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Merlicious 3

Page 16

by Cara Preston, Cheryl Bonner, Laura Kitchell


  Distaste brought a frown to Stella's lips. That phony barracuda! Cassandra was so vain about her hair she refused to cut it, so that its swishing tendrils were a nuisance and hazard to everyone around her. Someone always had to unknot a kink in it or untangle it from something or drag it out of the way.

  Stella ran a hand through her own cap of springy golden curls. The texture was not the kind that floated anyway.

  "Now, I'm quite proud of her,” Timeus continued. “I know she'll be most impressive in this year's game. However, when we talked about it, I realized the winner of each year's competition doesn't win any substantial prize."

  Mumbles of disagreement surged through the crowd. Stella thought of the purse she was counting on if she won this year. Maybe it wasn't a substantial amount to a wealthy man like Timeus, but for her it represented freedom.

  Timeus pressed his point. “Respect and admiration are all very well. But it won't buy a new villa instead of a tiny grotto, now will it?” He chuckled at his own joke. “Therefore, in honor of my daughter's first registration, I am donating an additional prize to the winning couple. I will give them one thousand gold pieces and one of my fish farms for their very own!"

  A surprised cheer pealed through the water along with some questions and excited chatter. Amazed, Stella realized with that kind of cowries she could afford school for herself and some of her family as well.

  Timeus waved his hands in placation. “Yes, I know the winning couple doesn't have to marry. They may split the prize in any way they care to."

  A stunned look on his face, Julian moved in close and shook Timeus's hand. “Well, that's very kind of you, Timeus. But I hope you don't think this guarantees that Cassandra will win."

  Julian and Timeus laughed and slapped one another's backs as if it were a great joke. Stella noticed, however, that the smiles Julian and Timeus exchanged were brittle.

  Eileen poked Stella in the ribs. “I bet she did plan to bribe the judges,” she hissed. “What a spoiled sea urchin."

  "She has to be the center of attention all the time,” Stella agreed with a nod. “Look at all those guys around her with their flukes flapping."

  Eileen started to nod, but let loose a screech of outrage and took off like a rocket. Stella saw that Eileen's long-time boyfriend, Dell, was part of Cassandra's admiring circle, his eyes wide and his mouth slack.

  Seth and Stella grinned at each other.

  "I'd hate to be in his scales right now,” Seth murmured.

  "Why is it males are so stupid?” She shook her head in disbelief.

  Seth winced. “Is that a personal comment?"

  "Not you.” Stella put her hand on his arm. “You've never let some female distract you."

  His black eyes leveled on her with an intensity that made her tingle. “What about you? Have you found any ... distractions?"

  Stella was momentarily dizzied. What was wrong with her? This was Seth. But something in his eyes stirred an answering intensity in her breast.

  She recovered, shook her head, giving his arm a squeeze. “No! I'm not ready to settle down with anyone. But it would be so nice to have that prize so—” She broke off, clamping her lips together. She hadn't told anyone but Eileen about her dream.

  Seth waited a moment before urging, “What? What are you planning to do with the cowries?"

  Stella dropped her gaze as well as her hands. “Nothing special. Just not have to work so hard at making webs. Have a little fun."

  There was a short silence as she let herself drift.

  "And who are you planning to partner up with?"

  Ripples of sound on her shoulder made her shiver and twist around, floating upward. The sight of his mouth so close to her breast disoriented Stella. She had never noticed before what sensual lips he had.

  Ignoring the heat, she answered in a careless voice. “No one. I'm just here to have fun."

  The conch blew again. They looked at Cyril and the other two moderators.

  "Contestants!” called Cyrus, holding up his trident to call them to attention. “Let's go!"

  The crowd tumbled into three huge fan shells for a ride to the game site some distance from Calladora. A giant grouper towed each loaded shell. The spectators waved and cheered as the entourage passed, and soon they were out past the anemone beds, flowing through the dark blue, translucent waters of the open ocean.

  Eileen, Stella, Dell and Seth squeezed together on a seat of one giant shell chariot.

  "Lots of visitors this time,” Dell commented, looking around at the other riders.

  Visitors from other ocean cities often participated in the games. They could make new friends, and perhaps find a mate. Flirting was already becoming more spirited among the contestants.

  "I wonder what the challenges will be this year?” Eileen asked.

  "Last year they had to hunt sea bison.” Dell's green eyes flashed with excitement.

  "And they had to go over the Crashing Falls,” added Stella.

  Seth nodded. “And don't forget the puzzles. They have those every year."

  "Hey, guys.” Eileen leaned forward. “Let's agree right now to form an alliance to stick together and share flurries so we can all place high in the final rankings."

  Dell frowned. “Are we supposed to do that?"

  Seth shrugged. “It's not against the rules. We'd share our strengths."

  "But ... I want to win,” Dell insisted.

  Stella turned an incredulous look on him.

  "You don't want to help me?” Eileen's voice sounded bewildered and hurt.

  Dell blushed as his throat muscles tightened beneath his faintly scaled skin.

  Seth spoke up. “Why don't we wait and see how things go? It could be we don't really need an alliance."

  Eileen turned her head, her back stiff. Dell moved close and began an energetic whispered discussion. Eileen didn't loosen up any.

  Stella darted an embarrassed look at Seth. He lifted his eyebrows to indicate they shouldn't interfere. With studied casualness, he leaned over the side of the shell.

  "Come look at this school of parrot fish, Stella."

  Grateful, she joined him, and they spent the rest of the short trip chatting.

  Seth pointed out details of the land as they approached the islands. “These areas have a lot of water if we should need it."

  An alarming idea occurred to Stella. “We won't be out of the water, will we?"

  "Once, the contestants had to cross a reef on the top side. Two of them got sunburned."

  She tilted her head to look at him. “Why would we have to go through something like that? Aren't we just showing how tough we are?"

  "Once the skills used in the games were necessary for our survival. The games allow the fittest to choose one another as mates. This strengthens the next generation to come."

  "Hmm.” Stella's stomach fluttered. The game had taken a serious turn with this explanation. She was glad Seth had come along on this trip. He wasn't just a comfortable companion; he could be a powerful ally, she realized.

  She smiled at him and bumped his arm with hers. His black eyes widened momentarily then he pushed back against her arm. Their forearms pressed against one another, one dark and one pale.

  "I'm looking forward to this game. I think it will give us an opportunity to get to know one another.” The smooth timbre of his voice caressed her senses.

  She fumbled for a response, her gills quivering. “You know me, Seth."

  "As my sister's friend. But you're not a little girl anymore, Stella."

  "You just realized that?"

  His eyes moved up and down her breasts, belly, the widening of her hips where they converted into a fish's tail. A path of heat within her body followed his quest. Her fingers touched her nipples hidden behind a soft scaly covering as they pebbled.

  "No.” Seth's voice made a harsh breathless sound.

  Sudden yearning blossomed inside her. What did he mean?

  He tore his look away, his chin ju
tting. When he spoke again, his tone was much softer. “We're almost there."

  Chapter Two

  Siren Singing

  She looked ahead to the hulk of an underwater sea mountain looming up in the blue sea. All the riders fell quiet. The bottom of the mountain was far below on the sea floor where temperatures were cold, and darkness ruled. But here around the higher reaches, a vast ecosystem of sea life teemed. As they drew closer, they could see two more sea mountains nearby.

  The transports docked near a bed of anemone clinging to the face of the peak.

  Cyril leaped out of his shell-boat with a cheerful announcement. “All right, merfolk. We're about to have the singing of the sirens."

  Stella's heartbeat speeded. Sirens? Who would answer her call?

  Seth neared as Eileen teased Stella about getting Leo onto a reef for some cuddling. She turned to see a thunderous look on his face that sent a bolt of alarm through her.

  "You okay?"

  He smoothed his expression with effort. “Yeah, fine. So you have someone in mind for this game?"

  She blushed. “Not really. We're just playing around."

  "All right, guys, you know this is where you get to pick your lady."

  Some of the young men howled and hooted in glee. The rest of the contestants laughed. When they settled down, Cyril continued. “Okay, I know you have an eye on some of these fine looking ladies.” He waited for another outburst from the men. “But! The thing is you won't be able to see them, guys. Now you, ladies. If you want to attract your guy, you're going to have to sing really sweet to him.

  "The ladies will be in the caves on the sides of the mountain. You'll each choose an alcove. The men are going to go in unlit and follow the sound that draws them. So I hope you ladies have been practicing your siren songs."

  Merfolk communicated with a combination of gestures, facial expressions and when they were above water, some sounds. Their signals were more sophisticated than their words. But when they sought a mate, they sang a wordless call that could drift for miles and enchant those who heard it. Some of her people believed a mermaid's song resembled no other and only her true love would respond to it.

  Women drifted around Leo trying to impress their voices on him. Cassandra had her eye on him while pretending not to care. In an unguarded moment, Stella saw her naked avariciousness.

  A murmur at her ear sent a ripple of water against the side of her neck. “Good luck,” Seth murmured. Stella whirled to find Seth mere inches from her face when she turned. Their gazes held for a moment. Then she nodded and swam after Eileen and the rest of the women along with the moderators. They went to the surface of the water where the mountain became an island. There were numerous caves in the steep cliff side of the mountain. These caves were deep, twisting and dark.

  Soon all the women were in their separate alcoves. Stella hovered in a niche with stair step walls rising out of the water.

  "Okay, ladies,” Cyril called from the entrance. “The cove mushrooms and glow coral are being covered so their light will no longer illuminate the interior. After that you can start singing."

  Once darkness shrouded the interior, Stella pulled herself up on the ledge inside her alcove. As she sat in the small cave, half out of the water, she couldn't even hear any of the other women. She could be alone in the world as far as she knew. All she heard and saw was the lapping echo of water and the sheen of dim reflected light on the rocky wet walls.

  She noticed the scaly membrane over her tale was softer than usual today, allowing her to flex the inner limbs. She was entering her mating cycle. Soon she'd be able to open all the way, so she could join with a ready male.

  The delicate veined fan of her tail fluttered in the water with languid sensuality. A rush of desire sliced her body as she filled with a need for the touch of a hand caressing her skin, warming it, softening the membrane of her tail covering so she could open for him. Ah, the mating-urge, the need to feel a man's body blend with hers. The image that popped into her head was Seth, not Leo. Her breath hitched. Then she shook away the thought. The logical explanation was that she was visualizing the last person she spoke to outside the caverns.

  A soulful song filled her with longing and her need to be recognized. Soon she sang just for the joy and release of it. Singing of her youth and love of life. About the joy of the sea and the waves. Singing her heart out, immersed in the joy of expression.

  A head popped out of the water beside her, interrupting her song. She'd almost forgotten the purpose of the song. She sat upright and for a moment, thought she was dreaming again.

  "Seth!"

  Surprised, she watched the dark-haired man hoist himself up beside her.

  "You look disappointed.” He gazed into her eyes in that intense way of his.

  "No, I'm just surprised.” She leaned back suddenly, feeling warm and too close to him. “You're the one who should be disappointed."

  "I'm not,” he said, his voice echoing off the walls of the small fissure. “I heard you singing, and it drew me..."

  "Me?” Amazement colored her voice. He was educated and accomplished. She was struggling just to go to school. “You're the son of King Julian, and I'm a web weaver's daughter. What would attract you to me?"

  He didn't speak at first, seeming tongue-tied. Then a silent chuckle rippled the muscles of his stomach. “Oh, Stella, that would take a long time to answer."

  She smiled. “Then I'm glad you're here."

  "Stella—” Her name came out in a rush, and then he choked off.

  Concern gripped Stella. “Seth?” She put out a tentative hand to touch him.

  His gasp stirred the air around them. Moving with lightening swiftness, he grabbed her waist with both hands and drew her against his body. His mouth slanted across her mouth, tentative but demanding.

  Stella's heart stuttered in her chest. Slowly, she drew her arms up around his neck, pushing her fingers into the wet curls on his nape. She parted her lips slightly, savoring the feel of his mouth, letting the tips of their tongues flick against each other. It seemed like an eternity before he pulled his mouth away to lay his cheek on her shoulder. He kept his hands on her sides, brushing the lower curve of her breast with his thumbs. Stella, uncertain, remained still.

  Lifting his head, Seth eased his body away from her, his eyes lowered.

  Stella stared with wide eyes. Tentatively, she reached out and stroked his jaw until he looked at her. His black eyes were clouded and still shifting.

  "It's all right, Seth. The siren song probably ... affected both of us."

  He gave a broken laugh. “You're probably right. Let's get back."

  As they swam, she noted his efficient strokes. She couldn't help contrasting him to Leo. Seth was lean and wiry rather than muscle-packed. There were no flourishes to show off his prowess. He kept diving, then sweeping up to a higher altitude, creating a strong wake. A couple of times he circled her in a wide arc, or she would have had a hard time keeping up. She thought he was still embarrassed by the kiss.

  She couldn't stop thinking about it. Sweet, but oh so sensual. She'd never considered Seth as a lover. Now she couldn't stop thinking about him. Her limbs were shaky and weak. Was it her inexperience that made her afraid? There had been no one besides Leo. Seth must have been with several mermaids since he reached maturity.

  But he'd kissed her.

  Back at the meeting place lower underwater, the moderators provided them a generous picnic lunch. The baskets and shells of food were spread out on the sandy sea bottom. They could see the sky through the water's surface a short distance above their heads. Flamboyant colored fish darted in and out of the anemone and coral.

  Stella searched for Dell and Eileen. She saw Dell floating on his back, a despondent expression on his face, and Eileen sitting with a merman from a distant city beside one of the picnic hampers. She plunged that way. “Who's that?” she hissed to Eileen as soon as the other man was distracted by introductions with Seth.

 
; "Peter. He answered my siren call.” She wouldn't meet Stella's eyes. “Maybe if Dell hadn't been taking his own sweet time to reach me—"

  "But you know you don't belong with Peter."

  "Dell showed he'd like to talk to other women. This is his chance. Maybe we both need to explore other relationships."

  Stella subsided but remained troubled by this development. She was glad she had determined on a career over a relationship.

  The sight of Cassandra arriving at the picnic with Leo sharpened her restlessness. Everyone gathered around them, laughing and congratulating them. Cassandra gossiped about her father's prize. How she didn't really care if she won, because she would inherit her father's wealth anyway, and her husband would never have to worry about finances. She caught sight of Stella with Seth. Her gaze slid from one to the other, and then she gave Stella a snide smile.

  Stella felt a blush heat her skin. She knew what Cassandra thought of Seth, despite his status as the king's son. Seth had always been different, a loner. Now Stella saw Cassandra and a couple of girlfriends talking in low voices as they shot glances at Seth.

  Stella grabbed Seth's arm to lead him away before he saw what was going on. She was too late.

  He deliberately drew his arm from her, his gaze sparkling with the harshness of a pearl. “You don't have to protect me, Stella. But if you'd rather not be with me..."

  "No, Seth!” Her blush burned hotter.

  He looked skeptical, but the game moderators called for attention just then. The moderators distributed new flurrie strips to everyone who had gotten a partner. Stella added hers to her arm.

  Cyril made an announcement. “Coming up is the dolphin race to test your quickness and agility. So enjoy your meal and get ready!"

  Chapter Three

  Dolphin races

  Stella and Eileen turned to each other with huge grins and high fives.

  Seth ran a hand through his wavy hair. “I take it this is something you two like."

  "I love dolphin racing!"

  "She's the best.” Eileen nodded approvingly at Stella who scoffed modestly. Eileen insisted, “No, she's got a special knack for it. She can make a dolphin do anything."

 

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