He shifted in his seat, and I was conscious that he’d closed an inch between us.
‘So what’s this theory?’ I asked, playing with my fork and twirling it between my fingers to distract myself from the tingly feeling in my belly.
He leaned in closer still. I inhaled through my nose and got a whiff of soap, aftershave and the woodsy scent all guys seemed to carry.
‘Marin was not always an underwater world.’
‘Like the Atlantis theory?’
He snorted. ‘No. That theory is old and dated. I believe Marin was once an aircraft of some variety; a mothership, perhaps from a distant planet.’
Before I could respond he fell back against his chair and sighed.
‘You’re about to laugh. Don’t deny it.’
‘I’m not.’ I took a tiny sip of wine so I wouldn’t crack up, not because I thought his theory was hilarious, but because nothing sounded laughable to me after discovering Marin. ‘But how did this aircraft or mothership end up in the ocean?’ I asked when I’d composed myself.
Marko nodded. ‘Good question,’ he said, refilling his wine glass again. The guy could seriously hold his drink. I was usually legless after just three glasses.
‘My theory is they had engine trouble and crashed into the Pacific. They sank to the bottom and remained trapped beneath the pressure of the ocean and had to wait until another ship came to collect them—hence, no skeletons.’
‘That makes sense.’ I accidentally flipped my fork and it landed under the table. ‘Oops.’
I bent to retrieve it, but Marko put his arm out to stop me.
‘I’ll get it,’ he said, reaching down, his fingers tips groping the ground. When he straightened up, the back of his head hit the table with a loud crack.
I winced. ‘Oh my God, are you okay?’
He eased into his chair, rubbing the back of his head. When several guards stepped forward, his cheeks flushed pink and he waved them away.
‘That was my fault.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ve got a head like solid stone,’ he said, smiling in a bashful sort of way, and shrugging at the same time. ‘It would take a pretty hard knock for me to feel anything.’
I recalled Robbie’s story about Damir beating Marko until he lost all hearing in one ear and winced again, my heart going out to the child version of Marko. As I watched him laugh it off with the person sitting to his right, a weird urge to hug him took hold of me.
On that insane note, I gently slid my wine glass away. There would be no more drinking for me tonight.
After he finished speaking to the person beside him, Marko turned back to me, his eyes a little wild. He shifted his chair and shuffled forward so that the inside of his knees grazed the outside of mine, sending little lightning bolts shooting up my thighs.
‘Let’s forget everything that’s happened the past month.’ He seized my hands and gave them a squeeze. ‘Let’s pretend we’re two strangers who have only just met.’
I paused, waiting for the punchline.
‘You sure you haven’t done something to your head?’
‘It’s quite possible, but I mean this.’ His eyes were intense. ‘Let’s see what would have happened had we met under different circumstances.’
But we didn’t…you stole me, remember?
I tried to throw him a hard glare, but—oh God, why did he have to keep looking at me like that? As though I was someone beautiful, like Lauren?
‘Okay, then,’ I said, without thinking.
‘So, a fresh start?’ He released my hands and raised a goblet of wine in a toast.
We chinked goblets and I took a long sip—of water this time. The wine was warming me to Marko too much. I was glad Robbie and I would be talking later. I needed to get out of this place as soon as possible. There were too many things I was starting to like about Marin’s king— kidnapping aside.
Marko stood, took my hand again and led me to the dance floor.
The woman singing wore a silver, sequinned floor-length gown with a high split up the thigh. The colour complemented her caramel skin and the pale pink rose she wore behind her ear set off her shiny, jet-black hair. Her voice hit me like warm syrup and seemed to loosen all the ligaments in my body.
Marko led me into a waltz. We twirled around the dance floor gracefully, my two-week apprenticeship in dance coming in handy. The other dancers drew back and gave us the floor, and I didn’t even cringe with shame.
For once, I didn’t feel the need to hide away or fade into the background. It felt good to be appreciated by so many eyes.
The woman’s voice wailed mournfully. She was singing about pain and loss. In a bid to fully immerse myself in the song and lyrics I shut my eyes, but after a few seconds lost my balance.
Marko pressed the small of my back to steady me, drawing me flush against him so that we were dancing, hip-to-hip, the hard lines of his firm stomach against mine.
I opened my eyes and my heart stuttered when I found him gazing down at me, his lips mouthing the words of the song.
With heated cheeks, I turned my head, my eyes landing on Henrietta. She wore a cowl-necked navy-blue gown, and when her dance partner whisked her by she gave me the thumbs up. I had to smile when I saw the silver dolphin-shaped earrings dangling from her ears. Maybe Poh was right—Henrietta was obsessed with dolphins.
The song ended. Marko tipped me back, his lips just grazing my jaw, sending a dangerous shiver of pleasure through me from head to toe. The crowd applauded with delight, but they soon forgot us when the band struck up a jazzier beat.
We danced three more songs in a row, all upbeat numbers, and I laughed the entire time while Marko flipped and spun me expertly. I’d never enjoyed a boy’s company like this before—ever—and I didn’t want it to end. But when the music slowed and Marko drew me in close, so close I could feel the heat of his skin through his clothes, I pulled away.
This weird effect he had on me was starting to get dangerous.
‘Let’s sit down for a while,’ he suggested. ‘Are you thirsty?’
I nodded, and we returned to the table where a rainbow platter of fruit awaited us. But he had only just bitten into a juicy piece of green melon when Sylvia dragged him away for a dance.
Sitting on my own, I took a deep breath and revelled in the moment of solitude. It gave me an opportunity to enjoy the ball as a voyeur.
My eyes roved the crowds. The people were glamorous, even the older ones, and the plainer-faced ones seemed radiantly beautiful beneath the crystal moon and stars.
Absentmindedly, I picked at my plate of fruit, crunching into a sweet piece of apple, then some pear and more melon. A few minutes later, the sensation that I was being watched tickled my shoulders.
‘Hey.’
I turned my head to find Robbie standing beside me, his hair slightly dishevelled, his hand outstretched. ‘Would you like to dance?’
‘Where’s Lily?’
He tilted his head in the direction of the dance floor, where Marko was now twirling Lily about. They made an eye-catching couple, he with his jet-black hair and she with her long, golden locks.
‘Is that the only reason you want to dance with me, for lack of a partner?’ I asked, grinning.
Robbie took my hand and led me to a dark corner. Seeing our reflections in the mirrored walls startled me for a moment.
Wearing this dress and dancing with tall, handsome Robbie—it was like watching myself in a dream. Home had never seemed so far away.
Like Marko, Robbie danced expertly, and moved me about the floor with ease, lifting me and guiding me effortlessly, making me feel as light as a leaf swirling in the wind.
‘Has Philippe been sentenced yet?’ I asked, my eyes darting around to make sure that Marko wasn’t close enough to eavesdrop. He was now dancing with Anne, who was now off-duty and wearing a long scarlet gown. She looked gorgeous, and by the glow on her face was enjoying herself.
‘Marko will decide after the festivities.’ Some
thing ominous darkened his gaze. ‘He’s even more concerned now, for your safety. Philippe was one of Damir’s spies, and yet he somehow managed to slip through the radar undetected.’ I shivered at the memory of what had taken place in my bedroom earlier. How close I’d gotten to Damir’s clutches.
Robbie extended his arm and twirled me away, before drawing me in again.
‘You know, I worry, too…about your safety.’ He cleared his throat, his hand gripping mine tighter. I squeezed it in return, and his eyes closed for a fraction of a second before opening again to stare down at my face.
‘Sometimes Miranda, when I look at you, I can see the face of the little girl I think was my sister.’ He swallowed thickly. ‘And I wonder what I would do if she was taken like this and forced to marry somebody she didn’t know.’
I squeezed my arm tighter around Robbie’s waist.
‘Take me home, Robbie. I can help you track your sister down, and your grandfather. We could do it together,’ I whispered.
Robbie drew back and stared at me for the longest time, his eyes dark and shiny.
The song ended.
Everybody clapped.
Robbie’s hand lingered on my waist for a moment, then drawing me in he dropped it and unclasped my hand.
‘We’ll talk another time,’ he said from the corner of his mouth. ‘We shouldn’t be talking like this here, out in the open.’ He shook his head, his eyes darting around us to check for onlookers. ‘I don’t fancy a swim with the sharks anytime soon. If we’re going to talk, we’re going to have to do so in private.’
‘Come to my room tonight.’
‘No. It’s better if I come by day.’
I sighed. ‘Does it matter? There’s no real night and day here anyway.’
Marko and Anne approached us, their faces glowing and their chests heaving with exertion.
Robbie shot me a warning look and strode away.
‘Is there a problem with Robbie?’ Marko asked, his pale face flushed from too much wine and dancing. Sweat dampened the hair at his temples.
I shook my head, unable to find my voice, and he frowned.
‘Come, it’s been a big day for you. I’ll personally escort you to your room.’ He held out an arm.
‘Thanks,’ I said, and slid my arm through his, my bare skin brushing against his firm, muscled bicep before my hand settled on his forearm.
When we arrived at my bedroom, he hovered at the door.
‘Shall we continue our theoretical discussions tomorrow?’ he asked, his eyes roving down to my lips and back up again.
‘First thing in the morning,’ I said hurriedly, worried that if let him stand there for too long I’d lean forward and kiss him.
Marko gazed down at me through lowered lashes and swallowed thickly.
‘You want to kiss me, Miranda, I can tell.’
‘I—I do not. I’m waiting for you to leave.’
Marko grinned and stepped away from the door. ‘Try not to toss and turn too much while you dream about me.’
My mouth dropped open. ‘Sounds more like a nightmare.’
Marko smiled and made a low sound in his throat. ‘Not to me. Good night, Miranda.’
I closed the door and leaned against it while I listened to Marko’s footsteps fade. That was close. My stupid, readable face, I chastised myself.
Changing into my new satin pyjamas, my body still warm from the dancing and Marko, I wondered if I would ever be able to sleep. I threw a jumper over the light-crystal lamp, for extra dimness, but as soon as I slipped into bed, footsteps approached my door.
Marko?
I pretended to be asleep, hoping that he’d go away—but also hoping that he’d come in.
The door creaked open.
‘Marko, I already said goodnight,’ I protested, sitting up in bed and reaching for the jumper to give more light.
But it wasn’t him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
‘ROBBIE!’
The covers went flying. I sprang out of bed and ran toward him. For Robbie to risk coming at night meant business. Hopefully it meant what I thought it did.
He closed the door and rested his back against it. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing his bare chest. It rose and fell with each rapid breath.
Robbie opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead sucked in a deep breath and eyed me warily.
‘Is everything okay?’ I asked.
For a long time he stared at the ground.
‘Marko is my best friend,’ he said in a soft voice, pulling a hand through his hair. ‘I shouldn’t be here. We’ll both be dead if someone finds out we’ve been planning to escape.’ He moved to the bedside and gently caressed my cheek with his thumb before dropping his hand to his side. ‘But I can’t help it. I want to help you. I want to make things right.’
‘Then take me home,’ I said, my heart pounding at the way Robbie was looking at me. His eyes fixed on mine like they were magnetised.
Wow. Robbie cared. He really, really cared. If he hadn’t been the one who took me from my family I might have been able to return his feelings; but, as it was, I just couldn’t forgive and forget—no matter how kind or sweet or beautiful he was.
He swallowed thickly.
‘I have access to Marko’s room—the only entrance to the shuttle rooms, but…’ He swore beneath his breath and shook his head, his eyes dark. ‘If we get caught, Miranda, we’ll most likely end up in the Colosseum.’
I closed my eyes at the unimaginable horror of a thousand teeth sinking into my flesh—or worse, watching Robbie suffer the same fate.
‘I’m willing to risk my life.’ He stared at me long and hard. ‘But I can’t risk yours.’
My head thumped.
‘What do you mean? You won’t do it?’
He shook his head. ‘I would if your safety was guaranteed.’
I sucked in a deep breath and moved the hair away from my face. I wanted to rage at him and demand he change his mind, but I didn’t. He spoke the truth. If we were caught, we were most likely dead. And I wasn’t going to be any use to my family dead.
‘I’ll watch your back and protect you, Miranda. But I can’t help you escape.’
I shook my head and sighed.
‘So my only way home is—’
‘Marko,’ we both said at once.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I WOKE AT seven am, groggy after having slept only three hours, but it didn’t take long for adrenaline to start pumping through my veins. My conversation with Robbie was still fresh in my mind. It was clear I had to get through to Marko. After last night, my opinion of him had changed. In fact, I’d had such a good time in his company I was a little frightened of spending any more time with him. My main concern was getting too close. But how was I going to reach a point where I could make him see reason without developing some kind of relationship? I had to play along with his plans. Pretend I’d softened to the idea of getting married and—urgh—doing my bit for Marin.
The more we spent time together, the more he’d see me as a human being and not just some baby-delivering stork.
The idea made me jittery, and I started to pace the room. Frustrated, I decided to go for a walk. Some time out in the garden would do me good and help me to think. I wanted to visit Fruit and Loop.
I yanked on a pair of black jeans, a fitted blue top and a black leather jacket that I hadn’t yet worn. When I rummaged through the shoe compartment at the bottom of the wardrobe I discovered a pair of black knee-length boots and slipped them on, feeling very biker-chick as I zipped them up. I wondered if I would see Marko today. Up until the dance, we’d hardly spent any time together. Hopefully things would change now, because if he didn’t get to know me I had no hope.
Pulling on the door, I was surprised to find it locked. After trying again to no avail, panic swelled in my chest.
I pounded against the icy metal with my fists.
‘Hey!’
‘Marko issued new
orders early this morning,’ said a female voice.
Peeking through the keyhole, I spied Lily. I groaned and stepped away from the door.
‘We are to guard your every move,’ another voice chimed in. After giving the door a swift kick I hurled myself onto my bed. But as I lay there, panic gripped me. Had Marko discovered Robbie’s visit and the reason behind it? Is that why he’d reinstated guards? Was this my punishment? If so, what was Robbie’s? I needed to find out.
I returned to the door.
‘Will you take me to see Marko?’
A brief silence followed before Lily spoke.
‘Marko has asked that you remain in your room until he collects you at nine.’
My stomach churned sickly. Either he knew or he didn’t. At least I’d find out in a couple of hours.
‘Can I at least go to the bathroom to freshen up?’ I asked, and sighed with relief when the lock clicked and the door pulled open. Perhaps I’d feel better after a bath. After gathering what I needed, I stepped out of my room and started down the corridor.
Lily and the other guard followed my closely, their boot heels clacking behind me. Thankfully, they waited outside the bathroom door.
I threw in some snow-white bath salts and the water bubbled and fizzed. When it was nearly full, I stripped off completely. The water was hot, and it took a full minute before I was able to slide in, one limb at a time. Submerging myself fully, I stared at the ceiling through a film of water and bubbles, contemplating my fate.
After a good long soak, I dried off and got dressed. Kris was in my room delivering breakfast when I returned, and when she saw me she cried out in shock.
‘Miranda, you can’t go around with your hair soaking wet in the cool morning air,’ she said rather coldly. It struck me as odd that she was behaving this way with me when she’d been so friendly all the other times.
‘It’s okay; I’ll dry it.’
‘Here,’ she said, snatching the towel from my hand. ‘I’ll do it.’
‘Is everything okay?’ I asked.
My head jerked around in all directions while she vigorously towel-dried my hair.
‘I’ve just had word of Philippe’s sentence,’ she said, leaving the towel draped over my head. ‘Death by sharks.’ A tiny, muffled cry escaped her throat.
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