This detour from real life is exactly what I need right now. There are actual mermaids in this water. I can only hope one will approach me when Saban and I eventually enjoy a dip in this beautiful lake. I have so many questions, I wouldn’t even know where to start. It’s times like this when everything that’s happened over the last forty-eight hours feels like a vivid dream. Nothing is real, everything is made up in my mind from a collection of books, movies, and tall tales. If I could wake up in my own bed with Nana rushing me to get dressed for school, I would never take it for granted again.
“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” The heat from Saban’s body seeps through my shirt from behind me. “We can go anywhere you want on this boat, princess. Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen.”
“She is gorgeous. It even rivals the palace with this view of the water. Maybe you should consider becoming a pirate and living at sea instead.”
Saban laughs. “If only pirates weren’t merely fairy tales.”
Huh?
“Who says you don’t deserve a fairy-tale life?” I laugh it off, pretending I already knew that. Even though we’re enjoying downtime, I have to remember to keep my guard up. Invading his thoughts and reading the signs are the keys to keeping myself alive.
“We deserve one,” he clarifies. “What do you say we change into our swimsuits and enjoy the sun before it starts to set?”
“I’ll race you—except I don’t know where the finish line is, so you’ll win.”
“Come on, I’ll show you around the ship while the captain takes us out into the open water. Once we anchor, we’ll jump in and explore the coral reefs and shallow caverns.”
As I expected, the interior of the ship is ultra-modern and every bit as decadent as the palace. However, I wasn’t kidding when I suggested living on the boat and just sailing from port to port for a while. I think getting away from the charged political atmosphere would turn Saban into a different man entirely. My stateroom has every amenity known to man and then some.
Changed and ready for a little sun and surf, I rejoin him on the outside deck. He’s shirtless, lying back on a cushy lounge chair, with mirrored shades covering his eyes. I’ve been swimming with Doug and Phillip plenty of times back home, but seeing Saban like this takes my breath away. His muscular chest is broad and solid. His six-pack abs appear to come naturally to him, and they stretch and flex with his every breath. His long legs are thick and muscular. He’s not aware yet that I’m standing here, gawking over his finely tuned body.
I manage to make my feet move and take the chair next to him. He lifts his head, and even though I can’t see his eyes, I can feel them roaming over my body from my head to my toes. I know precisely when he lingers on certain areas longer than others. The desire building inside him feels like a physical being, an invisible bond reaching out to me with the sole purpose of joining us as one.
“Princess, you are gorgeous. Every perfect inch of you.”
“Princess” is a new nickname he recently started calling me. It makes me wonder if he subconsciously recognizes me somehow. But that’s impossible, so I push the notion out of my head.
“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself. I’m not drooling, am I?”
He chuckles and hands me a chilled glass of freshly poured champagne. Then he lifts his glass for a toast. “To my beautiful princess, who has breathed a new spirit of life into me and given me a reason to become the best man I can.”
“To both of us.” I clink my glass against his and drink to the sentiment.
The ship comes to a halt and the captain weighs anchor, so we grab the snorkel gear, put on our fins, and jump into the clear emerald water below. I’m pleasantly surprised by how warm it is. With my mask and snorkel in place, I dive down and savor the brilliant colors of the schools of fish and the expansive reef.
When I surface for air, Saban suggests we swim to the shallow waters where the boat can’t go and take a leisurely lap there. I heartily agree, so we set off toward the shore of a small island. As the sandy bottom comes into clearer view, more vibrant fish surround us, along with plants and animals darting in and out of hiding places in the coral. We swim along the bend in the shore until the ship is just out of sight, giving us more privacy.
I’ve always been a mountains and forest kind of girl, but I’m in heaven right now and I never want to leave this water. Mermaid life is right up my alley today. We move to the shore, resting on the sand as the waves wash over our feet. Saban sits behind me, his legs on either side of me, and gently tugs me backward. My back meets his chest, his natural warmth seeps into my skin, and his arms encircle me. With the bright sun above, the clear water ahead, and a sexy man at my back, I couldn’t ask for a better setting.
“You know, sometimes I wish I could read your mind.” The soft murmur of his voice flows past the shell of my ear on his warm breath.
If only he knew how hard I tried to stay out of his mind. To give him the common courtesy everyone should be afforded. But when we’re close like this, and his thoughts are so loud and contain such emotion, it’s impossible not to hear them.
“What do you think you’ll find in there?”
“That’s just it. I’m not sure. I’d love to root around in there and flush out your true feelings for me.” His tone is both hopeful and apprehensive. He hopes for the best and fears the worst.
This constant pushing away and pulling closer is hurting him as much as it pains me. The last thing I want is to hurt him, especially when he’s been nothing short of my savior. He’s been patient and kind, loving and affectionate, giving and thoughtful. And my heart does nearly leap out of my chest every time I think of him. Every day, my feelings for him grow stronger. I’ve given him nothing of myself compared to the bounty he has presented me.
I want to give him my heart.
All these secrets I’m keeping are shredding my soul to pieces. But they’re not mine to share, and too many lives are at stake. So, I’ll bear the burden as long as I have to. I imagine this is only a fraction of the stress the crown actually contains. Selfishly, I’ll take his love and give him mine in return…until the reckoning day arrives.
I shift in the sand and turn to face him. When I say the words, I want him to see my eyes and feel the spoken truth.
“You really don’t know how I feel about you?”
He shakes his head, but the hopefulness in his expression belies his answer.
“I’m crazy about you, Saban. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, in my entire life. And I know without a doubt that no one could ever take your place in my heart.”
He cups my face with his hands and presses his lips to mine, his kiss full of gratitude and relief. “I was beginning to think something was wrong with me. How could I be so sure about my soul mate if she didn’t love me in return?”
“I’m sorry I made you doubt yourself and me. I’ve never told anyone this before, but losing my parents has affected me in so many ways. I’ve been afraid to give my love to anyone else. The pain of that kind of loss is unbearable and not something I’ve been eager to relive. But I’ve realized something important in the last few weeks we’ve been together.”
“What’s that?”
“The pain of not giving you my love hurts just as much. If the time comes when I have to face losing you, I’d rather know I gave you all my love while we were together.”
“You’ll never lose me. I’ll always come back to you, no matter what happens. Even death itself couldn’t keep me from you.”
Please remember your vow when the time comes.
I’m not sure which of us moves first. He lifts me as I turn to fully face him. I straddle his lap as he lowers me down. I slip my fingers through his hair as his hands sear the exposed skin of my back with his unique brand. He slides his tongue against mine the moment I open my mouth for his taking. The thin material of my bikini bottoms is hardly a barrier to the growing hardness I feel under me. My hips rock of their own accord, seeki
ng more from the only man who has ever, or will ever, stirred this kind of desire in my soul.
He breaks our frenzied kiss only to resume his ministrations on the sensitive skin covering my neck. With nips, licks, and bites, he works his way down to my collarbone. I slide my hand over his perfectly chiseled chest and across the muscled indentations of his stomach. The feral growl from deep in his throat only gives me more confidence to continue my exploration.
As my hand moves lower, his mouth follows suit. His warm tongue glides between my breasts, languidly lavishing attention there until my fingers trace the tip of his erection. His hips surge upward, pushing against my core and making me whimper with need. He grips my sides with such force, I’m sure I’ll find bruises there. But I don’t feel an ounce of pain—only sheer pleasure.
The rustling in the trees and brush and the heavy fall of footsteps behind force us to separate abruptly. Realizing we aren’t alone on this island makes my chest tingle with anxiety, wondering who’s there and how much of our public display of affection was just witnessed. Saban and I both watch with rapt attention as the visitor draws nearer.
Then a beautiful young woman with thick purple hair steps out from behind the trees. Her steps falter for a moment, and her expression is one of complete shock. She didn’t know she was stepping directly into a love scene right there on the beach. Her eyes dart between Saban and me for a moment before recognition sets in.
“Saban. How are you?” Her tone is cordial but detached. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Hello, Talia. This is Sara…my mate. Sara, this is Talia. She’s from Elderwater Basin.”
“You’re a mermaid?” I ask a little too excitedly. I have no idea if everyone else has seen or met a mermaid before. I should’ve probed Saban’s mind a little to find out, but I’m too far beyond excited to stop myself now.
“Yes, I am.” Her demeanor toward me is much warmer. “It’s nice to meet you, Sara.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Talia. I don’t mean to sound rude, but I have so many questions for you. About your kingdom, about your culture in general. Maybe I’m the last person in the realm who hasn’t met a mermaid before.” I shrug off my ignorance.
“Not at all. We’re normally reclusive, so I’m not surprised. But I’d be happy to sit and talk with you for a while.” She smiles warmly, and the kindness reaches her eyes. It only falters when she glances at Saban.
“In that case, I will take my leave and give you two ladies some privacy. If it’s okay with you, I’ll swim back to the ship and have our meal brought to the beach.” He raises his eyebrows when he looks at me, waiting for my approval.
“That sounds perfect. Thank you, Saban.” In a flash, he’s cutting quickly through the water toward the ship, leaving me alone with a real mermaid. “Talia, do you prefer to sit here on the beach or relax in the shallow water?”
“In the water, if you’d like. That’ll answer one of your questions anyway. Yes, I have legs on land and a fin, complete with scales, in the water.”
“Let me see.” I can barely form a whisper in response. Getting to see this transformation is unbelievable.
She chuckles as she steps into the lake then gracefully submerges the lower half of her body in the clear, shallow water. My brain can barely believe what my eyes see. Her legs and feet meld into one appendage. Then a tail fin pops out, and shiny scales in an array of green, blue, pink, and purple emerge, covering her legs like colorful sequins glimmering in the late afternoon sun.
“I know this sounds incredibly rude, but I mean no disrespect. Can I touch your scales? Please?”
“Sure.” She flicks her tail fin up out of the water, and I run my fingertips along the smooth arrangement of scales covering her legs.
“You’re absolutely amazing. Is there any way I can become a mermaid and swim off into the sunset?”
“I’m not sure it’s quite that easy.” Her laugh is contagious but not mocking. She can tell I’m sincerely in awe of her transformation.
The conversation flows effortlessly as she and I float in the warm water. She describes the underwater kingdom of Elderwater Basin in such vivid detail, I can see it as clearly as the beach in front of me. I ask all kinds of stupid questions—about the men, their babies, their way of life. She answers every inquiry without the least bit of judgment in her tone.
Her attitude changes when the sound of the dingy being started catches our attention. I turn to watch Saban skipping across the water toward us, but her warning leaves me skeptical and hesitant once again.
“You’re sweet, Sara, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you. So, I feel as if I have to say this to you or I won’t be able to live with myself.” She purposely glances over my shoulder at Saban. “Be careful with that one. All is not as it seems with him, and you’ll need all your wits and cleverness when the time comes. Do everything you can to keep your powers at their full strength.”
Talia touches my hand and the familiar zing of mage energy courses through my skin.
Chapter 12
“How was your outing with Saban yesterday?” Addi casts a sideways smirk at me on our daily trek to the Veil.
“It was great at first. Then we stopped on this little island to chill, and a mermaid showed up. That was cool, but when Saban left us alone, she warned me about him. She and I had a great chat about her kingdom and the merpeople, but when he was on his way back, her attitude completely changed. I’m not sure what to make of it.”
“Did Saban notice anything was different?”
“No, he didn’t have a chance. I thought he was bringing food back from the ship for a beach picnic, but he was coming to tell me we had to hurry back to the palace. Some kind of emergency meeting with the officials from all the kingdoms. Saban said he’ll be away for several days, along with his court officers. Do you know what that’s about?”
“Not a clue. But if it’s with the leaders of all the kingdoms, it’s something major. That usually only happens when we’ve had a breach with the outside world, when we’re at some kind of risk of being exposed. Or…” She turns her gaze to me, concern etched in her drawn brows and expressive eyes.
“Or what? Don’t leave me hanging here.”
“Or if they’ve learned the heir to the throne has returned.” She grabs my hand, and we take off in an all-out run toward the woods.
“Don’t you think you’re overreacting? I mean, there’s a strong protective spell over me for a while longer yet.”
“And yet, you still somehow fell through an opening into our world before the cloak was lifted. How do you think that happened? Maybe you did it yourself, but maybe you didn’t, and it’s that chance we can’t take.”
Well, when she puts it that way.
When we’re safely behind the Veil’s borders, Ginevra sits with us while I recount everything that happened from the moment Talia stepped out of the trees until now. Ginevra pats my hand with her cold, wrinkled one to help calm my nerves and reassure me I’m not alone.
“One of the first things you need to know is mermaids can see the future, as it stands at that moment. It’s always changing based on the decisions we make every day. Nothing is written in stone. The future is very fluid, like a fast-flowing river. The emergency meeting is concerning, no doubt. Her warning about Saban should be taken seriously, though. You should stay as far away from him as possible. We can’t be too careful about any of this until we distinguish friend from foe.” Ginevra leans back in her chair and narrows her eyes in deep concentration.
“But Saban is Sara’s mate, Ginevra.” Addi’s eyes dart between the two of us, waiting for direction on how we’re supposed to handle this part of the problem. “How is she supposed to stay away from him?”
“He’s what?” Ginevra jumps to her feet and stares down at me. “Is this true?”
“From what I understand of how mates work in this world, yes. He and I both feel the connection. It grows stronger every day, and it becomes harder and
makes it harder to stay away from each other. He even introduced me as his mate to Talia yesterday.”
“Oh, child.” She quickly masks the deep vein of torment that flashes across her face, but the effects hit me square in the chest just the same. Everything she feels flows directly into me. Fear, alarm, sympathy, and sadness. “That does complicate things.”
“You think? What am I supposed to do?” The need to do something propels me out of my seat. I pace back and forth across the room, wringing my hands and racking my brain for a solution. “What am I talking about? I don’t even believe in this soul mate business. Can’t I just stay here, hidden behind the enchantments covering the Veil?”
“For a while, yes. But if he’s your mate, the forces pulling you together will be too strong. You won’t be able to remain here without him, and he will be tormented without you. These next few days away from you will be hard enough.” Ginevra turns and stares out the window, looking at the trees, but her thoughts are far away.
“Are you saying this time apart will provide a definitive answer to the question that’s been on my mind the last few weeks? If I’m not going crazy from thinking about him night and day by the time he gets back, then he’s not actually my mate?”
“You have a strong stubborn streak, and you’re fiercely independent. That combination makes it more difficult to sway you. It may take a little longer for the separation to bother you. We’ll see how this time apart goes.” Ginevra doesn’t turn around. “We’ll use this reprieve to advance your training. You can stay in the Veil in one of our guesthouses. If he is your mate, these next few days and nights will be especially long and difficult.”
The door opens, and another mage steps into the room. I recognize her from my previous sessions. Her name is Aris, and she’s very talented in her magical abilities. I’ve learned a lot from simply watching her work and letting her thoughts invade my mind.
Cloaked: Easthaven Crest, Book One Page 9