by Starla Night
As she descended, the mask suctioned to her face and pressure made her eardrums squeak. She had to exhale to equalize.
Snorkeling on the surface was calming, soothing, and centering. Descending into the water’s embrace was better.
The tourists were typical. Some gushed, thrilled with everything she showed them. Others whined about jet-lag, sunburn, hangovers, and returning to the hotel room. They returned to the boat early.
She kept an eye on the enthusiastic tourists who took up the whole time.
Uvim must be nearby. Right? Even though she couldn’t see him, his presence heated the water. Hot and prickly.
If only she took off her mask and snorkel, she’d be able to see much farther.
Tempting.
But she kept her mask on. So long as air surrounded her eyes, she could see like normal. And so long as she held her breath to dive, the air stayed in her lungs like she was ordinary.
Although she’d worn a bikini beneath her dive shirt today just in case.
If she didn’t get that blossom, then someday she would be an ordinary person. Again. Forever. This vast undersea world would close.
Leading marine tours was fun, but she stayed because her boss said she was making an impact, connecting people to nature, and advocating for a better world.
Before, she’d tried and gotten bored with being a chef. She could never open a bed-and-breakfast — one of her discarded life plans. And she would not become a translator, another early goal. Her Portuguese wasn’t that great and everyone else’s English was extraordinary.
Where was her place?
Under the water like Uvim said?
On the surface, someone screamed.
Chapter Twenty
Uvim approached Milly underwater.
She dove beneath the surface, holding her breath as she appreciated shallows fish.
His flight disturbed wildlife. Dogfish cut the water ahead of him, their camouflage revealing their shark shape.
On the surface, a human screamed.
Milly looked up. Splashing marked a grand exodus to the boat and everyone retreated, creating a clear spot around Milly.
Perfect.
She tilted her body and kicked for the surface.
He grabbed her plastic fin.
She jolted in surprise.
He tugged her down.
She panicked and kicked, fighting him.
He ripped off the rubber mask.
She struggled and then blinked, seeing him, and relaxed. Her mouth opened and bubbles drained out. “Wob-wob.”
Good. She calmed.
He kicked hard, swimming away from the coming warriors.
She coughed and choked, gripped onto him as her body spasmed, shifting. Her nails gouged his shoulders.
He endured.
“Ugh.” Her words vibrated in her chest. “Shifting sucks.”
His nerves twinged. “It gets better.”
“Thank goodness.” She inspected his shoulder scratches. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry.”
“I am unhurt.”
“Are you sure? These look awful. I need to trim my—hey, where are we going?”
“We must escape.”
She grabbed him. Her plastic fins tangled in his legs. “What’s going on?”
“Warriors are coming.”
Her soul light darkened. “You’re in trouble?”
“For you.”
“Warriors are coming for me?” She considered this for a long moment while the reef flashed by. “But they can’t touch me, right? It’s not allowed?”
“They will not cause injury. They have come to claim you.”
“What?”
“The first warrior. The most honorable. He has come.”
“Another warrior has come to propose?” Her tone changed. “Does he have the blossom?”
His heart squeezed. “Yes.”
“Hmm.” She tapped his shoulder. “Stop.”
Inside, his heart screamed in agony.
But his bride gave an order.
He slowed.
“A new guy has shown up,” she mused. “He has a blossom. If I drink, I become a queen.”
Clifford’s screeching grew louder. Her black form emerged like a dark cloud.
He kicked again. Unable to stop himself.
She tapped his shoulder. “So if I drink the nectar in his blossom, do I become his?”
“His,” he confirmed grimly.
“Hmm.”
He swallowed. Her soul flared for him. The elixir had started to heal the breach between her soul and her body. But now she considered leaving him.
His greatest fear.
Uvim’s throat closed. An ache spread over his chest. He swallowed. His throat muscles convulsed.
He had to ask. “Do you wish to become his?”
“I’m just considering my options.”
If she wished to become Xalu’s bride… No. Uvim could not contemplate this. There must be words he could use. His silent devotion was not enough. He must communicate his feelings to her.
“Oh, who am I kidding?” Milly rolled her eyes and wiggled to be free of his embrace. “This is stupid. I know what I want. Let go.”
His arms twitched. Refusal pumped his blood hot and cold.
Duty first.
He forced himself to let Milly go.
She kicked toward the surface.
No.
His fingers closed around her fin. Arresting her.
She glanced at him. Questioning.
Release her. Uvim, where is your honor? Release her!
His fingers trembled.
Was he such a monster? He refused his own bride?
She wiggled. “I’m in the middle of work. They will do a head count and realize I’m missing. If I don’t surface soon, they will be very frightened. And when I do surface, they’re going to know I’m not entirely human.”
His fingers spasmed. His hand opened.
She smiled, sweet, and kicked to the surface.
His heart broke.
She bobbed above the waves. The boat was some distance away now.
The humans on the boat shouted something to her.
She bumped a fist on her forehead.
They shouted again.
She bumped her fist. Not answering.
Their shouts cut off.
She dropped her head beneath the waves and lifted one arm, holding the tip of her pink breathing tube — snorkel — above the surface.
“Well, this is awkward.” She glanced up at her raised arm. “I didn’t want to shift just to tell them I was okay — and then shift back to finish this discussion — and then shift back again to finish work. Ugh. So I gave them the silent ‘all-clear’ signal. But we have to resolve this now. Any delay and they’ll come and fish me out.”
There would be no delay.
The black shadow loomed.
She squinted. “Is that Clifford?”
“Yes.”
In the shallower water, the giant cave guardian flattened herself. She reached him and Milly and shrieked with goodwill.
Milly laughed and, with her one free hand, patted Clifford’s outstretched tentacles. “I think my eardrums just ruptured. Except I don’t hear you in my ears, I hear you in my chest.”
Clifford rolled, her large eyes swirling around her funnel.
“I like you too. If you stick around, you’ll make my coworker Brody’s day.”
Clifford meandered after a darting dogfish.
“What a nice octopus. I thought she’d return to her cave.”
“Normally they do.”
“Then I feel extra special.” Her chest lightened.
Her sweet, compelling light would soon not be his. His heart squeezed.
The warriors approached. They stayed well beneath the waves, skirted the frolicking cave guardian, and focused on Milly and Uvim floating high above them.
Uvim flexed for his trident.
Dosan was well-armed. Xalu glared at Uvi
m. Both looked hurt and angry as though he had corrupted a sacred ceremony.
Uvim would feel the same if their positions were reversed. That his bride had been snatched from him.
He darted in front of Milly.
She rested a hand on his shoulder. “One of these warriors wants to marry me?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
“The most honorable.”
“Bride Milly!” Dosan bowed; Xalu did as well. Their tridents gleamed with deadly authority. “Uvim has taken a bride out of turn.”
“It’s not his fault,” she said. “I knocked him out and then seduced him.”
Dosan blinked. “How is this possible?”
“I wanted to be a queen, so—”
“No.” Uvim pressed her back, keeping himself between her and the startled warriors. “She did nothing. I sensed her resonance and acted.”
“I did knock you out,” she said.
“An accident.”
“Yeah, but I—”
“Bride Milly.” Dosan bowed again. “Will you not come away from the surface and meet your true husband?”
Uvim tightened. His soul refused. He would not—
“No,” she said.
His heart stuttered. She refused?
Dosan’s mouth dropped open. He looked at Xalu.
The honorable warrior stiffened. Rejected, for the second time, on seeking his bride.
Uvim would pity Xalu if he did not involve Milly.
“I can’t descend,” she clarified, shocking everyone again. “I’m pretending to be human so I have to keep the snorkel clear of the water. You two come up here.”
Both warriors squirmed.
“Approach the surface?” Dosan sliced his trident through the water. “We could become exposed to humans.”
“Maybe even your brides,” she agreed.
“Our brides?”
“I’ve got a boat load of tourists over there.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “They’re partnered but they might have single friends.”
Dosan and Xalu regarded each other as if they did not comprehend her words.
“Approach the surface,” Uvim suggested.
They kicked closer. But only so Dosan could protest. “No, Bride Milly. Do not confuse us by talking about other brides. Your husband is here.”
“Oh yeah?” She lifted a brow. “You know what? You’re right. He is.”
“Come join with him.”
She paddled forward.
No.
Uvim kicked in front of her.
“It’s okay.” She looked straight into Uvim’s eyes. “This will only take a second.”
Disbelief filled him with cold fear. He could not let her go. She must not go away.
She turned from him.
Every paddle of her plastic fins made him want to dart forward, grab her, and drag her away.
But he was a dutiful warrior.
An obedient, dutiful warrior.
She paddled toward Xalu.
He lifted his chest and threw back his shoulders.
She passed him.
Huh?
Her arm extended to the surface to keep the tip of her snorkel out. She ducked beneath to stop in front of Dosan.
“It’s nice to meet you. But I don’t think it would work out between us. I like Uvim quite a lot. Thanks anyway.”
What?
Dosan’s giant frown nearly split his face in half. “I am not your intended husband.”
“You’re not?”
“He is.” Dosan pointed to Xalu.
Was it not obvious? Xalu had twice as many honor markings and carried himself with the dignity of a warrior without equal. How had Milly mistaken Dosan?
“Oh. Sorry.” Milly paddled back to Xalu, popping her snorkel above the surface once more. “He had the big trident, so I thought he was the important one.”
Dragao Azul’s most honorable warrior regarded Milly with wordless consternation.
“Uh, right.” She tried to give him a better inspection. “You, uh, do look very, uh, honorable.”
Xalu replied. “You shine very bright.”
“Thank you.”
“You are welcome, Bride Milly.”
She smiled. “So you’re here seeking your bride. You have the blossom?”
“And the mating jewel.”
“Of course.”
They fell into silence.
Uvim’s tension ratcheted higher and higher.
At any moment she would realize Xalu was the most honorable husband and she would choose him.
All he could do was watch.
If he could only speak — if he only could convince her—
“Well, I’m sure you’ll find your bride soon,” she said firmly. “Good luck.”
Milly turned away and paddled back to Uvim.
What was this?
She’d stared upon the most honorable warrior and turned away? She rejected the most honorable warrior of Dragao Azul? She returned to Uvim?
Xalu frowned.
“Wh—what has happened?” Dosan kicked forward, placing himself before Uvim. “Your husband is Xalu.”
She pulled up short. “Um, no.”
“He is the most honorable warrior. He is the next warrior in line!”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “He’s not my husband.”
“He has the flower!”
“I know, and I want that.” She paddled around Dosan. “But I’m with Uvim.”
Her cheerful smile, matched by the warm flaring in her soul light, made him reel.
Her smile faltered.
His heart clenched and his chest squeezed.
She poked Uvim’s abdomen. “Why do you look so shocked? You know we’re together, right? I don’t sleep with just anyone.”
He nodded, jerky.
She sighed and nestled in his startled arms. “This was fun but I need to get back to work now.”
Truly?
Milly was his?
Dosan darted forward. His trident rose as though to strike an enemy, but he was uncertain where to strike. “You cannot unite with Uvim.”
Xalu kicked toward the boat, eying the underside as though trying to see the souls above. He agreed that Milly was not his bride.
Praise the Life Tree.
Delicious liquid heat hardened Uvim’s cock. She chose him. She chose him.
Dosan shook his head. “No, you must be with Xalu.”
“Why are you so upset?” Milly eyed him. “Who are you?”
He straightened. “Dosan, of—”
“Second Lieutenant,” she said.
He faltered. “Former. Uvim is Second Lieutenant now.”
She hugged Uvim closer. “Congratulations.”
He tightened his arm around her midsection, cinching her close.
Dosan frowned. “Uvim, do not pursue a bride out of turn. Release your claim and return to Dragao Azul.”
He refused.
Dosan growled. “Do not force me to bring you to justice.”
“Don’t force yourself,” Milly retorted. “Problem solved.”
“I have no choice.”
“You think you have no choice,” Milly mused. “I don’t have time for this. Look. When does Uvim take over for you? Officially?”
“As soon as he receives this message.”
“Oh, so he’s already your superior?”
Milly’s words were true. Uvim was Dosan’s superior.
Dosan’s mouth opened and closed, even though he was speaking with his chest. Some surface habits were ingrained.
“Then, as your superior, he’s not leaving,” Milly said.
“But…” Dosan eyed his trident as if he were no longer certain why he was carrying it. “But he is needed in the city.”
“Uvim’s definitely needed here. The single most important thing warriors can do, right now, is to make a positive impression as the Sea Festival’s welcome ambassador.”
Her soul light brightened
. She truly believed in her words.
But despite her warming confidence, unease seeped into Uvim’s chest. He was no speaker.
Dosan also reacted. “I will not allow Uvim to throw away your honor or break the basic tenets of the mer.”
“You have it easy.” Milly tapped Uvim’s chest. “Uvim stays here. If you force him back to your city, then you’re disobeying Uvim — your superior — and his orders. So, the only way to maintain your honor is to obey him. Which means to let him stay here. Right?”
Dosan stuttered. “Uvim?”
Uvim stroked Milly’s curved back. His bride was compelling. “Remain with me now. We assist Xalu with finding his bride. You will escort Xalu’s bride back to the city.”
Milly pressed her lips to Uvim’s. “Stay out of sight.”
“Always.”
“We’re kind of having a situation here. Someone is selling stupid ‘Merman Repellent’ as actual sticks of dynamite. We confiscated everything but who knows what jokers might throw from another ship? Stay out of sight.”
“We prefer secrecy.”
“Right. I’ll be seeing you.”
She kicked to the surface and gasped, choking and flailing, as she shifted. A white ring landed in the water. She threw herself over it. Humans towed her back to the boat.
Dosan held his trident in one hand and then the other. Torn.
Uvim regarded his old friend.
Without Milly, the dynamic changed. He and Dosan had fought together on many assignments. Such as that night, long ago, when they had both carried a bride against her will to the surface and led to their city’s rift — and near destruction.
Dosan rubbed his wrinkled forehead. “Our elders will spit us like hunted longfin.”
“They already disliked you.”
He laughed.
Unexpected.
Familiar sarcasm twisted Dosan’s lips, as though he were swimming free of an ink cloud and could finally see. “Yes, that is right. My complaints were loud, but I still obeyed. Perhaps our elders will learn to appreciate me in my absence.”
Uvim nodded.
“But,” Dosan twirled his trident, “I never believed the dissenter would be you.”
True.
“Perhaps your silence masked the real danger all along.” Dosan fixed his trident to his side. “Your orders, Second Lieutenant Uvim?”