I stepped out of Annaruth’s tent with Starla. It had once again been set up to prepare and dress us. The entire camp had been transformed while we were inside. Gaily colored lanterns hung high, strung between tents all over the campgrounds. The smell of magically cooking food was everywhere.

We smiled at each other. We were wearing Annaruth’s clothing again. Not gowns this time, but brightly-colored party frocks, clothes she had told us we could keep. I could hardly believe it. My short dress was the deep turquoise of warm tropical waters and Starla’s was a dark green that complemented her hair. The dresses were fun, frivolous, and youthful. I’d never worn anything like mine.

When Annaruth first collected us from the finish line, Starla had been in awe of the High Priestess. I couldn’t blame her for that. I had felt the same sense of wonder when we’d first met. But Annaruth was so warm and kind, she quickly set Starla at ease.

“Ready?”

“Where’s Dane?”

I shrugged, pretending not to care. Dane had hugged us both after we’d crossed the finish line. But then he’d immediately gone back to sulking as others came up to congratulate us. He’d also declined to be dressed for the party.

In fact, he’d looked flat-out horrified when we were told of the celebration. I’d been relieved, if not completely overjoyed about it. Once again, I had a target on my back. But I was far too tired to go scavenging, and as usual, my stomach was growling in hunger. The announcement was made right after the short ceremony in the arena where we were awarded matching gold medals adorned with sparkling blue gems.

Real gold and real gems. Even if we weren’t assigned positions in the Royal Elite, we would be set for a long time. We were rich!

I was ecstatic to wear the Royal colors at last. My father would be proud, or at least I told myself that. A deep satisfaction settled in my chest. It was enough to revive my spirits after our ordeal in the dark.

For years, those same colors might have symbolized the life that taunted me, forever out of reach. I’d watched my stepmother open invitations from the Royal court, even wearing those colors herself as the widow of a Royal Messenger. As the child of an Elite, my sister was treated to special privileges. Privileges I had been denied.

I’d been eternally on the outside. But now, that life was once again within reach. I would no longer be an unwanted orphan, cast off like an old tire or a pair of human shoes.

For some reason, the ocean was full of tires and shoes.

I’d be important. No longer a piece of flotsam, tossed on the waves of life. At long last, I would matter. I frowned. I knew that was wrong thinking. I already did matter, if only to Beazel and Lila. And I had made real friends here. They didn’t care about me because I swam fast or had done well in the Trials so far.

They just liked me for me.

I sighed. I really did need to talk to Dane. But first, there was something even more important to take care of. Food. My stomach rumbled, gaining my attention in an instant.

“Let’s get something to eat.” I nudged Starla with my elbow. “Don’t forget to stash some. Beazel loves lobster. He’ll even eat the shells.”

She laughed as I pretended to think about it.

“Actually, stuff anything in your bag. Even if it’s still moving.”

Starla was still giggling as we made our way into the party.

* * *

“Ohh, this is so good.” I moaned as I chewed another crab leg, sucking the meat from the legs. It was cooked, and not still twitching, unlike most of the food I’d eaten in my lifetime. There was even a yellow land-fruit to be squeezed onto the food. It was so tart that it literally puckered my mouth, but in a strangely wonderful way.

Limons, they were called. I found myself fascinated by them. Apparently, they actually grew high above the ground on trees!

“We’d better run back to the tent.” I was feeling guilty about my familiar. He’d been banished from camp, allowed only to hide in our tent or leave the site entirely.

According to Annaruth, he made the other competitors nervous.

“I’ll do it. You talk to him.”

“Huh?”

Starla jerked her head to the side, indicating a lone figure perched on some rocks that overlooked the camp. I hadn’t seen him there. I wondered how long he had been sitting there alone.

Dane was sitting alone and watching us from just beyond the glow of the lanterns. He was sitting on a natural outcropping that formed a ledge, his tail twitching pensively. I noticed he was wearing a hooded tunic again, concealing his hair and much of his face from view.

But I would have known his face anywhere. Even just from seeing a sliver of it. I could see the shape of his full lips. The curve of his strong jaw. The angle of his broad shoulders.

Uh-oh.

I gulped, realizing I might be in deeper than I’d imagined. I was more nervous to talk to this Mer than I was to participate in the trials!

It was absurd! He might be handsome and brave and kind, but that was no reason to be afraid of him. Actually . . . it felt more like tiny minnows were swimming in my stomach than actual fear.

I squared my shoulders and swam through the crowd. He looked up as I came closer but didn’t say anything. I sat down next to him. The view of the party from here wasn’t bad, truth be told.

“Sitting by yourself?”

He smirked.

“Not anymore.”

I rolled my eyes, noticing the goblet in his hand.

“Did you eat?”

He shook his head swiftly.

“I’d rather enjoy the fruits of the vine.”

I frowned, realizing he sounded a bit odd. A little less restrained. People got like that at parties when they had too much fermented juice.

“Human wine?”

“Yes. Have some.”

He offered me his goblet.

“I’m okay. How many of those have you had?”

He shrugged and went back to ignoring me. We sat in silence for a long time, staring out at the party. I was about to give up and leave when he finally spoke.

“Nice dress.”

“What?”

He took a deep swallow from his covered goblet.

“Not as nice as the other night, but more appropriate for a party like this.”

I suddenly felt shy, almost as if I’d done something wrong. There was something in his voice that said the dress was nice, but I was not.

“Oh.”

“You must be eating all of this up. This” —he gestured grandly— “shark shit.”

I stared at him. He was angry with me. But why? I decided it was time to stand up for myself. I turned on the ledge, facing him squarely.

“First of all, I had no choice in coming here. Even if I hadn’t wanted to be a Messenger—”

“A Spark!” He cut me off with a sneer. “Don’t lie to yourself.”

“Fine, a Spark. That is what I want. It’s what I’ve always wanted. But this stuff?” I ran my hand over my dress. “This stuff never mattered to me. I had one dress a year. A uniform. I never complained!”

He was staring at me, an aching look in his eyes. I felt a twisting feeling in my chest.

“As for the Trials, I am not enjoying them! I was almost killed! Not just once either. I was almost killed over and over again! My friends were almost killed! Or at least, I thought I had friends here! The only thing I am enjoying is the food!”

I pushed off from my seat, ready to swim as far as I could go. The tears had started, and I didn’t want him to see. Crying under water was actually incredibly conspicuous, due to the differing saline content. I would shortly be sitting in a cloud of tiny pale tear bubbles.

And I couldn’t bear for him to see me like that.

Don’t pity me. Hate me, ignore me, but please don’t pity me.

A hand closed over my shoulder, stopping me. I turned to see Dane looming over me. He was close. He moved even closer.

The first of the tear bubbles floated between us. His eyes were on my lips. Mine drifted down, settling on his firm lips. And then he was kissing me.

His hands were warm on my shoulders. I could feel heat coming off him, soothing me. And the little minnows inside my stomach were now officially doing somersaults.

I sighed as he lifted his head.

“What was that?”

The corner of his lip curled up.

“Haven’t you ever been kissed before?”

I shook my head, still in shock. It was a good shock, but I was still reeling.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“I am glad to be the first.”

I arched a brow at him, my senses starting to return.

“Well, if you think a kiss is going to make up for acting like a jellyfish all day, you are sorely mistaken.”

He ran his hand through his hair.

“Look . . . I’m sorry, Tri. I just didn’t want you to change. I like you the way you are.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. It was a nice enough sentiment, but I did want to change. Not who I was, but outwardly. My position. My job. My future. I wanted a new life, a better life.

But when he said he liked me . . . well, that had pretty much made up for everything else.

“Well, I suppose I can forgive you.”

He laughed.

“Good. Come on, let’s get something to eat before it’s all gone.”

I made a face at him.

“Don’t worry, Starla already took a bunch of food to our tent. You’ll have to fight Beazel for it though!”

Dane nodded solemnly.

“I think I can take him.”

I was laughing as we rejoined the party, feeling lighter than sea foam.