King Triton looked defeated when he finally met my gaze. “I honestly have no idea what I hoped would happen.”
“Then, why would you take Steel? You had to be hoping for some kind of reaction.”
“Maybe I forget because every time I look at you, I see your mother. Did your dad ever tell you what happened between us?”
“No, he died before he had the chance to, but one of your mermaids did. The one you sent to retrieve the necklace… Serena was her name before the Kraken ate her.”
“That’s right. You’re friends with the Kraken now.” He shook his head. “That doesn’t matter. I have a proposal for you. It’s one that will free your filthy pirate, restore the peace between mermaids and sirens, and right the wrong your parents committed.”
That sounded like an impossible feat, but he did have my attention. “I’m listening.”
“All you would have to do is marry me.”
I took a step back as if he’d slapped me. “What? I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
“Marry me and we can build a new castle for both mermaids and sirens. I would even spare your pirate, but of course, he wouldn’t be yours anymore.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, but I am, and it would be in your best interest to say yes.”
“I think you’re mistaken because it would be in your best interest, not mine.”
King Triton stroked his beard for the tenth time as he watched me. His eyes felt more invading this time. “That’s because you don’t know me. How about you spend some time among the mermaids before coming to a decision. I have your pirate trapped in this bubble. He will be under a sleeping spell for a week. After that, he will wake up and likely drown. So, that’s how long you have to decide.”
Stay here? For a week? My mouth went dry and my heart skipped a beat at the intimidating thought.
“What about the sirens? They will attack the mermaids for taking me.”
“I’ll send word that you’re being taken care of. The proof will be in the fact that they’ll still have their powers and your head won’t be delivered on a golden platter.”
“That won’t be enough. They’ll still question everything, especially my advisors.”
“For your pirate’s sake and yours, it’ll have to be enough. Now, I will have no more arguing on the matter. It will be done whether it’s what you want or not. Besides, you don’t have anything to bargain with to change my mind.”
King Triton clapped his hands together, and a merman with a red tail and matching hair appeared within moments. “Show our siren queen to the finest room in the castle. Spread the word that she will be our honored guest,” he ordered.
Before I could protest, King Triton turned his back on me. I would relent for now, but only because I didn’t have a counter-argument prepared. I needed another proposition that would catch his interest. A quiet room would be the perfect place to think.
For that reason, I followed the merman out, casting one last look at Steel.
Acknowledgments
First off, I want to thank my husband because without him, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to write like I do. I’d also like to thank my parents for always supporting and encouraging me.
Patrick Hodges and Michelle Lynn, you two have helped me tremendously with becoming the writer I am today. Thank you for everything you do!
My readers, you all have been wonderful and make me want to write and write. I hope you will continue to read my books no matter where the next chapter leads. I love writing as much as reading and don’t think I would have the courage to if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for your continued support.
About the Author
Bethany Wicker is a mother, wife, avid reader, and coffee lover. She has a loving husband, Lucien, a beautiful daughter named Henley, and an amazing family who support her passion for writing. Her inspiration comes from her friends and family. She loves young adult fiction of all sorts and thanks God for giving her the strength to finish novels of her own. She is obsessed with Disney, Dr. Pepper, and White Chocolate Mochas, especially from Starbucks. She also loves food and is always excited to try new things.
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Looking for more from Bethany Wicker? Check out Unexpected Alpha:
Female Alphas are unheard of in werewolf society, and the Sapphire Pack is no different. So when Lena’s father dies, no one is more shocked than she to discover that his Alpha powers have transferred to her. Lena has her hands full protecting her pack from hunters and rogue wolves, while simultaneously facing prejudices and power-hungry males who want to mate with her just to steal her title.
But when the uber-sexy Kane enters the picture, Lena gets a lot more than she bargained for. He irritates her to no end, while giving her butterflies at the same time. With his interference and her new-found power bubbling under her skin, something inside her changes, leaving her confused as to what she truly is. She soon discovers that searching for answers is most difficult when the last person she can trust is the only one who has them.
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