“Yes, Your Highness,” he said and stepped away from the wall.
Samantha leaned over and whispered something to Prince Bronson that made him laugh and pull her into a hug.
I spun on my heel and fled the room as quickly as I could without drawing attention to myself.
Halfway down the hallway, Preston grabbed my hand and pulled me down a side passage. He made several more turns and then pulled me into a large room that smelled like him.
“Sit,” he ordered me.
I sat in a large, high back chair, letting my head fall into my hands.
He locked the door and then shoved a glass of water against my hands until I grabbed it.
I drank and met his eyes.
“It’s her, isn’t it?” he whispered.
I nodded. “We’re all in terrible danger.”
“Was that story true? Did you sell your soul to her for a man?” he asked.
I nodded.
“And where is he?” he asked.
“Screwing the princess of the mermaids,” I whispered.
“Mermaids? Mermaids exist?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes, we’re real.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I froze.
Being a perceptive male, he didn’t miss it. “You? You’re a mermaid?”
Groaning, I dropped my head back and looked up at the ceiling. “Barnacles.”
“Where’s your tail?” he asked and touched my leg.
“She used a spell to give me legs to come here,” I answered without looking down at him.
His hand skimmed up my lower leg, stuttered a minute, and then finished until it rested on my knee. “Do you miss your tail?”
I nodded. “Yes, very much. I also miss the ocean.”
“Would you like to visit the ocean tonight?” he asked.
I sat upright and looked down at him. “What?”
He smiled and his thumb rubbed my knee. “We can go and play in the waters while Lady Samantha and the prince are getting reacquainted.”
Swallowing hard I asked, “Should we leave them alone that long?”
He shrugged. “She’s been visiting for a year. A few hours more likely won’t make a difference. Plus, we can’t let them know that I know who she is.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
We walked out to the horse stables, and I fidgeted nervously.
“I don’t know how to ride,” I whispered to him as he flagged down a boy working in the stables.
“It’ll be fine,” he said. The boy came up to us and Preston ordered him to saddle his horse.
The boy nodded and hurried back inside.
Tilting my head back, I looked up at the evening sky. It was still early enough the colors hadn’t changed, but the clouds seemed to be growing. Was a storm coming?
The boy returned with a white horse in tow.
Preston took the reins and pet the horse’s muzzle. “I’m going to help you up into the saddle, okay?”
I chewed on my lip and nodded.
Preston put the reins over the horse’s head and sternly said, “Stand.” He picked me up by the waist and set me in the saddle before I had time to protest.
I gaped at him. “How are you so strong?”
He smiled, swung his leg up and over the back of the horse, and settled himself behind me. “You’re not the only one with secrets.” With his arms on either side of me, he picked up the reins and made a kissing sound.
The horse burst forward.
With a yelp, I grabbed the front of the saddle.
Preston wrapped an arm around my waist, putting the two reins in one hand, and said, “I won’t let you fall.”
I had expected a horse ride to be bouncy, but it was incredibly smooth. My body flowed with the horse and the heat within me built at being in such an intimate position with Preston.
As one of final my days, I was definitely enjoying this moment.
The instant the ocean came into view, my entire body began tingling. The moment Preston stopped the horse on the beach, I jumped off, fell in the sand, jumped back up, and ran right into the surf.
The cold water splashed against my body, enveloping me in a hug.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, I dove under the water and closed my eyes.
Home.
Preston’s hands touched me and I surfaced, albeit reluctantly.
He pushed my wet hair out of my face and chuckled. “You really love the sea.”
“It’s my home,” I said.
His smile grew and then his lips brushed across mine, as soft and feather light as the butterflies.
“I need to tell you something,” I blurted.
He took a step back and arched a brow. “Okay.”
Walking towards shore so I didn’t have to look at him, I quickly told him the true, full story of how I came to the castle.
He didn’t respond, so I turned to look at him.
His face was full of fury. “So, you either convince Prince Bronson to give up his soul or you lose yours forever?”
I nodded. “And I decided after learning how good he is that I refuse to give her his. I would rather she have my soul for eternity than risk hurting such a good person.”
“But she is already here, engaged to him and probably trying to convince him to give his soul to her?”
I nodded again.
He marched out of the water and grabbed his horse’s reins.
“Where are you going?” I asked, fear and defeat at his impending abandonment crushing my heart.
To my utter disbelief, he held out his hand. “We are going to save our prince.”
“You’re not going to leave me here or toss me in the dungeons?” I asked, tears welling in my eyes.
He walked to me. “I’m not human either, Morgane. I know what it is like to have no choice in this magical world. You were willing to sacrifice your own soul, again, for another person. Such a heroic being should not be punished, but praised. We will defeat her together and save this kingdom.”
I threw myself against him and he wrapped his arms around me. “Thank you.”
“Keep being honest with me and I will never let you be alone again,” he whispered. “Together we are stronger.”
Chapter 6
Samantha stood on the castle steps when we returned, her arms folded and a scowl on her face. “Why were you in the ocean?”
“I wanted to visit it,” I said.
She sighed. “You’re lucky you only stayed a little while or your spell would have worn off.”
My mouth dropped. “You should have warned me about that!”
“It’s not permanent,” she said and rolled her eyes.
“Why send me here if you’ve already infiltrated?” I asked bluntly.
She looked at Preston who came up to my side and groaned. “Of course you told him. He’s your type. I’ve been working on this for four years and haven’t progressed. I needed help and since you’re eager to get your soul back, I brought you.”
“It’s not going to work,” Preston said.
“I’ve decided to give up my soul. I won’t help you get Prince Bronson’s,” I said defiantly.
She laughed. “You already have helped. All my plans are falling into place now.” She spun and then over her shoulder said, “And don’t even think about trying to tell him about me. I’ve spelled him. Night!”
“She doesn’t have it yet,” Preston whispered. “There’s still hope.”
I nodded and followed him inside.
“We should stay together,” he whispered. “So she can’t separate us.”
My eyes widened. “In the same room?”
He nodded. “I’ll sleep on my couch so you can have the bed.”
It was a good idea to stay together. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to kill Preston.
“Okay.”
My sleep had been fitful despite being on Preston’s incredibly soft bed. I woke with bags beneath my eyes and a heaviness throughout my body.
Preston had a maid dress me
in pants and a blouse again, that way I could run easier if necessary.
Together, we walked to Prince Bronson’s quarters.
At the door, Tulio gave Preston a disapproving look before opening it. “I thought you were immune?” he whispered to Preston.
Preston chuckled. “You’ve got quite the imagination, Tulio.”
“You pull one dagger on a man and suddenly you’re the town trollop,” I muttered.
The second guard laughed and tried to cover it up with coughing.
I gave him my best smile as I walked into the room.
That smile disappeared when I saw Samantha and Prince Bronson standing together by the window.
Prince Bronson dropped to one knee, a ring in his hand. “My beloved, Samantha. Although our engagement was decided on paper, I thought you deserved a true proposal. You are the love of my life and I would give my heart and my—”
“No!” I screamed and ran at Prince Bronson.
“—soul,” Prince Bronson finished while scowling at me.
Samantha’s body glowed, her back arched, and maniacal laughter bubbled out of her. Magical winds swirled around her and the room, knocking things off counters, keeping me away from them, and drawing the guards’ attention.
She turned to me with a wicked smile. “A soul given freely cannot be bartered for. Your soul is mine, Morgane. You are mine.” With a flick of her wrist, she sent me flying into the wall.
I yelped in pain and slumped on the ground.
We’d lost. We were too late.
No. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. Evil couldn’t triumph.
Samantha stripped away her disguise, revealing her true self. Her tentacles stretched beneath her, making her taller.
“Samantha?” Prince Bronson asked. He still knelt on the ground, but his breathing looked labored.
“You fool,” she sneered. “So easily manipulated. Although it took me longer than planned, I finally got you to give me your soul. Your pure soul will make me one of the most powerful Cecaelias in history!”
“But not the most powerful,” Preston said.
“Stay back,” I warned him.
Tulio helped me to my feet and wiped blood from my cheek where it had dripped from my head. I hadn’t even realized I’d hit my head. Tulio’s eyes were wide. “What’s this?”
“She is the sea witch, Sacha,” I said.
Sacha turned her attention on Preston. “What do you know? You aren’t part of the ocean.”
“I know that Uschi is the most powerful Cecaelia and you are nowhere near as powerful as her,” Preston said.
Inhaling, I prepared to use the only magical weapon on me, my poison darts. I exhaled, aiming for Sacha, and the darts shot out of my mouth.
Sacha batted them away, snarling, and faced me. “You’re on my last nerve, mergirl.” She snapped her fingers and my legs closed and stitched together into my tail, shredding the pants.
I screamed as I fell, the pain almost as bad as when my tail had split into legs.
“What the—” Tulio gaped.
Preston squatted and picked me up in his arms, one beneath my tail and one around my back. “Release Prince Bronson’s soul and Morgane’s,” he ordered Sacha.
She laughed. “And why would I do that?”
Preston pressed a kiss to my lips and said, “I will free you.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
He handed me to Tulio who, dumbstruck, took me without hesitation.
Preston faced Sacha, took a breath, and as he exhaled, layers of spells unraveled. Layers upon layers of magic stripped away from him until the man disappeared and a being of magic and beauty took his place. Long silver hair flowed around his shoulders and magic swirled in it’s own wind storm.
“Demigod,” Sacha breathed. She made a fist and the prince cried out in pain. “Come any closer or try to attack me and I will kill him and your precious mergirl.”
Preston held up his hands. “I offer a trade,” he said.
Sacha’s eyes narrowed. “A trade?”
“My soul—” Preston said.
“No!” I screamed. “Don’t!”
“My soul for Morgane’s and Prince Bronson’s souls. My soul will make you ten times as powerful as theirs combined.”
“Who is your father?” Sacha asked, practically salivating at the idea of possessing his soul.
“It doesn’t matter. You can sense my power level,” he snapped.
“Will he come after me for revenge?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Doubtful, but if I make this deal, he cannot void it.”
“You moron, don’t do this,” I cried.
Why was he willing to throw away his soul for someone like me? Or was his loyalty to Prince Bronson that strong?
“What is this?” a deep voice asked behind us.
We all turned.
King Bartholomew stood in the doorway hands clasped in front of him calmly. Like there wasn’t a Cecaelia next to his son and a demigod in front of them. I only knew who he was by the paintings in the hallways.
“I have it under control,” Preston said.
King Bartholomew rolled his eyes. “Sure you do. Status?”
The other guard whispered in his ear quickly.
The king nodded, glanced at me, and then looked back at Sacha. “Release my son’s soul or I will call in my reinforcements.”
“I’ve been offered a trade,” she said.
“Denied,” King Bartholomew said. “As his king, he must run magical contracts by me. Release my son’s soul, last warning.”
Why was he so calm? What trick did he have up his sleeve?
“We will make this trade,” she told Preston.
“No,” I snapped.
King Bartholomew sighed. “Very well.” He leaned out the door and said, “She’s in here.”
In through the door walked a beautiful red haired man and a fierce man with short dark hair.
Behind them, a dark woman with gorgeous curly haired walked with the confidence of a queen…no, a warrior.
Two more men came in behind her and they spread out, blocking the exit fully.
“You should have kept to your small-time souls,” the woman said. “You drew attention and exposed your existence to me. I had thought you were dead.”
Sacha’s face paled. “Why are you here? You’re supposed to be in Greece.”
“Idiot,” The fierce man called. “What are you doing?”
Preston sighed. “I had everything under control.”
The man looked at me. “Mermaid out of water?”
The woman turned in my direction. “She has your soul?”
I nodded.
“A merman?” she asked.
Heat covered my face as I nodded.
She smiled. “He dead?”
I shook my head.
“Not yet,” Preston muttered.
“You cannot take a soul from me that was given freely,” Sacha said, her voice high and desperate.
“No, but if I kill you, all of their souls will be freed,” she replied, her smile turning into a smirk.
“Wolfram, why are you here?” Preston asked.
The fierce one said, “Dad was worried about you. Then, Uschi received word from King Bartholomew that he had suspicions about his son’s fiancée. So, here we are.”
Dad? Were they siblings? Uschi? Wasn’t that the name Preston mentioned earlier?
Sacha yelled and slammed her hand on the ground, opening a portal to the beach. She quickly leapt through, Prince Bronson wrapped in one of her tentacles.
Uschi sighed. “Why do they always run?”
“Uschi,” King Bartholomew growled.
She waved her hand dismissively. “We’ll get him back.” She set a shell on the ground, muttered a word, and a portal opened. “Bring the mermaid.”
Preston took me from Tulio, who had simply stood frozen throughout the entire ordeal.
Uschi and the four men with her stepped t
hrough and Preston followed with me in his arms.
The sea roared, and huge waves crashed like a storm yet there were no clouds.
“Stay back, pup,” the red haired man ordered Preston.
Preston sighed, but stayed where he was as the others headed towards the ocean.
“Who are they?” I asked.
“Uschi, the sea witch, and her four selkie mates. They’re my half-brothers,” Preston answered. “She is the most powerful sea witch to ever live.”
“So, you’re a demigod, huh?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Yeah.”
Uschi reached the water and as soon as it touched her toes, it stilled. She shifted into her Cecaelia form and waved her hands around.
The men, her mates, flanked her, their eyes scanning for threats.
Sacha tried to attack one of the men, but Uschi deflected the attack with a flick of her fingers.
“It’s over,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.” With a deep breath, she made a fist with one hand.
Sacha cried out, dropping Prince Bronson into the water.
One of the men turned into a seal and leapt into the water, grabbing the prince by the back of his shirt, and pulled him to safety.
Sacha screamed loud and long and then burst into a plume of black smoke.
Prince Bronson and I gasped as our souls returned to us, making us whole again.
Disbelief coursed through me.
She was dead.
Sacha was dead.
And my soul was back with me.
It didn’t seem real.
Uschi turned and smiled at us. “Tell King Bartholomew that my debt is paid and you two are safe.”
Prince Bronson nodded. “Thank you.”
Wolfram looked at Preston. “Don’t screw it up. Oh, and visit Dad. He misses you.”
“Later, little bro!” the selkie who had rescued Prince Bronson called, smiling wide.
Uschi whispered something while touching a bracelet and the group disappeared.
“Did that really happen? Or am I hallucinating?” I asked.
Preston chuckled and squeezed me in a hug. “It happened. You are free.”
“What happens now?” I asked, looking up into his eyes.
He smiled. “That’s up to you. You are free and able to do whatever you want.”
“Whatever I want?” I asked.
He nodded.
I leaned up and kissed him.
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