The chosen Mers were dressed identically in flowing white robes. There were fewer than a hundred of them, out of the many thousands that had begun the Trials. There was only one row of us this time instead of two, since there was no longer an equal number of boys and girls.

I was at the tail end of the line, with only Dane behind me. Starla was much farther forward. Rip was a few spots ahead of us, sporting a sling that held his arm against his chest, with Marcum between us.

I was going to be assigned a position in the Elite today. All of us were. But it was my presence here that was hardest to believe.

Me. The lonely little orphan Mer with nothing but her wits. I had finished. I had survived.

Thalia was not in the lineup, though I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. She’d lost her arm to Beazil’s bite. He’d spat it out, not having a taste for Merflesh, thankfully. But I was sure she would cause trouble down the line.

I still couldn’t believe she had tried to kill me.

Not liking me was one thing, but murder? And with an illegal weapon on top of it. I knew she would be punished for what she had done. However, I had chosen not to know the specifics. I couldn’t think about it too much.

Today was the day I had waited my entire life for. I would enjoy it, at all costs. I would honor my father and my mother with my composure.

I would be dignity personified.

“You okay, Tri?”

I turned sideways to look at Dane.

“Yes, why?”

“You’re bouncing all over the place.”

I smiled sheepishly.

“Maybe I’m a little nervous.”

“Why?”

“Because we are all the way in the back! What does that mean? We’re going to have to wait the longest to know!”

He laughed at me.

“Silly Mer, it’s a good thing.”

“It is?”

“Yes. It’s almost certain that we are both going to be made Spark.”

“What?”

“Well, I’m not sure about Marcum, but they name Spark last. I can’t imagine they will choose me and not you.”

“Don’t tease me, Dane. You are certain?”

“Almost certain. And Tri?”

He suddenly looked worried about something. His blue eyes were more serious than I’d ever seen them. I immediately wanted to reassure him with a hug, but I held back.

No one wanted to be the Mer who hugged too much.

“Yes?”

“Try not to hate me, okay?”

I tilted my head to the side.

“Hate you? You mean if you’re named Spark and I’m not?”

He shook his head.

“Just try not to hate me.”

I gave him a wide smile. He was worrying over nothing. And I was so happy, it defied reason.

“I could never hate you, Dane. Even if you get Spark alone. You’re my friend.”

He opened his mouth to speak but the horn cut him off. It was time to go in. I squared my shoulders and followed the line into the arena.

We were guided into neat rows of twenty or fewer, five rows deep. The Royals sat comfortably on a platform, elevated above the stands at the edge of the arena. I saw Annaruth sitting by the Queen.

It seemed as if the High Priestess offered me a tiny smile, but I couldn’t be sure.

The ceremony began with music and dancers. Then the naming began.

The first ten Mers were assigned to the Military. I saw Juno and Jaynelle in that group. They would be excellent soldiers, though I would never trust them again. Even though we were all now on the same team.

Next came the Royal Scribes. It seemed odd that Scribes were chosen through battle, but Annaruth’s visions had played a part in that. And any of the Elite might be called upon to defend and protect the Royal family at any moment.

Royal Musicians were also chosen, as well as Advisors and Personal Guards. And then it came time for the Messengers. Starla was one of the first awarded, though she was named Messenger In Training, most likely due to her size. As Annaruth waved her hand over the small Mer, her robes dissolved to form a handsome uniform. I clapped giddily to see my friend so honored. If nothing else, I knew I would be joining her in the rank of Messenger.

Beyond that, I was afraid to hope.

The ceremony paused when they got to Rip. I held my breath as they assigned him to be the Secret Messenger, who would carry the private messages of the Royals themselves, not merely governmental missives. It was a true honor and would keep him more than busy for the rest of his tenure.

Then Marcum was called forward. We held our breath, wondering what assignment he would be given. Everyone gasped as he was named Royal Seer. His uniform was a dark blue, nearly black, and covered in a pattern of gold and silver stars.

“I thought Annaruth was the Seer!”

Dane shook his head, leaning in to whisper.

“Seer is different. It’s very rare. I’ll tell you later. It’s your turn!”

I swam forward, forcing myself to put my shoulders back and hold my head high. Annaruth’s smile was gentle as she made her announcement.

“Katriana Spark!”

I nearly toppled over, but I managed to stay strong as my robes transformed into a golden gown, swirling majestically around me. Dark blue gems adorned the neckline and the sleeves. This was my uniform? I realized I’d never seen a female Spark, not even in photos. I’d never expected anything like this. It was so glamorous!

Tears were in my eyes as I caught my friends’ eyes one by one. Dane, still waiting behind me. Starla, with the rest of the Elite. And Annaruth, who had become almost like a mother to me.

“I couldn’t be prouder, my wild one.”

I nodded and took my place with the others, forming a semicircle in front of the Queen. Only Dane was left. He swam forward, his gaze direct when he looked at the Royals on the platform.

“And finally, Prince Pollux Dane Spark, long may he reign.”

The crowd went berserk as his robes transformed into a golden tunic. The fabric and jewels were similar to what I wore, but Dane also wore the royal sash across his chest and a golden crown upon his head.

“Dane?”

His eyes were on mine. He floated there proudly, the transformation complete. He was . . . the Prince? Not who he’d had said he was, but a Royal?

No. He was the Royal.

No one stood above him but the Queen.

I felt myself want to faint, but I didn’t move. His deep blue eyes bored into me, asking me something. But what?

And then I remembered what he had said. What he had asked of me. He had asked me not to hate him.

I gave my head a little shake and forced a smile to let him know I didn’t hate him. How could I hate him? I was shocked and not just a little bit angry though. He’d lied to me!

But we were strangers when this all began. He had no reason to trust me until now.

My pesky and annoyingly wise internal voice was at it again, mature and far less reactionary than I was. I wanted to hold onto my anger! I wanted to nurse it until I decided how I felt!

I watched as guards surrounded Dane, I mean Pollux, and drew him away. Was he being arrested? What was happening?

“Did you know?”

Rip was beside me, asking me something.

“What?”

“Did you know who he was?”

I shook my head numbly. The arena had erupted into chaos, with the ceremony ending abruptly and without fanfare. The Elite were milling around as the crowd emptied from the stadium.

Starla swam to my side.

“What will they do with him?”

I took Starla’s hand and squeezed it.

“I don’t know.”

“Nothing,” Rip said. “I mean, the Queen looked mad, don’t get me wrong, but what can they do? He’s next in line for the throne.”

I exhaled, feeling relieved. I might be a little confused, but I didn’t want Dane to get in trouble. No, not Dane. His name is Pollux, and he’s the Prince. My cheeks warmed up, remembering the kiss we had shared.

I had been kissed by a Prince, and I hadn’t even known it!

“One thing is for sure—they’ll never let him set foot or fin on dry land.”

“He won’t be Spark?”

“How can he be?”

I swallowed, realizing how restrictive his life must be. No wonder his greatest fear had been chains and ropes. But somehow, he had broken free. Maybe he could in real life too.

“You guys ready for the ball?”

Starla nodded. I shook my head distractedly.

“I need to go somewhere first.”

* * *

It was odd, swimming through the open sea alone, wearing the most exalted Elite uniform in the sea. The gold felt like a second skin, and I knew it was designed to look like shimmering light. Lovely as it was, it was worrisome. I felt exposed.

The quiet gave me time to think, to settle my tumultuous emotions. I was so worried about Beazil. I knew he would be shaken up. I knew he’d been forced to do things that were out of character, and in doing so, he had saved my life.

And the thrill of my victory . . . well, I felt almost too happy, and guilty about that at the same time. My familiar had paid a high price for my victory. In truth, I would have traded it all just to keep him safe.

But life didn’t work that way. You didn’t get to pick and choose what costs you paid or what rewards you might gain. And we hadn’t had a choice in the matter. We’d both had no option but to enter.

It was the law.

I reasoned with myself the whole way, trying to assuage my guilt in what had happened to my familiar. And between arguments, I’d worried about Dane.

He was the Prince. He was my friend. That was it. I couldn’t think past that. As a Prince, he could never truly be interested in someone like me. Princes married Princesses. And I wasn’t so sure I wanted to get married anyway! Not for a long time, and only then if I found the right person.

So even as a Spark, and even if he did have feelings for me, it was utterly hopeless. Better to be smart and squash the strange fluttery feeling I got in my chest when I was around him. Wiser. More mature.

I glanced around surreptitiously, making a wide circle as I approached the cliffs. I dove down at precisely the right spot, seeking the entrance. The light was still good, but I wanted to get back before dark, if at all possible. I didn’t know how my uniform worked after dark. For all I knew, the damn dress glowed. I didn’t need to become a beacon for every predator in the sea, and especially not for any humans who might be out in a boat.

Two-leggers were the most dangerous predators of all. Mers had feared sailors since humans first took to the sea. Triton forbid one of them ever got their hands on a Mer!

I felt him before I could see him.

“Beaz?”

I saw him as I swam closer to the surface inside the cave, a big, unmoving shape that exuded despondence. It was warm in here. He was perfectly still on his favorite shelf, facing the wall. I had a moment of utter panic until I saw the subtle movement of his breath.

He was alive. But I was pretty sure my shark was depressed.

I swam closer, perching on my hip beside him. I lay my hand on his side.

“Beazil?”

He heaved a dramatic sigh but didn’t move.

“I’m so sorry, Beazil.”

Another sigh.

“I wanted to thank you. You saved my life.”

He twisted slightly so I could see his face. His left eye was gone, a thick bandage magically affixed to cover the wound. Then he sighed and twisted a bit more so I could see his working eye.

“Annaruth made you something.” Beazil lifted his head at last, and I smiled. “She made you an eye. But you have to come back to the camp to get it.”

He said nothing, but he nuzzled into my hand. I scratched his favorite spots, just sitting there peacefully together for a moment. He nosed my side where I usually kept my net bag.

“I didn’t have time to get you food, you greedy beggar! I woke up not long before the ceremony, and they wouldn’t let me out of bed until the last moment.”

I pressed a kiss to his nose to take the sting out of my teasing. He’d been through so much. I ran my hands over several long scratches. It looked as if someone had used a dagger to deliberately carve the marks into his magnificent skin.

“Do you want to stay here tonight? You are welcome at the ball, you know.”

Beazil sighed dramatically. I hid a grin. He was going to be all right.

“There will be food. Maybe even bucket loads of shrimp, just for you.” I bit my lip. “I shouldn’t stay here too long. My dress is kinda bright.”

It was dark in here already, and getting darker outside by the minute. The light was waning. It was time to go.

I took a look down at myself and gasped.

Well, that was unexpected.

Apparently, my dress required light to be seen. Right now, I was invisible. Not a little bit invisible. I could see the rock beneath me, as clearly as if my body was made of glass.

I assumed my arms and head could be seen, particularly from the way Beazil’s whole eye followed my movements. But sharks could feel vibrations. So that proved nothing.

But either way, my dress did not make a beacon as I’d feared.

“Come on, Beaz. Annaruth is waiting for us.”

He rolled over onto his back, and I laughed, vigorously scratching his belly.

“Starla is worried about you. And Dane—” My voice caught in my throat. Could I still call him Dane? I shook my head, pushing that thought aside. Of course I could. As long as I bowed, I supposed. “Dane is worried about you too.”

I could practically hear him grumble as he righted himself and swam off the shelf. I grinned and swam to the entrance of the cave. I took one look back, wondering if I would ever be here again.

I bade a silent goodbye to my secret cave and flipped my fins. We swam back toward the camp, where Annaruth had worked her magic once again. I was excited to see what she had done for the ball and what everyone would be wearing. And of course, the food. But nothing made me as excited as my familiar getting his new eye.

Beazil and I swam into camp, where he circled patiently while I sought out the High Priestess. I swam into her tent to find her waiting for me, with no sign of partygoers or magic.

“Hello, wild one.”

“Annaruth! Where is everyone? I thought the ball would be here.”

“No, the camp is being dismantled. The ball is just beginning at the Castle. You haven’t missed anything yet.”

“The Castle?”

“The Royal Castle. Your new home.”

My mouth opened. My father had been an Elite, but he had his own house where he lived with his wife and child. But perhaps that was only allowed after the first hundred years of service, or for the Elite with families of their own. I hadn’t imagined I would be living in the Castle.

The Castle where Dane lived.

Oh, Triton. Here we go.

“I see.”

“You will be fine.” She opened the curtains that covered the door and called out. “Come inside, Beazil.”

He swam through, his massive body taking up almost all the space. She stroked him gently, then adjusted his position so that he lay on his side.

“Such a brave, magnificent soul.”

I bit back a laugh.

“He doesn’t like to be brave.”

“That makes him all the braver.”

I nodded. I felt the same way. His actions in the Trials had been extraordinary, especially considering what a gentle creature he was. He’d been born in the wrong body. But he always rose to the occasion when I needed him to.

I couldn’t have asked for a more stalwart familiar.

“He’ll have his own accommodations in the Royal stables. And all the shrimp he can eat.”

Beazil seemed to smile at that. I know I did.

“I’m going to remove your bandage and give you your new eye now, okay?”

She showed him the magical eye she had created for him. He lowered his nose and offered up his wound in response. I watched as she gently removed the bandage. I closed my eyes when I saw the gaping hole Thalia had made with her dagger.

Thalia! I curse her name! A more vicious Mer never lived!

“Jealous and foolhardy, Katriana. Frightened. Not vicious.”

“But she tried to kill me!”

“I can see into all hearts, Tri. Not just yours. She never wanted you dead. She only meant to best you. She’s always known she is not your equal, in heart or talent.”

I stared at Annaruth as she used steady hands to slip the magic eye into Beazil’s empty socket. She waved her hand over it, and it came to life, whirring and spinning in a kaleidoscope of colors. I stared in wonder as the raw-edged flesh wove itself together to hug the new eye.

“Can you see, Beaz? Does it hurt?”

He nuzzled me and then Annaruth in answer. Then he rolled over and showed us his belly.

“I guess not,” I said with a laugh, giving his belly a scratch. Annaruth was charmed and ran her hand over his stomach, then she took some time to touch every one of his scars. I noticed that they grew at least a shade paler after she passed her hands over each one.

“That’s amazing. Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure.” She winked at me. “Now, how about the ball?”

I nodded eagerly, calling Beaz to come with us.

We swam out of the tent and into the sea.