Merman's Love (Merman's Kiss, Book 4)

by Dee J. Stone

  The sharks holding me hostage move aside as Damarian makes his way toward me. It’s as though he’s moving at super slow speed. Our eyes are locked on one another as the love of my life inches closer to me. All I want to do is fling my arms around him and kiss him until our lips grow numb and hug him until our ribs crack, but I’m worried my sudden movement might set off the sharks and Guards.

  “Cassie,” he breathes again, his voice so soft, so loving, so relieved. Even though I can’t feel them, I know my eyes are overflowing with tears. Finally, after everything I’ve been through these past two days—after everything we’ve been through—we’re standing face to face again.

  “Damarian,” I whisper.

  It looks like all he wants to do is grab me by the waist and lower me to the ocean floor and dig his lips into mine, kissing me and kissing me so passionately as though the world has come to an end. Because in a way, it feels like it has. But for starters, we’re in public. Secondly, he’s the king. And thirdly, I’m supposedly one of the most dangerous people in the ocean.

  Damarian holds out his hand toward me. I’m about to slip mine into his when that burly Violet leaps in front of Damarian. “My king, I beg you to reconsider—”

  Damarian glares at him, and once again, he shrinks back.

  When my hand finally makes contact with his, I swear I hear a symphony playing in the background and fireworks shoot to the sky. Okay, that’s all in my head, but our hands locking like this means so much, says so much. The last time we physically saw or touched each other was when I was trying to flee from the ocean. I shoved Damarian into one of the walls of the cave we were in and told him not to come after me.

  And now we’re finally together again.

  Ignoring the sharks and Guard glaring at me, I lean into Damarian, tucking my body into his. He lays his chin on the top of my head.

  “My king, you cannot intend to bring the beast inside the palace,” one of Damarian’s guards says.

  “I fully intend to,” he responds.

  “But she is…she is...”

  “She is your queen.”

  That seems to silence them. For a second, I’m worried they’ll start bowing down to me, and I’m relieved when they don’t. I wonder if my body glows in the same manner Damarian’s does. I hope not. I have no intention of being the queen of the merpeople. I mean, Damarian’s going to give the throne back to Kiander and Flora, won’t he? God, I hope.

  “It’s okay,” I find myself saying, though I doubt any of them give a damn about what I have to say. “Please don’t treat me as your queen. I’m here to help.”

  “Have you not done enough?” the burly Violet demands.

  My tongue grows thick. Damarian rubs my arm. “She is your queen and I demand you to respect her.” He moves his lips to my ear and whispers, “Pay no attention to them. Come.”

  With the four Violets flanking us, plus many more and Fiske—though, he still looks at me in that hostile way—we enter the palace. It’s as beautiful as the last time I was here, but there’s no mistaking the melancholic atmosphere. Damarian leads me to a side room, where I hear whimpering. As soon as we enter, I see little Zarya lying on a stone table with Kiandra at her side. She’s trying to soothe her daughter with ocean plants, but it doesn’t seem to be working. The twins, Syd and Syndin, surround the table, their eyes wide and full of concern. I’m glad to see Syd has made it back to the colony safe and sound. The last time I saw him, he and Doria’s friend Hareta sought Damarian and my help because Doria left home.

  “Cassie,” Kiandra says. She kisses Zarya’s forehead before swimming over and wrapping her arms around me. I feel myself melting into her, so relieved that she doesn’t have any ill feelings toward me. “I am so glad you are well.”

  “Thanks. I…” My lower lip trembles. “I’m so sorry about what happened to Zarya. I didn’t mean…I mean—”

  “She was foolish to leave the colony!” Syndin says, his hands balled into fists. “Why did you leave the colony, Zarya!”

  “Syndin,” Kiandra warns.

  “She is injured!” I can’t see his tears, but I know they’re there.

  “She is a fry,” Damarian says. “She does not understand the gravity of this war.” He glances at me. “All she wished was to seek Cassie and learn of her welfare.”

  My eyes are downcast. “I’m sorry.”

  Damarian rubs my back. “Do not fret. No one is to blame for this.”

  He’s wrong. I’m to blame, and I don’t know how long it’ll take me to forgive myself. If I ever will forgive myself.

  Zarya moans, her head rolling from side to side. Kiandra rushes to her, followed by me. I gaze down at her, seeing the way her eyes flutter frantically, the way her gills expand and contract violently. Like she’s in a lot of pain.

  “I stopped the bleeding,” I tell Kiandra. “But I don’t know if I can do any more.”

  “It is the wound of a sea serpent,” she says quietly. “I am not certain my plants will help.” She strokes the top of her head. “Fight, my little darling.”

  Damarian swims to her other side and kisses her forehead. Then he takes my hand and leads me to another room, the throne room. Fiske follows close behind, his eyes still hostile when they sweep over me. I stop dead in my tracks. I’m not sitting there. As if he can read my mind, Damarian shakes his head. “It is not necessary for you to take the throne. I merely wish for you to be at my side.”

  “Okay.”

  He settles down in his chair and I float next to him. Morteran and many more members of the Guard join us.

  “What is the status?” he asks them.

  A Sapphire moves forward and lowers his head. “I have heard word from Syren. Our numbers continue to diminish. He fears…” His voice wavers. “He fears it is a battle we cannot win. The sea serpents…” His eyes flit to me before focusing back on Damarian. “The sea serpents are too mighty.”

  “I killed my dad,” I say. “That had to have weakened them.”

  Damarian’s face fills with shock and sympathy. “You have slain your father?”

  I nod. “He was the one…the one who…Zarya,” is all I manage to get out.

  A shadow crosses Damarian’s face. “I am sorry, my love.”

  “No, don’t be sorry. It needed to be done. Now my dad is free.”

  His hand links in mine.

  “What of recruiting other sea creatures?” Damarian asks.

  A female Ruby moves forward and bows her head. “My king. We have managed to gain the orca whales, the jelly fish, and the barracudas as allies.”

  “What of the larger mammals, such as the sperm, humpback, gray, and right whales?”

  She bows her head again. “We are currently negotiating.”

  Damarian must see the surprised expression on my face, because he squeezes my hand. “We believe the only manner we can defeat the sea serpents is to recruit as many allies as possible. We have asked the Ruby clan to act as ambassadors, for they are the most peaceful clan and are talented in negotiating.” He shakes his head. “It is the nature of the blue and sperm whales to keep to themselves. I am not certain we will receive their assistance. It is quite a shame, for they are the largest creatures in the sea.”

  The room grows silent as Damarian contemplates what to do. After a bit, he looks at the Ruby. “Please seek out the creatures again. They must be informed how essential it is that they aid us. For if we do not defeat the sea serpents, the ocean will fall to them. And we will be forced to bow to their will.”

  The Ruby nods before swimming away.

  “How far have they breached?” Damarian asks.

  An Emerald bows his head. “They are nearing the Sapphire colony.”

  Damarian releases a heavy sigh. “Has every single Sapphire evacuated?”

  “Yes.”

  “How many times have you checked?”

  “Three, my king.”

  “Please check one more time. Do not forget the locations the fry journey to when
they play. We cannot lose any more children of the sea.”

  The Emerald nods before leaving.

  “Damarian, where is everyone being held?” I ask.

  “At the Diamond clan. It will be a while before the sea serpents reach it. My family remains here, as well as Flora’s.” He looks down. “I do not know how much longer we can defend.” He looks at the others. “We need many more creatures of the sea to aid us.”

  A male Ruby comes forward and lowers his head. “I shall personally search the water and seek help from others.”

  “Thank you.”

  The Ruby leaves.

  Damarian turns to Morteran. “Have we managed to recruit more children of the sea to aid in the battle?”

  Morteran bows his head. “My king, many wish to join but unfortunately they are fearful. We are not accustomed to war.”

  Damarian lowers his eyes. “I will not force them. It is not what we do.” His gaze flicks to Morteran. “Most do not understand how dire our circumstances are. Morteran, you need to help them understand that we require their help. If we do not win this battle, we will be lost forever.”

  Morteran bows. “At once, my king.” He swims away.

  Damarian directs his attention to a Sapphire. “Please send word to my father that I wish to speak with him.”

  “Yes, my king.” He swims away.

  Damarian tells the others they can leave, and once we’re alone, he puts his arms on my waist and gently pulls me to his lap. I twist around so that I face him, my tail wrapping around his middle. Then I bury my face in his chest and cry.

  Everything comes out, the pain and guilt I’m feeling. The way I feel responsible. Damarian strokes my back and kisses the top of my head and temples, whispering comforting words. But I don’t think anything he says will soothe me. I just feel so crappy.

  “I’m s-sorry,” I hiccup.

  “Do not fret, my love. We will discover means in which to annihilate those beasts. We are not a species that surrenders easily.”

  “But so many of you have died. I have the memories in my head, Damarian. I’ve seen what I and the rest of them have done. I…” A memory of an Emerald merman sending his tiger shark at me spins in my mind. I was this close to killing the shark, but he managed to dodge my attack. “Kyle,” I say. “He’s fighting?”

  Damarian nods.

  I could have killed Kyle and his shark. I could have…

  I cover my face. “I don’t know if we can defeat them.”

  “Cassie.” Damarian holds me a few inches away from him and looks closely into my eyes. “I wish to tell you something, but you may not like it.”

  I swallow the fear pricking my stomach. “Okay.”

  He rests his palms on either side of my face. “Promise me that if circumstances grow dire and the sea serpents indeed prevail, you will return to land.”

  “What?”

  “You are the sole child of the sea who has the ability to shift into a human. You are the only one who can escape.”

  I feel my eyes bug out. “You can’t expect me to abandon all of you and just run back to land.”

  He closes his hand around the back of my neck and rests his forehead against mine. “You are the sole being with the ability to shift into a human.”

  “I heard you, Damarian. But I refuse to do it.”

  “Cassie—”

  “You guys are my family. You’re my mate.”

  “If the sea serpents triumph, they will kill me. I have taken the throne. I possess the power they desperately seek.”

  I try to push him away, but his hold is too strong. “You must promise me, Cassie. Please, I beg you.”

  “I’d sooner sacrifice myself than let them kill you.”

  “You belong on land, my love. That is your true home. Not here.”

  “That’s bullshit. Your home is my home—”

  “If the sea serpents kill me, you may no longer be bound to the ocean. It is possible your body will no longer have the need to change into a child of the sea. You will be free.”

  This time, I manage to push him away. I get up and glare at him. “I can’t believe what you’re telling me. You honestly expect me to just leave you? After everything we’ve been through?”

  “I love you so much, Cassie. It will ease my mind knowing that you are well and safe.”

  “Well and safe and without the love of my life,” I mutter.

  “Humans do not mate for life. You will be able to move on and meet a wonderful human male—”

  I slam my hands over my ears. “I’m not listening to this.”

  “Cassie, you must!”

  “You just told me the merpeople won’t surrender easily! All of the sudden now you are?”

  He makes a move to gather me into his arms, but I slide to the side. “Cassie…”

  “You’re my life, Damarian. If you die, I die with you.”

  “I will not accept this!”

  “You felt the same way when I wanted to kill Cassila. You didn’t want to live on without me.”

  “Because you are the most important being in my life. I could not live if you were to perish.”

  “And you don’t think I feel the same way? Why do you think you love me more than I love you?”

  This time, I let him take me in his arms, and I clutch him as I sob into his shoulder. “Cassie, my love.”

  “You can’t make me promise you that. It isn’t fair.”

  He kisses me all over the face, his lips gentle, warm, and so loving. “I know I would react in the same manner if that is what you requested of me. But the children of the sea cannot flee the ocean. We are bound here because of the poison which prevents us from shifting to humans. You are the sole being who can survive. That is all I wish for you, my beautiful Cassie. For you to survive.”

  Now he’s the one weeping. I don’t see his tears, but his entire body heaves and I feel his gills expanding and contracting wildly on my neck. “This sucks, Damarian. So, so much.”

  “I know.”

  “I want to fight by your side until the very end.”

  “You have a life on land. People you love. All who I love are here with me in the sea.”

  I don’t want to admit how right he is. I have so many people on land who will worry sick about me if I never return. Leah, my mom, Uncle Jim, my aunt, my cousins, and other relatives. Timmy and my other former students who promised to keep in touch. It would be selfish of me to sacrifice myself in the ocean. But at the same time, how can I abandon Damarian and his family? I was the one who brought this hell upon them. I need to be the one to get rid of it.

  I pull out of Damarian’s embrace and shake my head. “We don’t give in, Damarian. We never give in. We will defeat them. That’s what I’m going to promise you right now. That I will rid the ocean of these beasts once and for all.”

  Chapter Twelve

  When Damarian and I leave the throne room, I freeze. Syren is here.

  The last time I saw him, he wanted me dead. And from the way he’s looking at me, I know he wishes he could stick his hand through me and yank out all my organs. The large great white by his side looks like he wants to do even worse.

  Two other merpeople float next to him, former king and queen, Kiander and Flora. Kiander wears his usual, pleasant expression, but Flora’s eyebrows are furrowed. I’m not sure if she’s pissed that she no longer has the crown, or just pissed at me. She and I sort of grew close when I entered the ocean to save Damarian from the rebels. Okay, not really close. Joining our energies to locate our mates didn’t make us BFFs.

  As if sensing their hostility, Damarian swims in front of me, like he’s shielding me from their invisible assaults. “Father, Kiander, Flora.”

  All three of them, including the members of the Guard who are standing watch, do the merpeople bow. Flora juts out her chin. “I gather she is to lead?”

  “Flora—” Kiander starts.

  “It is not that I envy her,” she says, pinning her eyes on me. “It
is that I worry she is not fit to rule.”

  “Flora—” Damarian tries.

  “I have been trained my entire existence on how to rule the children of the sea. And now it was taken from me and given to a…a human.” Her nose crinkles. “A sea serpent.”

  “Whoa, I’m not going to rule, and I’m not a sea serpent—”

  “My love, it is not as it seems—”

  “Flora, please heed my word—”

  “Silence!” Syren swims forward until he’s only a few feet in front of us. “We are waged in battle. Our fellow children of the sea perish by the second! We do not have the luxury to argue in such a manner.”

  Flora lowers her head. Damarian does, too.

  Syren turns to the former queen. “It was not my wish that Damarian take the throne. But what is done is done.”

  “It was needed to release Cassie,” Damarian says, and it almost sounds like he’s pleading for the three of them to understand.

  Syren, who hasn’t so much as glanced my way, says, “Our fellow children of the sea die in hundreds while the serpents of the sea lose none. We cannot continue in this manner, Damarian.”

  Damarian nods. “I am aware of that, Father.”

  He opens his mouth, but then shuts it. Then he says, “Zarya…” His head slowly turns to the room where she’s being held. “My daughter. She has been located?”

  “Yes, but Father—”

  He jets toward the room and disappears inside. Damarian and I exchange a panicked glance before hurrying after him. He has no idea what happened to her, and I’m scared beyond my wits for his reaction. I know he’ll blame me, and considering I’m already blacklisted on his chart, I know this will put him over the edge. I shake my head to rid those thoughts. Now’s not the right time to be selfish and worry about my relationship with my sort of father-in-law.

  Syren makes a short stop and just stares at the little mermaid lying on the stone table. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to be in as much pain as before because her chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm and her face looks relaxed. Hopefully the ocean plants are working.

  “My daughter,” Syren half-cries, half-whispers. “My darling Zarya.” I’ve never seen such an expression on his face before. So much pain and anguish. Her tail is as beautiful as ever, but there’s no mistaking the deformity. I turn my head because I can’t take it, can’t deal with what I’ve caused. Little Zarya, handicapped.