t belong here. The frigid stone floors of a prison appealed to her more than this hard marble.
“Your maid will help you dress in the morning, and I’ll present you at the underwater Court.” He kissed her cheek and left, still beaming.
Essa tossed and turned in her bed. Today had been so awful. She winced at the memory of MaKenna’s declaration. He’s my mate.
Those words haunted her, crushing her heart. Bitter tears brimmed in her eyes. She’d been falling in love with him, despite knowing she’d have to relinquish him.
Kai might even be right. She and Nazrin came from different worlds. One couldn’t trust Wind Borne.
She grimaced. Any more than he could trust her? Hadn’t she kept secrets from him as well? Perhaps this was for the best. Immersed in this place, her allegiance to Apollo often sank to the recesses of her mind. She almost believed that this was the life she was leading…
***
A knock at the door woke her. Without waiting for her command, three maids filed into the room. They set about at once styling her hair and applying far too much coloring to her face. She grimaced at her reflection in the mirror. They made her into a painted clownfish.
“Tsk, now. You are a Lady,” one maid admonished. “Do you not wish to appear as one?”
Essa sighed and offered her a weak smile.
Finally, they deemed her ready. She followed one of the maids down a long glowing corridor that ended at a pair of heavy doors. The maid opened them and ushered her inside. It was the same hall she’d visited with Kai. This time though, a hush passed through the space as everyone stopped mid-sentence and gawked at her. Essa cringed beneath their attention, but Kai swam to her side, draped her hand on his arm, and escorted her to the central throne chair.
“Kai, I don’t—”
“Easy, Essa, everyone is watching. Now, sit.”
She blinked in confusion, but at Kai’s ushering, she slumped onto her seat. He claimed the chair to her right. The sea folk gaped at her for a moment before resuming their conversations. One by one, a line of Water Borne formed down the center aisle.
What was she doing on display here? She was no ruler, and she certainly shouldn’t be sitting on a throne.
“Extend your hand, nod, and mask your emotions,” Kai coached.
She didn’t have time to question his instructions before the first myrman approached. The male knelt at her fin. “Sir Wiley, my lady. I welcome you on behalf of our humble community.” He kissed her hand, rose, and bowed before leaving. The next myrman followed suit.
Dozens of Water Borne introduced themselves. Some greetings were short and polite. Other visits lasted half an hour, as a few of the villagers concluded she must wish to hear the local gossip. Even those she’d encountered above the surface formally announced themselves. Apparently, they had to wait for her to be presented to them before they greeted her. Essa shrugged. Much about Court protocol eluded her.
After the first few hours, she grew anxious. Listening to the maiden in front of her prattle on about the current fashion was exceedingly dull. She tapped Kai’s arm. “I must speak with you.”
“Ah, of course, Lady Essa. Come.” He rose and offered his arm. She placed her arm in his and let him lead her to a private corridor.
“What’s wrong, darling? Does your Court not please you?” Sapphire depths flashed at her.
She ignored the tug against her heart. “Why am I here, Kai?”
He scratched at the back of his neck. She seized the opportunity of his hesitation to study him. While he was a worthy male who paid her every honor of courtship, she didn’t sense true desire from him.
He doesn’t look at me as Nazrin did.
Ah, therein lay the difference. Though she no longer sought Nazrin’s affections, neither did she wish for Kai’s.
Why did he amplify his attachment for her into something more?
She placed her hand on his cheek. “Kai, thank you for showing me this underwater Court, but it isn’t for me.” Lowering her hand, she murmured, “I must go back to the surface.”
“Wait.” An odd mixture of defeat and relief clouded his features. “Don’t leave.”
“Then tell me why I should stay.”
“I, ah…” He rubbed the back of his neck again. Whatever secret he kept, he wouldn’t confess it to her.
“Farewell.” She swam away, leaving him to ponder her demand.